Precious Love Desired

Chapter Two

February 12, 2004

Jack and Rose had just gotten out of the movie theater. They had seen Cheaper by the Dozen, with Steve Martin. They went out laughing.

"That movie was hilarious!" Jack said, still laughing.

"I know," Rose said, laughing as well. It was 8:30 PM when Rose checked her watch. "We still have two and a half hours left. What should we do now?"

"Why don’t we go to get a bite to eat?" Jack offered.

"Sure. Why not?" Rose asked. Jack and Rose went across the street to a pizza restaurant. When they went inside, Rose spotted Brenda with Cal.

"Brenda!" Rose called out. Brenda turned to her.

"Rosetta! Come over here!" Brenda said. Rose took Jack’s hand and went over to Brenda. "Hello, Rose." Brenda got up to hug her best friend. "What are you two doing out so late?"

"What are you, my mother? And besides, it’s not late. It’s only 8:35, and I don’t have to be home until eleven," Rose said.

"What, are you on a date or something?" Brenda asked.

"Well, duh!" Rose said. "I’m on a date with my boyfriend, Jack Dawson." Rose leaned on Jack’s shoulder.

"Boyfriend!" Brenda said, her mouth open.

"Yes. He gave me his locket," Rose said, opening the locket to show Brenda the pictures.

"Aw. How sweet," Brenda said, looking at the pictures. Rose closed the locket and held Jack’s hand. "Oh, I’m on a date, also. Rose, this is Caledon Hockley, my boyfriend."

"I believe we have met before," Cal said.

"Yeah. You’re in my history class," Rose said.

"Oh, that’s right," Cal said, nodding his head.

"Well, I’d better go find a place to sit so Jack and I can continue our date," Rose said.

"Why don’t you two join us?" Cal offered.

"Oh, no. I’m sure you and Brenda could use your private time together, as do Jack and I. Why don’t you two enjoy yourselves, while Jack and I enjoy ourselves?" Rose asked.

"Okay. I’ll call you," Brenda said.

"Like always," Rose said, rolling her eyes. "Well, Jack and I will continue our date. And I hope that you two resume yours."

Both Brenda and Cal nodded their heads. Jack and Rose walked to another booth and sat down across from each other. Brenda couldn’t help but stare at them. A waitress came over to Jack and Rose to take their orders.

"What would you two like?" the waitress asked.

"Uh…I would like a slice of extra cheese pizza, a Coke, and garlic knots," Rose ordered.

"Okay. How about you?" the waitress asked Jack.

"A slice of pepperoni pizza and a Coke," Jack ordered.

"Your order will be done in ten minutes," the waitress said. Jack nodded. The waitress left and went to Brenda and Cal to take their orders. Jack and Rose just stared at each other, admiring each other’s looks. Jack broke the silence.

"So…when’s your birthday?" Jack asked.

"January 17, 1987," Rose answered.

"You’re kidding!" Jack said, surprised.

"No, I’m not. Why do you ask?" Rose asked.

"Well, that’s my birthday, only in 1986," Jack answered.

"We have the same birthday!" Rose said, surprised.

"Sounds like it," Jack said, smiling.

"Wow. That’s amazing," Rose said.

"You’re amazing," Jack said. Rose looked up at him with a serious face. She smiled. Jack smiled back. He leaned over the table, as did Rose, and they shared a kiss.

*****

Brenda could see Jack and Rose kissing. She had a smile on her face. Cal looked at her with adoring eyes.

"Is there anything wrong, sweetpea?" Cal asked.

"No, nothing’s wrong," Brenda said.

"I got something for you," Cal said.

"You do?" Brenda asked excitedly.

"Yes," Cal said. He pulled out a gun and shot Brenda. Rose turned around and saw Brenda on the floor, bleeding. Rose screamed.

"Brenda!" Rose said, going to Brenda’s side.

"Rose, I’m fine," Brenda said, wincing in pain.

"No, you’re not," Rose said, tears running down her cheeks. "Jack, call an ambulance!" Rose called out. Jack nodded and went to the counter. Rose could see the waitress hand him the phone. Jack dialed 911 and explained the situation to them. Then Rose noticed Cal just standing there. "You know, you just shot my best friend. The only friend I could count on. How could you?" Rose asked.

"She deserved it," Cal said, exiting the pizzeria before the cops came. Ten minutes later, the ambulance arrived. Rose was crying hysterically. Jack came towards her and hugged her.

"Brenda, she’s…oh, Jack!" Rose cried, burying her face in Jack’s shoulder. Jack just hugged her and held back his tears. Rose could see that they were putting Brenda inside the ambulance. Rose dragged Jack towards the paramedics. "May I please go with her?" Rose asked, tears in her eyes.

"I’m sorry…" the paramedic began.

"Listen, it’s her best friend in there. She’s known her for all her life, and she can’t just stand there and watch her die! If that was your friend, would you just stand there and watch them die? Would you?" Jack yelled.

"Go on," the paramedic said. Both Jack and Rose got in the ambulance, holding each other’s hands. Rose couldn’t help but cry at the sight of her best friend motionless. Jack just held her hand tightly. Rose looked up at him. She could see that he had tears in his eyes. Rose just leaned on his shoulder and cried. After what seemed like a long time, they reached the hospital. The paramedics opened the back door and got Brenda out. Jack and Rose hopped out of the ambulance and followed. The paramedics told Jack and Rose to stay in the waiting room while they went to the emergency room to put Brenda in immediate surgery to remove the bullet. Rose was still crying.

"Jack, what if she dies?" Rose asked, crying. "I’ll lose the best friend that I have ever had," Rose cried.

"Rose, I know how you feel. I lost my parents when I was fifteen because my parents were shot," Jack said, tears starting to flow down his cheeks.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t know," Rose said.

"It’s okay," Jack said, hugging Rose. "Let’s just hope that everything will be okay." More tears fell down his cheeks. Rose called Brenda’s mother.

"Hello?" a male voice said.

"Jordan, you and your mother have to get to the hospital immediately!" Rose cried.

"Why? What happened?" Jordan asked, worried.

"Brenda has been shot!" Rose cried.

"We’ll be right over," Jordan said, immediately hanging up the phone. Rose hung up the phone, sat down next to Jack, and cried. About half an hour later, Brenda’s mother, Rene, and Brenda’s older brother, Jordan, ran inside the hospital. They both went towards Rose.

"Where is she? Where’s my baby?" Brenda’s mother cried.

"She’s in surgery!" Rose cried.

"My baby!" Brenda’s mother cried.

"What happened?" Jordan asked, worried about his little sister.

"Jack and I had just finished watching a movie, so we wanted to get a bite to eat. We went to the nearest pizzeria. I saw Brenda there. I greeted her, and she asked me why I was out so late. I told her I was on a date. She was on a date with Caledon Hockley. So we had a little conversation, and then I left to be with Jack on our date. I kissed Jack, and then I heard a gunshot and saw Brenda on the floor, bleeding. I can’t lose her. She’s my best friend!" Rose cried. Brenda’s mother cried and hugged Rose. Jordan looked devastated and just banged the wall and cried as well. Then a doctor came.

"Are you the mother of Brenda Rodriguez?" the doctor asked Brenda’s mother.

"Yes. How is she?" Brenda’s mother asked.

"I’m sorry, but things don‘t look good," the doctor said.

"What?" Brenda’s mother asked, her face shocked.

"We were in the middle of the surgery and her heart stopped," the doctor explained. "We got it started again, but…"

"No. No. Not my baby. Not Brenda. Please," Brenda’s mother said as she hugged Jordan, who was crying hysterically. When Rose heard the news, she immediately fell to the floor and cried hysterically, not believing what she had heard.

"Brenda!" Rose cried. Jack went to her side and hugged her. "Get away from me." Rose got up.

"Rose…" Jack said.

"No! Leave me alone!" Rose said, running out of the hospital.

"Rose!" Jack called, running to catch up with her.

*****

Rose didn’t care where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get away from the hospital. She could hear Jack calling her name over and over, but she just kept on running. Her best friend would probably die, and Rose couldn’t bear it. She ran to the pier and was about to jump when she heard Jack’s voice.

*****

Jack called after Rose’s name, but she wouldn’t stop running.