FEELINGS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Chapter Seventeen

Rose looked at the phone and thought for a long time. What if Mandy answers? It was pretty late, and what if she was bothering him? She made up her mind, grabbed the phone, and dialed his number.

Jack sat up as the phone started to ring. He looked at the name. It was Rose. He looked towards the bathroom, where Mandy was taking a shower. He quickly stood up and walked to the living room.

"Hello," he said, and she didn’t say anything at first. "Rose, are you there?"

"Jack…"

"Yeah. It’s me. Are you okay, Rose? You sound down," he said, and she smiled, knowing he always knew her well.

"I’m okay…I guess. Samuel left, and we didn’t have a good talk. We argued…I guess what I’m trying to say is I miss you," Rose said, and she felt her eyes filling with tears.

"Oh, Rose…I miss you, too."

"I’m tired of this, Jack. No matter what I do, it’s always the same, and I don’t want it to be this way!" she cried.

"What do you mean?"

"I don’t want to love you anymore. Time has not managed to help me get rid of your memory. You haunt my thoughts, and it hurts because I can’t be with you. I can’t find a way into something new. I’m always reminded of what could have been with you, and his touch isn’t love. I can’t stand being with him and thinking of you. It’s just not fair to him, and not fair to me. Whatever happens, I know I’m going to start thinking of you again. I need to fall in love with someone else! But I can’t…I can’t!" she cried, and he could hear her crying. His eyes watered. His heart ached. He didn’t say anything, and just stayed quiet. He just heard her cry. Then, after a moment, he spoke.

"Rose…we are so stupid," he said.

"What?"

"We are so stupid. Why are we going through this? Why can’t we find a way to be together? We have other partners, but we wish to be together. I…I love you, Rose. Please don’t stop loving me," he said sadly.

"But I need to, Jack, or I’m never going to be happy. I need to," she said, and slowly hung up. Jack put the phone down and looked down. He felt as if he were in a box, stuck and not knowing what to do.

The next morning, as he was getting ready to leave, Mandy walked to the door with three suitcases. Jack looked at her, confused.

"I thought you said you weren’t going to travel anymore," he said, and she looked down.

"I’m not…I’m moving out," she said, and he looked at her, confused.

"Why?" he asked, worried.

"Jack, you and I know this is never going to work out. I’m too busy and into my job. I can’t have this responsibility of calling you and coming home when…"

"When you really don’t want to and you only do it because it’s a responsibility!" he said angrily.

"Jack, I just can’t stay. I’m at the top of my career!" she said, and he nodded.

"Are you breaking up with me?" he asked, and she nodded.

"Sort of…"

"Sort of…I’m taking that as a yes!" he yelled. Somehow he was only yelling for show. He didn’t know why, but he was glad it was finally over. She opened the door.

"It was great, Jack. I’m just sad it couldn’t go on," she said.

"You are the one who ended it," he said, and she smiled.

"I have to go, Jack," she said, and he offered to help with the luggage. As she got into her car, he walked to her window. "I’m glad there were no tears. I don’t like dramatic crap," she said, and he just shook his head. "Jack…why don’t you find yourself a nice girl? Someone like Angie?" she asked, and he looked at her, confused.

"Who is Angie?" he asked.

"Ha! Rose Bukater in What Do the Stars Say? The cheesiest movie ever, but I loved it. I always thought you and she made a nice couple, or at least a movie couple. It was as if I could feel your love. It was amazing," she said, and he smiled. "By the way, Jack, that is my only favorite movie of yours!" she said, and started the car.

"What? My other movies suck?"

"No. I only like chick flicks, and you haven’t made another one!" she said, and smiled. He stepped away. "Bye!"

"Bye," he said. She left, and just like that, it was over.

*****

Jack went to his agent and publicist to meet with them about an award show. Sofia, his agent, and Joe, his publicist, were waiting for him. When Jack arrived, Joe noticed a big smile on his face.

"What is up with you? Your model give you some last night?" Joe asked rudely.

"No! Isn’t that great?" Jack asked, and both Sofia and Joe looked at him, confused.

"Okay. In my day, sex was good…it was a good thing, Jack!" Joe said, and Jack laughed.

"She broke up with me!" Jack said, excited, and hugged Joe.

"Mandy? Mandy broke up with you? What the hell?"

"I think she doesn’t like me anymore. I’m happy!" Jack said, and Sofia laughed.

"Right…" Joe said, still confused. "Well, Jack, let’s hope that doesn’t go to the press. Now, if we can talk about your career for a change…the British movie awards are coming up, and you are currently invited!" he said in an English accent.

"Okay. When is it?" Jack asked.

"Next week. It’s going to be great. I already have the apartment reserved, and a car…"

"Um…did I say I wanted to go?" Jack asked, and Joe and Sofia stayed quiet. "I’m just kidding, people. Cheer up! So, I have to find a suit and someone to go with…Joe, honey!" Jack said, and Sofia started to laugh.

"Jack, quit! Will you be serious for once?" Joe asked.

*****

The week passed. Rose didn’t call Jack again, and he began to worry. He called her, got her voice mail, and didn’t know what else to do. He arrived in England with Joe and Sofia.

"All right, Jack. We are heading to where you are going to stay," Sofia said while they were riding in the car. Jack looked out his window.

"How about we have a bite to eat first? I’m starving!" Jack said.

"You just ate on the plane!" Joe said.

"So? I’m hungry!" Jack said.

"We don’t have time. Besides, you have an interview in two hours!" Joe yelled.

"Look, they can wait. I’m starving. Besides, it isn’t going to take that long," he said, and Joe looked at him.

"Fine. Where to, your majesty?"

"How about a burger?"

*****

At the restaurant, Jack looked around. It was a fancy place, like all the ones he was accustomed to.

"Are you sure they have burgers here?" Jack asked, and Joe rolled his eyes. "I mean, they’d better have huge ass burgers, like in the commercials!" Jack yelled, and Sofia smiled.

"Jack, we are not at Taco Bell. You might want to lower your voice!" Joe said.

"Taco Bell? Do they sell burgers at Taco Bell?" Jack asked sarcastically, and Sofia laughed. After Jack ate, he sat just sat there while Joe talked to the interviewer, knowing they were probably going to be late. Jack looked around while playing with the salt shaker. He felt someone near him.

"Well, look who it is. Jack Dawson!" she said, and he looked at her in shock.

"Regina?" he asked, surprised.

"Yep. So, where is your annoying agent?" she asked, and he stood up.

"He is making phone calls...but what about you? I haven’t seen you in years, or talked to you," he said, and she smiled.

"Oh, I have been modeling here in Europe. I live here, actually," she said, and he smiled.

"Well, do you want to sit down with me?" he asked, and she agreed. They sat down, and Jack looked at her and smiled. "You haven’t changed," he said.

"You haven’t changed, either! You look like a twelve-year-old boy, or like that magazine said, a twelve-year-old girl," she said, laughing.

"Ha ha! Very funny. I see you still make fun of my baby face, but I have facial hair now!" he said, smiling, and she laughed.

"So, why are you so lonely? No girl for womanizer Jack Dawson? I’m shocked!" she said.

"Oh, being alone helps sometimes," he said, thinking about Rose.

"Have you talked to Rose?" she asked, and he looked at her, confused.

"No, not really. Why would I?"

"I don’t know…you two were friends. I watched a movie of hers a few days ago. She is great. I was also thinking back to when we were in high school. I was a horrible friend," she said.

"I take that back. You have changed," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"You are definitely more mature. Not that you weren’t…"

"It’s okay. I know what you mean. It’s funny how one heartbreak can change you and leave you a deep scar," she said, and he looked down. "Jack, I know…I knew you stopped loving me. I know you loved someone else," she said.

"What?"

"Every time she would come on television and every time you saw her at award shows, I knew it by the look on your face. I always wondered why you didn’t get together with Rose," she said.

"She was married once, and she is going to be married again. It’s very simple," he said.

"So, I was right," she said, and he shook his head. "Don’t worry. I don’t cry for you, Jack Dawson. You aren’t that hot!" she said, and he smiled.

"I’m not?"

"Nah, but I will tell you one thing. The times we were together…good times," she said. "So, are you over Rose, like I’m over you?" she asked.

"Not even close!" he said.

"It’s funny how a womanizer like you, Jack, can be killed by one girl and one love. Ha! Well, I have to go, Jack. I sure do hope you get over Rose. It must suck that she is going to marry another dude," she said, standing up.

"Thanks for putting it so nicely," he said, smiling.

"So, are you going to the award show?"

"Yeah."

"Well, see you there, friend…" she said, smiling.

"Friends? You want to be my friend after all I did to you? You want to be my friend?" he asked.

"Sure…but this isn’t MySpace. I can’t just delete you," she said, and he laughed. "That was lame," she said, walking away.

"I agree," he said, and she laughed. As he sat there, he noticed the paparazzi. "Oh, shit…go away," he said.

*****

After the interview, Jack went to his hotel room to get some sleep before the award show. As he walked to his room, he noticed a blonde-haired girl standing in front of a door, trying to find her key. He walked to her, and he knew he was right. It was Rose. He smiled and slowly approached her.

"Rose…" he said, and she quickly looked at him.

"Jack?"

"Yep…" he said, smiling.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I’m here for the award ceremony. What about you?"

"Same…I thought you were stalking me," she said, and he smiled.

"Nah. I wouldn’t go that far. Well…" he said, and she managed a smile. "Well, she smiles!"

"Oh, hush," she said, and then looked down. "About that last call we had--look, Jack. I’m sorry…"

"About what? We all need to talk, don’t we?" he asked, and she shook her head. "Guess who I saw today?"

"Um…I have no idea."

"Regina."

"Great. That makes me feel better. Knowing you talked to your ex-girlfriend doesn’t help my cold, Jack," she said, then sneezed.

"She says hi. You should see her. She is very different…you’re cold?" he asked, and she rolled her eyes.

"You still don’t listen to me, Jack. This country is too damned cold!" she said, and he smiled.

"I was just kidding…so, where is the lucky guy…Sam…Sammy…Samantha…"

"Samuel!" she said, and he laughed. "He is back in the states, doing another movie."

"So, you are alone?" he asked, and she looked at him.

"Yes. Well, my publicist is in the other room," she said, finally finding her key. She started to open the door. "Well, Jack, how long do you plan to stay here?"

"After the awards, I’m leaving."

"Oh…"

"Yep…" he said, and there was a long silence.

"Well, I have to go, Jack…" Rose said nervously. She was starting to walk into her room when Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her next to him. He put his hands on her face and neared his lips to hers. She kissed him, and he kissed her back. She let go of him and looked into his eyes. "Jack…I can’t do this..."

"Why?"

"Two simple reasons…I have a fiancé, and I have a cold. I don’t want to get you sick," she said, and he smiled.

"Oh, I don’t care about the cold," he said, and kissed her again. She let go of him.

"Jack."

"Yeah…"

"Is this considered cheating?" she asked, and he laughed.

"I would say yes. With my intentions, it’s cheating…big time!" he said.

"What are your intentions?" she asked, smiling. She didn’t care anymore; she was so tired of pretending.

"Well, I can tell you they don’t involve talking," he said, and kissed her again, but this time he made sure she didn’t let go of him. They walked into her room, but what they didn’t notice was that the same paparazzo who was following Jack at the restaurant was photographing them.

They closed the door behind them and lay on her bed. They kissed and kissed until Jack started to take her clothes off. She unbuttoned his shirt, and he started to kiss her neck when she stopped him. A strong sense of guilt filled her mind.

"Jack…Jack…Jack, stop!" she managed to say. He looked at her and sat up when he noticed she didn’t look to be in the mood anymore. He buttoned his shirt up, and she sat up. Her shirt was half off, and she fixed it.

"Let me guess…Samuel?" he asked angrily, and she looked down. "Well, that was exciting…too bad it ended!" he said, standing up.

"Well, what about Mandy?"

"It’s over!" he yelled.

"You broke up with her?"

"No. More like she dumped me. I was slowing down her career!" he expressed.

"Oh, I’m…sorry."

"Are you just coming up with excuses not to be with me? I mean, you did in the past, and now you just won’t give in! I thought you were down in the gutter like me, Rose!"

"Don’t exaggerate. We do movies, not soap operas," she said, and he smiled. "But Samuel…"

"Screw Samuel…not literally…I’m sure he is a nice guy and all, but you don’t love him!" he yelled, and she stood up.

"Why do we even bother? We argue too much, and you don’t understand me!" she yelled.

"Rose…what do I have to do?"

"Jack, answer me this…if we weren’t who we are…you know…actors…would you be afraid to be with me?"

"I’m here begging you to be with me! What more proof do you want?"

"Would you stop hiding and be my date tomorrow for the award show?" she asked, and he looked down. "Will you give up your perfect image…your non-scandalous image just to love me?" she asked, and he stayed quiet.

"Why do we have to tell people?"

"Because we can’t hide, Jack. I don’t care what they know or think, but it seems like you do," she said, and stood up. "And besides, it’s all too late…I’m engaged, Jack." He walked to the door.

"Fine…marry that Sam guy, but you know and I know that you don’t love him…you love me," he said, and left. Rose fell on her bed and buried her face in her pillow.

*****

The next morning, the phone rang and woke Jack up. He sat up and looked at his cell phone. He had five missed calls, all from Joe. He quickly answered.

"Hello?"

"Jack, what in the hell is wrong with you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You have ruined everything we have worked for!"

"Okay…what in the hell are you talking about?"

"Get to my room right now!" Joe said, and hung up. Jack walked to his room, which was a floor down. As he walked, a maid smiled at him strangely, and another man did, as well. As he passed the building’s main doors, he noticed a large crowd of photographers outside. The building’s security was holding them back.

"What is going on?" Jack asked himself, and walked faster to Joe’s room. When he got there, he noticed Sofia on two phones, almost yelling. Joe was by the window when he noticed Jack.

"Jack! Get over here and look at this!" Jack walked to him as Joe pointed outside. There were more photographers.

"What are they doing here?" Jack asked, confused.

"You are the reason!" Joe yelled angrily.

"What?"

"This morning, all of the British newspapers and gossip magazines had you on the cover! Had you on the cover with Rose Bukater!"

"What?"

"Apparently you spent the night with her! They have pictures of you going into her room!" Joe yelled.

"How did they get that?"

"So, it’s true?"

"No. I mean, yes…but we didn’t do anything," Jack said.

"It doesn’t matter. The press is going to chew you up and spit you out with those pictures. You can’t go to this award show!"

"No. I’m invited and presenting, and besides, wouldn’t it make it worse if I don’t show up? I’m not a coward!" Jack said, walking away.

"Yes, Jack, but you don’t understand…all the attention will be on you! Some American magazines already have the pictures…Jack…I just don’t know what to do," Joe said, frustrated. Sofia decided not to answer the phones anymore.

"Jack, I don’t know what else to tell them. They want to know why you were in Rose’s room! I…give up. You really got yourself into some trouble now," Sofia said, and Jack looked down.

"What? Is it such a crime to talk to her and even like her?" Jack yelled.

"Not when she is engaged, Jack!" Joe said.

"So? She wasn’t ten years ago! I give up, as well," Jack said, walking out. He wrapped a sweater around his face and walked to her room. He knocked and knocked, but nobody answered.

"She left this morning…way before anybody woke up….it looks like she got the news before anybody else did," a man who was cleaning the carpet said, and Jack looked at him, then his slowly took out his cell phone and dialed her number, but she didn’t answer.

"Shit…" he said angrily, walked to his room, and locked the door.

*****

Rose sat in a café with a hat all the way down, trying her best to hide her face. Tears fell from her eyes. She didn’t care that everybody thought she had been with Jack, but Samuel had found out. He had ended everything…he had sworn not to talk to her ever again. She cried and cried, not knowing what to do. Her phone rang, and saw the name Weirdo. She ignored the call. She lay it down in front of her, and it rang again. It was her publicist.

"Rose, you know you have to go tonight, or the press will eat me up. Just clear everything up and say it was just two friends meeting."

"It’s not that easy…everything has gone wrong…"

"Rose, just go. Everything will be all right. Trust me…something might happen at this award show, and you will miss it," she said, trying to cheer her up.

*****

Night came, and Jack arrived at the award show. The cameras flashed over and over in his face. Joe walked to him and whispered in his ear, "I told you this was a bad idea!"

"Don’t worry. Just avoid everybody and ignore them," Jack said, and kept walking along the red carpet.

"Damned English…" Joe whispered.

"Hey, I happen to like England," Jack said. Jack stopped a few times for the fans and the cameras, but didn’t answer the popular question. Where is Rose?

*****

Rose arrived, as well, without even looking at the cameras, and just walked into the building. She sat down at an elegant table with her head down. After what seemed an eternity, the show began. A comedian was hosting the show, and Jack knew some jokes were going to be aimed at him. He looked around, trying to find Rose, until a light blue dress caught his attention. It was her. He looked at her, and he could tell she was devastated, but she looked beautiful. He stared at her until the comedian said his name.

"Just don’t get up and start kicking his ass," Joe whispered in his ear.

"Well, did you people hear the latest on Jack Dawson, the great American hunk? Well, it seems the lucky guy finally made it with the only woman he couldn’t get, and he even pretended to love her in a movie. He finally said…why not in real life?" he said, and the room filled with laughter. Jack looked at Rose, who looked worse after his comments. "But Rose Bukater is beautiful!" he said, and everybody applauded as if they agreed. "Again…Jack, you lucky dog!" the man said, and again the room filled with laughter. Rose couldn’t take it anymore, and stood, ready to leave. Jack stood up and followed her. Outside, Joe grabbed Jack, stopping him. Sofia walked up behind Joe.

"If you go after her, all of this is over. You can kiss your image and me good-bye!" Joe said quietly.

"Okay…one thing…I don’t want to kiss you, Joe…but…hey, I’m such a nice guy, I’ll give you the choice…do you want to be fired, or do you want to quit?" Jack asked, smiling, and walked off.

"What? Jack, I made you into the superstar that you are…you can’t just fire me!" Joe yelled.

"I just did, but thanks anyway!" Jack yelled back sarcastically, and Sofia laughed.

Jack saw her walking and ran to her. They were some distance from the award show.

"Rose!" he yelled, and she stopped.

"Jack, please…don’t make this any worse," she said, and started to walk away, but stopped again when she noticed a dozen paparazzi following them.

"I have to talk to you!" Jack yelled.

"Really? Well, do you want to do it front of all these cameras?" she yelled sarcastically as the cameras flashed and a cameraman filmed them. He was quiet for a while. He stared at all the cameras. She shook her head and started to walk away again, but he stopped her.

"You look beautiful tonight!" he finally yelled. She stopped and looked at him.

"You look handsome yourself."

"Rose…I know this isn’t the perfect movie ending, and I’m no hero, even though I play one in movies…but this is all I have. I don’t care about the cameras or nosy gossip people. Not anymore. When I first pushed you away…I thought I was doing the right thing…what was right for me and for my career. Even though I have won awards and I have a lot of money…this sucks," he said, and she looked at him sadly. "I miss you, Rose…I…I don’t want you to push me away like I did to you once. I…" he said, and looked around and took a deep breath. "I love you, Rose…please…" he said, and she smiled, tears coming from her eyes. He slowly walked to her and lay a hand on her face.

"I love you, too…damn, I do!" she said, and he smiled.

"Creep…" he said, and she smiled.

"Weirdo…" she said, and he laughed. The photographers looked at them, confused, but they just ignored them. He wrapped his arms around her and just stared at her for a while. She smiled. "Kiss me already, you idiot!" she said, and he laughed and kissed her. The flash of the cameras lighted them.

"No more calling at midnight!" he said, and she laughed and hugged him. "Is this a good happy ending story?" he asked, and she smiled.

"Better…because it’s not ending!" she said, and he kissed her again. The next morning, their picture together came out in all of the newspapers, magazines, and news shows. Judy, Rose’s makeup artist, smiled at the picture and thought, About time! Regina thought the same, and Mandy did, as well. Maybe the whole world who saw them together in the film and in real life thought the same. Jack and Rose were not seen for months to come. Sofia, Jack’s publicist, answered all the questions about them with, "They are living their own love story now. Away from all of this…I love these kind of movies. This one doesn’t end with credits…it keeps going! Isn’t this just a great happy ending? Just like in the movies!"

The End.

Stories