UNABLE TO STAY, UNWILLING TO LEAVE
Chapter Three
His heart was pounding, and he didn't even
notice the man he nearly cast aside as he raced inside the ship. The only
thought in his mind remained firmly fixed on how Rose left behind all safety to
jump back on board. Why had she? To any other witness, it would appear she had lost
all sanity, but to Jack it was the most moving gift possible. Still, he grew
more and more worried that one or both of them wouldn't survive. However, he
stayed determined to keep them both alive, no matter what.
Slowly, tears poured freely from his welled-up
eyes, unable to comprehend or fathom what really swept through her mind. He was
racing now, frantically flinging the doors open, and desperately searching for
her among the terrified passengers. The last he saw of her, she was crying and
clinging to the side of the ship. His feet carried him down the flights of the
Grand Staircase almost as if he were flying. Then, he saw her as she moved
haphazardly through the crowds. With her hair flying freely around her face,
its long auburn curls smooth as usual, tears pouring down her porcelain cheeks,
and an uncontrollable sob emerging from her full, pouty lips, she appeared
stunning to him. There was nothing more that he wanted to do than to hold her
in his arms forever, and never let go.
They collided into each other’s arms,
breathless for a moment. It seemed as if Rose could easily collapse into his
arms then and there, incapable of going on through her own tears. Jack lifted
her with his strength, supporting her not only physically, but through the love
evident in his eyes. He heard the soft cry she gave, and he clutched her ever
so tightly to himself, savoring the silk skin close to him, the smell of her
perfume, the softness of her hair, and the warmth of her breath. Suddenly, he
realized how grateful he was to God, for letting him win that ticket that would
ultimately bring him to her and change their lives forever.
Aware that they would cause eyes to look to
them on any normal day, Jack didn't care. Nothing in the world mattered to him
except for himself and the woman he adored and loved with all his heart. He
pulled back for a moment, and put his hands on her pale cheeks, peering into
the crystal eyes that conveyed everything she felt, her soul and his future.
"You're so stupid, Rose!" his voice yelled, amused and terrified, in
between hurried, passionate kisses. Jack had never been one for conventional
manners, and now was not the time, not when he was thrilled to be reunited with
her, and as he comforted her. "You're so stupid! Why did you do that?
Why?"
Rose sighed, fighting back the tears and
fear. Her hands fumbled for a moment in his shaggy and tawny hair, and then
began to brush lovingly across his smooth cheeks. She nearly screamed her reply
as she said the words that almost melted Jack's heart, despite the freezing
conditions around him. "You jump, I jump, right?" Her voice almost
cracked with emotion as her sapphire eyes searched his for the same emotion.
Jack's hard determination crumbled as he
heard her words. The entire content of their relationship instantly played
through his head.
"But I'm too involved now. You jump,
I jump, remember? I can't turn away without knowing you'll be all right. That's
all that I want."
He kept hearing his own voice, over and over,
in his head. Rose was willing to stay with him, no matter what lay ahead. She
really did care. She really felt the same things he always had for her, from
that first day, and the feelings he only dared to let himself dream that she
actually returned. Their social classes didn't matter. There were no longer any
barriers to keep them apart. He loved her, and she obviously loved him. Rose
would give her own life for him, fully aware it didn't have to be that way. At
that moment, Jack made a silent vow to himself. His words would become reality,
and he would make the sacrifice if need be, in order to let her life the life
she craved. His reply became the spoken promise to her, "Right."
She drew his head urgently to hers again, her
lips quickly finding his as they stood at the foot of the staircase landing,
warming his heart and soul. He embraced her even more tightly, burying his face
in the blanket of her shiny, perfumed tresses. His hands passionately stroked
her neck, and he cherished the feel of her wanton grasp onto him. Every feeling
he had experienced in the Renault now seemed magnified and more intense. He
would never again let Rose and himself be separated.
"I couldn't go, Jack. I just couldn't
go."
"It's all right. We'll think of
something."
"I couldn't go. Not without you."
Glancing up, he thanked the heavens for
giving him an angel to love and to hold on earth. Wells of tears threatened to
burst forth from his own eyes, but it wasn't to happen. Suddenly, without
warning, he saw the abrupt commotion on the landing above. Dark hair and black
tie spun through the air and silver reflected brightly in the lamplight. Cal's
face came into view while he aimed the gun directly towards the back of Rose.
He looked like a man who had lost all sign of reason.
Fear enveloped every fiber in Jack's body. He
had never imagined fulfilling his vow then and there. Having been so absorbed
with his declaration and commitment to her, he had completely forgotten about
the over-possessive and jealous fiancé who liked to claim she belonged to him.
Shoving Rose aside and grabbing her hand, his terror showed in his yell,
"Come on! We've got to move!"
A horrified scream emerged from Rose as the
carved cherub next to her exploded as the bullet from Cal's gun hit it,
splintering it into pieces. Jack dragged her down the stairs, dodging disaster
as they continued around the floors to each new flight. Thank God Cal was a
horrible shot. A spray of green water shot upwards, and Rose's gasp and scream
urged him onward again, even faster than before.
"Come on, Rose," he pleaded, as
they waded into the flooded reception deck. The chill immediately stabbed him
like a hundred knives. Rose was gasping with the pain. "Come on."
Another blast of water next to her urged them both to move more quickly as they
heard Cal's angry cries.
They entered the dining room as another
bullet cracked the glass door. If it hadn't been for the shield, Jack would've
been hit. As they raced frantically into the rapidly tilting room, the gunfire
seemed to vanish, but Jack wasn't about to take any chances.
"I hope you enjoy your time
together!" Cal's cry echoed across the water to meet their ears as they
ran into a corridor, hoping to find refuge until he gave up, but he was done
pursuing them.
Jack sighed, relieved. Apparently, the water
was too frigid for the iceman himself. It would buy Rose and him time to create
a safe distance from him, and to allow himself to think of a way to survive. He
pondered the words for a moment, and realized he would make each of the
terrifying moments of Titanic's death count as he would any moment Rose and
himself would spend together. His eyes found Rose's, and Jack realized the road
ahead of them.
The End.