CHANGES
Chapter Eight
Three Weeks Later
Rose stood in front of the bathroom mirror,
trying to get her hair to lay right. Her interview with Harvard was today and
the representative would be there any moment. She had spent the past two days
putting together her high school portfolio, cleaning the house from top to
bottom and of course, spending time with Jack. The pain of losing her baby
still haunted her, but she was able to get through each day. She wanted so bad
to get into Harvard, that was the one school both she and Jack had wanted to go
to all their lives. Jack had already been accepted, and offered a full
scholarship no less.
"God dammit," she muttered when she
dropped her brush.
"What's the problem sis?" Rebecca
asked, standing in the doorway.
Rose sighed. "I can't get the back of my
head to curl right."
Rebecca took the curling iron from her.
"I'll do it. Aren't you nervous?"
"How can I not be? I want this more than
anything."
Rebecca nodded. "You'll get in. You're
everything they're looking for. Not to mention Dad's Harvard alumni."
Rose grinned. "I know, which is why I
can't help feeling a bit arrogant about this. Jack got a scholarship, so if he
did, I can, right?"
"You bet. You're smarter then him
anyway."
Rose giggled. "I guess. Oh shit!"
she yelped, as someone rang the doorbell.
Rebecca grinned. "You finish in here,
I'll stall 'em."
*****
"Well, Miss DeWitt-Bukater, your resume
is quite impressive. You were student council president for all four
years?"
Rose smiled and nodded. "Yes. I have a
great deal of interest in politics and that gave me a lot of experience."
Mr. Martin, the Harvard rep, smiled back at
her. "I see. You have also been involved in choir, drama club, French
club, and a large assortment of sports, all the while managing to hold a 4.0
GPA."
"I try."
"You're quite the well rounded student,
aren't you?"
"I'd like to think so."
Mr. Martin closed his briefcase. "I must
say, I'm very impressed. Although the people in charge have the final say in if
you're accept or not, I would personally say that you don't have anything to
worry about. I must be going, but it was absolutely lovely to meet you. I'll be
in contact within the next week to let you know."
Rose smiled as they walked to the door.
"Thank you, sir."
Mr. Martin shook her hand. "Thank you.
Good day Miss DeWitt-Bukater."
As soon as he left, Rose turned and squealed
with happiness. Rebecca came downstairs smiling. "I take it, it went
good?"
"Oh my God Becky! He said that I
shouldn't have anything to worry about!" Rose struck a dramatic pose.
"I'm going to Harvard!"
"See, you probably wouldn't have gotten
in if you were pregnant," Rebecca pointed out.
Rose's face fell. "What is that supposed
to mean?"
"That it's a good thing you lost the
baby..."
"How dare you!" Rose interrupted,
trying her hardest not to cry.
"Oh come on, Rose, you're too young to
have a baby. It was for the best."
Rose glared at her sister through her tears.
"That was my child. It deserved a chance to live as much as you and I. I
can't believe you're saying these things."
Rebecca sighed. "Listen, I understand
what..."
"UNDERSTAND? YOU understand? Like hell
you do! My child is dead! DEAD! If you want to understand, understand this. I
hate you. I will NEVER forgive you for the things you just said," Rose
yelled, slamming the door behind her as she left the house.
Leaning against the side of the house, Rose
tried to calm her nerves. How could her sister say such horrible things?
Sighing, she headed down the street to Jack's house.
*****
"Rose, hon, what's wrong?" Jack
asked as he let Rose into the house. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were red
and she was shaking uncontrollably. Rose looked up at Jack and burst into tears
again. "Rose? Please tell me what's wrong," Jack begged, taking her
into his arms. Rose continued to weep against his chest for a little while
longer, before pulling back to look at him.
"She said the most awful things to me,
Jack."
Jack wiped the tear tracks from her cheeks.
"Who did?"
"Becky. She kept saying that it was a
good thing our baby died. And then she had audacity to say she understood. I
hate her Jack. I really do."
Jack looked at her bewilderment. "She
said those things?"
Rose nodded. "I couldn't believe it. But
she did." Jack pulled her back into his arms. "I can't go home
tonight. I can't face her yet."
"You can stay here then."
Rose looked up at him. "Your parents
won't mind?"
"They're out of town until next
week."
"Oh really?"
Jack chuckled. "You're the devil
Rose," he said, leading her up to his room. Once there, he sat down on the
bed and took her into his lap.
Rose kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Put your hands on me, Jack..."
*****
Jack and Rose lay with their bodies entwined,
basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Jack sighed and rolled onto his
side, so he could look at her. "Hey Rose?"
"Hmm?"
"I've been thinking...about the baby, I
mean."
Rose looked at him abruptly. "What about
it?"
Jack played with one of her curls.
"Just...I know we're young and most people would say that we're too young
to be parents and they're probably right, but I wanted that baby. There's
nothing I could want more then a child with you. So maybe...if you want of
course, when you're ready, we could try again?"
Rose's eyes filled with tears and she nodded.
"Thank you."
Jack smiled and kissed her. "I love
you."
"I love you."