SWEET INNOCENCE
Chapter One

Jack wandered through the halls of Harrison High School. He was new to town and was looking for his first class. English Literature 101. He passed down the hall and followed the numbers, searching for room 45. He stopped, opened the door, and went inside. Class had already begun. He gave his note to the teacher.

"Hello, Mr. Dawson. Nice to meet you," Ms Landers said.

"Nice to meet you, too, Ms. Landers." Jack smiled.

"Rose DeWitt-Bukater, raise your hand," Ms. Landers called out. "You can sit behind her, Jack." The teacher pointed.

"All right." He followed her down the aisle to the chair behind Rose.

His first impression about her was that heaven had sent him an angel. She had beautiful red locks, a luscious figure, and a pretty face.

He smiled at her, but he doubted if she noticed him at all. He sat behind her, blushing like a young schoolboy.

"Hey, you!" someone called from across the aisle.

"My name’s Jack," he said.

"Sorry for being so rude, Jack. Can you pass this to Rose?" She smiled at him.

He grabbed the note and tapped Rose on the back.

"Excuse me. This is for you," he whispered.

She turned around, looking him in the eyes, unable to stop staring at him. He was Romeo to her Juliet.

She got the note from his hand, pulled it away, and turned around, trying not to be so obvious.

She opened the note. Inside, it said, Rose, we found our Romeo. Look behind you!

Rose smiled. She knew exactly what Cara was thinking--the same thing she was.

Rose turned around to face Jack.

"Excuse me. You’re Jack, right?" she asked.

"Right." He smiled.

"I was wondering--have you ever acted?" She was curious about him.

"Well, somewhat. Why?" he asked.

"Because we need a Romeo for the school play. Can you help us out?" Rose decided to ask anyway, even if he rejected her.

He thought about it.

"Sure. I would love to help." He smiled again at her. What was it about her that made him smile so much? he wondered.

When the bell rang, Rose directed him to her drama class.

It was funny, because Drama was his next class.

"All right, class. Please calm down," called Ms. Summers.

"Ms. Summers, we found our Romeo." Rose raised her hand.

"Good job, Rose. Where is this young man?" the teacher asked.

"I am right here, Ms. Summers." Jack raised his hand.

Ms. Summers got Jack’s hand and led him to the stage.

"Do you know Shakespeare, Jack?" She had to ask.

"Yes. Of course, Ms. Summers. Who’s Juliet?" Jack asked.

"Rose DeWitt-Bukater," the teacher told him.

Jack’s day had never gotten better than this. He was amazed that he would get to share such a romantic scene with this girl that he hardly knew.

Rose positioned herself away from Jack, starting the scene.

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo? Oh, be some other name. What is a Montague? It is not hand nor foot nor any other part belonging to a man. Oh, Romeo." She sighed.

"Then let me renounce my name," he spoke.

Rose got scared and almost fell. He caught her. She looked into his eyes.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yes, Jack. I am fine." She blushed.

"Good work. Jack, Rose, I need you to practice every day after school," Ms. Summers said when the bell rang.

"All right, Ms. Summers." Rose smiled at Jack. She would be glad to practice with this guy. He was handsome. How much luckier could she get?

"All right. Class dismissed." The class had left before she said it.

"Jack, can we discuss how we are gonna do this?" Rose asked as she got her backpack.

"Sure, Rose. You have any engagements now?" He picked up his backpack and took out his keys.

"No. I am heading home now." She smiled at him yet again.

"Want a ride? I brought my car." He figured he would get to know her and ask her if she would like to get to know him as well. That was why he had offered.

"You have a car?" She was surprised.

"Yeah. I am eighteen. What about you, Rose? Can you drive?" he asked.

"No, not yet. I will be seventeen next week." She wondered if someone like him had a girlfriend.

"So, do you want a ride?" he offered her again.

"Yeah. Just hold on." Rose had to tell Cara.

Rose went over to a group of girls near her locker.

"Hey, Cara. Look who’s taking me home." She pointed.

"Who? The new guy?" Cara guessed.

"Yeah." Rose felt like something had clicked when she met Jack.

"No way," Cara said.

"Yes way." Rose laughed.

"Oh, cool. Go for him, Rose. I bet he is single." Cara wished that Rose had someone like Jack so she could get rid of Cal once and for all.

"Well, see you. Call you later, Cara. Bye," Rose said, and left.

Rose ran back to Jack. He walked to his car and held the door open for her. She wondered how he could afford this expensive car.

When he got inside and turned on his favorite radio station, Rose knew that they were meant to be.

Her favorite song came on, and she stared at Jack.

She leaned over, looking at him.

"So, where’s your house at?" he asked.

"Take me to your house, Jack, so we can practice." She said so candidly.

She didn’t have to say it twice for him. He knew exactly what she felt, because he felt it, too.

When he got home, he opened the door.

"Sorry it’s a mess in here. I am still unpacking." He led the way for her.

"You live alone?" she asked, wondering if he was available.

"Yeah."

"Gosh, Jack. How do you afford this?" She hadn’t wanted to ask him so harshly.

"I don’t, Rose. My father is in real estate. He bought this home for me. He told me that since he is always out on business, I should have my own place. That’s why I moved here. He had a sweet deal on this place, and he gave me the car, too." Jack noticed a change in her face.

"Wow, Jack. You’re lucky," she said.

"Hardly, Rose. I am often lonely in this big house all alone. Well, Rose, I guess we could practice here in the living room, since this is the cleanest area." He changed the subject.

"All right."

He sat on the couch near her.

"Rose, it is true. I have never seen true beauty until this night." He stared into her eyes.

"Huh? Jack Dawson, are you making a move on me?" she asked, smiling like he was her king.

"If I did, would it be okay, Rose?" he asked.

"Yes, Jack. I am not seeing anyone. Put your lips on me, Jack." Her eyes gleamed with seduction.

He looked into her eyes in a serious state and kissed her.

He laid her back onto the couch, never breaking contact while he kissed her.

When he let her breathe, she spoke.

"Jack, I’ve never done this before," she let out.

"Believe me, Rose. Neither have I. You might think it is impossible for a man to be a virgin, but I swear with all my being that I am." He told her the truth. He didn’t want to be a man and lie.

"You’re a virgin?" She was surprised.

"Yes, Rose. I have never been with a woman at all. In fact, you are the first that I have kissed." He swore he never had.

"May I say you do a mighty good job of it?" Rose let him know how his kiss had affected her.

"Thank you. Have you had any boyfriends, Rose?" He had to ask.

"Mother forbids me to see anyone except for Caledon Hockley. He is such a pig."

"Has he tried to make you have sex with him?" He wondered about her.

"Somewhat. He makes advances, but he’s never forced me." She had never let Cal touch her.

"I see. Are you seeing him now?" He wanted Rose badly.

"No, Jack. I am free." She wanted him, too.

"Would you mind if I kissed you again?" He had to ask. He didn’t want to scare her.

"No, Jack. I would love it." She looked into his eyes.

He was kissing her when something hurt her back.

She pushed Jack up.

"Did I do something wrong, Rose?" He was afraid that she had gotten scared of him.

"No, Jack. There’s something hitting my back."

He looked under the cushion, and there was his cell phone.

"My cell phone. Thanks for finding it, Rose."

"Jack, where’s your bedroom?" She looked at him seriously.

"Why?" he asked.

"I think it would be more comfortable to be in there." She wanted him inside her.

"You really wanna go in there?" he asked again, making sure that she wanted to do this.

"Yes." She licked her lips.

"All right, Rose."

He took her to his bedroom.

He still had the phone when it rang. He answered it.

"Hello. Jack Dawson here." He paused and decided to see who it was.

"Hello, Jack. It’s Dad. How is the house?" his father asked.

"Just fine, Dad. When will you be here?" Jack noticed that Rose had found the bathroom.

"Not until tomorrow, son. I will help you paint the house, too," Michael Dawson said.

"Thanks, Dad. Have a good one," Jack said, waiting for Rose to come out.

"You too, Jack," Michael said.

Jack set the phone down.

Rose appeared. "Who was that, Jack?"

"Ah…it was just my father. He says he’s coming over tomorrow to help me paint this rut." Jack had gotten startled when she came out.

"It’s not a rut, Jack. Far from it, I would say." She liked the place.

"I gather you like this place," he said.

"Like, Jack, is not the word for it." She played with his feelings, intending to talk about him and not the house.

Chapter Two
Stories