Rose woke up with an oddly refreshed feeling. It was something she hadn't felt in a long time. Actually, Rose hadn't felt like this ever. She could have died last night, and she was all too aware of that. If Cal knew, she couldn't imagine him caring. The only thing he would have regretted was not drinking from her.
Up until last night, Rose had felt she was simply breathing and had a beating heart. But Jack Dawson had made her feel alive in a completely different way. He made her feel like someone cared for her. And she didn't even know him. But when his arms wrapped around her as he pulled her over that railing, she felt safer than ever before. You're just reaching for something you can't have, she thought.
It wasn't just his arms that made her feel this way. It was the look in his eyes; almost as if he knew her. Rose shivered just thinking about the intensity of them. The longing to look into Jack's eyes stuck with her throughout the rest of the night and into the morning.
Rose suddenly threw back the covers. She knew breakfast would be soon. Part of her was tempted to leave before breakfast, but she knew that it would call attention to herself. That was the last thing she wanted. She truly feared what Cal might do to her...and Jack.
Wishing it could be different is useless, Rose thought as she climbed from bed. But wishes were all she really had.
*****
Jack walked briskly down the street toward the park. Despite only getting three hours of sleep, he was wide awake. His brain buzzed with one thought.
Rose DeWitt Bukater.
She weighed heavily on his mind. He hadn't even gotten to write her name down, but he'd found it easy to remember. Everything about her was easy to remember. Her blue green eyes had flashed with fear. Her fiery red curls framed her face perfectly. The creamy skin of her hand had been soft and cool against his.
Jack pondered her. Her beauty was one thing, but who she was was quite another. Why was she ready to jump to her death? Did she realize that there was the possibility that it could have been a slow and agonizing death? Was she just caught up in a moment of panic? Is it because of—
"Mr. Dawson?"
Jack, rarely caught off guard, nearly jumped out of his clothes. He turned and saw Rose sitting on a park bench. The same one I was sitting on last night. Jack had been so absorbed in his own thoughts that he hadn't even noticed that he had arrived at the park.
Try as he might, Jack couldn't keep a slight grin from curling his lips as she stood to greet him. "Hello," he said, noticing that he sounded more nervous than he felt. "How are you?"
Rose felt a warm feeling growing at the mere sound of his voice. Stop it, she commanded her emotions. Her emotions ignored her. The warm feeling spread throughout her, but she maintained a straight face.
"I'm fine," she responded smoothly. Her face began to warm. "And that's because of you, Mr. Dawson."
"Jack."
Rose paused briefly before saying his name. "Jack." Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as his name left her mouth. "I came to thank you for last night."
"You're welcome," Jack told her sincerely. He tried not to notice how beautifully his name had rolled off her tongue.
Rose shook her head, sighing. "I know I looked like an absolute idiot," she said in a quick breath.
"No. You're—" Jack began.
"I know what you must thinking," Rose said, cutting him off. She let out a deep sigh. "What can this poor little rich girl possibly know about misery?" Rose sat back down on the bench. What are you doing? After breakfast, she had managed to excuse herself with a sudden headache. Soon after, her mother had left the house for tea with a few ladies, and Rose was able to get out. She had simply planned to thank him. Now she was ready to pour out her heart and soul.
Jack leaned against the tree next to the bench. "No. I wasn't thinking that at all." He crossed his arms, holding his portfolio over his chest, and gazed at her. She's so beautiful. "I was wondering what could have happened to this girl to make her think there was no way out."
Rose didn't allow any voice of reason speak up in her mind. "It was everything," she began in a rush. "My whole world has been turned upside down and I'm powerless to stop it." As she spoke, she held out her hand, disgusted at the large, sparkling diamond.
"Wow. Look at the thing!" Jack took her hand and studied the ring for a moment before looking at her. "You don't love him, do you?"
"Pardon me?" Rose asked, suddenly taken aback by his presumption. "That is none of your business!" She pulled her hand away from his, despite enjoying the feel of it. She crossed her arms and glared at him. Shouldn't you be walking away? "Not to mention that it's very rude."
Jack shrugged, trying to keep in a chuckle. "It's a simple question. Either you love him or you don't."
Rose scoffed, standing. "We are not having this conversation. I don't know you and you don't know me. I sought you out to thank you, and I've done that." She held out her hand to him. "Jack...Mr. Dawson. It's been a pleasure." Jack took her hand and she shook it. You look like an awkward fool, Rose.
Jack grinned, amused, as Rose continued to shake his hand. "I thought you were leaving," he teased.
Rose laughed lightly, but pulled her hand away. "I am." She turned to walk away, but stopped herself and turned to look at him. "You're so annoying!"
Jack laughed. "I've been told," he joked. "I'm just the kind of guy who jumps into the heart of the problem," he said honestly. Rose hoped he didn't notice the shiver that took her by surprise. If he did, he didn't mention it.
"All right," Rose said, walking back toward him. The overwhelming feeling that she could, and should, trust Jack refused to be ignored. "No, I don't love him."
Jack looked at her, a little more than surprised that she was opening up to him. He couldn't help it; he wanted to know more. "Arranged marriage?"
Rose nodded. "You could say that. Or you could just call a spade a spade and say I'm being forced into this."
"Forced means there's no way out. If you don't want to marry him, then don't," Jack told her bluntly. Rose laughed nervously.
"It's not as easy as you make it sound."
"Then explain, please."
Rose took a deep breath. This is crazy. But I can trust him. "Jack...do you believe in vampires?"