Chapter Sixteen
Jack and Rose were still at the pub, along with Jack's old friends, Jonathan and Charles, whom Jack had reunited with ten minutes earlier. The four had been talking for awhile, until Jack got up, holding Rose's hand. Rose stood by his side and leaned on his shoulder, as she looked up at him. Jack smiled and kissed her forehead.
“Well, Rose and I better head off, now.” Jack said. “I hope to see you guys more often. We're staying at the hotel by the pier, so if you two ever want to visit, feel free to do so. But as of now, Rose and I better go on for the day. There are a few things I promised I'd do with her, and I want her to experience the joy of Santa Monica before our honeymoon is over.”
“Whatever you say, Jack.” Jonathan said, patting Jack on his shoulder. “You two go and have some fun. You two deserve it. Charles and I will visit later in the week, okay?”
“Okay, Jon.” Jack said. “See you guys later, okay?”
“No problem.” Jonathan said, smiling, as he watched the couple leave the pub, after paying for the two beers that they had. Jonathan turned to Charles and smiled at him, knowing that both are glad to have finally been reunited with a good friend that they haven't seen for two years.
Once Jack and Rose left the pub, Jack led Rose to a bench, a couple of meters away. Jack stood in front of the bench as he held Rose's hand. Jack stared at the bench and smiled. Memories came to him when he stood in front of this particular bench. Jack squeezed Rose's hand a little tighter, as he felt her place her head onto his shoulder. Jack kissed the top of her head and pulled Rose close to him, as he took a seat on the bench, Rose right beside him. Jack looked into Rose's eyes and smiled.
“This is the bench I always sat on when I drew portraits.” Jack said. Rose looked up at him and smiled.
“For ten cents a piece?” Rose asked, a smile spread across her face. Jack smiled and nodded. The conversation they had on the Titanic suddenly came to her.
***
“After that I worked on a squid boat in Monterey, then I went down to Los Angeles, to the pier in Santa Monica and drew portraits there for ten cents a piece.” Jack said, staring down at Rose, as they faced the evening's sunset.
“Why can't I be like you, Jack? Just head out for the horizon, whenever I feel like it.” Rose swung her arm out at the sky, as if to emphasize her point. “Say we'll go there sometime, to that pier, even if we only ever just talk about it.”
“No, we'll do it. We'll drink cheap beer. We'll ride on the roller coaster 'til we throw up, and we'll ride horses on the beach, right in the surf. Now, you'll have to do it like a real cowboy, none of that sidesaddle stuff.” Jack said.
“Y-you mean, one leg on each side?” Rose asked.
“Yeah.” Jack said, looking down at her. Rose seemed hesitant, but smiled.
“Can you show me?” Rose asked, looking up at him.
“Sure, if you like.” Jack said.
“Teach me to ride like a man.” Rose said.
“And chew tobacco like a man.” Jack said, with a bad western accent.
“And…spit like a man.” Rose said, giving out a small laugh.
“You mean, they didn't teach you that in finishing school?” Jack asked, teasing her.
“No!” Rose said, laughing.
***
“So, Rose, are you ready to ride the roller coaster ‘til we throw up?” Jack asked. He noticed that Rose was staring straight ahead, as if she was drifted into another world. Jack waved his hand over her face a couple of times. Rose blinked a couple of times, then looked up at Jack, as she smiled. “Are you still with me?” Jack asked, teasing her with his crooked smile.
“Of course I am.” Rose said, smiling. “I was just remembering our conversations aboard the Titanic , that's all.”
“Don't worry Rose, we're gonna do everything we ever talked about on that ship. I promised you, and I'm not the type of person who breaks their promises.” Jack said. “You know me.” Jack smiled at Rose, as he looked into her emerald-green eyes, which shone in happiness and love--for him. He saw Rose smile back, so he leaned closer and closed the space between them, with a passionate kiss, not really caring if people were staring at them. They just held each other close, totally oblivious to the world around them. Rose was the first to pull away.
“So, are we going to ride the roller coaster, or not?” Rose asked, smiling up at him. Jack smiled back, and got up, helping Rose up as well.
“Well, let's get going then.” Jack said. Rose smiled and followed him towards the roller coaster. They had reached the line. Jack and Rose stood behind the several people, which were waiting for the roller coaster to come down, from the previous ride its taking. Rose stood patiently beside Jack, as she held onto Jack's hand, excited about going on the roller coaster. Jack looked down at her and smiled at her. He placed his hand on her waist, and brought her closer to him as he kissed the top of her head. A few minutes had passed, and they heard the roller coaster come to a halt, as the passengers got out of the cars. The ticket master was giving the new passengers tickets, so they could go on. When it came to Jack and Rose's turn, Jack took out a twenty dollar bill and handed it to the man, taking the tickets. The ticket master handed him the change, and Jack accepted as he placed the change into his pant pockets.
Jack and Rose went over to one of the cars, and stepped in, handing the tickets to the man who helped them in. Jack and Rose securely buckled their seatbelts and held onto the metal rail in front of them. It took approximately two minutes for the other passengers to board the cars. A couple of minutes later, the cars began moving. Rose turned to Jack and smiled happily at Jack. Jack smiled back, then looked straight, as he let out a loud scream, with a big smile on his face. He spread out his arms and let the air run through his hair. Rose let out a sharp shriek as she, too, spread out her arms, as the roller coaster sped through the tracks, going faster and faster.
“Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Rose screamed happily as her eyes went wide, when there was a loop coming ahead. When the car made the loop, Rose shrieked and searched for Jack's hand. When she found his hand, she held onto it as tightly as she could. Jack and Rose just stared straight ahead, as the roller coaster sped through the tracks, causing Rose to shriek more louder. A few, short, minutes later, the roller coaster came to a halt and allowed for the passengers to step out of the cars. When Jack helped Rose out of the car, she laughed, and held onto Jack, tightly. “I never screamed that loud in my entire life.” Rose said, smiling up at him.
“I could tell. Luckily, I didn't become deaf.” Jack said, teasing her.
“Sorry. I didn't mean to scream in your ear. It's just that, I never been on a roller coaster, so it was sort of scary, but fun at the same time.” Rose said. She stood in front of Jack and placed her hands over his chest, looking up at him. “I'm so glad you took me here. I never had so much fun in my entire life.”
“Well, I'm glad you did.” Jack said. “Besides, the fun is not over yet. We still gotta ride the horse right in the surf.”
“Oh, I can't wait!” Rose said.
“Well, you're gonna have to, my sweet Rose. We're gonna do that, later this evening, in the sunset.” Jack said. He saw Rose pout. “Don't you do that, Rose. I still have lots to show you here in Santa Monica. We'll just save the best for last, okay?”
“Well, if you say so.” Rose said.
“Don't worry, Rose. You're gonna love it. Trust me.” Jack said.
“I trust you.” Rose said, smiling up at him. Jack smiled back, then leaned closer, engulfing her mouth with his, in a loving, passionate kiss. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck, as Jack wrapped his around her small waist, bringing her closer to his body. He then lifted her up and began spinning around, their mouths still connected. Rose swung her legs, laughing into Jack's mouth. Jack stopped, and carefully set her down, still kissing her.
“You're amazing.” Jack whispered, once they pulled apart. Rose smiled and kissed him again.
“I know.” Rose said, smiling. She then began walking away, with her back straight, and her legs walking as elegantly as an upper class lady walks. She turned her head and watched Jack stand there, totally perplexed. She stuck out her tongue and began walking faster, when she noticed that he was heading towards her. Her steps began to quicken, until she was running. She looked over her shoulder and noticed that, he, too, was running. Rose laughed and ran towards the pier. She stopped at the edge of the pier and turned, noticing that Jack was coming closer. Rose looked down at the water and smiled. She turned towards him and stuck out her tongue once more, before jumping in. She resurfaced and shook her head, and spitting out the water that went in her mouth. She looked up and found Jack staring down at her. Jack smiled and jumped in as well. Rose shrieked and began swimming farther from him, laughing the whole time.
“Come back here, you!” Jack said, swimming towards her. He finally caught up with her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Rose let out a shriek and laughed. “You thought that you could run away from, me, huh?” Jack asked, as he smiled at her.
“Well, I did give it a try, didn't I?” Rose asked. “You could at least give me the credit of that.” Jack laughed.
“Well, I could.” Jack said. Rose smiled and kissed him. Jack was the one to pull away. “You know, you look gorgeous when you're wet.”
“So do you, Mr. Dawson.” Rose said, as a smile appeared on her angelic face. Jack kissed her lips with all the passion in him. After a few minutes, Rose pulled away. “You know, you always have to do that to me.”
“Do what?” Jack asked.
“Kiss me, then get me weak to the knees, and cause me to get lost in your kiss.” Rose said.
“Oh, really.” Jack said.
“Really.” Rose said.
“Well, you're gonna have to deal with it, until the day you die!” Jack said, smiling, as he splashed her. Rose laughed and splashed him. They kept on splashing each other, as they laughed. Rose then placed her hands on top of Jack's head and pushed him under, laughing as she done so. Jack resurfaced and shook his head. “Oh, so you're gonna be like that, huh?” Jack said. Rose laughed. Jack did the same to her. When she resurfaced, Rose spat out the water on his face. Jack wiped the water off of his face and stared back at her. “You're gonna pay for that!” Jack said, smiling.
“Really?” Rose asked. “Well, you're going to have to catch me first!” Rose said, as she quickly swam away. Jack quickly swam after her, catching up to her, since he was more of a better swimmer than she was. Within seconds, Jack caught her and dunked her under. Once they resurfaced, Rose swung her hair back and smiled at Jack, before pushing him under. Only this time, Jack didn't resurface. Rose looked around, beginning to panic. “J-Jack?” Rose said, her voice a bit shaky. “Jack?” Jack still didn't resurface. “Jack, this isn't funny.” Still, no Jack. “Jack, come on, quit playing games, Jack, you're scaring me, now, please, come back up. Jack?” Tears were beginning to form in her eyes. “Jack?” Rose suddenly felt someone grab her by her waist. Rose let out a shriek, then turned around, finding Jack, laughing. “Jack Dawson, don't you ever do that again!” Rose said, slapping him on his arm. “You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
“I'm sorry.” Jack said, bringing her close to him. “I didn't mean to scare you like that.”
“Well, you did.” Rose said. “I don't know what I would've done if I lost you.” Rose cried. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, afraid that he'd disappear into thin air if he left.
“I'm sorry Rose. I really didn't mean to scare you like that. It was just a joke. I didn't know that you'd break down like this.” Jack said, stroking her wet hair. Rose's head rested on Jack's wet chest, as tears began flowing down her cheeks. She clutched onto Jack's shirt, holding him tightly towards her.
“I'm just afraid that I'll lose you.” Rose cried. “I almost did on that dreadful night.”
“Rose,” Jack said, as he lifted her chin with his finger. “you're not going to lose me, I promise you. I married you, and I'm gonna live with you ‘til the day you die. I'm a survivor Rose, and you know that. I survived from the fire in which my parents died from, I survived poverty, I survived traveling the world, by hopping on trains, I survived the sinking of the Titanic, and most of all, I survived the freezing waters. Rose, it's gonna take more than any of those to get rid of me, trust me. When I say I'm a survivor, I'm a survivor.” Jack said, looking down at her. “Rose, I love you, and I promise you with all I have, that I'll never leave you. Rose, you're stuck with me forever. You can't get rid of me. Not now, not ever.” Rose smiled up at him.
“Oh well. I guess I have to put up with you for all my life.” Rose said.
“Well, you should. You married me, didn't you?” Jack asked.
“I sure did.” Rose said. “And I'm glad I did.” Jack smiled and leaned down, kissing her with all the passion and love within him.
Once they pulled away, Rose looked up at him and stared into his deep blue eyes. The blue eyes, that always made her feel weak to the knees and numerous times, she would get lost in them, always staring into his blue eyes of mystery and love. She then moved up to his tousled blonde hair. She slowly brought her wet hand to his hair and ran her fingers through his hair. It was now shorter, since he had it trimmed for the wedding, but it was still long enough to get into his eyes as it always did. She looked at his face, and noticed that he gave her one of his famous smiles, which always made her feel weak to the knees. Rose smiled back and gently placed a gentle, but passionate kiss onto his lips. Rose placed a hand onto his neck, as Jack placed his onto her back, their mouths still connected into their passionate kiss.
Jack pulled away and looked into her eyes as he smiled at her, lovingly. He brought his wet hand to her hair, and gently caressed her red curls, which were slumped from being wet, but the color was still as fiery red as he remembered. He gently ran his fingers through her curls, which were soft and wet to the touch, but still the same hair that belonged to the one woman that he loved with his heart and soul. His hand then moved down to her peach colored cheek, which was soft to the touch and rosy from the chill of the wind. His eyes then moved up to her own. Her emerald-jewel eyes was the one thing that made him fall in love with her the most. Her eyes, which were windows to her soul, in which he read perfectly as she were a book. Pages, in which had words written of her feelings and her concerns and her worries, in which Jack, was the one to be able to perfectly understand the words and feelings that she held within her soul.
Jack looked into her eyes deeply, as if trying to comprehend her feelings at this very moment. He then noticed that Rose's eyes held a tint of blue, in which held love and care towards the man she married. Her sapphire-emerald eyes, which were the eyes of mystery and love. The eyes that held love towards one man, and one man only. Jack then looked down at her ruby colored lips, in which he kissed with all the love within his soul. The ruby lips, which always curved into a smile whenever she looked at him. The ruby lips, which always brushed against him in a passionate kiss that always made him fall in love with her all over again. Jack gently caressed her lips with his thump, feeling the soft texture of her lips. Jack noticed that Rose closed her eyes, so he gently ran his thumb over her eyelids, as if caressing her soul, healing the wounds that it held within them. The wounds that hurt her soul, whenever she looks back at the past. The wounds that were made on the night of April,15,1912, the night the ill-fated ship has sunk, taking over fifteen hundred people with her. Almost taking them with her. Jack thanked God that He spared both their lives, giving them a second chance to live. A chance to start their lives as they planned to when they first met.
Rose felt Jack caress her red curls and finger through them, with his fingers. She looked up at him, as his hand moved down to her delicate, porcelain cheek, feeling his rough, but gentle hand caress it with much love and care. She saw him look through her eyes, reading her soul, as he always did. He read her soul as if it were an open book. Only, Jack was the only one to understand her feelings, for he was the one that freed her from her miserable life that she had lived in for seventeen years. For all her years on earth, she prayed for someone to free her from her misery, to free her from the cage that locked her from the wonders of the world, to free her from the forceful engagement to Caledon Hockley. And luckily, she had met that person who freed her from that cage, and made her a free butterfly, able to fly around the world and explore the wonders and hopes it held. Whenever she looked up at him, she felt loved. She felt as if she was the only woman in the world, to be loved the most handsomest man, who cared for her and loved her for who she was, not for what she was. She hadn't felt loved until her father passed away. Her father loved her with all his heart, always caring for her, and always there whenever she needed him.
Her father had died of leukemia at the age of forty-five. He was diagnosed at the age of forty, being stuck with the cancer for five years, before death overtook him. Rose was devastated when her father passed away. He was the only one who loved her and cared for her. The one who always made her feel happy and loved whenever she needed it. Rose loved her father with all her heart, and she adored him more than her mother, because her mother never cared for her the way her father did. Her mother was the one who cared for the money, never for her daughter's concerns. Her father often argued with her, telling her that she should spend more time with her daughter, instead of worrying about the money, but her mother never listened. When her father passed on, her mother immediately sold her off the richest bachelor in town. And that bachelor turned out to be thirty year old Caledon Hockley, son of Nathan Hockley, Pittsburg steel tycoon. Rose never loved him, never even adored him, but had to play along, knowing her mother would be furious if she turned down the proposal.
Now, when she looks up at Jack, she sees love and care for her. Never in her entire life, besides with her father, had she seen someone love her as much as Jack Dawson had. Jack was the only man who cared for her and loved her with all his heart and soul, that he would risk his own life, just so that she would live. Rose noticed Jack staring down at her ruby lips, which always brushed against Jack's pink lips, into a kiss that only the two could, and would, ever share. She felt Jack's fingers gently caress her lips, feeling the rough texture of his fingers. For a brief moment, Rose closed her eyes, relishing the moment, enjoying the feel of his fingers against her lips. Suddenly, she felt his fingers brush against her eyelids, softly and gently, as if he was scared that he would damage her eyes with more pressure and more hurt. Rose let Jack caress her eyes and let him feel her the way he wants to. When she felt Jack remove his fingers from her eyelids, she opened them, seeing Jack smile down at her and saw his eyes shine with happiness and love, that only he, could give her. Rose smiled up at him and brought her hand up to his cheek as she gently caressed his face with her delicate fingers. She brought Jack closer to her as she placed her lips over Jack's, giving him a passionate and loving kiss, showing him just how much she loved and adored him. She placed her hand at the back of his neck, as she felt Jack place his at the small of her back, bringing her closer to his body, holding her close to him.
Once they pulled away, they looked into each other's eyes, smiling and enjoying the other's presence. Jack kissed the top of Rose's forehead as he swam towards the pier. He grabbed hold of the pier with both of his hands as he quickly climbed up. Once he stood on his own two feet, he shook the excess water out of his hair and wiped his face from the water that trickled down his face. He blinked a few times, removing that water that went in, until he finally kept his eyes open. He motioned for Rose to swim towards him and she did. He kneeled down, holding out his hand for her to take, so he could help her. Rose gracefully placed her hand into his, which fit perfectly with each other, and allowed for Jack to lift her out of the water and onto the pier, beside him. When Rose was finally on her own two feet, she squeezed the water out of her red curls, as well as her lavender dress. Once she finished, she looked up at her husband and smiled.
“Wouldn't you suppose that we should head over to our hotel room and change our clothing?” Rose asked. “You wouldn't want to walk around all soak and wet, now would you?”
“Well, I don't mind.” Jack said.
“Suit yourself. I'll go over to our hotel room and change, while you will stay here all wet and soaked to the bone. I just hope that you wouldn't catch a cold, since it's a little chilly, and surely you could feel the breeze against your wet body.” Rose said, a teasing smile on her face. “So, if you'll excuse me, I have to change my clothes, for I know that I don't want to end up catching a cold.” Rose turned and began walking away from Jack. Jack smiled and began walking towards her.
“Well, I'll reconsider now, since you gave me your little speech there.” Jack said, smiling. Rose turned and stared up at him.
“That was no speech, that was a lecture, and I'm sure you enjoyed it.” Rose said. Jack chuckled.
“You know, you sounded just like my mother. She would always tell me to button up before I left the house during the autumn, and always made sure I had my coat, gloves, scarf, hat, and snow boots, before I left the house during the winter, and trust me, if you argue with her, you'll get a half hour lecture on how I'll catch pneumonia or influenza if I don't do as she says.” Jack said. “But I sure do miss her, though. She was a good mother, and she would've loved you. She would treat you as you were her own daughter. I just wish that I was there to save her and to save my father. But I was out on that stupid lake, instead of at home. I should've listened to her! I should've just--” Jack began, but Rose placed her two fingertips on top of his lips, causing him to stop what he was saying.
“Jack, if you went in that house, you would've burned to death, as well, and I wouldn't be able to have you as my husband.” Rose said, looking up at him with his tear-filled eyes, which didn't flow down his cheeks. “Jack, I'm sorry that your parents died, I really am, but if you went in and rescued them, you could've died, and I would be married to Cal right now. And because of you, I'm not, and I'm thankful for that, Jack.” Rose looked up at him, with her own eyes filling with tears. “Don't you understand Jack, I love you. I can't lose you. Not now, not ever. I found you, and I'm not going to lose you. I know you loved your parents, I know you still do. They'll always be with you, in your heart, just as my father is with me. He passed away a year ago of leukemia, and he was the best man I've ever known, before I met you. He cared for me, he loved me, and he did absolutely anything to make me feel happy and loved, just as you do. I know you want to turn back time to bring them back to life, and I know I would, to bring my father back to life, but we can't. Remember what you told me that night, before the boat came to save us. Don't you remember your own words?” Rose asked. She looked down for a brief moment and looked back up at him. “You told me to promise to survive and move on with life, no matter how hopeless, or what happens. Jack, I'm fulfilling that promise, because you're alive. And…and if y-you weren't, I would've still kept that promise, just because you told me to. Jack, you have to do the same for me. I'm not telling you to forget your parents. All I'm telling you is to move on and remember the good times you had with them, just as I do with my father.” Rose brought both of hands to her face and forced him to look into her eyes. “Jack, you have to promise me that you'll move on. No matter what happens, and no matter how hopeless. You have to promise me that you won't dwell on the past, and you have to promise me that you won't blame yourself for your parents death, for God knows that it wasn't your fault. Jack, I love you with all my heart, and I don't want you to be hurt and blame yourself for something you didn't do. So, Jack, you have to promise me, just like you made me promise to live on that fateful night. Please, Jack. I love you. Please, promise me.” Rose said, as she looked up at him. She saw Jack close his eyes and open them as he looked down at her. He gave her a weak smile.
“I promise.” Jack said, with a tone of meaning and love. Rose smiled and threw his arms around his neck, hugging him close, as she buried her face at the crook of his neck, letting the tears flow down her face, and onto his neck. Jack wrapped his arms around her as he hugged her back, tightly.
“I love you, Rose.” Jack said, burying his face into her hair. “Thank you. Thank you for helping me through this.”
“Your welcome.” Rose said, her voice shaky from her tears. She pulled away, just far enough to look up at his face and smile at him. She quickly wiped away her tears before placing her hands over his chest. “Shouldn't we be heading to our hotel room, so we could change?” Rose asked. Jack looked down at their clothes and smiled, as he nodded. Rose smiled back, and pulled away from the embrace, but held Jack's hand in a tight, loving grip.
The two couple headed towards their hotel, as they went up to their hotel room, to change their clothes, into dry clothes, as they hung their wet clothes up in a hanger, to dry. Rose went over to the wooden box, as she opened it and took out a red dress, which was short-sleeved, and was low-cut. It was ankle-length with five layers, almost similar to the dress she had worn when the ship sank, only it was red, and didn't have beads or embroidery, like the other one had. Rose put on her light red stockings and slipped on her matching shoes, which she had bought with her mother, when they had purchased her wedding dress. Rose then went over to the dresser and picked up her brush, as she began brushing her hair, untangling it and making it shine and made her curls bounce happily. Rose then pulled her hair into a ponytail, securely tying it with a red ribbon, as a few strands escaped from the ribbons. Once Rose tied her hair in place, she made sure it was secure and in place, as she tucked a strand of curl behind her ear. She smiled and turned, finding Jack slip on his suspenders.
Jack sat down on the bed, as he slipped on his boots and tied the laces together, doing the same with the other foot. Once he was finished, he stood up and ran his fingers through his hair, before placing his hands into his pockets, as he always does. Strands of his hair went into his eyes and he swung it out of his eyes, as he stared down at Rose with a smile upon his lips. He went over to Rose and held out his hand, as Rose slipped hers into his as both left the hotel room and went back out to Santa Monica, to continue exploring, as Jack had said.