WHAT IF?
Chapter Three

Rose’s manager, Clifford, went to Rose’s house to talk about her trip. As he knocked on the door, he heard loud music. He looked through the window. Rose was dancing. Clifford knocked on the window and Rose looked. She went to her radio and lowered the volume. She opened the door.

"Hey, Clifford. What’s going on?"

"You seemed cheery today, and are you listening to Joe Budden?"

Rose nodded. "Uh-huh."

"I love that song. Anyway, on Wednesday--tomorrow--you’ll have to leave and go to New York to promote your new album."

"No fucking way!" Rose sat on the couch.

"You met a guy, didn’t you?" Rose smiled.

"He’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met. I mean, he’s a perfect gentleman." Rose blushed.

"Ask him if he could come with you."

"Oh, no. He doesn’t want to come with a singer to New York, and beside, the paparazzi might take pictures, and you know how the tabloids are. And besides, my mother is coming."

"Oh. Too bad, because Jack has a friend in New York."

"You know Jack?"

"Yeah. He works at the Museum of Art. He showed me one of his works. They’re amazing. I told him he should go pro, but he said no."

"I...hate...you." The doorbell rang. Rose went over and opened it. "Jack, what are you doing here?" she asked.

Jack stared at her. She has an outstanding body, Jack thought. He got out of his thoughts. "I thought you wanted to go out."

"Oh, I do, but..."

"She’s leaving tomorrow," Clifford said, standing behind Rose.

"Clifford?"

"Hello, Jack. How are you doing?"

"Fine. Rose, you know him?"

"Yeah. He’s my manager."

"Oh, I just wanted to say that I’m leaving tomorrow in private, but you’re here taking care of business,
so I’ll leave." Jack began to walk away.

Rose ran after him. "No, Jack. Wait. Don’t go. I’m leaving, too."

"Yeah, but I’m going to New York."

"Me, too. Maybe we can go together."

Jack looked at her. "You sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, my mother is coming, too, but she won’t mind." Rose looked around to see if there were any cameras.

"Checking for cameras?" Rose nodded. "Come on." Jack grabbed her hand and took her to the other side of the car, where the sun was beating down. The ground was hot, and Jack noticed she was standing up straight.

"It’s the ground. It’s hot," Rose said.

"Do you wanna go inside?" Jack asked. Rose shook her head. "No. It’s all right. So, do you want us to go together?" Rose asked, hoping that he’d say yes.

"I...I don’t know. I mean, if people see us together, they’ll be talking."

"Oh, I understand. You don’t want anything to do with me."

"No, Rose. It’s not that. It’s just that you’re famous, a lot of paparazzi follow you, and I don’t want to get you into any trouble."

"But, Jack, I...I want you and me to go together, and besides, you have a friend there."

"I...how did you know that?"

"I...I...have connections." Jack looked at the window and saw Clifford.

"Jack, please?" Rose gave him a sad face.

"All right. I’ll come with you, but only if you don’t make that face again."

"Huh…it still works."

Jack laughed. "What?"

*****

The next day, early in the morning, Ruth helped Rose pack and left for the airport. The driver dropped them off. Rose was at the airport, sitting and reading a magazine.

"Um…can I have your autograph?"

Rose looked up. "Jack!" Rose sat up. "You made it."

Jack looked over Rose’s shoulder and saw her mother and the bodyguards coming. "Your mom is bringing two big guys here." Rose turned around and saw her mother coming with Tony and Ray-Ray.

"I’m sorry, but my daughter is not in the mood for autographs."

"Mom, I know him. He’s a friend who’s also going to New York."

Ruth glared at him, then looked away. "Hello. I’m Ruth, Rose’s mother."

"Jack Dawson. Nice to meet you." They shook hands.

"Mom, is Clifford coming?"

"Yes. He’s going to be here any minute. So, Mr. Dawson, what do you do?"

"I work at the Museum of Art, and I’m an artist."

"Interesting."

"Mother!"

"Ruth, there you are! We have to leave...hello, Jack."

"Hello, Clifford."

"Are you coming with us?"

"Uh..."

"Yes, he is, Clifford."

"What?"

"We’re not discussing this anymore. Come on, Jack." Rose grabbed his hand and left.

*****

In the airplane, Jack and Rose talked and they kidded around. Every time Rose would say, "Ow, Jack,"
Ruth would glare at him, and so would the bodyguards.

"I don’t think your mother likes me."

"I noticed that, too." They laughed. Then Rose began to shiver.

"Are you all right?" Jack asked.

"Yeah. I’m fine."

"Rose, where’s your jacket?"

"It’s with my mother." Jack chuckled. He took off his jacket and gave it to Rose. She thanked him.

"So, what are you going to do tomorrow?"

"I have to go to a meeting, and I have to go to the studio."

"Oh."

"But we can do something today. Maybe we can go to your friend’s house and talk." Jack chuckled.

"He’s gonna freak out if he sees you."

"So?"

"So, he’ll ask you if you can hook him up with Taryn."

Rose laughed. "Really? Oh, my God!" She still laughed as Jack nodded. "What?" Then Rose stopped as she looked deep into his eyes, and they got closer. "Jack, my mother might be watching," Rose said.

"It doesn’t matter," Jack said, as he lifted the armrest. He caressed her face. Then, they kissed. They kissed passionately. Rose tried to pull away, but couldn’t. The kiss broke off when Rose felt that her mother was watching.

"Jack, my mother." Rose turned. Her mother wasn’t looking. "I’m sorry," Rose apologized.

"It’s all right. I understand." Jack wrapped his arms around Rose, and she rested her head on his shoulder.

New York

Rose arrived in New York, along with her mother and Clifford, but not Jack. Jack went over to his friend’s house, and he told her that he’d pick her up. For some reason, Rose missed Jack after that kiss. She thought that she was in love with him. She smiled to herself, which made her mother look. "What are you smiling at?"

Rose shook her head. "Nothing."

"Well, you’d better continuing smiling. I arranged dinner for you and Mr. Hockley."

"What?" Rose stood up. "Mom, how could you?"

"What? It’s just dinner."

"But you didn’t get my permission!"

"So what? Rose, I’m your mother..."

"And I’m an adult. For God’s sake, Mom, I’m gonna be nineteen in about three months, and you should respect me as an adult!" Rose grabbed her jacket and left. She waited for Jack outside in the lobby. Rose saw him coming in.

"Rose."

She got up and hugged him. "I’m so glad to see you," she said.

"You, too. Rose, what’s wrong?"

"We need to leave."

Jack and Rose walked outside and talked. A lot of people saw Rose and asked her for her autograph.

"I’m sorry about the autograph thing. I’m not wearing my sunglasses."

"It’s all right."

"So...how come you know my brother and you don’t know my mother?"

"Well, because I never felt meeting like meeting your mom, and besides, your brother never mentioned her. He only mentioned his little sister."

"Really?"

"Really." Jack wrapped his arms around Rose as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Chapter Four
Stories