JACK AND ROSE: PRESENT TIME
Chapter Sixty-Eight

Rose opened her eyes to the fresh air and sunshine of her backyard. She looked over at Jack who was still taking his nap. They were both lying in their big hammock. Rose thought her backyard was such a beautiful place.

She had to admit, yesterday was fun. Even though the rides were scary, she was glad that she went. It did make her take her mind off of her problems. Rose leaned over and took a drink of her lemonade. Then, she felt someone poking her feet.

She turned back over and watched Jack's eyes flutter open. She smiled at the man she loved, and he returned the smile. "Hey angel," Jack said as he let out a yawn.

"Hey yourself," Rose replied as she kissed his lips.

"I had the most weirdest dream," Jack said as he pulled Rose closer to him.

"What was it about?" Rose asked as she ran her fingers through his blonde hair, like she often did.

Jack smiled. "It was so strange. All I can remember is both of us being stuck behind a gate..."

Rose laughed. "What kind of a gate?"

"I dunno," Jack replied. "You know that I'm constantly having weird dreams."

Rose shrugged. "Isn't it peaceful out here?"

Jack kissed her on the top of her head. "Yep. I could stay this way forever."

Rose was happiest when she was with Jack. He made her feel a way that no one else on the earth could. She was so glad she had him. She would never know what she would do without him.

"Jack..." Rose mumbled. "Can I ask you something?"

Jack smiled. "Of course, honey."

Rose started to giggle. She couldn't bring herself to ask Jack this question. She had been wanting to ask him the day she saw his first drawing. "Have you ever drew anyone...nude?"

"Why?" Jack asked with a mischievous grin.

Rose shrugged her shoulders with a smile. "Just wondering..."

"Not yet," he replied.

Was he thinking the same thing she was? She hoped he was. She had always wanted this. "Do you wanna?" Rose asked with a shy face.

"Of course...that would be great."

Rose smiled and pulled Jack out of the hammock. "Now?" Jack asked with a laugh.

She pulled him into the house. They both ran up to Rose's bedroom. Rose wanted this to be perfect. She knew Jack was a fantastic artist. Rose was glad she finally got up the courage to ask him. She could hardly wait!

"I gotta go get my stuff," Jack said. "I'll be right back."

As Jack walked out of the room Rose got undressed. The only thing she had on was her promise ring Jack had gotten her. Rose took her hair out from her braid and let her curls fall freely down her back.

Jack came back into the room and smiled. After locking the door, he took a seat on Rose's baby blue chair. He told her to lie down on the bed.

"I'm telling ya Rose," Jack said. "I could draw you naked with my eyes close."

Rose giggled. "But I like it better this way, anyway," Jack commented. "Try to relax your face," Jack said. "No laughing."

His eyes were so concentrated. Rose loved watching him work. She could watch him draw for hours. She knew he was going to be a famous artist someday. He was only sixteen and he was so awesome.

Finally, Jack finished. Rose put her robe on and leaned over Jack's shoulder. "It's perfect. Thank you."

Jack kissed Rose passionately. Seeing her like that turned him on. Now that his drawing was over, he could concentrate on how good she looked. "What do ya want to do now?"

Rose smiled. "You probably already know."

She pulled him closer and kissed him. They both heard the phone ring. Rose groaned and broke the kiss. She ran to the other side of the room and picked up the phone. "Hello? Hey Fabri. Now? Umm okay. Bye."

"Long conversation," Jack said with a laugh.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Everyone's meeting at the pier in five minutes."

Jack wrapped his arms around her, again. "Do we have to go?"

"Come on," Rose said. "We need to get out. We've been here all day. There will be plenty of time for the nice stuff later tonight."

Jack smiled. "I was hoping."

They took Rose's jeep to the pier. They got out of their car and met their four friends. "Hey you two," Alexia said as they approached them.

"Hello."

"So...what are we gonna do tonight?" Dominique asked.

Everyone kind of shrugged.

"I say that we all just go somewhere and talk," Fabrizio said.

"Like," Tommy said. "We never do that."

"Do you guys just wanna come to our house and watch movies or whatever?" Rose asked.

Everyone finally agreed to go to Jack and Rose's house. When they got there, Ruth greeted them at the door.

"Hello kids," she said as they came through the door.

"Hey Mrs. D," Tommy said.

Ruth liked how laid back these boys were. She used to hate Tommy and Fabrizio. But, she knew they were good guys. She was just glad Jack and Rose had such good friends that would always be there.

Ruth smiled. "Hello Mr. Ryan."

"Mom," Rose said. "We'll be upstairs."

"Okay," Ruth replied. "I'm gonna be leaving for work soon. I'll be back before eleven."

"Okay, mom. Have a good night," Rose said.

They all walked up to Jack's room. "Where's your Nintendo 64?" Tommy asked as he looked around Jack's room.

"Oh," Jack said. "It's in Rose's room. We were playing last night. We can go play it in there."

Tommy and Fabrizio raced across the hall and into Rose's room. The three girls rolled their eyes and followed Jack into the room, also.

Once they got there, they noticed Fabrizio and Tommy starring at something. What was it? Then...realization sunk in. Jack and Rose immediately knew what it was. The drawing!

Jack tried to grab it from Tommy's hands, but he couldn't. Fabrizio and Tommy didn't say anything, they just starred. "Wow," Fabrizio commented. "I guess they are real."

Rose grabbed the drawing. "Of course they're real!"

Dominique and Alexia tried to see what Rose had. "What is it?" Alexia asked.

"It's a drawing of Rose naked," Tommy said with a laugh. "They have way to much time on their hands."

Rose covered her face with embarrassment. "Can I see it again?" Fabrizio asked.

"No!" Jack said.

"I didn't even get to see!" Dominique said.

"Let's just drop it," Rose said. "It's not a big deal."

After a while, the guys were playing video games, and the girls were painting their nails. The girls looked up when they heard Tommy scream. Tommy dropped the control, mad. "I can't believe Fabrizio beat me. Fabrizio!"

"Hang your head in shame," Dominique said as she finished painting her last toe.

Chapter Sixty-Nine
Stories