THESE ARE THE TIMES
Chapter Seven
The next day, Rose sat in the
school library, pretending to study while daydreaming about Jack, when Sam and
Kat joined her.
"Okay. What was this about
you and Jack being an item?" Sam demanded. "I want the details."
"There are no details. He
asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. That’s all."
Rose shrugged.
"And yesterday they spent
the day together." Kat looked over at Sam.
"We went for a swim in my
pool and watched a movie. Big deal." Rose rolled her eyes at her friends
insistence on knowing every interesting aspect of her life. "How about
you, Kat? You and Cal still on?"
"Of course. How about that
date with Jack’s friend for Sam?"
"What? You guys, I don’t
know…" Sam stuttered.
"Come on, Sam. You’ve seen
Tommy! He’s hot. Not as hot as Jack, but hot." Rose laughed. "And
he’s nice, too. I’ll call Jack later, and we’ll set something up."
"Rose, no! Rose!" Sam
protested as Rose got up and headed out of the library.
Titan High School
Jack and his friends were seated
on the steps of the school during their lunch break.
"So, it’s official now? You
two are an item?" Tommy asked.
Jack nodded. "It just
happened. It was really Chrissie who made it happen. She asked Rose earlier if
she was my girlfriend. While I was driving Rose home, she inquired about
Chrissie’s comment, and I asked her if she wanted to be, and she said yes. Then
we became official."
"Official what?"
Heather and Jen came up.
"Jack and Rose are now an
official item." Tommy looked up at Heather.
"Congratulations." Jen
smiled.
"You’re making a big
mistake. All you’re going to end up doing is getting hurt." Heather glared
at her cousin. "Mark my words, Jack."
"Shut up, Heather. You don’t
even know Rose, yet you don’t like her just because she goes to Preston."
Jack rolled his eyes at his cousin’s warning.
"She’s going to hurt you,
Jack…"
"No, she won’t, Heather. I
know Rose. She doesn’t have that in her. And so what if we end up breaking up
in the end? Life is full of break-ups. I’m used to it. But I care for Rose and
she cares for me, and you’re not going to ruin that." Jack sighed.
"I’m sorry you’re upset by my decision, but it’s my decision. Not
yours."
"That’s right, and I’m going
to be right there telling you I told you so." Heather stormed back into
the school building.
"She’s really unhappy about
this, Jack." Jen watched her friend disappear.
"So what? It’s none of her
business." Jack shrugged. "If she wants to get mad and run off,
that’s her business."
"I just hate to see you two
fighting. That’s all. You two are family." Jen sighed. "Is this Rose
really that important to you?"
"Yes. She is." Jack
glared at his friend. "Either Heather accepts the relationship and keeps
her mouth shut, or there will be nothing but arguments between us."
"Well, I like Rose, too, and
anytime she wants to hang with us, she can." Fabrizio nodded. "But
don’t tell Heather I said that."
Tommy laughed. "You are so
whipped."
Jack just smiled. "Don’t
worry. Your secret is safe with us."
"So, Jack…when’s your next
date with Rose?"
"Don’t know. I have to set
it up." Jack shrugged.
"Well…I am having a party
Friday night. Rose and her friends are invited if they want to come."
Tommy smiled. "How about it?"
Jack’s eyes lit up like a
Christmas tree in Times Square. Tommy’s parties were always awesome. Plenty of
food and music for everyone. Tommy’s party favors were always the bomb. Rose
would love it. "That’s a plan. I’ll call her tonight and invite her."
"And see if she has any
single friends. I need a date, too." Tommy smiled.
Jack laughed. "Give Heather
a heart attack, huh? It’s bad enough she has a cousin dating a Preston girl.
Just think about the fireworks if you get involved."
"Heather doesn’t tell me what
to do." Tommy snorted. "I’ll date a Preston girl if I damned well
please. Now, are you going to ask her or not?"
"I said I would." Jack
laughed.
*****
Rose was laying across her bed,
studying her French, when her phone rang.
"Bonjour," she greeted.
"Uh…hello?" Jack asked
uncertainly.
"Oh, hello, Jack. I’m sorry.
I was studying my French homework."
"That’s okay. Listen, I just
called to tell you that Tommy is having a party Friday night. You and your
friends are invited," Jack explained.
"Really?" Rose’s eyes
lit up. A perfect opportunity to introduce Sam to Tommy. "That’d be great.
I don’t know about Kat, but Sam will definitely want to come. Anywhere there’s
cute, handsome guys."
"Cool. I’ll pick you both up
at seven on Friday." Jack laughed. "Rose, you will have a blast. I
promise."
"Somehow, I know you’re
right. Well, I’d better get back to French. I’ll talk to you later." Rose
grinned.
"Okay. Night, sweetie."
"Night, Jack." Rose
smiled, hanging up the phone.
*****
The next day, the three girls
stood outside Rose’s locker.
"Jack’s friend, Tommy, is
having a party this Friday, and we’re all invited," Rose explained.
"Are you two interested? You can ride with Jack and me."
Kat and Sam looked at Rose and
looked at each other.
"I can’t. Cal would freak if
he found out I was on that side of town." Kat sighed. "Sorry."
"So, I take it you two are
an official couple, then?" Rose asked.
Kat smiled. "As official as
you can get, I guess."
"How about you, Sam? You did
say you wanted to get to know Tommy better. What better way than going to his
party?"
"I don’t want to be a third
wheel." Sam sighed.
"Oh, nonsense. You won’t be
a third wheel. Come on. What can it hurt? It’d be a chance for you to meet some
guys anyway."
"Okay. Fine. I’ll be at your
house at 6:30." Sam sighed in defeat.
"There you are, my
pet." Cal showed up behind Kat and pecked her cheek. He looked at the
girls, his cold gaze falling on Rose. "Why isn’t it you, sweetpea? Regret
your decision yet? Rumor has it that you turned me down to date a poor boy.
How…sad."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Not
sad. Fortunate. I’d hate to think of where I’d be now if I had been your
pet."
"Jealous?"
Rose laughed and gathered up her
books, ready to leave. "Not in the least, Mr. Hockley. Not in the least.
Kat, I’ll call you later. Sam, I’ll see you at the mall later. We have some
serious shopping to do."
"Cool." Sam smiled
happily. Shopping was her favorite activity.
"Later." Rose waved as
she left the table. Mission one completed.
Friday Night
Tommy’s House
The party was in full swing when
Jack, Rose, and Sam arrived. Rose clung tightly to Jack’s hand, not used to
being around strangers. Sam looked around, her eyes wide with interest.
"This is great. The whole
place is jamming." Sam smiled brightly.
"What are they doing
here?" Heather asked, approaching her cousin and the two girls.
"They were invited."
Tommy appeared behind Heather. "I suggest you go find your broomstick
now."
"Come on, Heather. Let’s
dance." Fabrizio pulled her away from the group.
"Sorry about that."
Tommy shrugged. "Since she’s Jack’s cousin and all, I had to invite
her."
"That’s perfectly
understandable." Sam nodded, her eyes filled with attraction for the
red-haired boy that she had only seen once before. "Samantha Little. But
my friends call me Sam."
"Tommy Ryan, and welcome to
the Ryan party. The most happening party on this side of New York City."
Tommy handed sparkling green clover pins to Rose and Sam. "Here you go. A
party favor for you both."
"Oh, how lovely!"
Samantha gasped. "I love clover. Hey, you have an accent. Where are you
from?"
"Ireland. Dublin, actually.
I moved here a couple of years ago."
"How wonderful. I always wanted
to go there."
"Come. I’ll tell you all
about it." Tommy offered his arm. Rose had to smile as Sam took his arm,
and they both disappeared into the crowd.
"I think that went
well." Rose laughed. "They really hit it off."
"Tommy says it’s the Ryan
charm." Jack laughed. "But it would be great if they really got
together. Just think of all the double dates we could go on."
Jack led Rose over to an
overstuffed couch and they sat close together, watching the people dance and
make conversation. Rose cuddled closer to Jack, relaxing in his presence.
"This is great." Rose
sighed.
"Are you hungry?"
"A little. But I’ll be
fine." Rose smiled.
"Let me go get you
something. Stay here." Jack got up and disappeared into the crowd.
Looking at the other side of the
room, she gasped in surprise to see Sam and Tommy engaged in serious
lip-locking.
"Will wonders never
cease?" Rose smiled. This was the fastest she’d seen Sam get a guy she
liked.
"It looks like whatever my
cousin has is contagious." Heather snorted, stopping next to the couch and
glaring at Tommy and Sam. "But I shouldn’t be surprised. Tommy always had
expensive tastes."
"Do you have a problem,
Heather?" Rose crossed her arms.
"As a matter of fact, I do.
Tell me, what’s wrong with the boys at Preston? Why do you girls feel the need
to date Titan guys, huh?"
"What’s going on here?"
Jack appeared behind his cousin. "Are you bothering Rose?"
"I’m fine, Jack. She was
just commenting on Sam and Tommy getting along so well. It bothers her."
Rose snorted.
"Heather…" Jack glared
at his cousin.
"I know. Mind my own
business, and that’s what I’m doing." She snorted, turning and
disappearing back into the crowd.
"I’m sorry about that,"
Jack apologized.
"Oh, that’s all right. She
doesn’t bother me a bit. She’s just mad that Tommy and Sam seem to have hit it
off. I must admit that I’m surprised it happened so fast."
Jack followed Rose’s gaze, and
his eyes widened in surprise. Sam and Tommy were still embraced in that
passionate kiss. "Wow. He wasn’t kidding about that Ryan charm, was
he?"
"Well, it still doesn’t
compare to the Dawson charisma." Rose giggled, kissing her boyfriend’s
cheek playfully.
"Hey, Tommy! It’s time for
the announcement of the winners of the Lover’s Cruise on 107.1!" A shout
went out through the room.
"Oh, yeah! Right!"
Tommy broke away from Sam and turned his stereo to the radio station, cranking
it up to full volume.
"What’s going on?" Rose
asked.
"Tommy entered a contest for
a cruise two months ago. Tonight is the night they announce the winner."
He squeezed her hand.
"Hello, New York!" the
DJ cheerfully greeted. "Tonight’s the night! The night we announce the
winner of the Lover’s Cruise, backed by Carnival Cruise lines and the White
Star Travel Agencies!"
Cheers filled the room. Tommy
knelt next to the radio and listened intently.
"The winner is Tommy Ryan,
of New York City, New York!"
Cheers of joy and shouts of
congratulations filled the room.
"I won! I won!"
"Tommy Ryan, you and seven
of your friends, preferably couples, are going on a cruise to the Bahamas! You
have to call within an hour to claim your prize!"
"Yes!" Tommy jumped
into the air. "I’ve won! I’ve won!"
"Not if you don’t go in and
call them, you haven’t." Heather snorted.
"Excuse me, ladies and
gentlemen. I have a call to make." Tommy rushed upstairs to use the phone.
"Jack! He won!"
Fabrizio ran over to the sofa.
"This is so great!"
Heather kissed her boyfriend. "We’re going to have loads of fun."
"I thought it was Tommy who
won the contest?" Rose asked.
"And seven of his friends.
Fabri and I will, of course, be invited. And since Jack’s his closest friend, I
think you have shopping to do." Heather just looked at Rose.
"Whoa. We’re jumping the gun
here, Heather. Tommy may not invite us at all." Jack sighed. "I think
you should wait until we’re invited before making plans."
"Here he comes."
Fabrizio pointed towards the stairs, where Tommy bounded down. Grabbing Sam’s
hand, he approached the group.
"Well?" Heather asked
expectantly.
"Well, I already have some
of my guests picked out. Jack and Rose, of course. My new favorite girl, Sam,
here." Tommy squeezed Sam’s shoulder affectionately, causing more raised
eyebrows from both Jack and Rose. "Heather and Fabri…that leaves two more
spots. Anyone know anymore couples?"
"How about Kat and
Cal?" Sam looked at Rose. "You know Kat is going to want to
come."
"I don’t think so,
Sam." Rose shook her head. "Nothing against Kat…but I just don’t
think I can stomach her boyfriend."
"Rose, she’s our best
friend. We can’t go on a cruise without her, even if her boyfriend’s a caveman.
We probably won’t even see much of him. We can at least ask."
"Sam…you should really ask
Tommy."
"I don’t see why not. I’d
like to meet another one of Sam’s friends." Tommy shrugged.
Rose looked at Jack, begging him
to back her up, but he only shrugged helplessly.
"Okay. Fine. We’ll ask Kat
and Cal if they want to join us. I’ll call Jack to let him know." Rose
sighed in defeat.
"Or I’ll simply call
Tommy." Samantha giggled, happy that Rose and Kat weren’t the only ones
with boyfriends now. She was still surprised by how quickly she had gotten a
guy, though. Usually, it took her a couple of weeks.
"Cool. This is going to be
great." Jack laughed, hugging Rose, who was troubled by the thought of Cal
and Heather being in the same room together. Surely there were going to be
fireworks between the two.
*****
After dropping Kat off, Jack and
Rose arrived at her house, and Jack walked her to the door.
"I had a great time tonight,
Jack." Rose sighed, leaning into his arms and laying her cheek against his
chest, closing her eyes at the sound of his beating heart. She couldn’t believe
how wonderful he was and how he was all hers.
"I’m glad. You know, this
cruise is going to be great. Me and you on a cruise ship together…how romantic
can it get?"
"I’m just surprised that Sam
and Tommy got together so fast."
"Why? We got together pretty
quickly."
"But not the moment we
met." Rose laughed.
"They did break a record on
that front, didn’t they?" Jack smiled. "But I’m glad for Tommy. He’s
been really lonely for a while. I’m glad he has Sam now."
Rose nodded. "Sam was
beginning to feel lonely, too, because I had you and Kat had…" Rose made a
face. "Cal. She was really beginning to feel left out. I’m happy that she
and Tommy like each other."
"It’s like I said. It’s the
Ryan charm." Jack laughed.
"Rose?" Ruth called
outside at the sound of laughter.
"That’s my mother."
Rose rolled her eyes. "I’d better get in. I’ll call about Kat’s
answer."
"Okay. Night, Rose." He
kissed her lightly before rushing off to his car, where Rose watched him
disappear into the darkness.
"Rose!"
"Coming!" Rose yelled,
disappearing into the house.