WHAT IF?
Chapter One
Eighteen-year-old Rose DeWitt-Bukater was in
the studio, singing Wasting My Time Remix with Boomkat. During the
break, Taryn Manning and Rose went out to a bar. Rose’s bodyguards followed
them.
"Damn, Rose. Can’t your bodyguards get
the day off?"
"Nope. They have to come with me
everywhere I go..." Taryn’s eyebrow lifted up.
"Except to the bathroom."
"Hah. Right!"
"Taryn."
Taryn and Rose laughed. As they laughed,
Taryn noticed a hot blond-haired guy sitting a few tables away.
"Hey, Rose. There’s your next
boyfriend!" Taryn pointed him out. Rose turned around and looked at him.
He looked like he was six feet tall and had a goatee and beautiful blue eyes.
She looked away, but Taryn noticed that he looked back. He smiled.
"Holy shit, Rose. He smiled," Taryn
said excitedly. Rose looked back. He caught her eye. She looked away.
"Is he still looking?" Rose covered
her face on the side. Then, she put on her sunglasses and sat bat back in her
chair. She looked back again and lowered her sunglasses. He was talking to a
friend, who looked at her. Rose once again turned back, facing Taryn.
"Isn’t he a hottie?" Taryn asked,
taking a sip of her drink.
Rose just shook her head in a no.
"Anyway, when is your brother coming,
Rose?"
"I don’t know. He said he’d be here in
fifteen minutes, but I think he didn’t get the message."
"Oh, there he is. Hey, Garret!"
He headed in their direction. "Hey, sis,
Taryn."
"Garret."
"Well, what have you guys been
doing?"
"Recording."
"That’s all?"
"Yep."
As they talked, Garret noticed a
blonde-haired guy.
"Wait a minute." He got up and
walked over. Rose realized that they knew each other, and that her brother was
bringing him over.
"Rose, Taryn, this my old college
friend, Jack Dawson. Jack, this is my sister Rose and her friend, Taryn
Manning."
"Hi. Nice to meet you." Taryn shook
his hand and gave him a big smile.
"I’ve seen you in a movie...was it 8
Mile?"
"Yeah. It was. At least somebody knows
which movies was I in." Taryn gave Rose a look. Rose glared at her.
Garret waited for Rose to introduce herself.
As she was about to leave, Garret grabbed her arm. "Rose, what’s your
problem?"
"Nothing. God, can’t I go to the
bathroom?"
"Yeah. With your body guards following
you?"
Rose looked at the bodyguards. Then, she
decided to stay. "Hi. I’m Rose, and I’m sorry for my attitude." They
shook hands. Rose felt electricity through her body, and so did Jack. She let
go of his hand and sat down.
"So, Rose, you’re a singer, right?"
"Yeah, I am. I’ve been singing since I
was eleven years old."
"I can tell you that. Every single day
you can hear her in the shower, singing all sorts of different songs."
Rose gave him an innocent smile. God, she
has a beautiful smile, Jack thought to himself. Rose looked at him. He
looked away.
*****
Rose’s mother, Ruth, was reading YM magazine,
and realized that Rose’s picture was in it.
Rose Elizabeth DeWitt-Bukater is an
eighteen-year-old singer with the most beautiful voice. Rose has a mind of her
own. She’s single, has a loving family, and loves children. Almost at the age
of nineteen, Rose is hoping to find a soulmate.
Ruth called Rose’s cell phone. Rose answered.
"Hello?"
"Rose, it’s me."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Hey, Mom. Guess
who’s here?"
"Your brother?"
"Yeah, and one of his friends."
Rose excused herself.
"Rose, before you leave, buy the YM
magazine."
"Why?"
"Just buy it, because there’s a photo
showing your bad side. I mean, Rose…you look like a punk rocker!" Ruth
stared at the picture one more time. She was ashamed.
"Just because I did one photo shoot of
me showing a little bit of skin doesn’t mean that we should
talk about it." Rose turned around, and
realized there were paparazzi in the bushes. "Oh, hell no."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing, Mom, just saw paparazzi. Mom,
call me back. Bye."
"Bye." Ruth hung up.
Rose walked back to her table. "Hey,
Guts. I think we have to leave."
"Why?" Garret asked.
"Paparazzi across the street."
"Then let’s go."
"Hey, guys. My car is here, so I’ll
follow you guys," Jack said.
"All right. See you at Rose’s
house." Rose pinched her brother. "Ow!"
Jack laughed. "See ya!"
"Why at my place?"
"Because we’re gonna spend some brother
and sister time with friends."
Taryn laughed.
"What are you laughing at?"