THE LAST TIME TITANIC EVER SAW DAYLIGHT
Chapter One
Jack watched Rose leave, his heart nearly
being twisted out of him. He had bared its entirety to her, telling her of all
his concerns and alluding to how much he had fallen for her in such a short
span of time. Her words spoke falsely what he saw radiating from her eyes. She
wanted to be free, to live life fully, and she certainly wasn't in love with
Cal; that was obvious to anyone who saw them together.
Her figure moved past the window, and Jack
hung his head down in silent defeat. All morning he had attempted to reach her,
to tell her how he felt and to persuade her to escape with him. Now, when he
finally had, Rose had turned her back on him and stated that she wanted to be
left alone. Even though Jack's doubts ran continuously through his mind, he
knew he should respect what she had said.
Reaching the general room, he caught the
looks of curiosity on both Fabrizio and Tommy's faces. "What happened?"
they asked. All around him, the only things he saw reminded him of Rose and of
the night they shared dancing. Her fire burning bright, her auburn hair softly
touching his rugged skin, and the feel of her warmth next to him. Why did he
have to lose his heart to someone so quickly after keeping it so guarded for so
long? Rose was out of his world, and he knew he had to accept that.
"Did Hockley let you have it?"
With a sigh, Jack simply turned his back to
them. Their questions were ones he desired to ignore. After all, they knew the
answers anyway. "I'll be at the bow."
Arriving on the deck, the wonders of the
powerful and moving sea swept over him. The sun glistened across the waters as
it settled into the sea's horizon. Its lighting reminding him of his first
glimpse of her on the deck as she appeared, the most beautiful creature the
world was ever allowed by heaven. He knew then his heart was destined to belong
to her. Wind blew his tawny hair away from his forehead, and its crispness felt
as cold as the ice in all the first class glares from the previous night's
dinner. He looked down from the bow at the water moving beneath the ship,
flowing as freely and recklessly as Jack had all his life, and as he knew Rose
desired to be. Tears formed in his eyes as he became aware of how much the
memories of just their own day together seemed to stay focused on haunting him.
Why was he so enamored by that woman? Why did he have to let her die in that
world she didn't belong to? As he stood there, the splendor before him only
added to his brooding.
Out of his daydreaming, he heard the
oh-so-familiar sweetness of the voice he loved. "Hello, Jack." Her
well-trained voice startled him from his repose.
Jack spun around, as if responding to a
general's order. There stood Rose in front of him, her pale cheeks slowly
turning the color that suited her name with the chill, and her curls
romantically billowing in the wind. She looked like a princess standing before
him, and his heart nearly stopped as his artist's eye took in every detail of
her. The most amazing feature he loved were her eyes that twinkled with
apprehension and exhilaration. Rose came to him, but still Jack felt his
reserve linger for ever so brief a moment.
"I changed my mind."
An uncontrollable grin filled his face as he
relished the feeling of warmth her words brought him. God must have heard the
silent plea he made through his heartache. Confidently, Rose made her way to
meet him, a smile curving her mouth so much Jack forced his temptation down as
the scene before him took on the true magical quantities they possessed, the
qualities he wished to share with her, the woman he loved.
"They said you might be up here--"
With a quick finger to his lips, Jack urged
her not to ruin the moment. She appeared startled for a moment, but when he
reached his hand to meet hers the trust and fire returned. "Give me your
hand."
Rose cooperated, the feel of her soft touch
spreading throughout Jack's body and nearly melting his soul. He fought back
the urge to scream out how thrilled he was, more intent on creating the most
charming and romantic of all moments that would count for a lifetime more than
he realized. It was Rose's homecoming and the moment of her life that she
finally was free to fly.