FROM NOW UNTIL ETERNITY
Chapter Three
For Jack, this was a dream come
true. Rose DeWitt-Bukater, the prettiest cheerleader in school, was in his
house. He’d had a secret crush on Rose forever now. He didn’t dare admit that
to his friends. He would never hear the end of it, but he dreamed of taking
Rose out to his favorite spots or out dancing. He would sometimes draw her at
cheerleading practice when he was waiting for his friends. She, of course,
didn’t know that. That was why he was reluctant to show her his portfolio. What
would she think if she knew that she was his inspiration?
"Make yourself at
home." Jack waved to the loveseat and picked up his portfolio, wishing
that the pictures of her would disappear. He’d just have to think up an excuse
when she came across them.
"Thank you." Rose smiled.
Jack nervously smiled and sat
next to Rose, enjoying the heat of her leg pressed against his. She was even
more beautiful sitting up close. Opening his portfolio, he let her shift
through the pages.
"Wow, Jack, these are
wonderful. You have a gift, Jack. You do. You see people."
"Aw…I don’t know…I just draw
what I see." Jack blushed. His blush deepened when she came across the
first picture of her. Leaning against the fence in her cheerleading uniform,
her eyes sad and staring off into the horizon. Her pompoms were slack in her
hands and a tear was spotted streaming from her eye.
Rose’s eyes widened. He had
caught her very soul. She remembered that day. She had been depressed and
feeling like her world was coming down. She had just found out that her favorite
Aunt Molly had died. She had no idea Jack had been drawing her.
"Wow…when did you do this
one?" She had no idea he even knew she was alive before today.
"When I was waiting for my
friends to show up. I remember you being rather sad that day. I was wondering
how you would muster up enough emotions for cheerleading practice and saw you
leaning against the fence, looking so alone. You were so beautiful leaning
against that fence…I was meaning to give it to you, but I could never get up
the nerve."
"It’s beautiful." Rose
sniffed back her tears at the thought of her favorite aunt. No one had
understood her like Molly had. She even told Molly about Jack, and the older
woman had encouraged Rose to go for it, but Rose never had the courage to go
and talk to Jack…until now. And all along he noticed her. "I can’t believe
this is me. The girl in this picture is so beautiful."
"Well, you are beautiful.
This is how I see you." Jack’s eyes were serious as she stared into them.
Soon Rose found her face getting closer to his. They were just about to kiss
when Mae appeared in the doorway.
"Dinner’s ready,
darlings!" Mae appeared in the doorway, holding out a plate of food.
"Jack, be a dear and run this up to your grandfather."
"Yes, Grandma." Jack
sighed. "I’ll be back." He looked at Rose and disappeared up the
stairs.
"Come, Rose. Help me set the
table." Mae held out her hand. Placing Jack’s portfolio back on the table
in front of her, Rose joined Mae in the kitchen. "I do believe my Jack has
a crush on you, dear. He has tons of pictures of you drawn."
Rose blushed. "Really?"
She didn’t dare hope that it was true that Jack liked her. He probably felt
sorry for her that day and drew her. She couldn’t picture anyone like Jack
liking her.
Mae nodded. "He’s right
sweet on you, dear."
After dinner, Mae had Jack grab
his coat and drive Rose home. It was too dark and dangerous for her to go out
alone.
"You can drop me off at
school, Jack. I left my car in the parking lot." Rose smiled as they
pulled away from the house.
"Why were you taking the
L?" Jack asked, confused.
"I do that when I want to
get away from home and think. I hop on an L and pretend it’s taking me away
from all my troubles." Rose sighed. "Like I’m heading off into the
horizon."
"I’d…I’d like to thank you
for walking with my grandmother. Not many people would have done that,
especially on the south side. But it’s a good thing you did, with what happened
and all. Someone likes you up there."
"My Aunt Molly used to say
that." Rose smiled at the memory. "She always said good things were
coming my way. That was the worst day of my life when she died."
"Is that why you were so
sad?" Jack asked, referring to the day he drew that picture.
Rose nodded. "I didn’t want
to leave my room, and I definitely didn’t want to go to cheerleading
practice."
"Well, I’m glad you did.
That was the best picture I ever drew." Jack smiled, reaching over to tuck
a red curl behind her ear.
Rose blushed, just as they pulled
up in front of the school. "Thank you, Jack."
"Anytime. I’ll sit here and
make sure you get to your car safely," Jack said.
"Okay."
"Rose, wait. Here. I want to
give you this." He pulled out the picture he first drew of Rose. "I
thought you might like to have it."
Tears almost appeared in Rose’s
eyes. "Th-thank you. I don’t know what to say. I’ll keep this somewhere
safe. It’s my first Jack Dawson original."
Jack laughed. "You can throw
it away if you want. There’s more where that came from."
Rose giggled. "You’re
insane."
"That’s what a lot of people
say." Jack laughed.
"See you tomorrow,
Jack." Rose waved, heading for her car.
"Bye, Rose." Jack sat
there and watched Rose enter her car and drive off. Smiling happily, he turned
the ignition and started for home.