It didn't take much for Rose to convince Ruth to let her go to Chippewa Falls with Jack. At first, Ruth did object, stating that it was inappropriate for two teenagers of the opposite sex to travel together. That she wouldn't allow it. William may have allowed Rose and Jack to do whatever they wanted under his roof, but she wasn't about to allow the same.

Rose wasn't giving up though. She was determined to join Jack on his trip to Chippewa Falls. So she set off on mission: make Ruth's life as miserable as possible. It took a few days of doing everything she could to annoy her mother, but it finally worked and Ruth gave in, allowing Rose to go to Chippewa Falls, just as long as there was an adult with them.

At first, it was indeed going to be just Jack and Rose. Then both Beth and Phil began thinking about what if Jack did run into Lisa's attacker? It may be wise to have an adult there to handle things if something should come up, so Phil decided he'd join the teenagers on their trip to Chippewa Falls. Julie also decided to go as well, so her beloved father would have company, because knowing Jack and Rose, they'd be too lovey dovey with each other to pay attention to Phil, which Jack was insulted by, but didn't object to having his cousin along.

Friday morning, Rose met Jack, Phil, and Julie at LAX for the flight to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

"Glad to see that you're dressed ready for Wisconsin," Jack smiled when Rose arrived at the airport bundled up in a coat with a wool scarf wrapped around her neck and a wool cap on her head. Leather gloves also covered her hands. He had made sure to tell Rose to dress for winter, meaning winter coat, sweaters, gloves, and boots. It may be sunshine here in LA, but in Wisconsin, it was the dead of winter and Rose was going to need to dress accordingly.

"Of course I did. I remember you telling me that they have some of the coldest winters around. What I'm looking forward to is the snow," Rose giggled. "I've only experienced snow once, when I was a child and mother took me to New York for a business trip. She forbid me to play in it though.."

"What? You weren't allowed to play in the snow? It's the cleanest fun you could have!" Jack laughed. "Okay, now I know what I have to do with you once we get there. Can't have my girl not know the fun of snow play."

"I wish Derrick was coming. We could have a snowball fight competition," Julie sighed, walking up to the couple, along with her father.

"Hey, I may be older, but I'm not too old to join in," Phil snorted. "It's been too long since I've had a good snowball fight."

Jack laughed. "We'll see. Whatever we do, we're going to show my California girl that there's a lot more to snow than the cold."

"Oooh, we should take her ice fishing!" Julie rubbed her hands together, excited at the idea. "Can you imagine us on lake wissota? The dead of night? Sitting around a hole trying to catch a fish?"

Jack frowned. "The last time I went ice fishing, I fell through some thin ice and ended up in bed with pneumonia. So the answer to that would be no."

Rose smiled, resting her head against Jack's shoulder. "I'm sure that whatever you guys plan, it'll be great."

"Well let's get to the security check in and get it over with. We still have a while before take off," Phil directed the teens to the line for security check in. He hoped that the trip will go off without any problems at all and that his presence wasn't really needed.

…..

Snow blanketed everything. Rose's eyes took it all in as they exited the airport. She had never seen anything like it in real life, only on the television and in movies. It was awesome.

"Jack, look! It's so pretty," Rose gasped, her gloved hands gripped tightly in Jack's, who only laughed at Rose's amazement.

"Get used to it. I hear that there's even more than this in New York."

Phil waved down a taxi and they all gathered into the car after stuffing their luggage into the trunk of the taxi. Phil gave the address to the bed and breakfast that he and Beth had stayed in when they had come to collect Jack.

Jack quietly stared out at the scenery. Some things were different from the last time he had been in Chippewa Falls, but most of it was the same. He thought about his old friends. What were they like now? Did Micheal still like to write his poems? Was George still into video games? How about Caitlin? Was she still the girliest amongst the group of friends? Did any of them keep in contact with Meagan? Or had she dumped them too for a more wealthy crowd?

"It's almost like you never left, huh?" Julie read his thoughts, sitting on the other side of Rose.

"Yeah. But I'm sure that plenty of things have changed," Jack sighed, looking away from the passing scenery. He looked at Rose and felt a surge of pride. A part of him wanted Meagan to see her. See how he had not only moved on, but moved up. Rose was so much more beautiful, had so much more class and spirit, and had so much more kindness than Meagan could ever hope to have. Then he felt guilty for that pride. He had no right to feel such pride. After all, he had nothing to do with the kind of person Rose was or her beauty. That kind of pride, it was something that people like Caledon Hockley would feel. But he couldn't help it. Rose was amazing in his eyes. She could have chosen anyone to be with, but she had chosen him.

"Do you think I'll get to meet any of your friends, Jack?" Rose asked, feeling a little nervous, unaware of Jack's adoring thoughts towards her.

"I for one hope so," Julie snorted as the taxi pulled up in front of a two story red brick building. It was rather charming with a snowman in the yard and a porch swing on the wrap around porch. "It'll be great to see everyone again. I used to love visiting Jack's family and hanging with his friends. He has been too long."

"Come along kids. Let's get our things and get inside and settled," Phil chuckled, feeling in a good mood. So far everything was going great. "By the way, Rose will be bunking with Julie and Jack will be with me."

Jack tried not to be too disappointed. He should have known that he wouldn't be sharing a room with Rose...but still, a part of him had hope.

"Don't look so grim Jack. I don't hate your girl anymore. That's something," Julie teased.

Jack just rolled his eyes and followed his Uncle into the building, not letting go of Rose's hand, who was taking everything in with wide eyes. "I take it that you like Chippewa Falls so far."

"It's rather charming," Rose nodded, now examining the interior of the bed and breakfast. "So different from LA."

"I prefer LA to be honest," Jack mumbled, remembering all the pain and heartache he had suffered in this town. Memories of his sister and parents were everywhere really and don't even get him started on Meagan.

The clerk instantly recognized Phil and smiled brightly when she saw Jack. "Why it's been quite a while since we had Dawsons in town! Welcome!"

Uncle Phil smiled, happy to have been recognized. "Yes, we're here for a funeral. One of Jack's teachers had passed and he wanted to pay his respects."

"Oh yes, Mr. Grant. It's so sad. My brother had him for a teacher before the cancer had gotten bad. He is going to be well missed in this town," the clerk sighed. "How many rooms?"

"Two. One for us guys and one for the girls," Uncle Phil sadly smiled. There seemed to have been so much death lately. He didn't know what to make of it really. He just hoped for Jack's sake that this was the last of it. Once he had the keys in hand, he gave one to Julie and eyed the girls. "We'll go to our rooms, get settled in and then meet back here in the lobby in an hour so I can take you guys to dinner. Deal?"

"Yes sir," Julie nodded, taking kissing her father's cheek and motioning for Rose to follow her. "Come along, princess. Let's check out our digs."

"See you soon," Rose kissed Jack once and then followed Julie up the stairs.

…..

Dinner was a quiet affair. Everyone's thoughts was somewhere else. Rose was again thinking about the loss of her father. She couldn't help but notice the closeness between Julie and Phil and felt a sharp pang of loss. That could have been her and her father. Phil was always going to be there to protect Julie and be on her side no matter what. Rose once had that, but now it was gone forever.

Julie was oblivious to Rose's envy. She was too busy thinking about Derrick Watson and how to keep his attention. She was so afraid of losing him like she had Tommy. She really cared about this guy. She wanted to make sure that she had a real chance with him.

Jack was thinking about his past life in this town and when some of it will raise it's head. He pretty sure it would. This was a small town. There was no way he could be in town without running into some of it.

Phil was just enjoying his dinner, missing his wife, and hoping that things will remain calm between the three teenagers that he was in charge of. Thankfully, Julie and Rose seemed to be getting along and Jack was just unusually quiet, as if he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Relax, son. We'll only be here for a few days then it's back home to our lives in LA," He chuckled, nudging Jack's arm, who only gave a tense smile.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yes it is. I'm sure that everything will be fine," Phil gave him an encouraging smile.

"Especially when Miss. Bank Account gets a load of your new girlfriend," Julie winked, causing Rose to frown.

"Miss. Bank Account? Are you speaking of that Meagan person?" Rose asked, looking at Jack, who looked like he rather have the earth swallow him whole than talk about that girl.

"We may not even see her here. Mr. Grant was an art teacher. Meagan hated art," Jack mumbled drinking his coke.

"You dated someone that hated art?" Rose arched a brow.

Jack just shrugged. "My taste in woman has vastly improved."

Rose just smiled and shook her head. "I wish I knew you back then, Jack."

"No you don't," Some one chuckled, standing behind Julie. Rose looked up to see a red haired boy with laughing green eyes. "Dawson wasn't quite the looker back then as he obviously is now."

Jack's eyes widened when he saw who it was. "Tony? Tony Preston?" Tony had been one of Jack's best friends back before he had left town. He got up and hugged the teenager, happy to see a familiar yet friendly face. "I can't believe it."

"You can't believe it? How about me? Mike said you were coming back, but I didn't expect this much of a change. You're taller, much more muscular and your girlfriend is smoking hot...that is your girlfriend isn't it, because if not...?"

"Yes she is my girl and you better not step out of line, because I will kick your ass over this one," Jack laughed. "Rose, this is one of my best friends, Tony Preston. Tony, this is Rose Dewitt Bukater."

"Wow. Gotta get you to write that one down for me," Tony laughed, taking her hand in a friendly shake.

Rose couldn't help but laugh. "That's what Jack said when we first met."

"Ah, that Chippewa Falls charm. Good to see that it works," Tony winked, getting a laugh once again.

"So can I get a hello once you've finished flirting with my cousin's girlfriend?" Julie asked.

"Ah, it's mean Julie. Of course!" Tony laughed, hugging Julie, who was now standing from her chair. "We've missed your summer visits Jules."

"So how is everyone since I left? Anything changed?" Jack asked.

"Oh everyone is fine. Or do you just mean how is Meagan and is she still with that asshole?" Tony smirked.

"Why would I care about Meagan? I've moved on from her a long time ago," Jack laughed, taking Rose's hand.

"Yeah. That girl is old news," Julie unfolded her napkin.

"Glad to hear you say that Jack, because here the pair come now. This is their favorite restaurant by the way," Tony laughed, his eyes going towards the entrance. Rose looked to see a girl with shiny brunette hair that fell to her shoulders. She was dressed in a short black dress and looked as if she owned a million dollars.

"Is that her?" Rose frowned. The girl did not look at all like someone Jack would be interested in. She looked more like someone who would hang out with Madeline Astor and defend Caledon Hockley to the death just because he had money.

"Yes it is. See why I couldn't stand you at first?" Julie smirked, watching the new girlfriend size up the old.

"You dated her?" Rose turned to Jack, looking confused.

Jack just shrugged, his emotions mixed at seeing Meagan again. He had wanted to s how off Rose in front of her. Show her that he didn't need or want her, but now the sight of her in the flesh...it just made him feel inadequate and like he rather disappear than be here. The town where she had humiliated him in front of their friends.

Seeing his discomfort, Rose decided not to tease him over his past choice of girlfriends.

"Why is that Julie Dawson back in town?" Meagan came over, bringing her date with her. She hadn't seen Jack yet, or was pretending to not have seen him.

"We're here for Mr. Grant's funeral, if you must know," Julie coldly replied. "And is that the way to greet your ex?"

For the first time, Meagan saw Jack and her eyes widened. He looked different from the last time she had seen him. He looked taller, handsomer, more rounded out physically. LA had been very good to Jack. "Jack? I almost didn't recognize you there..."

"Hello Meagan. Brett," Jack nodded towards the couple, wanting to get up and leave instead, but he forced himself to remain seated.

"Meagan, meet Jack's new girlfriend, Rose," Tony introduced, wanting to get Meagan's reaction.

Meagan eyed the red head sitting next to Jack, holding his hand. She knew right then that she didn't like her and the way the red head was looking at her, the feeling was mutual.

"So this is Meagan?" Rose turned to Julie, knowing just how to make someone feel like a third wheel.

"The one and only," Julie nodded, smirking. She knew exactly what Rose was up to.

"Wow, I love those shoes," Rose eyed the other girl's ensemble.

Meagan looked rather pleased. Brett had gotten them for her. He said they were the latest in fashion. Ever since she got with Brett, she's been the best dressed in their school. "They're the latest."

Rose arched a brow, looking amused. "Who told you that lie? They're so last season. We've moved on to the new Bennis footwear in LA. Totally comfortable and chic."

Julie laughed as Meagan's face turned red and Brett looked as if he rather be anywhere but there.

"Really, LA and New York are the places to be if you want to keep up to date."

"Nice girlfriend, Jack," Brett commented, a little pissed at being found out.

Jack just smirked. "Oh Rose is great. She has everything that the girls in this town don't have. Looks, brains, and most of all class. She's a real first class lady."

"Oh Jack, there are girls in this town that are classy as well. They're just not in this restaurant," Tony chuckled, also wanting to get a dig in.

"Let's go, Brett. I'm hungry," Meagan demanded, pissed off. Jack hadn't only gotten more handsome after leaving town. He had obviously gotten over her.

The teens watched as Meagan and her boyfriend headed to the back of the restaurant, where the more reserved tables were stationed.

"Way to go Regina George. I didn't know you had that in you, Rose," Julie laughed, for the first time really feeling fond of her cousin's girlfriend. Maybe Rose wasn't so bad after all.

Rose just blushed and shrugged. "Neither did I. I guess some people just bring it out in me."