PHILADELPHIA IN SPRING
Chapter Three

Rose awoke the next day refreshed, and invigorated by the possibility of finding Jack again.

She got out of bed and walked immediately to her closet, taking out a charming day dress, that had a yellow bodice and white sleeves. After adding the white heels to match and placing her hair up into a bun, she was ready to go. It was earlier than she usually was up, but she wanted to leave before Ruth realized she was gone. And Cal came over these days around noon.

Rose grabbed her purse off of her nightstand and pulled her gloves on quickly. She opened the door slowly, careful not to make too much noise doing so.

The hall was quiet and empty, so she tiptoed lightly towards the stairs.

At the bottom of the steps, she heard a faint noise coming from the kitchen. Trudy appeared at the door of the pantry, looking surprised.

"Miss Rose? Up so soon?"

"Yes, Trudy, please tell me mother that I went out for the morning. I have some errands I want to run."

"But miss- don't you think you ought to..."

Rose started to make her way towards the door. "No, Trudy, just please tell her for me."

"Yes, miss."

Rose exited and found herself on the sidewalk below her house. Her neighborhood was one of the poshest in the city, and the houses were spread farther apart. She took the direction towards the park, wondering the entire way why she was even doing this. At one point, she almost turned back, but continued, no longer scared of what would befall her when she returned later. She convinced herself that it was harmless; she was simply making a new friend.

The spring air was fragrant, and the streets were already bustling with people heading to work. Rose smiled when she saw several children, obviously late for school, running past her, books flying in their hands.

Soon the park loomed ahead of her once again.

"Oh, Rose, he's probably not even there." she told herself. But she had to see.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jack lay awake, early that morning, basking in the thought that he didn't have to be at work until five o'clock. Of course, that meant working late into the night, but at least he could sleep late this morning.

Well, he should have been. But for some reason, thoughts of Rose kept creeping up in his mind, and soon he found himself considering returning to the park, just to see.

"She might be there- she probably lives close to the park..."

"Dawson, what are you doing to yourself?" Jack sighed and dropped his head unto his pillow. After a moment's hesitancy, he jumped out of bed to get dressed. He had to see.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jack stepped out unto the warm spring air. The industrial neighborhood he lived in was quite crowded, and already the streets were bustling.

He stuck his hands in the pockets of his overalls, and contemplated how sincerely crazy this was. Why he was getting up so early, on his morning off, to go look for someone he'd met once, was behind his comprehension. He decided to just trust his gut instinct. Besides, she probably wouldn't even be there. What were the chances?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rose was trying to appear nonchalant. She was sitting on the same bench that she and Jack had talked on yesterday; her hands folded on her lap. The wind was blowing tendrils of her hair everywhere. She'd been sitting there for over half an hour, every few minutes telling herself she'd leave soon.

Across the park, several older couples were walking together, arm in arm. Birds were chirping happily in the early morning breeze, and the fountain was spraying a cool mist over the wildflowers.

Rose looked around nervously, convinced that he would appear any second. What would she say? What would she tell him, to explain her presence here again?

But time was passing, and still no Jack. Depressed and dejected, Rose stood up slowly, making one more quick glance around. Hesitantly, she started walking back towards the direction of the street. After a few steps, she heard a sound behind her, a faint calling.

"Rose?" She turned around and saw Jack jogging toward her, a smile on his face.

"Jack..." Rose stuttered, suddenly losing her ability to speak.

"It's nice to see you again..." she finally managed to churn out.

Jack laughed. "Kind of weird, huh? I usually don't come here during the week, but I...I have the morning off from work."

Rose nodded nervously. "I was...I was just running some errands, and I decided to take a walk through here..."

Jack looked at her. He'd come all this way so early in the morning, to find her. And she'd been here, by some wonderful fate, so he intended to continue this conversation.

"You wanna take that walk together?" He eyed her, and she opened her mouth slowly, as if to say something. In the end, she simply nodded her head. He turned back towards the pathway, his hands in his pockets, and motioned with his head for her to walk beside him.

"You come here a lot." he said, smiling sideways at her.

Rose blushed at this. "Yes, I guess. It's just so beautiful...in the spring."

Jack nodded. "Hmm...yeah, I like to come here too. It's so quiet, even in the middle of this huge city. When you're here, it's so hard to believe what's outside of those trees."

Rose looked at him as he spoke. "How long have you been here, Jack?"

"Only about a month, actually." His eyes darted upward as a bird flew above their heads.

"I've lived here all my life..." Rose replied, her eyes cast to the side.

"You don't sound to thrilled about it." Jack squinted past the sun to look at her. He smiled.

Rose laughed slightly. "No, no. It's just, when you live the way I do- it becomes so boring, so repetitive."

"And how is it that you live?" Jack chuckled.

Rose smiled up at him. "Wouldn't know how to describe it. The world I live in is so narrow-minded, so fabricated."

"Are you by any chance, one of those Philadelphia debutantes, Rose?" Jack smiled.

"Unfortunately, you could put it that way."

"Is that where the fiancé comes into play?"

Rose stopped suddenly and turned toward him. He looked curiously at her. She couldn't believe how openly he had said that. But she wasn't mad, only surprised, because he was reading her like a book.

"Yes." she said, then continued walking.

"What's his name?"

"Cal. His name is Cal."

"And he's one of those arrogant people?"

"Cal's not just one of them- he is them, Jack."

Rose seemed eager to move on to another subject, so Jack remained quiet for a little while. They walked in silence, the gentle sounds of spring all around them.

"So, you mentioned you work. Where at, if you don't me asking..."

"I work at a little hotel cafe- at the Ashford Hotel- have you heard of it?"

"Hmm...I think so. It's right around here isn't it?"

Jack nodded. He found himself staring at her profile, admiring her beauty once again.

"Jack, would you like to go to breakfast with me?"

Jack's eyes widened. He hadn't expected this at all. He wondered where she had in mind. Probably somewhere where he wouldn't fit in.

"Sure, I guess."

"Good, come on." Rose's eyes brightened, and she started leading the way to a small cafe right outside the park.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The two were seated at a table for two at Madeline's, a small cafe that at the moment, was very empty. The tables were ironwork, and the floors were a polished marble. Rose took off her gloves, as Jack fidgeted. He stood out here, and received several LOOKS when they had entered.

After they’d ordered, Rose looked at him teasingly. "So, how do you like Philadelphia? Doesn't exactly compare to Europe, does it?"

Jack thought for a moment. He put his hands together and rested them on top of the table.

"Actually, it's okay. I wandered around France, Italy, but I missed America, I think. Missed the familiarity of it all. But then..."

"But then what?" Rose stared at him intently.

"I told myself I'd never settle down. Now that I have, I feel like something's missing."

Rose bit her lip. "So you liked the wandering?"

Jack smiled and nodded profusely. "More than anything. I loved waking up not knowing where I'd head next or where I'd end up. In a way, it was sort of bohemian, I guess you’d say, but I...made each day count."

Their food arrived, and the waitress sat their dishes and glasses in front of them.

Jack's eyes took on a far off look, as if he were remembering all of those days.

"I still want to."

Rose smiled. "Still want to make it count?"

Jack nodded. "When you think about it Rose, I had everything I needed- air in my lungs, a few sheets of blank paper..."

Rose held her glass in midair after he said that. Her eyes darted upward towards his, and for a moment, she was lost in them, consumed by them.

Then she smiled and raised her glass.

"To making it count."

Jack grinned widely, his eyes sparkling. He raised his glass and knocked it gently against hers. "To making it count."

They ate for a while, laughing and talking about little things. Rose clued him in on her background, everything from her childhood with her father, to his death, to the marriage next Sunday. Jack listened attentively to all of this, taking note of the look in Rose's eyes whenever she even mentioned the wedding, or Cal. It was a sadness.

Jack told about some of his escapades in Europe, partly to cheer Rose up. And it worked. When the waitress came to clear their dishes, Rose was laughing hysterically, happier that she had been in such a long time.

She calmed down slightly and asked another question. "Where did you go before you went to Europe, Jack?"

"Oh, before?" Jack squinted and thought a moment. "Hmm, let's see- I went to Colorado, Wyoming, all over that part of the country. I went California, spent a lot of time there."

This sparked interest in Rose. "California?"

Jack nodded. "Uh huh, I went to Santa Monica for awhile. I drew portraits on the pier there for ten cents a piece. The ocean is so blue there, and the pier is always crowded. And seagulls walk around, right at you feet. I'm actually thinking about making my way back there. As soon as I get enough money."

Rose sat mesmerized by the person in front of her.

"Jack? Say we were to go there some day- only if we just talk about it today..."

"No, we'll do it. We'll ride on the roller coaster till we throw up, drink cheap beer..." Rose was laughing, and Jack admired how beautiful she looked when she did so. Her whole face was lighting up.

"And we'll ride horses, right in the surf. And none of that side-saddle stuff." He smiled.

"You mean, one leg on each side?" Rose seemed excited at the prospect.

Jack nodded. Then Rose's face took on an almost childlike curiosity.

"Can you show me?"

"If you like."

"Teach me to ride like a man." Rose laughed.

Jack laughed along with her. What was he doing? Telling her they'd do this? She was getting married next week...to a man she didn't even appear to like talking about.

But Jack saw such a fire in her. The obvious way she lit up when something sparked in her mind. She'd told him all about her schooling, how much she loved art. Rose Dewitt Bukater was so much more than she would let on...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After they left the cafe, they strolled down the busy street. It was getting close to noon, and Rose knew she should head home, knowing what trouble she was most likely in, but she couldn't make herself leave Jack. This morning had been too wonderful.

There was a small moving picture theater on the corner. The sign red "A Day In The Park", Playing Now.

"Rose, look at that." He pointed amusingly at the sign.

Rose laughed "That's perfect."

"What?" Jack smiled suspiciously.

"I mean, let's go. It's about to start."

Jack chuckled lightly. "Do you ever stop?"

Rose smiled. "No, I don't. Come on."

Rose took his hand. Jack hesitated. This felt so strange, but at the same time, so right. And her hand felt so wonderful in his own.

They bought tickets and entered the small theater. Rose led him to a seat near the front.

"Do you come here a lot too?" Jack asked, smiling.

Rose sat down, taking her gloves off once more. "Not a lot, but it's one of my favorite things to do. I've always wanted to be an actress, Jack."

Jack was surprised to hear this, but after this morning, in a way, wasn't.

"Sounds strange, doesn't it?" She turned toward him. Her eyes were sparkling, and her head was turned slightly to the side. Jack stared into her eyes for a moment, and then shook himself back into reality.

"Not at all, Rose." Rose smiled.

The theater darkened and the picture came on screen. The movie was, oddly enough, about a man and a woman who meet in a park, and then embark on a comical romance.

Halfway through the movie, Rose felt Jack's eyes on her. She turned her head to the side, but he'd already returned his eyes to the screen. She looked at him for awhile. His blue eyes were staring intently at the screen. His face was contorted into a serious expression, and he was biting his lower lip.

Rose smiled to herself. She turned back to the movie. After a few seconds, she lifted her hand from the armrest and slid it cautiously into Jack's.

He turned toward her, surprised at first, but then he smiled. They watched the rest of the picture with their hands tenderly intertwined.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

They stepped back out into the sun, and Rose reached up to shield her eyes from the sudden light. "Argh."

Jack laughed and lifted his arm up to look at his watch.

"Oh, God, it's already two-thirty."

Rose suddenly realized how long she'd been gone. Her mother and Cal would be furious. How would she explain being gone so long without telling them. But then she decided she didn't even care. She'd had such a wonderful time today.

With Jack.

"Do you have to go?"

Jack looked at her. He didn't want to say goodbye just yet.

"Not quite. I don't have to head for work for another couple of hours." She nodded slowly, as if she didn't know what to say at all.

"Do you need to go home Rose?" Jack looked worriedly at her. Maybe she shouldn't have...

Rose smiled. "Don't worry. But I guess I should head back."

Jack looked at her, suddenly saddened with the prospect of saying goodbye.

"Will you walk me home Jack?"

Jack laughed slightly. "Surely. But you'll have to show me the way."

"That I can do." She took his arm. Walking down the street, they received several glances. Jack looked down at Rose. She looked up at him and simply smiled. It didn't bother her at all.

They walked in the sun-filled street, and turned the corner to her house. She stopped in front of the long driveway, that stretched up a large green hill.

"This is the entrance to your house?" Jack looked impressed, almost flabbergasted.

Rose laughed. "Unfortunately, yes."

"I had a wonderful time today, Jack."

"So did I Rose, so did I."

Jack lifted Rose's hand from her side and bent down to kiss it gently.

He looked up and smiled.

"I saw that on a Nickelodeon once, and I always wanted to do it."

Rose giggled. She looked at him silently. Their gazes locked for a moment. They were leaning up against the fence near the drive. Rose placed her hand on the fence; Jack's was already there.

Still entranced in Rose's eyes, Jack moved his hand on top of hers. Rose searched his eyes for a second. Jack moved his face closer to hers. Rose took a deep breath.

"It would be so easy to kiss her..." Jack thought to himself. He could almost hear her heart beating quickly, just as his was.

Rose stepped toward him, thinking the same thing.

But then the moment was interrupted by a call from the top of the hill.

"Rose?" Rose turned suddenly to see Ruth on the top of the drive, with an indescribable look on her face. Her hands were gripped tightly into a fist at her waist.

"One second, mother."

Rose turned back to Jack, who had such a disappointed look on his face, she almost felt compelled to forget her mother was standing above them.

She smiled at him and lifted her hand from the fence.

"Thank you Jack." She searched his eyes, making sure he knew what she meant.

He nodded and smiled. "Bye Rose."

"Goodbye." She hesitated before turning back and starting up the hill.

Her mother was walking to meet her with a disgusted expression, her lips firmed in an angry line. Rose ignored her, turning around to see Jack ambling slowly back down the street, his hands in his pockets, looking toward the sky.

The sky.

Chapter Four
Stories