MORE THAN THAT
Chapter Five
September 5, 2003
The Party
Jack arrived with Tommy and Christina to
Marie Jones’ party. They immediately saw Fabrizio and Hannah on the couch. In a
matter of two days of meeting these people, he felt welcome.
"Hey, Jack!" Fabrizio said. Hannah
waved to Jack. "There are plenty of girls here tonight! Pick one! Anyone,
except Christina and Hannah, of course!"
"Don't go looking for Rose, either,
Jack!" Tommy added.
"Who said I was?" Jack asked.
"Your face did," Christina answered
for him. She saw Jack blush when Rose's name was mentioned.
"Come on, babe. Let's go dance!"
Tommy said. He took Christina's hand as they danced to Beyonce's Crazy in
Love.
"Don't worry, Jack! Plenty of girls are
available to dance with. Rose just isn't one of them." Hannah tried
comforting Jack, patting his back. He just smiled at her. Fabrizio and Hannah
left to go dance.
Rose hadn't spoken to Jack today or
yesterday. She hadn't even looked at him. He had noticed the bruise on her arm,
but hadn't said anything.
"Hey! You wanna dance?" a girl with
a soft voice asked. Jack looked up to see a petite girl with brown hair. She
was kind of cute, but not beautiful like Rose.
"Sure," Jack said. The girl smiled,
and they went to go dance.
"I'm Katherine Walker," she said.
"You're in my religion class."
"Oh. Right. Name's Jack Dawson."
Jack wasn't interested. He just danced for the rest of the song.
When it stopped, he went to go sit on the
couch. Tommy and Christina were off making out in a corner of the room. Hannah
and Fabrizio continued to dance. He wished that he was here with Rose. He
wondered where she was, anyway.
Then he caught a glimpse of red hair. There
she stood, in a pair of jeans and a black lace shirt. She was drinking by the
stairs, all by herself. He couldn't help but stare at her. She was so
beautiful.
Jack got off the couch and made his way to
her.
"Hey, Rose." Rose looked at him.
She looked scared.
"Oh, hi," she said weakly.
"You wanna dance?" he asked.
"Oh, I don't know," Rose said. She
looked away from him.
"Come on. Just one dance." Jack
wanted to hold her tightly in his arms.
"Why not?" Rose placed her cup down
on the last step and followed Jack to the middle of the room.
Perfect, Jack thought. A slow song, Right Here Waiting for You, by
Monica came on.
"I can't do this, Jack," Rose said
to him. Her green eyes were wide.
"You're gonna have to get a little bit
closer," Jack said, pulling her closer. His arm was tight around her
waist. "Like this." Jack could smell her hair. It smelled like orchid
blossoms.
Rose pulled her head away from his. They
stared out at each other. Jack got lost in her eyes.
"What do you think you're doing with my
girlfriend?"
*****
Rose heard the familiar voice from behind
her. She closed her eyes tight, recognizing Cal's anger in his voice.
"We were just dancing," she heard
Jack say, sounding a bit frightened.
"Just dancing? I don't think so. Rose!
We're leaving." Cal grabbed Rose's hand and pulled her out of the house.
"What do you think you were doing, you
little slut?" Cal yelled at her in front if his car. He punched her. He
never punched her. He only ever slapped her. Rose's face was turned the other
way, her hand holding her face. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
he commanded.
"Cal, it was nothing!" Rose said.
"I told you not to behave like that
again!" Cal had a tight grasp on her arm.
"Cal, you're hurting me!" Rose
screamed.
"Are you gonna fuck him now? That's all
you are, Rose! A fucking whore!" Cal had her by the throat as she was
pressed down on his car.
"Leave her alone!" She heard Jack.
He had seen everything. Cal turned away from Rose, laughing at Jack.
"I wasn't talking to you, you gutter
rat!" Cal said. "Go back to your sewer."
"Just leave Rose alone!" Jack
pleaded.
"What are you gonna do about it?"
Cal said, mocking Jack. Jack came closer to Cal. "You are a worthless
piece of shit." Jack's face got red. He turned around for a second. Then
he turned back around fast. His fist met with Cal's face. Rose let out a small
cry. She rushed down to Cal's side.
"Rose, I'll have Tommy take you
home!" Jack said.
"No! Stay away!" Rose said.
"Come on! You don't need this!"
Jack said.
"Cal's my boyfriend!" Cal rested
his head in Rose's lap.
"He treats you like shit!" Jack
said.
"Listen, Jack! Stay away from me! Don't
talk to me in school." Her words stung Jack's heart. Jack just sighed and
went back to the party.
Rose tried helping Cal up, but he just pushed
her away. "Get in the car, Rose!" Rose hugged herself and got into
the passenger's seat. Cal started the car and drove off.
"Never let me find you in any contact
with that Jack boy again!" Cal said. Rose held her tears in. She was
really frightened. Things had gone too far.