Outside the crowded pub, the Titanic was quickly boarding passengers of all classes and of all types. I sat inside the smoke infested pub, watching men arm wrestle and topple over when they had too much to drink. I sat behind Jack, my lifelong friend and secret love. I watched as he skillfully kept a poker face and played the cards right. I knew he didn't want to give away his hand—I almost did. He was only one card away from possibly getting a full house—and we'd be on our way to America!
He cautiously picked up another card, turning it over and examining it. I almost jumped up from my seat, yelling in joy. He'd actually gotten a full house!
"All right. Moment of truth…somebody's life's about to change. Fabrizio?" Jack said.
Fabrizio slapped down the cards. He looked pissed, but Jack kept his face calm. Damn, he could keep a straight face. I knew I was on the edge of my seat trying to.
"Niente," Jack said.
"Niente," Fabrizio said bitterly.
"Sven?" he asked. Jack watched as the man named Sven put his cards down. "Nothing!" Jack said.
Sven looked like he wanted to beat Jack to death. Over my dead body! Jack gestured for the other man to put down his cards. He placed them on the table angrily. He had shit.
"Olaf?" Jack said. Olaf put down his cards. "Uh oh…two pair…I'm sorry, Fabrizio," Jack said.
"Que sorry! You bet all the money!" Fabrizio yelled, gesturing toward the pile of money.
"I'm sorry, Fabrizio. You're not going to see your mom for a long time! 'Cause we're going to America—full house boys!" Jack yelled joyfully. He slapped down his cards and hollered in excitement.
I jumped up and threw my arms around Jack's neck. I was happy, too. Jack and I would be going back home.
"I go to America!" Fabrizio yelled happily.
"No, mate! Titanic goes to America—in five minutes!" the bartender called.
Jack and Fabrizio exchanged an excited look and quickly scooped up the money and a few cards into the rucksacks they held over their shoulders. I didn't have one. I saw the man named Sven grab the front of Jack's shirt. I didn't understand what he'd said, but he raised his fist, and Jack squinted his eye to prepare. The man swung, but hit Olaf instead. Jack, Fabrizio, and I all laughed at this, but quickly grabbed the rucksacks and were on our way. We only had three minutes left to get to the boarding ramp.
*****
We ran through the crowds of people waving to their loved ones. Jack was basically just yelling what came to mind, and it was quite funny.
"Sei pazzo!" Fabrizio called, laughing.
"Maybe! But I've got the tickets!" Jack called.
I sped up, grabbed the three sheets of paper, and said, "No! I do!" and ran off.
"Hey! Hey! Wait! We're passengers! We're passengers!" Jack called to one of the officers.
"Have you been through the inspection queue?" asked the officer.
"Of course," Jack lied. "Anyway, we don't have any lice. We're American…the three of us," Jack said, waving the tickets in my direction and Fabrizio's.
The officer nodded and the three of us jumped aboard, careful to miss the gap between the ship and the dock.
Once aboard, Jack turned to us and yelled happily, "We're the luckiest sons of bitches, you know that?" and we continued down the hallway looking for D-7. When we got there, to the room, there was already one person in the room. I took the second top bunk, above the man. Jack shook his hand saying, "Jack Dawson. Nice to meet you," then turned to pick a bed. "Who says you get top bunk, huh?" he asked pushing Fabrizio around.
Fabrizio laughed, but didn't get up from the top bunk. I laughed, watching them. The man below me asked himself something. He spoke Italian—so it sounded—so I didn't understand him.
*****
Later that day, the three of us went up to the boat deck to check out the view of, well, everything! Fabrizio stood behind the rail, while Jack stood on it. I stood on it behind him, holding onto his waist for dear life. We watched the dolphins jump and play while racing the ship.
"I'm the king of the world!" Jack cried out to the air happily.
I laughed, but I didn't let go of him. Fabrizio and Jack both hollered out to the horizon.
Blue ocean lay ahead and it felt exciting! I couldn't wait to be back in America!
"Come on, Kels!" Jack encouraged.
I let go of Jack and held the railing. I let the wind ruffle my hair as I let go of the railing and threw my arms into the air, yelling at the top of my lungs. It was a rush, but a good kind. The excitement rushed out of me, and soon the three of us were yelling insanely and I could just imagine the looks we were getting.
*****
We stayed on the boat deck longer than we intended. Jack wanted to work on his art, and Fabrizio was just watching him. I was talking to a man, Tommy Ryan. He knew more about the ship than I did.
"The ship's American, no?" Fabrizio asked.
"No! Fifteen thousand Irishmen built this ship! Solid as a rock!" Tommy said. I saw him studying the drawings for a moment. "Do you make any money with your drawings?" Tommy asked Jack.
Jack didn't answer. His attention was off on the deck above ours. The first class boat deck. I saw a girl, obviously first class, looking back at Jack. I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
"Ah…forget it, boyo! It is more likely angels fly out of your arse than to get next to the likes of her," Tommy said, taking a puff from his cigarette.
Fabrizio was laughing. He waved his arm in front of Jack. Jack's gaze never faltered. He was caught up in the moment until a man, probably in his early thirties, walked up behind the girl. It looked like they were arguing.
Jack didn't look away until she walked off. I felt horrible. Not even five hours on board, and I was already throwing a mental fit! Jack could never be mine. I could wish on millions of stars for something I couldn't have. Anyone would. You couldn't have something unless you wanted it badly. You had to really want it, and I really wanted Jack, but I didn't see it happening. I couldn't stop these feelings. They were here to stay. Maybe this was a phase. Yes, that was it! A phase! It would pass!