They didn't stop running until long after they were deep in the maze of identical corridors that was third class. As their pace slowed, Rose stole a glance at Jack. His face was unreadable. I wish I knew what he was thinking. She smiled as her eyes fell on the stack of paintings tucked under his arm. She'd said she wanted them, and he'd made sure she got them.
"Jack, where are we going?" The words were out of her mouth before she knew it.
He looked at the numbers on the doors they were passing. Without thinking about it, he had started heading in the direction of his room. "Well, I didn't think you wanted to wander the halls all night, so we're going back to my room for awhile…if that's okay," he added.
"I'd like that."
There was something in her tone, something about the way she said the words, that made him feel warm inside. He smiled and squeezed her hand. This cannot be happening. Not to me.
They reached his room a few minutes later. "I don't know if anyone's in here," he said as he reached into his pocket to retrieve his key. "But there's a chance someone might be asleep." Rose nodded. He carefully pushed the door open and took a step inside. There was enough light shining in from the hall for him to see that the room was empty. He slid his hand along the wall next to the door and flicked on the lights.
"Looks like we're all alone," he said with mock seriousness. He bowed slightly. "After you, my love."
"Thank you," Rose said in an exaggeration of her usual refined tone. She resisted the urge to comment on the way he'd referred to her. The words echoed in her head. My love.
Once the door was closed and they were facing each other, the enormity of what they had just done finally began to sink in. Jack studied Rose's face and was surprised to see that she was trying to hold back a smile. "Why the seriousness?" he asked, keeping his tone light. She must know she can smile around me.
"It's nothing." She took a deep breath and tried to relax her face. It didn't work. The more she tried to stifle the laughter that was bubbling up in her throat, the stronger it became, until finally she was giggling quietly, her hand covering her mouth.
Jack watched her, unsure of what to do. Is it me? He glanced down at himself, half-expecting to see...something, but there was nothing. "Care to share the joke with me?" he teased, trying to hide his intense curiosity behind a playful tone.
"It's just—" Rose giggled and looked slightly ashamed of herself. She took another deep breath—Calm down. It isn't that funny. "Did you see my mother's face?"
Apparently it was that funny, because Jack stared at her for a moment and then burst out laughing. When he'd been naked in Rose's bed, the sight of Ruth's horrified grimace had been terrifying, but now that they were both safely far away from her—and he was wearing pants again—there was a certain hilarity to it.
His laughter sent Rose over the edge. She doubled over, clutching her stomach, and laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. "I just keep hearing her in my head. When I get back, one of you won't be here anymore," she mocked Ruth's haughty tone. "Did she really think we were going to listen?"
"Yeah, she probably did," he said as his laughter faded. "You were supposed to remember what you were jeopardizing and start feeling all disgusted with yourself—and me," he added as she stepped closer to him. His heart began to beat faster. She was close enough that he could put his arms around her if he wanted to. What's this if you wanted to?
"Reminding me of what I was jeopardizing was the stupidest thing she could have done, considering there wasn't anything left to jeopardize." Seeing confusion in his blue eyes, she added, "I'd already given it up."
She sounded so sure of herself, and yet... "You could still go back," he said. "If—if you wanted to. No one else knows what happened. You could still—"
Her face tightened. Her green eyes stared at him, wide and fearful. What is he saying?
"Not that I want you to!" he said quickly. "Because I don't." He gave in and pulled her to him. "I don't ever want you to go...I love you."
She lay her head against his chest. "I love you, too. I'm never leaving you."
How long they stood like that, neither of them knew, but eventually Rose lifted her head and glanced around the room. "Your roommates must never come back," she said.
"They're probably at the party."
"Party? There's another one?"
"Oh, yeah. There's one every night."
She looked up at him, biting her lip. "This might sound..." She shook her head dismissively. "No, it does sound that way."
"What? Tell me."
"Well...first, what time is it?"
He threw a glance at the wall clock behind him. "9:30. Why?"
Two hours and ten minutes left until...But she didn't know for sure it would happen. It had been just a dream, after all. And even if there was an iceberg, there was a chance Mr. Andrews really had been able to do something to alter the ship's course enough so that they could avoid it. Yes, he did, she assured herself. Nothing is going to happen. But she felt her stomach knot with fear anyway. What if the ship really did sink? What if, even with her knowledge of how it would go, she couldn't save him? What if this is the only night we have together? Feeling sick, Rose looked into his eyes. His beautiful blue eyes. Make it count, then. "Jack, would you take me to another real party?"
His face broke into a wide smile. "Why, I'd love to."
It was just as exhilarating the second time as it had been the first—the chorus of voices all speaking different languages, the smoke-filled air, the music that sent a kind of energy flowing through her body that she didn't even know was possible, and Jack. He held her in his strong, capable arms and led her through dance after dance, their bodies moving together perfectly. It was almost as though they were one person.
Feeling her body against his as she let him lead her, Jack was hit by just how much she trusted him. You'd better be worthy of it. He gazed at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and wide, sparkling eyes, the smile that hadn't left her face since they'd walked in. I will be...I am.
Neither of them noticed Lovejoy slip through a side door. He'd finally given up and accepted the fact that both of them had somehow vanished into thin air when the sounds of the party reached his ears. "Well, can't hurt to check," he'd said to himself.
It only took a second for him to catch sight of Rose's fiery curls. She was laughing as Jack maneuvered her into an elaborate dip. Looks like I'll have something to report after all.