15
It was the night of the dreaded dinner date. Rose stood in front of the mirror staring at her figure. No physical sign of the baby yet. To everyone else Rose Dewitt Bukater was the virginal girl next door, ready for a night of glamour and fun; but inside, she was a bundle of nerves. Closing her eyes, she wished she was spending the evening with Jack instead of with Cal and his Titanic-sized ego.
The shrill ring of the phone disturbed the somber silence of the room. Quickly she answered, hoping that it was Cal canceling the date. "Hello?"
"Rose," Jack’s voice came to her, calming her jumbled nerves.
"Jack. Save me from this nightmare, please."
"If only I could. I only called to give you some extra support. I love you Rose. I’ll be here if you need me for anything."
"Rose!" Ruth called. "Cal’s here!"
"…I have to go. The date from hell is here," Rose sighed miserably/
"Call me later. Let me know how everything went," Jack smiled.
"Sure. Bye Jack."
"Have fun sweetie," he hung up, leaving Rose to go to her date.
~*~
Three hours later, the dinner party was over. But instead of taking Rose home, Cal drove to a nearby Motel 8.
"Cal," Rose frowned. She didn’t like the look of this. "This isn’t my apartment building."
"I know that Sweetpea. I have a room here just in case I’m too tired to drive home. I just thought you’d like to come in and take a look," Cal smiled, his greedy eyes roaming her body, probably undressing her with his eyes.
"Well…I don’t. SO if you please, start the car."
A wicked smiled on his face, Cal grabbed her and pulled her close to his body, his eyes moving down her back. "Well then how about we go at it right here?"
"No," Rose tried to struggle
out of his grasp to no avail. His grip was too tight. "Let
me go!"
"I know you Rose. No means yes!" His lips descend on
hers as his hands tug at her dress. It was obvious that Cal
wasn’t taking no for an answer. Rose was about to panic,
until she remembered the gift Leanne had given her a year ago.
The gift she had kept in her purse, yet unused.
"ARGGGH!" Cal screamed and let go of Rose to rub at his eyes as she used the pepperspray mace that she had hidden in her purse. Using the opportunity, she ran to the nearest tramstation and boarded the tram that had just pulled up.
She watched the scenery pass, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. She shivered as she thought of what had almost happened. It was lucky that she had remembered the pepperspray and that a tram had pulled up just as she reached the stop. But where on earth was she going to go? Chicago was a big and dangerous city. A city that she didn’t know her way around too well thanks to her perviously sheltered life. By the looks of the scenery she was on her way to the South side.
"Last stop!" the announcement was loud and clear as the tram slowed to a stop.
As she disembarked, she sighed in a mixture of unease and relief. Indeed she was in the South Side. But luckily, Jack’s place was near by as well. Keeping a tight hold on the pepperspray, Rose started for Jack’s house. At first she thought she was going to make it incident free. But then she heard the foot falls of someone behind her. Tightening her hold on her mace, she walked a bit faster. So did her pursuer. Struggling hard not to panic, she continued on her path. She’ll be at Jack’s soon. In fact, his house was just a feet away. Still hearing the footsteps pursueing her, Rose broke into a run and to her horror so did the footsteps behind her. Rose flew through the gate and rung the bell, just as two burly men followed her through the gate.
"Rose?" a surprised voice asked as the door opened. Not realizing who had answered the door, Rose fell into the safety of the person’s arms.
"They were chasing me," Rose pointed, clinging to her rescuer. Looking over the person’s shoulder, she saw Chloe and a worried Jack. It must be Carter who answered the door.
"Carter?" Chloe asked, approaching the door.
"We were just playing with her," one of the men stumbled over his words, obviously lying. Their plans for the red head was much more senister.
"Yeah," snorted the man’s companion.
"Shut up, both of you. Get out of here now, before I call the police," Carter threatened.
Nodding, the men walked back through the gate, disappearing down the street.
"They’re gone. You’re safe now," Carter brought the shivering girl into the house.
"Rose," Jack took Carter’s place as soon as she was inside. "What happened? Are you ok? Where’s Cal?"
"I’m fine. Just a bit shaken up. It’s been an extremely long night," Rose swallowed, clinging to Jack’s shirt.
"I’ll make some coffee," Chloe disappeared into the kitchen, taking Carter with her.
"What happened Rose? Why are you here instead of with Cal?"
Rose nervously bit her lip. She didn’t really want to tell Jack what Cal had tried to do. He would get mad and go after Cal and may even get hurt. She didn’t want that to happen. Not for anything. But what else could she say? Jack wanted the truth and that was all she had to give.
"Rose, tell me. I promise I won’t get mad…and if I do, I promise not to do anything crazy. Now tell me…why are you here and not with Cal?"
She took a deep breath before answering. "…Cal…he…he tried to force himself on me. But I had pepperspray and got away."
"Oh my…I’m going to kill him," Jack held her close, wanting to protect her from what had almost happened. "We should call the police."
"He’s too rich. He’ll just buy his way out of the charges. Besides, I just want to forget that tonight had ever happened."
"Ok, we’ll do what you wish. But I better get you home. Just let me get my jacket and car keys," he reluctantly released her.
~*~
When Rose arrived home, she found Ruth waiting for her, tapping her foot angrily against the carpeted floor.
"Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick about you! Poor Caledon is beside himself!"
Rose rolled her eyes. "I’m sure he was."
"He said you hoped out of the car and ran off , refusing to heed his calls to return…"
"Oh good grief mother! Will you listen to my side here? He tried to rape me!"
"Rape you?" Ruth’s gaze was cold and full of disbelief. "Rose…how dare you accuse that dear boy of such a thing?"
That dear boy? Caledon Hockley was anything but dear. Where did her mother come up with this? "Mother, it’s the truth. Instead of taking me home, he took me to this motel and when I refused to go inside with him, he tried to force himself on me!"
"Now why would Caledon, who can have any girl he wants, try to force himself on an ungrateful girl like you?"
"…I don’t know mother. But obviously you believe him more then you’ll believe anything I say. So I’m going to bed. Tomorrow is another school day. Oh, and there will be no more dates with Caledon Hockley mother. For one, I already have a boyfriend and two, I can’t stand Cal. Good night," Rose disappeared into her room, locking the door behind her. She was ready to just forget what had happened that night and go to sleep.