Hi everyone! Sorry for the late update, but I've been very busy with studying for my exams. Thank you once again for the kind reviews, I really appreciate it! I do have to give a TW for this chapter as it will contain subjects of assault... xoxo
Her fingers slowly traced over her lips as she watched his car drive off into the distance. Her heart was pounding, her breath was heavy. Jack watched Rose as she had called him from afar and before he knew it she was right in front of him.
"What's wrong?" His face looked worried. Rose could feel her heart pounding in her chest, stared at him for a short while before putting her lips onto his. It was quick and brief as she soon realised what she was putting herself into.
"I-" she stumbled over her own words, "I am so sorry."
A gentle smirk grew on his face. "If we are going to kiss, Rose, we might as well do it properly." He placed his hands gently onto her waist and pulled her towards him. This was what they called a kiss. She melted within his touch. The cold could no longer be felt as her body grew warmer by the second. Had her heart stopped beating or did it go too fast she couldn't feel it all together. She eventually pulled away to catch her breath, his piercing blue eyes staring softly into hers.
"Now I could get used to this." He casually said.
Rose slowly walked back upstairs where everyone was still filling the room with excitement and laughter. She tried to collect her thoughts, yet this whole morning felt like a daze. A tiny pinch in her arm revealed that she in fact wasn't dreaming and happiness had found not only her, but the people she cared about the most.
"Are you alright, darling?" Mrs. Adams asked as Rose sat down next to her. She simply nodded.
"Everything is perfect."
….
"Your hair, Oliver." His sister told him and put him onto a chair, combing his curls until neat. His suitcases were waiting by the door. It was time to leave. Rose had been up since the break of dawn, rushing around the house like a lunatic. Her feelings of both fear and excitement took the better of her and she didn't know how to deal with it. Oliver wiggled his way out of her grip and headed over to the window where he could see Jack getting out of a car.
"He is here!" He announced and rushed downstairs. The two of them hadn't seen each other anymore since Oliver's birthday. His appearance in the doorway let her heart skip a beat. He was dressed beautifully, his suit fitting perfectly around his body, his hair slid back as is he was ready for a gala. From the distance she could smell his scent as it slowly filled the room. He walked up to her and took her shaking hands into his.
"Are you alright?" He laughed.
"Yes. I am just a bit nervous that is all." She sighed deeply and looked over Jack's shoulder. Oliver was carrying his suitcases outside together with another man who was supposedly their chauffeur.
"I also have some business to attend to in New York. I'll be back in a few days, alright?"
"Alright. Can you let me know when he has arrived safely?"
"I will don't worry."
Rose gave Oliver one final goodbye, kissed his forehead and watched as he was walking towards his new life. A tear escaped her Eyes as the silence became too loud. Within seconds home didn't feel like home anymore. They arrived here only as children, now Oliver has left to turn into a sophisticated young man. His first words were with Rose as well as his first steps, now it wasn't up to her anymore to witness him growing up every single day. It was the blowing of a new wind. A new time had come to say hello.
The days passed by slowly for the young woman, spending her time mostly at work or at Mrs. Adams apartment, it took quite awhile to get accustomed. A telegram had arrived in her hands two days after their departure and Rose sighed in relief when she read that everything had gone according to plan. All the leaves had fallen down from the trees, the city now mostly covered by a grey smog of cold winter air. Rose strolled down an almost empty park on her way to Tommy's pub when she saw two figures walking in the direction towards her. She looked closely, recognising one person within a second. Amelia Huntington stopped in front of her, shocked for a moment, but quickly shook it off.
"Miss Smith? What are you doing here all by yourself during this time of the day?"
"I was just on my way to meet someone." She could feel the eyes of the man next to Amelia watch her every move. He was tall with pitch black hair and eyes as dark as the night. She got an off feeling from him, from both of them to be exact.
"May I introduce, Mr. Caledon Hockley."
"Good day to you miss Smith." He smiled at her with his perfect white teeth.
"Hello, sir."
"Miss Smith is a seamstress and works for one of the finest shops in the city." Amelia tried to fill in the awkward silence, "It's actually good I walk into you, miss Smith. I have some clothes that need some mending and my maid isn't quite capable of simply holding a needle and thread."
"Well I'll be at work on Monday. You can drop them off if you'd like."
"I'll send my maid." The tone of miss Huntington's voice couldn't be more degrading, as if she was speaking to a child. As Rose watched the two head the opposite direction she felt a shiver running down her spine. She knew who the man was or at least she thought she knew. Slowly forgetting the unsolicited meeting, Rose was warmly welcomed by her friends. Tommy's pub was already crowded by the whole neighbourhood. Children were running around as their parents spend their time drunk at the bar. Sneaking up towards the back, Rose quickly consumed a few snacks before heading back. Julie was waiting for her, holding two large beers in her hands.
"Have you had any news from Olly, yet?"
"Only that he has arrived safe and sound. I bet he's still accustoming to his new life."
"I still find it strange, Rose." Julie admitted, "This man suddenly showing up and basically handing you and Olly a new life."
"That's not true, Julie. He only offered this because I helped his grandmother."
"You can call it an offer a bit too big now, can't you? Beware or Mr. Smooth Socks is soon asking you to become his wife." She laughed and shucked her beer in one go. Her laughter quickly faded into total silence as her body stiffened.
"Shit." She gasped, "Isn't that George?" Julie looked over Rose's shoulder and pointed at a young man in the corner of the room. Rose gave a quick look, but immediately turned back when she saw it was in fact him. He had seen them too, moved his way through the crowds towards the two.
"Hello, ladies." He said smoothly.
"George." Julie acknowledged his presence but quickly turned back towards her friend. Rose was still facing away from him when she could feel his breath tingling in her neck.
"Aren't you going to say anything to me, Rosie?" He placed his hands on her shoulders and traced them down towards her lower back. Rose shrugged him off and now turned to him viciously.
"Get your hands off of me. I have nothing to say to you."
"You're complaining now, Rose? I thought you didn't mind me having my hands all over you." He tried it again, moving her hair behind her ears, his fingertips gliding over her cheek. It was Julie who pushed him away this time, her dark brown eyes now turning black. She spat at his feet, demanding the man to leave. It was only when he saw Fabrizio and Tommy he took a step back and lifted his arms in the air.
"If you don't get out of here right now." Tommy yelled, "I'll personally make sure you won't be able to walk again by tomorrow."
"Alright, alright, you tough Irishman." His gaze went to Rose for one more time before her left out the door. The men turned their attention back to the girls. Rose had her head buried in her hands and let out slight growl of frustration.
"Rose are you okay?" Tommy asked. She shot back up and simply nodded.
"I need another drink."
One drink soon became a few too many. She had to forget to be in the present moment with only the substance of alcohol doing that for her. They danced the night away, standing on top of the tables and even the bar. Rose was the only one still standing after the hours of partying. Slightly dizzy, she left the building on her way to the silence of her room. It was still pitch black outside, despite the early hours of the upcoming day. In the distance some birds could already be heard singing their morning songs. Throughout the sound of the chirps something else could be heard in the distance. It was as if her name was being called from out of one of the houses she was passing. Rose stopped her tracks, trying to figure out if it was true. After a few moments of silence she reckoned it was all in her head and proceeded further.
"Rose!" She stopped again, looked over to her right and could see a vague silhouette of a person in the corner. She took a step closer, frightened, not knowing what to encounter. She called out a faint hello and when the voice responded she knew who she'd meet in the darkness.
"Julie? Julie what's happened?" Rose kneeled down next to her. Her head was leaning into her hands, trying to cover her face, but when Rose took a closer look she saw that her nose was bleeding. Julie's hair was all tangled up, covered in dirt and when Rose looked down at her clothes she immediately knew what had occurred. Her friend collapsed within her arms and cried loudly. Rose wiped away the blood from her face and tried to keep her up.
"Help!" Rose said loudly, "Someone please help."
"No!" Julie protested, "no one can see me like this. I need to get home, Rose. I need to get home as fast as possible."
Lucky for them a short while later, Tommy was about to head home when he noticed the girls standing in the alleyway. Rose called out for him, begging him to help them.
"What the." He examined the situation and took Julie out of Rose's arms. He lifted her up and Rose put her coat over her shoulder, following Tommy back into the pub.
"He took my things." Julie said as she was put down onto a chair.
"Who did, Julie?"
"George." She yelled angrily. Rose took a step back as she felt her stomach drop. It couldn't be true. He had left hours before them making it quite impossible. George was a monster. He could have waited until it was the right time to strike. Like a hunting animal, waiting for its prey, he had watched the girls until one of them would come outside. Fleeing the room to get some water, Rose had to collect her thoughts. Tommy was now closely behind her, she could feel his breathing in her neck.
"I will skin him alive." He growled.
"He has probably fled already. It should have been me, Tommy. He had his eyes on me the whole time."
"It should have been nobody, Rose. No one could have known this."
They both walked back to their friend, Rose gently cleaning the dirt off her face. As the girls were later brought home, they spend the day closely lying next to each other. Rose stroked her hair gently and hummed soft songs as she would do to Oliver whenever he couldn't sleep. Julie had known great sorrow in her life. Being the youngest and unexpected child out of a family of eight, no one ever looked out for the poor girl. Her family grew up in great poverty, like most people Rose knew. On the day Julie turned sixteen, she was put out of her home by her own parents, claiming they couldn't take care of her anymore. There she stood, completely alone in the world. After months, the poor girl had finally found herself a job as a housemaid for a family she had never told the name of. All Rose knew was that when she was her age she was seduced by the family's oldest son, who had come to visit from France. He had tricked her, promised her a better life, only to leave when the damage had already been done. When they found out she was carrying that man's baby, she was put back on the streets like four years prior. Her daughter Lucy should be seven by now. The girl lives with a family somewhere far up North. Julie is not allowed to see her, but only sends up money to make sure her daughter is well taken care of. At times Julie calls out Lucy's name in her sleep, a pain that will never fade.
"She has these perfect little curls that remind me of you, Rose." She once told her friend not long after they first met. All the events that had occurred in her short life had sadly enough hardened her. She trusted no one but only the few friends she had in her life.
It was now Monday and as Rose got herself ready for work, Julie still remained in bed. Mrs Adams had agreed to look after her for the day so that she wouldn't be alone. Arriving at work Mrs. Woodbridge drastically had to be convinced that Julie was too sick to be there.
"I even had to spend the night at her place because she was too afraid something might happen to her." Rose lied. Mrs Woodbridge looked her up and down before finally giving in.
"But if she won't be back by Wednesday her pay will be cut off until she returns." The woman stated, "Same for you, miss Smith if she has infected you with her disease."
"Of course, Mrs. Woodbridge. As you please."
It was not soon after her lunch break, Rose could hear the sound of Miss Huntington's voice echoing through the building. It was Mrs. Woodbridge who was the first to welcome her, showering her with compliments and showing her every bit of interest she could. Amelia delicately shuffled her way through the room, her eyes scanning every dress that had already been made. She stopped and pointed at a dark green velvet gown that was standing right next to the open door of where the girls were working. As miss Huntington, now standing in front of the dress, peaked through, her eyes met Rose's. She smiled at her, Rose smiling back.
"Look who we have here. Miss Smith it's such fun to see you actually at work." Her face turned away, "Jack, you must come say hello to miss Smith."
Rose raised an eyebrow and as she made her way into the shop it indeed was him who she saw. They stared at each other for a while before Amelia started interfering once again.
"Aren't you going to say anything, Jack?"
"I bet Mr. Dawson isn't quite used to places such as this, are you Mr. Dawson?" Rose remained surprisingly cool, not moving an inch of the muscles in her face. It was only when Mrs. Woodbridge took Amelia further around the shop and ordered Rose to go back to work that he silently followed her. He pulled her aside.
"Jack we mustn't do this. I can get into serious trouble."
"I know, but let me come to you tonight."
There was no time for Rose to answer him. Jack was called back immediately by his companion. He glanced back once more, but Rose was already out of sight. She could see his arrive from outside her window and waited impatiently at the door. Then his footsteps echoed through the stairwell and within seconds he was up.
"Jack, I didn't have the time to tell you, but it's not a good idea if you come in tonight."
He looked at Rose's face for a second before seeing a shadow wandering through the room. A glimpse of her hair and face revealed who the person was and she soon stood in the doorway. Julie looked him up and down, rolled her eyes and got back into bed.
"What happened to her?" Referring to the bruises on her face. Julie, who had heard his question got back up and met them again.
"You can tell him, Rose." She spoke, her voice was filled with so much pain and anger it made all of their skin crawl. "You can tell your friend here what kind of slut I am. Walking alone at night, I must have asked for it."
Her words were enough for Jack to understand the whole situation. Being let it in took a seat next to Julie. She shivered, moved her chair away and took A cigarette out of Rose's purse that was laying on top of the table.
"We can get this man, miss Cole. I have a very good lawyer who can help us. I can call him right away."
"You can't make everything happen with your money." Julie spat at him.
"Julie, please. Jack is not the enemy here." Rose tried to calm her down, but Julie was already starting to panic.
"I understand why you don't trust me, miss Cole, but I am only trying to help you. A man like him should be locked up."
"You really want to help me, Mr. Dawson? Why don't you try to get my daughter back." She stood up from her seat, collected her stuff and rushed out the door. Rose tried to go after her, a feeling of guilt taking over, but Jack stopped her.
"She is my friend, Jack," Rose protested, "God knows what might happen to her again." When Rose came outside, her friend was already nowhere to be seen. It took her about two hours before finding any sign of her. She had stopped at her house, the atelier and every other place she could possibly be. Eventually arriving back home, Jack was still there waiting for her. Tommy had seen her running into the pub, searching for her friend. He stopped her, reassured her that Julie was alright and would be staying with him for a while, before sending her back. Pain was all Rose could think about. When would all the pain for everyone she loved ever stop.