FEELINGS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Chapter Eight

Two years later, Jack and Rose had tried their best to move on. They had not talked at all since that night in England. He didn’t even go to the award shows, making her think he didn’t want to see her. The movie was successful and won a few awards, but neither Jack nor Rose won anything, though their popularity went sky high. Everybody knew them and what movie they were from. Paparazzi were now a bigger issue for Jack and Rose. They couldn’t even walk a mile without ten camera people following them. Everything Jack feared came true. He was on the front cover of every tabloid. Everything he did, no matter how small an event, would be all over the magazine stands. His relationship with Regina got worse. Nobody left them alone, and the bigger issue was that he didn’t love her. They ended up breaking up, and that was even more pain, as he was on every gossip show.

Rose kept making movies, trying her best to ignore the tabloids. All she wanted to do was make movies, and nothing more. She was tired of hearing her mom telling her to take a break and date someone, so she did. She and Ben started to date, and that was in the news. He was a wealthy movie producer now, and she was a famous actress. It was perfect. It was the perfect relationship. It was a match made in Hollywood heaven. Even though her family was happy and everybody seemed to think it was perfect, Rose couldn’t disagree more. She liked Ben, but she didn’t love him. She had given her heart to someone else, who still seemed to have it. She had given her heart and offered him the best, but he had rejected her and broken her heart. But he still was the one she would give up forever for, the one she loved. No matter what she did, Jack still was the one she loved. Little by little, she had moved on, and lost all hope that there would be anything between them.

One day, Jack woke up and went to shower. He was living alone, and Regina had moved away. Jack had dated a few more girls, adding to his reputation, which was not very good. He thought that by dating different women, he would finally get one out of his mind. He would be seen at clubs and at expensive restaurants with different women. All he was trying to do was fall in love with someone else. He couldn’t stand being in love with someone he wasn’t able to be with. But it never worked. He made another movie, but it wasn’t as successful as his last one. Joe finally got his salary higher, just like he had planned. Of course, now he wanted a raise from Jack, so Jack obliged.

Jack walked into his living room and heard the television on. He got scared. Now he lived alone. He slowly walked into the living room and calmed down as he saw Todd.

"What the hell, Todd?" Jack asked, punching Todd in the arm and sitting down. "How the hell did you get in here?"

"Well, I brought you home yesterday. You don’t remember, because you were completely out, party animal," Todd said. He was eating a bowl of cereal and watching cartoons on the television.

"I thank you for that, but why did you have to stay in my house, eat my food, and watch my TV?" Jack asked.

"Oh, I just wanted to know how it felt to be a millionaire like you, Jack. You live in heaven, rich boy," Todd said with a mouthful of cereal. Jack looked at him, disgusted ,and threw a cushion at him. He grabbed the remote and changed it to the news. "Why are you so depressed, Jack? Only sad people watch the news."

"Oh, shut up. Only lonely people watch cartoons," Jack said, laughing. His laughter stopped when he heard a name coming from the TV. The news was on the celebrity gossip segment. Jack’s eyes were glued to the TV as he heard Rose’s name.

"Well, it seems like we have a happy couple in Hollywood. Yesterday afternoon, actress Rose Bukater became Rose Stone. She married her longtime boyfriend, Ben Stone," the reporter said, and Jack’s heart broke. He was in shock, and Todd quickly realized that this was bad. He knew what Jack was feeling, and it couldn’t be good. Todd could tell by the look in Jack’s eyes as the images of the wedding came on the TV.

"It was a simple but elegant ceremony. Guests included very famous people, including director Randy Peterson, who directed What Do The Stars Say?, a film in which Rose and heartthrob actor Jack Dawson starred. Speaking of Jack Dawson, he was surprisingly not at the wedding. A lot of people say she and Jack became very close friends during production. Well, we wish Rose and Ben the best," the reporter said, and Todd turned the TV off. Jack had the saddest look on his face. He looked like someone had just given him the worst news ever.

"I’m sorry, dude. But learn from Rose. She moved on, and so can you," Todd said. Jack covered his face with his hands. Todd laid a hand on his shoulder and sat next to him. "I’m sorry, dude; I bet it hurts like hell, but that’s love. More pain than happiness," Todd said.

"No. It’s not supposed to be like this. I just fell for the wrong person, or I didn’t choose right that night," Jack said.

"What night?"

"No. Forget it. But I will tell you one thing. Rose, from now on, is out of my heart and out of my head. I’m going to do what she did. I’m going to forget her and live like we never loved at all, like we never loved each other," Jack said, and walked to his bedroom.

*****

Months passed, and Jack’s new movie was making good money and critics loved it, saying it was surely an award winner, not like his last movie. More time passed, and Jack was invited to an award show. He got ready, and Joe and his representative were waiting for him. He walked to the limousine where they were waiting. They got in and headed for the show.

"Well, you finally decided to go to where they invited you and get out of your shell," Joe said. Jack had not been the same lately. He wouldn’t go where they invited him, but he thought he had to get out of his pain.

"Well, I didn’t plan to die alone. Besides, I’m not that bad," Jack said, fixing his tie.

As they got out of the car at the show, women started to scream and yell his name.

"They still love you. Smile and wave," Joe said in Jack’s ear. Jack looked at him and then looked at the crowd. He waved and smiled at them. They went crazier, shouting his name. As they made their way through the cameras and onto the red carpet, Jack posed for the photographers. He gave them his shy smile and walked down the red carpet. He was starting to walk inside the building when he saw someone he didn’t expect to see that night. Rose and Ben were walking towards him. Joe and his representative walked behind Jack. Two bodyguards walked in front. Rose noticed him, as well, and tried not to look at him. As they passed each other, they looked at each other once, and with pain, looked away. They acted like they didn’t know each other, like they had never loved at all, like they had never shared a second in this world. Rose had her arm around Ben, and this crushed Jack even more.

The show went on, and Jack didn’t win, and Rose didn’t, either. The one time their names were announced as nominees, both turned away. As the show ended, Jack quickly left, and Rose and Ben left, as well.

*****

A few days later, Jack decided to lie to his heart a bit. He wanted to stop his hurting.

Rose was in her house when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find two men with their hands full of white roses. They laid them on top of a table, smiled at her, and left. She had no idea who they were from, but she loved them. They were her favorite white roses. Nobody knew that, not even Ben. There was a card on top of the flowers, so Rose picked it up and opened it.

I have missed you. I still miss you. I miss you every day. I miss you every hour, minute, and second. Sorry for all this time. Hope you can forgive me and give me the chance to just be your friend. I would like that, to be your friend again. I remembered what you said about the white roses. I hope you like them.

Love,

Jack

Rose folded the letter, took a rose, and kissed it. She smiled and thought of what Jack had said.

A friend? Friends again? Okay. Anything is better than this loneliness, she thought, and Ben arrived.

"Hey, baby!" he said, and kissed her. "Who sent you all these flowers?" he asked.

"Oh…a friend of mine who I have not spoken to in the longest time gave them to me," she said, hiding the letter from him.

*****

A few days later, Jack and Rose were invited by Randy to the premiere of his new movie. They both accepted, not knowing the other was going.

When they go there, Jack smiled at the cameras, walked into the theater, and saw Rose. He thought of walking the other way, but he decided to end his suffering and lie to himself by just being her friend. This would be much better than not talking to her at all. At least he would be able to see her and laugh with her.

He walked behind her and smiled. "Hey, weirdo," he said. She smiled, knowing it was him. Nobody called her that except him. She turned around, smiling, and looked at him.

"Hey, creep. How are you?" she managed to say.

"Oh…well, I guess I’m a bit tired. I was just on the set of another movie. It’s a violent movie," he said.

"No more romantic movies?" she asked. He looked at her and forced a smile.

"Not for now," he said. They stared at each other for a few seconds. "Listen, Rose, I’m sorry for acting like a complete idiot. I didn’t know what I was doing that night. I just hope you can forgive me and be my friend again. I would really like that," he said, smiling.

"It’s okay, Jack. I have not thought of that night in the longest time," she said, lying.

"Really?" he asked, sounding a bit disappointed. "I mean…oh…okay. So, are we cool? Are we friends again, weirdo?"

"Yes…friends like we used to be. It’s just sad that it took us this long to fix this problem," she said, smiling.

"So, where is your husband? Ben…right?"

"He is on a movie set. Very busy like always. I don’t see him much. Sorry for not inviting you to our wedding, but it was a sudden thing, and I really didn’t know if you wanted to talk to me. But I’m glad we are talking now."

"Don’t worry about it. I really don’t like weddings that much. So, are you thinking of having little Bens and little Roses?" he asked, hoping her answer was no.

"No. Not right now. We both are much too busy with work," she said, and he smiled. "By the way, thank you for the white roses. I loved them. I’m a bit surprised you remembered, but thank you."

"It was my pleasure. Listen. I have to go. I’m going to tell Randy I can’t stay long because of the movie I’m making. But I want you to know that I’m excited that you and I are speaking again. Maybe we can get together again someday. Maybe grab a burger with fries. I don’t know. Whatever you want," he said, smiling.

"Okay, creep. I would like that," she said, smiling, and he hugged her. He hugged her tightly, and she hugged him back and buried her face in his shoulder. He buried his face in her neck. He could smell her perfume.

You’re so beautiful, he thought to himself. They didn’t let go for a while. I love you, but I can’t tell you. I don’t know how, he thought, and let her go. He smiled and started to walk away. He looked back at her and waved. She smiled at him and waved back.

Months passed, and Jack and Rose kept calling each other and talking. This was as close as they could be together. They would be friends and make fun of each other, just like they had done when they were making the movie.

One day, Jack was talking to her when Todd arrived at his house. He walked into the living room, where Jack was sitting.

"Okay. I have to go now, weirdo, but we’ll talk later. All right? Bye," Jack said, and hung the phone up.

"You know, you can only lie to yourself for so long. One day, you are going to explode and spill the beans. Jack, I advise you to stop living a big lie and acting like you only want to be her friend, because you and I know that you would give anything to be with her. You just chose your career over her, and now she is married to another dude. You can’t change that. I don’t know if that was a huge mistake that you made by choosing your career over her, but now it’s killing you. You should have been like those celebrities that just don’t care and date whoever," Todd said.

"No, but you’re right. I feel like I’m dying little by little, but talking to her and pretending like everything is all right is slowing down my death. I could live for a while just by hearing her voice. I know I’m lying to myself, but sometimes it’s easier to live with a lie. The truth hurts," Jack said, and lay back.

"Whatever makes you a little happier. If you had the chance, would you go back in time and change your choice? Would you choose Rose over what people think or say?" Todd asked, and Jack stayed quiet. He just closed his eyes and thought of how different things would be if he had chosen differently that night.

Chapter Nine
Stories