HERE AND NOW
Chapter Seven

Despite what had happened, Rose went to the movie theater anyway, needing to cool off. She couldn’t remember ever being so angry or bullied and she’d never hated anyone more than she hated George Bukater at that moment.

Who did the man think he was? Powerful as he might be, he didn’t own her and he had no right giving her orders. He had even less right to use threats, and how could he call her something like a gold digger when the only time he’d spent with her was a few hours at the same dinner table, where even then he had ignored her?

Rose’s mind was a mess as she watched the matinee movie showing, Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca, and she didn’t know whether she should look for Jack and tell him what had happened. She didn’t want to burden him and she didn’t know what he’d be able to do about it anyway. Jack was so under his father’s rule that Rose knew he probably wouldn’t have the courage to do anything. Maybe he wouldn’t want to do anything. Maybe George was right and someone like her could never mean anything to someone like Jack. They were so different. Too different.

Rose had tears in her eyes, and they weren’t anything to do with the movie she was watching.

*****

Jack was fuming. The little lecture he’d received from his father not even hours earlier had plunged him into an angry, depressive state, and he was beginning to realize that if he made himself a life like the one his father wanted him to lead, it would only make him ghastly unhappy for the rest of his days.

He just couldn’t do it. It wasn’t just because of Rose. Yes, he liked her a lot. He’d really come to realize that after the kiss, but although she had helped to open his eyes, his change of heart wasn’t solely down to her. Then again, maybe it was.

He’d changed. In just a few days, just through meeting one person, he’d changed. He was beginning to allow himself to admit he had dreams, had hopes for his future that were different than what his parents wanted for him. And damn, if he knew of a way to get himself a life of his own, away from his family and away from the public eye, he’d do it in a heartbeat. The only thing that was stopping him was that he didn’t know how, and that he was scared.

But at that moment in time, he had a more pressing issue. Rose. He knew she liked him, and he liked her. In other circumstances where he had liked a girl, it had always been easy. It had always been someone that his parents had approved of, or had even set him up with. But Rose was from an entirely different world. If it weren’t for them both being on the Titanic, they wouldn’t have met. His father had forbidden him to have anymore contact with her, and Jack couldn’t see a way around disobeying his parents without the risk of being cut off. He wanted a life of his own more than anything, but he just wasn’t brave enough to make the leap, or risk being pushed.

But that kiss, and Rose…he’d known her for barely more than two days, and already he knew he loved her, and that he’d be miserable forever if he let a chance of something real happening between them slip by. He was completely torn and had no idea what to do.

To get some space, he went out on deck for a walk, though it didn’t really help improve his mental state. It was only when he saw Parker sitting on one of the benches, playing around on her wireless laptop, that he knew he really needed to talk to someone. He trusted Parker more than just about anyone; she was his closest friend despite being his little sister. She was so smart and sane and always said the right thing.

"Parker, I’m in trouble," Jack said, seeing no reason not to get straight to the point. "Rose and I kissed and Dad somehow found out. He’s forbidden me from seeing her again."

Parker looked genuinely sorry and sympathetic at the news. "That’s too bad. I like Rose. She seems nice."

"She’s amazing. Parker, I know its nuts, but I think I love her. No, I know I love her. At least, I want to keep seeing her. See if we can’t build something from whatever it is we feel for each other."

Parker laughed.

Jack frowned self-consciously. "What?"

"My big brother in love. I never thought I’d see the day. Honestly, even I was starting to believe that Jack DeWitt-Bukater Gay? story."

"Thanks." Jack pulled a face. "So, what do I do now?"

"Well, when you think about my luck with relationships, I’m not sure if taking my advice is a good idea," said Parker. "But I think you should tell her. Worst happens, you’ve only got a few more days stuck on this hunk of metal and you won’t have to see her again. Not too much embarrassment if she rejects you."

No, Jack supposed. But maybe a little heartache. He liked Rose; he didn’t like the idea that she might reject his proposal of carrying on their…whatever they had after the ship docked. Maybe she was just looking for a vacation fling? Something casual with no strings. It was often hard to tell.

Then there was the fact that his father was forbidding him to even have contact with Rose, let alone become more than friends.

If you disobey my orders, you can consider yourself cut off.

Jack grimaced. He just wouldn’t be able to survive without his father’s money, his family name. He was so used to having everything he wanted handed to him on a silver platter. Ever since the day he was born, he’d been waited on hand and foot, had every materialistic desire made a reality. To suddenly go from having it all to having not a penny to his name would be too much. He just wasn’t brave enough, and knew he never would be. He was a coward, he’d realized that since meeting Rose, and the knowledge made him feel small and pathetic.

But even so, he had to see her again. At least to tell her that he did like her but that he was too afraid of his father’s threats. She would berate him for his cowardliness, he knew, but he was too gentlemanly to keep avoiding her and leave her wondering what went wrong for the rest of her life.

Jack sighed. "If anyone asks, you haven’t seen me and you don’t know where I am."

"Sure," agreed Parker.

Jack left the stateroom and went off in search of Rose. It was hard tracking her down; he couldn’t ask anybody for help because then word could get back to his father, so he had to do it on his own.

It was by pure luck that he found her. She was coming out of the cinema room and literally bumped into him. She looked upset and angry, though Jack had no idea why.

"Rose? I was just looking for you. Are you okay?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"Oh, I’m just peachy," she drawled. "You’re father came looking for me today. He really does think he owns everybody. Tell me, Jack, does he threaten everyone he doesn’t like, or has he just been having a bad day?"

"He threatened you?" Jack shouted, not hiding his outrage. "Are you all right? What did he say?"

"He accused me of being a gold-digging hussy and ordered me to keep away from you," Rose replied.

"Shit…" Jack ran a hand through his hair, showing his stress. "I can’t believe…the bastard. He has no right…"

"Jack, I’m going to be honest. I like you. Quite a lot, actually, despite the fact that we’ve only known each other a few days. I’d like us to keep on being friends, or more, or whatever, but…"

"I would, too. Rose, you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. You’ve helped me see things in a way I never would have before. I want to keep seeing you, too, but…" Jack swallowed, not wanting to admit what he was about to.

"I know you’re afraid of being cut off." Rose finished the sentence for him, somehow knowing what he had been going to say. "I can understand. I don’t agree with it, but I do understand. Your whole life would change. You’d have to work your way up from nothing at all, which would be ridiculously hard for anyone to do. Look, pretend that this doesn’t involve me. Are you happy with your life as it is right now?"

Jack didn’t even pause. "No."

"Do you want to change your life?"

"Yes." Jack wasn’t quite so quick to answer the second question, the response coming out in nervous, slightly uncertain tones.

"Well, you can. Jack, you’re still young. You’re smart. I know it can’t have been just your father’s money that got you into Yale. Someone like you could easily get a job and work your way up from the bottom. It might take a while, but you could do it. You can build yourself a life all of your own if you just took that first step and stopped being so afraid." Rose was lecturing, but in a positive way rather than a nagging one. Jack knew what she was saying was true, but he also knew that someone who’d never had much couldn’t understand what it would be like to go from having the world at your feet to having nothing at all.

"It’s easier said than done…" Jack told her. "And I don’t think I’d be able to do it entirely alone."

Jack looked down as he felt Rose take his hand. When he looked back up, she was staring at him intensely.

"Who said anything about being alone?"

And then she was kissing him. Again. And it was even more beautiful than the first time, and he knew right then that he’d found what he’d been missing all his life.

*****

They laughed as they ran outside onto the deck, neither one caring anymore about being seen together and whatever consequences would come from that. Rose had wanted to see the sunset, and so she would see the sunset. Screw everyone. To her, at that moment, she and Jack and their happiness and dreams were the only people and things that mattered in the whole universe.

The anger that she’d been feeling after her little meeting with George had faded as she realized just what Jack’s feelings for her were, and just how much she needed to help him. She couldn’t explain the need. She felt like she was being like some sort of guardian angel to him, but at the same time she was already realizing that all of this was meant to happen and that she needed to follow what her heart wanted.

And her heart wanted Jack.

She’d had boyfriends before. Quite a few. She was a beautiful girl with flowing red hair and intense hazel eyes; she got a lot of attention. But aside from one boy who she’d thought was her soulmate and who had turned out not to be, she’d never experienced such powerful, needy feelings over anyone like what she was experiencing now for Jack.

"Do you like sunsets?" she asked Jack as they sat together on the same bench where Rose had found him about to commit suicide. Their bench. She couldn’t help thinking of it that way now.

"There’s some great ones in California. I like to watch it from the balcony of our home in the Hollywood Hills, or go to the beaches in Malibu and just sit on the sand. Ever been to California?" he asked her.

"No. My Aunt Jessica lives there, though. She lives in Santa Monica. I think."

"Your aunt’s really your only relative? Haven’t you ever visited her?"

"The last time I saw her, I was barely three years old. I don’t know her at all. I don’t even know what she looks like or even her exact address. She might not even be there anymore, for all I know. Heck, she could even be dead. But I don’t care…she’s never shown any interest in me. Why should I show any in her? And my mom didn’t ever really approve of her anyway. I think she’s a bit of a slut. And very self-centered," Rose explained.

"Damn." Jack laughed and shook his head, bitterly amused. "With my family problems and your family history, it’s a miracle that at least one of us isn’t in some kind of mental institution," Jack said.

Rose looked almost sad then. No, not sad. Guilty. She frowned. "I got you so wrong. Before I met you, I thought you were just some spoiled, shallow bastard with no soul. I’m so glad we met."

Jack smiled. "Me, too."

They smiled at each other, and kissed as the sun began to go down.

*****

Parker was still net surfing when Posey entered their stateroom. Upon her sister’s arrival, Parker put her laptop to one side and stood up from the bed, having wanted to talk to her twin since she’d seen Jack.

"Posey, I need to ask you something," Parker started.

Posey, who had been heading to the wardrobe to change for dinner, stopped walking and turned back. "What?"

"Was it you?"

"Was what me?"

"Was it you who saw Jack with Rose and tipped off Dad about it?" Parker demanded, knowing to follow her instincts and make the accusation. It wouldn’t be the first time Posey had tried to sabotage one of her brother’s relationships.

"I’m just looking out for Jack’s interests. Somebody has to." Posey smiled sweetly, but her act wasn’t fooling anyone.

"Jack’s twenty-three years old. I think he can take care of himself!" retorted Parker.

"Do you want it to be all over the papers that Jack dates trailer trash?" snapped Posey, losing her cool.

"Trailer trash? Dawson? Don’t be ridiculous. Maybe she doesn’t have money or an important last name, but I think she still has class," said Parker, angry at her sister’s attitude.

"She’s a nobody. Think about how it would make us all look," Posey argued.

"I think you’re overreacting. Anyway, lots of celebrities date unknown people these days. It’s not that big a deal. You need to lighten up and lay off, Posey," Parker told her.

"Well, of course you wouldn’t care. You don’t care what anybody thinks of you…that much is obvious from your awful fashion sense," Posey bit back. "If I see Jack with Rose again, I’m gonna tell Dad, and Dad said that if Jack keeps disobeying his requests, he’s slapping Rose with a lawsuit for harassment."

"What?" Parker didn’t hide her fury. She knew what her father could be like, but she’d not heard of anything quite so ridiculous before.

"Dad agrees with me. He thinks Rose is trouble, that she’s a gold digger or looking to make a name for herself by hanging around with Jack. I think he’s right, and if I see Jack with Rose I’m going to tell."

"God. You’re so pathetic, you and Dad. If either of you loved Jack, you’d both leave him alone and let him be with whoever makes him happy. You two are just so shallow." Parker hadn’t been more disgusted at anything in a long time.

"That’s all you’ve got to fire back at me? Aw…you’re really losing your touch, Parker." Posey smirked before leaving the room for the bathroom.

Parker remained where she was for a moment, frowning and trying to work out what to do before leaving the room. She needed to find Jack.

Chapter Eight
Stories