28
It was a bright and sunny day at the high school. Everyone was mostly in a good mood. It was a short day thanks to the scheduled pep rally. It was the play offs and everyone wanted to express their school spirit. Rose sat on the lowest lever, right behind the cheerleaders. She tried to join in the festivities…to cheer Cal to victory. But her heart wasn’t in it. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jack. Jack and his eyes. His golden blond hair…His warm arms wrapped around her, holding her close. His voice confessing his love. Her heart ached miserably for what she was forced to give up. But she tried. It was getting harder and harder to keep up the happy face, the cheerful façade. Soon, her unhappiness was going to become apparent.
"Well, look who it is," a familiar voice spoke up from behind her. "The future Mrs. Hockley. Enjoying yourself?"
Rose turned to face a frowning Moira. She sighed tiredly. She should have known that this was coming. Moira afterall was Jack’s best friend. She’d probably defend him to the death.
"Hello Moira," Rose forced a smile, not wanting this confrontation. Not wanting to be seen as the bad guy. Just wanting to be left alone to her thoughts, to her memories of what could have been if Irene Devereau had never came to town.
"I’m fine, but don’t pretend to care how Jack’s doing. All that fake concern doesn’t work on me," The other girl glared. "You really did a number on him. Hopefully he’s found himself a nice South Carolina girl to mend the heart you broke."
Rose’s eyes widened in surprise at Moira’s words. Words that meant only one thing. Jack was gone. Most likely, she’ll never see him again. "So…he’s gone?"
Moira nodded her eyes void of any sympathy for her friend’s ex-girlfriend. "South Carolina. Not that you care."
Rose looked at Moira, unshed tears in her eyes. If only Moira knew the real reason Rose had broke up with Jack. Maybe then, she wouldn’t stare at Rose with such hatred. "H-He didn’t even say good-bye," Rose held back a tear. Crying now wouldn’t change anything. It was best not to start at all. Not to let Moira see that there was anything false about Rose’s feelings towards Jack or Cal.
"Can you blame him? Oh, don’t tell me that you thought he’d want to see you. Not after what you did to him."
"What do you want Moira? There’s other places to set. Why are you setting here?"
"I just wanted to tell you to leave Jack alone for now on. You’re not friends, so there’s no reason for you to call or write to him."
Rose looked away from the other girl, not wanting her to see her real tears and guess at the truth. Moira was right. Jack’s leaving was for the best. Now he didn’t have to worry about seeing her with Cal. Now they both could start anew.
"Don’t worry. I have no intention of contacting Jack. You’re right. We’re not friends, so there’s no need to contact him at all."
"Good," Moira snorted, getting to her feet, having said all she had wanted to say. She was ready to return to her friends. "You know…I was beginning to like you Rose. I was starting to think that you were different from the snobs you hung out with. But I was wrong. You’re even worse."
"Is there a problem?" Leanne approached the bleachers, thinking that her friend may need some back up.
"No. No problem at all," Moira left. Leanne looked closely at her friend and frowned when she saw Rose’s tears.
"Rose? What’s wrong?"
Rose looked at her friend and shook her head, not able to explain. All she could do was get to her feet and leave the stadium. School spirit was not in her that day. Only the deepening misery over losing Jack.
~*~
The wharf was anything but deserted when Rose arrived. People came and went, ignoring the girl crying on one of the benches. The bench Rose was setting on wasn’t just any bench. It was their bench. The bench she had spent so many times with Jack. Just setting with him, talking, with him, or sometimes they would just hold each other. They laughed together and made plans for the future on that bench.
Rose rubbed her hands, trying to keep warm as she waited for Jack to arrive. They had agreed to meet at the wharf and discuss collages that they were to visit in a month. She glanced at her watch, noticing that he was five minutes late. She sighed once again, wondering what was keeping him.
"Rose!" She looked up to see him racing towards her, brochures clinched tightly in his hands. She stood to meet him and was pulled into a warm embrace. "I’m sorry I’m late, but Mr. Andrews was insistent about giving me the low down on these schools. Were you waiting for long?"
Rose shrugged a secretive smile on her lips. Jack was so cute when he was concerned about her. She loved how he would fuss over her and make sure she was ok. No, she hadn’t been waiting for too long. But to feel Jack pull her close and rub her arms and hands was worth the little white lie. She loved being close to him.
"Here, let me rub your hands. Warm them up some," Jack took her bare hands in his gloved ones. He looked at her with a playful, yet stern gleam in his eyes. "Where are your gloves?" He spoke through clenched teeth.
"I forgot them," Rose giggled, taking the brochure and something that looked like an application out of his hands. She frowned, confused. "What’s this for?" She held the application up.
"The institute of performing arts in New York City. I thought that It’d be fun for both of us to apply. They have both art and acting," Jack explained excitedly.
Rose looked at him in surprise. She was shocked that he’d remember her aspirations to become an actress. "You remembered."
"Of course I did," He gently touched her face, enjoying the enthusiasm that lit her eyes. "I remember everything you tell me. Now come. Let’s fill these out together," he sat on the bench and pulled her down beside him.
"Ok. First thing to sign. My name…Rose Wilma Jean Dewitt Bukater…what?" She looked at a snickering Jack, not able to imagine what he could find so funny.
"Wilma Jean," Jack laughed. "I never knew that your middle name was Wilma Jean."
"Well it is and that information remains on this application and goes no further then the admissions office and the two of us," Rose playfully glared at her laughing boyfriend.
"Sure thing, Wilma Jean."
"Keep it up Leonard."
All laughter stopped…all except for Rose’s at the
horrified look in Jack’s eyes. "How?"
"Mae. Remember that day I came over to study and she called you by your full name? I was never going to bring it up, but desperate time’s calls for desperate measures. Now, do you swear that the name Wilma Jean will never pass your lips in polite company?"
"I swear and I will never say it in rude company either. Scouts honor," Jack did the Boy Scout salute.
"I love you," Rose sighed, leaning in for a kiss. Her playful mood faded into a pleasant calm as she leaned even closer to Jack, drowning in his warm presence. With no one else had she ever felt so safe and well taken care of.
"I plan to love you forever. You know that, don’t you?" Jack pulled her close, kissing her tenderly as if savoring the moment.
Rose only smiled, closing her eyes, daydreaming of a happy future with Jack. "Yes. I plane the same. I don’t even think that it’s possible for me to love anyone else."
Setting on the bench, Jack and Rose were secure in their love and believed in their future as a couple. Neither of them was aware of the changes that their relationship would go through in a few short months.
Rose wiped a tear away as she came out of the memory. Her and Jack had been so naive then. They had thought that nothing could tear them apart. But they had been wrong. Irene had done what they had thought impossible. They never saw it coming.
"Rose," Leanne slowly approached the bench, where Rose sat, crying softly for her lost relationship. She frowned, hating to see Rose in pain
d knowing that there was nothing she could do for her. At first, Leanne hadn’t cared for Rose’s relationship with Jack Dawson. He wasn’t part of the rich and popular crowd. But then she had witnessed the relationship between them and was astounded by how Jack had taken care of Rose. At the things they had done for one another. She was actually shocked that Rose had dumped Jack for Cal Hockley. Someone that she detested.
"Oh, hi," Rose forced a smile, trying to keep up the façade. "What are you doing here? I thought you were cheering at the pep rally."
"Worrying about you. You see, I’ve made a promise to be a better friend, so that’s what I’m doing. There’s enough cheerleaders at the rally, believe me. I won’t be missed.," Leanne chuckled, taking the empty space beside Rose. "This is about Jack. Isn’t it?"
"We used to come here a lot. We’d just set and talk. Sometimes, we’d hold each other," Rose sighed, her eyes not leaving the ground. "We loved each other so much."
"Well then, why did you break up with him and for Cal? I thought that you hated Cal."
"Jack’s grandmother…well you’ve heard of Irene Devereau haven’t you?" Rose bit her lip, resisting a new onslaught of tears. Crying wasn’t helping at all. She had to stop somehow. It wasn’t going to fix things. It wasn’t going to make Irene disappear and give her Jack back.
"Irene Devereau? You mean the owner of that girl’s school in South Carolina?" Irene’s eyes widened in wonderment. She had no idea that Jack was related to the owner of one of the most prestigious high schools in the country.
Rose nodded. "She thought that Jack and I were too young to have such a serious relationship. So she threatened me. She told me that she’ll make my mother lose her job if I didn’t break it off."
"So you did…"
"What else could I do, Leanne? You know that jobs are short. I had no choice," Rose was on the defensive. She felt bad enough. She didn’t need Leanne to make it worse. "I had to protect my mother’s job. It’s our only chance for survival."
Leanne nodded understanding Rose’s sacrifice and why she was now so miserable. This was destroying her friend from t he inside out. Rose was going to have to let Jack go, or it’ll destroy any chance she may have of happiness. "Rose…I’m sorry. I didn’t like the relationship you had with Jack, but I saw how much you two loved each other. But Rose, this is killing you; holding on to something that’s gone for good. It’ll eat you up from the inside out. Let him go Rose. For your own mental health. Let Jack go and make things work with Cal. I know that he’s not the one you want, but he does seem to care about you. It’s the best for everyone involved.
Looking up at the cloudless sky, Rose knew that Leanne was right. She had to let the idea of herself and Jack go if she was ever to be happy again. Closing her eyes against the pain she felt in her heart at the moment, she made another painful decision.
"You’re right. I have to let him go," Rose sighed, looking at her friend. "I have to let Jack go. Make it work with Cal…somehow."
"That a girl," Leanne smiled, giving Rose’s shoulder a supportive squeeze. "You can do it. Starting now, and I’m going to help you. When is your next date with Cal?"
"Tonight. He’s taking me to some fancy restaurant," Rose sighed, staring at her hands, trying not to wish that it was Jack she was going out with instead.
"Oh good! I’ll help you pick out a dress," Leanne clapped her hands in excitement. "Besides, I’m dying to see the penthouse Mr. Hockley brought for you and your mother. Father says it’s in the best neighborhood."
"That it is," Rose got to her feet, a new determination filling her. There was to be no more moping over events that she couldn’t change. For now on, she was to at least pretend to be happy. "Come. I’ll give you the tour."
"Spiffy," Leanne smiled with excitement, determined to help her friend get over Jack Dawson and fall in love with Caledon Hockley.