A SIMPLE KIND OF LIFE
Chapter Six

April 14, 1912

Jack blinked as if in disbelief. He was amazed by the opulence of Rose’s stateroom. Of course, his was beautiful, but this was like a dream.

He set his drawing materials on the marble table and turned to Rose.

"So, you got the most luxurious suite on the ship?" Jack laughed.

"It was last minute. I was transferred to travel on the Titanic because of the coal strike, and a gentleman dropped out of sailing at the last minute, so I accepted this suite."

Rose strolled into the wardrobe room and Jack followed her. Again, he was taken away by the size.

"Rose, I could live in here alone." They both laughed.

"Breakfast is served, Miss!" a steward called from the sitting room.

Rose had ordered breakfast to be served in her room this morning so she and Jack could dine alone, away from prying eyes. Rose strolled to the private deck, followed by Jack.

Sunlight was shining across the deck. Their table was set up with croissants, orange juice, and coffee and a single red rose sat in a small vase in the center of the small table.

"I wish every morning was like this, Rose," Jack stated. He felt like he was in a dream. Rose smiled at his romanticism.

"I wish every day was as straightforward as this. I wish my life was easy. I wish I could make decisions which I will benefit from."

Jack frowned, taking a sip of his coffee. He thought she seemed happy this morning.

"I’m sorry, Jack. I just have so much to face when I dock, it’s unreal. I could face becoming homeless."

"That will never happen, Rose. I won’t allow it."

"I can’t just leave my mother alone. I love her. She is a selfish and unreasonable woman, but still my mother."

Jack nodded, understanding a little.

"I have so many thoughts I wish I could banish."

"Well, talk to me, Rose…make me understand. Lift the heavy weight from your shoulders."

"I wouldn’t want to burden you, Jack. They’re not your problems, they’re mine. But thank you."

Jack nodded. Inside, he was a little worried for her. He didn’t know what was wrong. He wished she would share her thoughts with him and open up to him. But she seemed so much like a closed book. He knew very little of this woman, yet he knew she felt something for her, but his knowledge of her as a whole was a small fraction.

The rest of their day was spent together. They attended lunch together and dined with Mr. Andrews, the Astors and, of course, Molly.

Mrs. Brown was a wealthy woman from Denver. Her husband had come into some money and it had obviously caused quite a stir when she had joined their social party. A large number of the rich had been born into their social status, like Rose had. Others had built up a business from scratch and had earned money that way. Molly was a rather plump lady and had more personality than the entire table had merged. She was a little fiery and loud, but Rose found her to be a fascinating woman. She had fought for women’s rights for a few years and still continued her work, no matter what the men of the world thought of her, and for this, Rose admired her deeply. Rose had apologized for her sudden disappearance the evening before at dinner, blaming sickness and, of course, the table had bought into this. They wouldn’t have an inkling in the world of what had really happened last night and if they did, they most certainly would have shooed both Jack and Rose from the table. Maybe that was the best part of the whole thing. It was a secret.

*****

Sunset. The sky was a blend of pink, orange, and yellow. The deck was almost deserted, with the exception of a few couples who strolled quietly in the late evening breeze. Most passengers were inside, preparing to attend dinner. Jack and Rose had chosen to opt out of attending dinner and just chose to spend their evening together. The Titanic would be docking soon and they wanted to spend as much time together as possible, for neither of them knew what would happen when she did dock.

Rose’s dress seemed to match her mood--colorful and free. It was many shades of pink, blue, and lilac. It seemed to flow as she strolled, her left arm linked through Jack’s. Her coat was a dark beige and did little to shield her from the late evening chill. She wore a diamond and sapphire necklace at her throat. It glimmered in the dim light.

Her hair was pinned just half up, her curls seemed to spiral uncontrollably down her back, and her eyes shone with happiness.

Jack was relaxed as he led Rose on their evening stroll. Even he seemed to have forgotten the way a gentleman was supposed to stand. He seemed to hunch a little.

Their smiles reflected their inner happiness. This was how Rose wished to live her life, simple and free.

"What a beautiful sunset." Jack beamed as he led Rose to the railing.

"It is. I wish I could witness every sunset and sunrise."

"You will. I’ll make sure of it."

Rose laughed. "How will you?"

"I don’t know. We’ll awake early in the small hours and watch the sunrise and bring us into a wonderful new day."

Rose’s smile faded. In just a few new days, the ship would be docking. She knew she couldn’t have stayed aboard the ship forever, but she knew that as soon as her feet were back on American soil, she became Cal’s property once again. No matter how hard she would try to escape, he would find her. She knew it.

"We dock in just a few days, Jack. What then? How do we see the sunset together from different states?"

Jack shrugged before gently touching Rose’s soft cheek. The beautiful orange glow cast a light over her face and to him she had never looked so stunning, yet at the same time, so innocent.

"I don’t know, Rose." And he didn’t know. He couldn’t lie or pretend. They had both already made plans for when they arrived home and they didn’t include each other at first, but now?

"My plan was to return to my mother, no matter how cruel or selfish she is. She is all I have, Jack. I cannot survive this world alone. I have no skills, no talents. Maybe becoming the wife of Caledon Hockley is my destiny."

Jack shook his head. "No, Rose. You see that?" He gestured to the ocean and the breathtaking sunset. "This is yours now. Follow the horizon. Chase your dreams."

Rose shook her head. Jack was not being logical.

"Jack, I can’t. If Cal finds me, he will probably murder me. I can’t keep running like this, Jack. You can chase your dreams, Jack. You’re happy…"

"I wasn’t happy, Rose. I have everything I need right here with me. Air in my lungs, some blank paper, and you, Rose. That makes me the happiest, to know I have you."

Rose could feel tears in her eyes forming and threatening to fall. No one had ever said anything like that before to her and actually meant it, and she could tell by the way he spoke them to her and the way his thumb caressed her cold hands tenderly that he meant his words.

"Jack…I…I’ve never lived. I haven’t seized the moment. I’d love to be myself, but just take another name and run and be free to roam places I never knew existed. I want to ride wild horses, dance as if no one is watching. I want to spit like a man, smoke like a man. I want to be passionate, you know? Experience passion, expose my naked body to a man and see the love in his eyes as I did so. I want to make love under a starlit sky. I’ve never done any of those things…"

Jack blushed as she spoke her last few sentences and then gazed at Rose, who was unfazed by her own truth. She was deadly serious.

"I have never even been drawn, Jack."

"How can an artist have not drawn you? You are any artist’s dream, Rose."

He meant his words. He would sketch her in a heartbeat and she would be his ultimate masterpiece, although he knew her true beauty could never be put onto paper.

"Am I your dream, Jack?"

She blushed a little at herself for being so forward with her words, but at that moment, Jack could no longer fight himself.

He placed his hand gently on her cheek and then brought his lips to hers. He kissed her with a passion that neither had experienced before, not even last night when they had shared their first kiss.

Jack had longed to kiss her. He had longed to feel his lips on hers, and now that he was kissing her, he never wanted to stop.

This was what he wanted for the rest of his life. Although he was just nineteen years of age, he knew what he wanted.

Reluctantly, Jack pulled away and saw Rose’s body shiver. It was then that he realized the sudden drop in the temperature. It seemed almost icy.

"Maybe we should go inside. I don’t want you to catch anything."

Rose nodded and began to walk a little hesitantly. Jack stopped and turned to her, wondering what was wrong.

She turned to face him and simply smiled.

"I am happy, Jack. I have never been this happy."

Jack smiled weakly. "I know, Rosie. Becoming king couldn’t make me happier than I am with you."

At this, they both laughed. At that moment, Rose, for once in her life, moved closer to Jack, put her hand in his, and gingerly kissed him. It was slow and hesitant. Her move surprised them both.

Some onlookers gasped in horror, some even knowing them, but they didn’t care. The people would gossip and then something new would come along the next day. This was her life now and she was going to live it.

"So, would you draw me, Jack? I think I should begin living my life…"

Rose led him inside to her stateroom, out of the evening chill.

Dinner was still in progress, for when Jack checked the time on his pocket watch, it was only 8:15 PM. Neither Jack nor Rose could think of a more boring way to spend their evening.

Dinner seemed endless most nights. The chatter bored Jack to pieces. He himself was not a man who joined in this sort of social circle, but with some of the interesting people at the table, Jack had taken a chance to join them.

Jack would much rather have gazed at the stars for a while, or simply sketched the night away if he been alone.

He had met Rose purely by chance, taking the opportunity to enjoy the morning sun and draw some of the life here on the Titanic.

He had drawn the ship from the dock, and though he thought so himself, the sketch was one of his best works.

Upon reaching her stateroom, Rose had grown increasingly nervous, not knowing the reason why. She was only with Jack. She had nothing to hide or be ashamed of, for he now knew her better than anybody ever had. He knew of her dreams and passions for life. He knew of her feelings and she knew of his.

"I always wanted to fly when I was a child. To just be a bird and soar."

"You can do that now, Rose. You have chosen the path you wish to follow, so follow it. You can do anything you wish to now. Go and be passionate about the things you want."

Rose knew he was right. Maybe she shouldn’t be worried about Cal. Maybe she wouldn’t have to become the wife of an attempted rapist.

"I wouldn’t know where to start, Jack. Would you help me?"

"Of course. How about we start with that sketch, huh?"

"Yes. Make me look like a princess or something. Make me gaze into the new future which I now have to look forward to."

"Rose, I don’t need to make you. You already are the most beautiful woman in the world to me. Any man would be lucky for you to be standing right here with them, Rose. I knew just how lucky I was last night when you confessed you felt something for me."

Rose ducked her head down for a moment, remembering and feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Don’t be sorry you ever said anything." Jack worried a little, thinking she was regretting something.

"I’m not sorry, Jack. Just a little surprised I even said anything."

"I am lucky that you have feelings for me…I’m not saying how strong they are or what those feelings may turn into, but one thing’s for sure…you have them for me, just like I do for you, Rose. I know just how strong my feelings are for you. Sometimes so much it overwhelms me."

Turning her head away, Rose felt tears fall from her eyes. This felt so real. She knew she wasn’t dreaming and that this amazing man was standing in front of her and confessing these words she had never heard before. She wasn’t used to it.

"I’m sorry," Jack apologized, not realizing what an effect his words had on her.

"Don’t be. I’m just not used to it, that’s all. For so many years, I have felt emotionally abandoned, and now I have the opportunity and I don’t know what to do with it."

"Follow your heart, Rose…always follow your heart. You maybe overwhelmed at times, but this is the present, Rose. Everything else is in your past. I may not promise you much, but I want to make you happy and give you what you want."

"I do know what I want, Jack…"

Rose’s voice sounded timid, almost childlike. Her tears were now dry and she was doing as Jack told her. She was following her heart. She wanted Jack to see her for who she really was before they began to open their hearts properly, because she knew that once she did open her heart, it would never close on Jack. Ever.

"Jack, I want you to draw me like one of your French girls…wearing this."

Rose clutched the necklace at her throat, which had always meant so much to her. Her grandmother’s.

Jack nodded, eyeing the necklace as it glittered on her low neckline. "All right," he replied simply.

Rose took a deep breath, not sure what his reaction would be to her request. Would he even consider her request? Her heart pounded as she thought for a few moments and then spoke.

"No, Jack. Wearing only this…"

Jack’s breath become fast in his throat and his eyes darted to hers, searching for a clue in her face to see if she was joking, but she wasn’t.

How could he draw her nude? How could he concentrate?

"Are…are you sure?" he managed. Rose nodded. "If that’s what you want, then…I will oblige, Rose." He smiled.

"I will go prepare. Please arrange the furniture to your own comfort. I will be back in a short while." With that, Rose proceeded to her bedroom, leaving Jack more than stunned.

How the hell could he sketch her nude? How could he gaze upon her beautiful body and not want to just kiss her all over? He felt a little sick with nerves. He had never seen a woman he was in love with nude before…but then again, he had never been in love. Was he really in love, or was this something else? He didn’t know. He knew he wanted her, though, in body, mind, and soul he wanted her.

He knew he couldn’t save her from the confines of the society that they both seemed to be trapped in, but he could save her from Cal. He couldn’t offer her much, but he had a little which he could offer her. He knew Caledon Hockley was worth more of a fortune that he, but Jack knew with Rose it wasn’t about money. She trusted him fully and he knew that. She wouldn’t have asked him to draw her nude otherwise. At that moment, Jack knew that Rose would soon be a changed woman. She needed to live, to enjoy herself, to become free, and Jack would do everything in his power to help her along the way.

Rose removed the pins from her hair and shook her head to loosen her curls as they fell down her back. She stood before the mirror in her black kimono. It was soft against her bare skin. She had never felt anything like this. She knew the garment didn’t leave much to the imagination, but that didn’t matter, for in a small amount of time, she would appear nude in front of Jack.

She knew her request had come as a surprise to Jack, but she had to break free and she knew he would do what he could to help her.

A small smile crept onto her face as she pondered what his reaction would be to her nude figure standing before him.

Her heart was pounding thunderously in her chest and her hands shook slightly. Rose thought of her mother and what her reaction would be to her well-behaved daughter appearing naked in front of a man she had barely known four days. That was the part Rose relished the best, knowing she was rebelling against everything she was ever taught.

With a deep breath, Rose almost had to push herself out the door. But she was ready.

Jack had positioned the divan to face him and had settled himself on a chair. He had removed his jacket, waistcoat, and bowtie and relieved himself of the shirt collar digging into his throat by unbuttoning his shirt almost halfway. He was never one for dressing over the top, but this society required him to.

Rose approached the door and as she placed her hands on the doorknob, she saw that her hands were visibly shaking.

With a deep breath, she turned the knob. Jack was sharpening his charcoal with a small knife when he heard Rose’s door open. She emerged, wearing nothing but a sensual black kimono and, of course, the necklace at her throat. Slowly, Rose began to approach the divan, which Jack had arranged for her to pose on.

Rose wondered for a moment what Jack must think of her. His face seemed expressionless. She wondered if he sensed her nervousness. She took a few steps closer to Jack before slowly reaching her delicate, shaking hands up to part her kimono.

The garment fell to the floor with a whisper. Self-consciously, Rose brought her hands up around her stomach. It took every bit of strength in her to keep herself from quickly covering herself. Jack was in awe of the beautiful woman who stood nude before him. The experience was more challenging than he imagined. The looks which transpired between Jack and Rose gave each other the confidence to continue.

"Over on the bed…the couch," Jack stuttered. Rose immediately felt more at ease, knowing that he, too, was nervous. Jack allowed the artist in him to take over. Rose lay herself on the divan and positioned herself as Jack instructed her to. She trusted him completely.

With one arm on the cushion above her head and the other by her face, Jack began his masterpiece. Rose could feel Jack’s eyes running over her naked body. While she felt so nervous and exposed, at the same time she felt so alive at this new experience. She had never stood nude before anyone before, let alone a man. But Jack was different.

As his eyes ran over her body, Jack could feel himself blushing as he sketched her most intimate parts.

"I see you are blushing, Monsieur Big Artiste."

Jack laughed a little as he began to smudge the lines he had created. Jack’s hair fell into his amazingly blue eyes as he gazed over his sketchbook. At that moment, Rose felt her stomach flutter. It was as if he could see right through her.

She giggled a little, distracting Jack.

"You’re laughing."

"Sorry."

"Just relax your face. No laughing."

Rose took a deep breath as Jack continued to sketch her. She was at ease now, knowing that Jack was all right with the situation. She knew she had been a little forward, but it was what she wanted. When he drew, Jack’s face was deadly serious. Rose thought of how engrossed he seemed and she admired him tremendously. She admired him and his work. He was incredibly talented. Minutes later, the drawing was complete.

"All right. I’m done." Jack broke the silence. Quickly, Rose retrieved her kimono.

"May I see it?" Rose asked. She felt as though she needed permission to.

"Of course."

Steadily, Rose came up behind Jack and gazed over his shoulder. The drawing took her breath away. The woman on the paper was so beautiful it was difficult to comprehend it was actually herself.

"Date it, Jack. I want to always remember this night."

Jack scrawled the words JD, April 14th 1912 at the bottom of the paper before taking a moment to admire his art. He was impressed by it. She really was an amazing woman. He closed the portfolio and handed it to Rose.

"Thank you."

Standing, Jack took Rose in his arms and she kissed him a little hesitantly, not quite sure of what to do. She was a little uncomfortable knowing she had just been nude before him, and now here he was, kissing her.

"Thank you, Jack. It’s beautiful." Rose smiled and pulled away a little.

"So are you, Rose…"

Rose blushed a little, but her eyes never left his. It was like he held her beneath some sort of spell and it was hard to break free. How had she come across a man as gentle and kind as Jack? What had she done to deserve him? He was everything a man could ever be and more. Rose was sure at that moment that she had fallen in love with him. A love which could only grow stronger in time, if he felt the same, obviously. Rose remembered her words from earlier in the day when they had been up on deck, watching the sunset. She had told him her dreams and she wished he could be part of her life, so now she was going to begin to put her dreams in motion and nothing could stop anything which would happen tonight. Neither of them could.

"I was so nervous, Rose. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to concentrate."

"I was scared, too. My heart pounded…"

"My heart is still pounding. Knowing you’re in my arms like this…I don’t ever want this to end, Rose. I don’t want this night to end…"

Leaning forward, Jack gingerly touched her face and then kissed Rose’s forehead tenderly. He kissed her eyelids and her nose before kissing her lips softly. His hands moved to the small of her back and he caressed her gently.

He could feel feelings stirring inside him which he had never felt before. He was overwhelmed by his feelings for this woman who was in his arms.

He knew he loved her. He had probably known since that first day up on deck.

Slowly, Rose’s unsteady hands reached up to Jack’s shirt buttons, and hesitantly, she undid them one by one before finally exposing Jack’s bare chest. He was well built for a man of his age. She ran her shaking hands over his stomach and chest. For a moment, Jack pulled away, a little breathless, wondering if this was what Rose really wanted.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice shaking.

Slowly, Rose nodded and pulled Jack closer once again to kiss him. Gingerly, he ran his artist’s hands up to her shoulders and gently slid the kimono from her body as, for the second time that evening, it landed on the floor with a whisper.

She pressed her bare chest upon his and kissed him once more before taking his hand and leading him into her bedroom.

Both hearts were beating wildly as they continued their kiss inside Rose’s bedroom. Clothes were spread out on the floor as they lay nude in each other’s arms.

"Rose…if we do this, then I can never go back. This has to be it." He knew that if they made love here and now, he could never just walk away from her again and never see her. If they did this, then he wanted her to be his.

"No, Jack. There’s no going back now."

This was all Jack needed to know. He knew that now, after all of the hurt and hesitance leading up to this moment in time, they were together and no one, especially Caledon Hockley, could change that.

"Are you nervous?" Jack asked. His voice was husky.

"No."

And with that, all barriers which had ever stopped them being each other’s were broken down. This was it for them now. No going back.

*****

Rose lay her head on Jack’s chest as he gently stroked her copper ringlets. She could hear his heartbeat as it pounded.

A sense of emotion overcame her and she could feel an urge to burst into tears of happiness. Nothing in the world could have prepared her for the intimacy she and Jack had shared. Nothing had prepared her for the experience which making love for the first time would be. She had given herself completely to this man, who she had known barely four days, and yet who she seemed to know so well.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes. I think so, Jack. I think so."

Concerned, Jack shifted onto his side and pulled Rose with him.

"You think so? I didn’t hurt you, did I?"

"No. Of course not. It’s just us. Me and you. We’ve known each other for a matter of days."

"Rose, does that matter? There is no time limit when it comes to love…"

"Love?" Rose asked, blinking back tears.

"Yes, Rose. I think I’ve fallen utterly and completely in love with you…"

For a moment, Jack wondered if he should have confessed such things after the intensity of their lovemaking, but it felt right. This felt right. He loved her and no longer wanted to hide it from her or the world. What would his friends think when he told them he had fallen in love with this wonderful girl?

"Jack…I don’t know what to say…"

"Don’t say anything, Rose. Don’t say anything…"

With that, Jack pulled her closer to him and kissed her passionately once again. She ran her hands up his back and he shuddered a little.

"Jack…when the ship docks, I’m getting off with you."

Jack’s eyes widened with shock. He hadn’t expected this. "What?"

"I am. We said no going back, and there isn’t. Jack, you taught me how to live. You showed me what it’s like to be free, and that’s what I want."

"Rose…your mother…Cal…"

"I don’t care. This is my life. I’m fed up with being treated like a porcelain doll. I’m going to live, Jack. I am seventeen years old and I have the right to do what I choose. My life starts here. I’m yours, Jack…if you want me, that is?"

A rush of love overcame Jack and he gently wiped the tears from Rose’s eyes.

"I do, Rose. I do. I want us to share our life together. I promise harm will never come to you, ever."

They shared another long kiss before feeling something shudder, something like a bump. Moments later, the engines seemed to have stopped. Pulling away from Rose, Jack frowned a little, wondering what was happening.

"Did you feel a shudder?"

"Yes. What was it?"

Jack jumped up, pulled on his pants, and found his shirt. Outside, he seemed to hear a slight commotion. Running his hands through his hair, he attempted to neaten it a little.

"Don’t worry, Rose. I’ll be right back. Just checking what all of the commotion is about."

Rose nodded and felt her stomach churn a little. She was worried about what was happening. She pulled the sheets away from her and strolled to her wardrobe room to find something to wear.

Minutes later, Jack appeared in the doorway. He seemed out of breath, his cheeks red.

"Rose, there’s something you should know…"

"What is it?"

"We’ve struck an iceberg."

Chapter Seven
Stories