New York City. They were finally there after weeks of planning. They were in the city where their life together will truly begin. Jack unlocked the hotel door and entered, dumping his bags in the far corner before collapsing onto the bed. The long flight from LA to New York had done a number on both himself and Rose. Rose entered next, dropping her bags near Jacks and falling onto the bed right next to him, feeling just as exhausted.

"Would you hate me if I went to sleep now?" She asked, placing a hand against his chest.

"How can I hate you for that when I'm about to do the same?" he chuckled, turning to look at her. "I don't think I've ever had jetlag this bad before."

"I was hoping to christen the city a soon as we got here," Rose giggled, tracing the shape of a heart on his chest. "I'm going to get to wake up next to you."

"Is that all you can think about? You have a tour of NYU coming up and I have an interview. Love making should be the last thing on our minds..."

"It's not that it's on my mind...it's just that...when I look at you...I want to be as close to you as possible."

Jack smiled and gently touched her cheek. "Come here."

"What?"

Turning onto his side to face her, he pulled her over until they were pressed chest to chest and could feel each other's breath caressing their face. "This is a lot better..."

"It's going to be extra hard to return home," Rose giggled.

"Let's not think about our return to LA. Let's just enjoy New York. This is our preview of things to come..."

"Like your interview. I know you're going to get in. There's no way that they're immuned to the Dawson charm."

Jack laughed. "You have far more confidence in me than I do in myself."

"Well that will just have to change."

"Seriously though, I love you for it. God, I wish that you could be in there with me. It'd be so much easier."

"Just be yourself, Jack. Show them what you've shown me all those months ago. Show them the wonderful young man that you are. They'll have no choice but to accept you."

Jack was touched by Rose's belief that everyone would see what she saw in him, but he doubted that he would be so lucky. Heck, he even doubted that he was that good of an artist. Why else would they want to interview him and not just let him in on his work alone? But she was a bundle of positivity and he didn't want to snuff that out.

"Well you obviously see something worth while. Maybe they will too."

"Oh they will. Even if I have to barge in there and make them see it, they will," Rose kissed him. She pushed the hair out of his eyes, seeing the self doubt in their depths. "They will love you Jack. They will see what a talented, extrodinary young man you are, just like the rest of us have seen. You're going to get in."

"Well, I can't doubt something that you believe so strongly," he chuckled.

"I believe in you. Just like you've always believed in me."

Looking into her eyes, Jack knew that her words were true and they infused him with a confidence that he hadn't felt before. They made him believe that anything could happen. He may not get into the academy, but he knew that as long as Rose believed in him, as long as she loved him, he could do anything. That he'll be alright. No matter what the outcome of the coming interview at the art academy.

…..

The art academy took up a good block, at least it looked that way to Jack. He looked up at the huge building and swallowed down his nervousness. The doubts that he had thought Rose had snuffed out the night before was back with a vengence. What was he doing here? Who did he think he was, thinking himself talented enough to get into such a prestigious school? They were going to take one look at him and kick him out onto the street, dashing all of his hopes of having a career doing something he loved. Who did he think he was?

He closed his eyes and brought the words Rose had said just that morning before he had left for the interview.

"You are Jack Dawson. A talented young artist. You are so talented that the art teacher has you help teach art class. You can draw anything."

Rose. Sweet beautiful Rose, who had so much faith in him. Who thought he could move the world if he had to. He hoped to make her proud. That he didn't turn into some kind of disappointment. He had disappointed her once. He never wanted to do it again.

"Hey, kid. Are you going in or are you just going to stand there all day?" A student questioned, brushing pass Jack on his way into the building, probably on his way to class.

Taking that as a sign, Jack tightened his grip on the portfolio that he had brought with him to show off some of his everyday stuff, and walked into the building, trying to ignore the voices in his head that said that he had no business being there.

It didn't take him long to find the office. It was the first door on the right. He entered a large, brightly lit room with art work from numerous artists hanging on the wall. He approached the secretary's desk and cleared his throat to get the attention of the middle aged brunette woman with black framed glasses perched on her nose and her hair pulled back in a braid. She smiled kindly at him as she stopped typing.

"Yes, may I help you?" She asked.

"Yes, I am Jack Dawson. I am here for my interview with the president of the academy."

"Oh yes. We were expecting you. Just take a seat beneath the Picasso there and Mrs. Avery will be right with you," The secretary instructed.

Jack did as he instructed and took a seat. Pushing his doubts out of his mind, he examined the artwork on the walls. Rembrandt. Picasso. Monet. Each artist had their own style. Their own signature. Yet they all shared the same passion to create something out of nothing using a blank canvas. It was something that he couldn't help but admire. It was something that he wanted to be someday.

"Mr. Dawson? Mrs. Avery will see you now," The secretary announced, giving him an encouraging smile.

Wiping his sweaty palms against his jeans, Jack got to his feet and through the small door to the left of the desk marked president. The room was brightly lit. In it were two chairs sitting in front of a desk. Behind the desk was an African American woman with a kind face and a warm smile. Behind her were the paintings that he had sent in earlier in the year when he had first applied.

"Jack Dawson?" The woman asked, getting to her feet.

"Yes ma'am," Jack smiled, slowly approaching the desk, feeling as if he was in some kind of dream.

"My name is Amanda Avery. I am the president of this academy and I make the decisions on who is admitted and not. It's a pleasure to meet you," the woman shook his hand and then motion for him to sit in one of the chairs in front of her desk.

Jack took the seat and nervously gripped his portfolio.

"Okay, let us begin. I've looked over your paintings that you had sent us and I must say that I am impressed. I just had to meet the young man with so much talent. Especially in the portraits," She motioned to the painting of a sleeping Rose. "This painting here is lovely. You've taken such care to get every detail…"

Jack couldn't help but smile, happy that it was the painting of his most favorite subject that got the president's attention. "I'm glad to hear you say that. I feel that I can never do her justice."

"Ah, so she's a real girl?"

"The love of my life," Jack smiled, beginning to feel more relaxed. "I've drawn her numerous times."

"You're a lucky young man. She's quite beautiful."

Jack nodded in agreement. "She has a lot of faith in me. She thinks that I have what it takes to attend the academy."

"Do you agree?"

Jack paused and chewed on his bottom lip, thinking of how to respond. "Well…to be honest, I think all artists are their own toughest critics and I'm no different. I always think I can do better or improve my technique. I never really thought of my work as perfect. But I do feel that here, I can properly hone my skills and improve on what I do have. I feel that attending here, I can become the best artist that I can be."

The president smiled and nodded her head. "I like that answer. There is nothing worse than an artist that thinks that he's above improvement. It says here in your application that you've helped teach art classes."

Jack again blushed. "The head of the art department in school felt that I could help fellow students discover their artistic talent within."

"Have you? Do you have an example?"

"Well…there's my girlfriend Rose. She loves art and always felt the need to do something artistic, but had felt that she had no talent. I was able to help her discover that she was good at sculpting and making pottery."

"Mmm, she sounds like quite the girl."

"She is," Jack sat forward and handed the president his portfolio, almost forgetting that he had brought it. "Um, I had also taken the liberty to bring you my portfolio. Just in case you'd want to see the work I do every day. Unfortunately, the sketches in that one is reasonably new, since my old portfolio was lost in an accident, but I had some older works that I had added in with the new ones."

The president accepted the portfolio and flipped through the pages, examining each picture. "I see that you drew your girlfriend a lot. The details in these pictures are exquisite. You've captured every pose, every expression…and I love the focus on the hands. Very expressive," she closed the portfolio and handed it back to Jack. "Mr. Dawson, I must say that you have a gift. You capture the very essence of your subjects in these sketches. I do believe that we can help you hone that gift here at the academy."

Jack's eyes widened, he was unable to believe what he was hearing. "Are you saying…?"

"I usually do this in writing, but I am so impressed, I'll do it now. Welcome to the New York Art Academy Mr. Dawson. I believe that we can be an asset to you and help you become the artist that you are obviously meant to be," The president stood up and shook his hand as she returned the portfolio.

"Oh my god, thank you. Thank you so much! This is more than I had expected…"

"If you like, you can sit in on a few classes. Get a feel of what to expect this fall."

"I'd love that. Thank you," Jack happily chuckled. It seemed like his luck was increasing. He couldn't wait to tell Rose about all that had happened. She was going to be so happy.

…..

Rose's day had been more than interesting. She had met the student that was to show her around the campus of NYU and she had shown her not only the campus but the dorms as well. She had also told her about not only the law program, but the theater and creative arts programs offered as well and had given her some brochures for Jack, just in case the academy didn't work out. By time the tour was done, Rose knew that she had made the right choice and couldn't wait for the fall to begin. Now she was hurrying back to the hotel to meet Jack. They had decided to shop for apartments together after they had finished at their respective schools.

She had just gotten back to the hotel when Jack came in, a bright happy smile on his face.

"How did it go?" Rose asked, hoping for the best.

"Thanks to my beautiful muse, I'm in!" Jack exclaimed, pulling Rose into an excited hug. "She loved the portrait that I had painted of you and then all the sketches I had done in my portfolio…totally blew her away. She welcomed me right away after that!"

"Jack, didn't I tell you that you could do it?" Rose happily laughed returning the hug. "Didn't I tell you that they'd see what I did?"

"Yes, you did. Your faith never wavered," Jack smiled, pulling her closer. "Now we both know what we'll be doing this fall. Let's celebrate. Let's go explore the city…"

"Oooh, we have to apartment shop, don't we? I mean…we don't have that much longer until graduation…and this summer will be all about settling into our new city, starting our new lives and putting every bad thing that has happened to us this year behind us. What better way to prepare than finding the perfect living space?"

She wasn't wrong. Jack had to admit that. They were going to need a living space ready when they left New York. Hotel rooms were all fine and good, but he wanted a place that he and Rose could call their own. "Bring out the laptop. Let's do some apartment hunting…at least get an idea of what we want."

…..

Night had fallen over the city of New York. It was nearing midnight when Jack and Rose returned to their room exhausted. After spending the day exploring different parts of the city and enjoying all that New York had to offer and catching dinner at an upscale café not too far from the hotel and watching some street music, the couple had decided to return to the hotel for the night and prepare for the plane ride back the next morning.

"I love New York!" Rose exclaimed, collapsing onto the bed, giving a loud sigh. "Do we really have to return to LA?"

"I'm afraid so. We have a lot of loose ends to tie up. Graduation being one of them," Jack chuckled, settling down next to her, feeling just as exhilarated as she did. "But it won't be too long."

"It's going to be torture. It's going to be torture not to be able to turn around and do this whenever I want," Rose grinned, rolling over onto Jack, straddling his waist. She smiled as she felt the hardness in his pants press up against her. "Ha, I knew it!"

"It's that perfume you wear. How can I not want you, huh?" Jack moaned, feeling her on top of him. "And you can still do this whenever you want…"

Rose just smiled and leaned down, claiming his lips in a passionate kiss. Her tongue slid into his mouth, battling his own tongue for control. Finally she pulled away, thanks to her need for oxygen.

"I love you," she breathed, looking into his eyes. She pushed a stray strand of hair. "Thank you for loving me so much."

"It's easy to do," Jack grinned up at her. "Thank you for believing in me."

"That's easy to do as well," Rose giggled. "What a pair, huh?"

"Some would say the perfect pair. Soon Rose. Soon we won't have to say goodbye and sleep in different beds. No more skype. You'll be right there to talk to."

"I can't wait..."

Jack pulled her into another kiss, a kiss that promised her the world and a life that they had always dreamed of. They didn't want to return to LA. They didn't want to return to the life of teenagers under the control of the adults in their lives. They were beyond ready to start their lives as young adults, living together in love, preparing for the future. But as long as they were together they would be alright. Just one more month of tying up loose ends. Of finishing off their high school career, then it would be the start of a whole new life.