6
Saturday arrived and as promised Jack arrived to help Rose pack. It took them five hours but soon all of the Dewitt Bukater Belongings were piled into the moving van.
"This is really appreciated Jack," Rose stood in front of the van, ignoring her mother’s curious stare.
"Hey it’s no problem. Anytime Rose. Which reminds me, my grandmother wants to know if you’d like to join us for dinner this Tuesday. She was hoping up and down with joy when I told her we were dating."
"That’d be great," Rose happily smiled.
The rest of the weekend passed by quickly. Rose spent most of the day Sunday unpacking and wondering how her friends were going to react when they learned that she was no long rich but half-poor. She dreaded Monday and it came all too soon.
It was lunch when the confrontation happened. All day LeAnne and the others seemed to avoid her. No one bothered looking her in the eye so she sat with Jack during homeroom and Spanish. At lunch she approached her regular table and noticed how all the chairs were full. She had finally had enough.
"Ok. What is this all about?" Rose asked, looking at Leanne who refused to look at her. "Anyway have the guts to answer?"
Suzette just giggled and looked at her rival,
not bothering to pity her. "You dirty little secret is out
Rose. You’re not rich at all. I was all too glad to call
everyone last night and let them know."
Rose looked at Leanne. She knew she was bound to lose some
friends, but her and Leanne were friends since grade school. They
grew up together! Surely she wouldn’t turn her back on her
too! "Leanne…come on. We’ve been friends before
you even knew them!"
Leanne looked at Rose, no emotion shone in her gray eyes. "I’m sorry Rose. But it was like I told you Friday night. Elitest stick with elitist. And you’re not an elitist anymore."
Rose fought back her tears, never having felt so alone anymore. She felt all the eyes in the cafeteria looking at her. "I was such a fool to think you were my friend Leanne. After all I’ve done for you."
"Rose please…"
"Who was there when you had mono? It sure wasn’t Suzette and the rest! They were too busy primping in the mirror! Who was it that listened to you cry over your uncle’s death or stayed after a party and helped you clean? Who got in trouble right along with you! Remember that for now on when hard times come on you and don’t come knocking at my door!" With that said, fighting back any tears, Rose walked away from the table, determined not to let any of them see her cry. She dumped her tray and marched out into the all into the lonely auditorium. In there, she letted the tears flow. She wasn’t surprised nor hurt by the other’s reaction. It was Leanne that hurted her the most. She had thought that at least she was her friend.
Moira turned around in her chair after the
scene and whistled. "Talking about a group of cold fishes.
I’ve just been proven right."
"I better go see if she’s alright," Jack got up.
Even though there were no tears yet, Jack knew there would be
soon and he didn’t want her to be alone when there finally
were. "I’ll see you guys later."
Lunch was over and the last class of the day had begun. Jack wasn’t able to find Rose anywhere and she wasn’t in the last class he had with her. He was getting worried.
"No luck?" Moira asked, noticing how her friend wasn’t paying attention.
"None. Her car’s outside, but she’s not here. It’s like she vanished or something."
"We’ll look after school. I’ll help."
Jack looked at Moira in surprise. "I thought you didn’t like Rose."
"…At first I didn’t…but after seeing how her girls treated her…I feel sorry for her. Do you want my help or not?"
"It’d be appreciated."
"I’ll get everyone to help," Moira smiled.
So after school everyone was out looking for Rose. She was absent at cheerleading practice. Finally, it occurred to Jack that he hadn’t checked the auditorium. Opening the door a flood of relief ran through him to see Rose setting in the first row, staring up at the stage where auditions for a play was going on.
"Hey, are you ok?" Jack sat next to her. "I was looking all over for you. It just occurred to me that you’d be in here. Did you set in here since lunch?"
Rose just nodded, too numb to speak or cry. She could only set and stare, her mind blank.
"Do you want me to take you home?" Jack asked taking her hand which was now pale and lifeless.
Rose shook her head. She didn’t want to see her mother or her new surroundings. She just wanted to go somewhere that wouldn’t remind her of anything. Somewhere where she could be safe and warm with her own thoughts.
"How about my house? Do you want to go there?"
Rose looked at Jack and nodded. Something told her to trust him to take care of her. She was safe with him. Nodding, she allowed him to help her up and lead her out of the auditorium. Moira and the others stood in the hall looking for Jack.
"There you are. You finally found her I see," Moira looked Rose up and down. "Now what?"
"I’m taking her to my place. The rest of you can do whatever. Thanks for helping me look for her," Jack nodded, leading her away from the group.
Jack’s house was warm and bright as Jack led her inside. His brother and sister both ran up to them greeting them happily.
"Jack! Jack!" They happily yelled.
"Hey there. You remember Rose don’t you?"
Both the children nodded. "Hi Rose," they greeted.
For the first time since lunch Rose smiled.
"Hello."
"Come on Rose. I’ll take you to my room. No one will
bother you in there," Jack led her into the last room on the
right and shut the door. He picked her up and laid her on the bed
and covered her with blankets. "You can stay here as long as
you like. I’ll call your mom and let her know you’ll be
here for a while."
"Jack," Rose’s voice was tiny and strained.
"Yes?"
"Thank you…thank you for still liking me."
Jack smiled and ran a hand over her hair. "Nothing Rose…nothing on this earth could ever make me stop liking you." He got up and closed the door behind him. Mae stood at the wall, her eyes concerned.
"Was that Rose dear? What’s going on?"
"She had a hard day at school today. I’m calling her mother and telling her Rose will be here for a while."
"Ok dear. I’ll start dinner. Come
children. Come help grandma, and Jack, check on your grandpa for
me when you’re done."
"Yes grandma," Jack nodded, heading for the phone.
Rose woke up to see a tiny pair of blue eyes looking up from the edge of the bed. "Hello there," Rose greeted. Jack’s little sister got to her feet and shyly smiled.
"You’re pretty," the little girl blushed, her hands folded in front of her.
"Why thank you," Rose smiled setting up. "Come here, tell me your name," She lifted the little girl up on the bed.
"Lily," The girl happily grinned
I’m a flower princess too!"
"A flower princess?"
"Rose and Lily!"
"Oh, I see," Rose remembered the dolls they were selling. Rose was the red head doll and Lilly was the blond. "Well it’s nice meeting a fellow princess," Rose giggled, deciding to play along.
"My brother loves you," Lily smiled again. "Are you going to get married?"
"Lily!" Jack stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and his face red with embarrassment. "What do you think you’re doing? You’re supposed to be in the kitchen helping grandma!"
Not answering, the little girl hopped down from the bed and raced out of the room.
"I’m sorry about that," Jack apologized, entering the room. "She wasn’t supposed to be in here. I thought she was helping my grandmother in the kitchen."
"Oh don’t be sorry Jack. I woke up on my own and she was a nice surprise to wake up to. She is so adorable. Did you know that we’re both flower princesses?"
"I see she now has you under her spell too," Jack laughed.
Rose grinned. "I’m a sucker for children. They’re the sweetest, purest things on earth. So, do you all live with your grandmother full time?" Rose asked, wanting to keep the subject off herself.
"Yeah. My parents died in a fire so we live here with my grandmother on my father's side of the family, even though my other grandmother wants us to live in North Carolina with her. It’s going through the courts now," Jack sighed, his thoughts going back to the letter his grandmother had received in the mail, another custody hearing was scheduled for next month. He hoped he never had to say good-bye to Chicago and move to North Carolina. It was too hot down there, plus all his friends, including Rose was up here. "Personally, I want to stay here. It’s too hot down south."
"I hope you stay here too Jack. I don’t want to lose the only friend I have left," Rose sighed.
Jack smiled, gently touching her cheek. "You can never lose me Rose."
They kiss gently, not wanting the moment to end when Mae appears in the doorway and clears her throat. "Dinner’s ready you two."
"Come on Rose. Let’s eat," Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room.
Two hours later, dinner has been eatten and now Jack and Rose set in the living room going over their english homework when there’s a knock on the door. Mae opens it to Moira.
"Hey Mrs. Dawson!" Moira greeted entering the house. "Jack around?"
"In the living room dear. Studying," Mae nodded before going back into the kitchen.
Smiling Moira enters the living room, but her smile suddenly fades when she saw Rose.
"Hey Moira," Jack greeted, getting to his feet. "What are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to see if you wanted to head on down to the Quarry," Moira didn’t take her eyes off Rose. "But I see you have company."
"That’s a great idea! Rose, you want to go down to the Quarry?" Jack turned to his girlfriend who felt totally uncomfortable under Moira’s rather unfriendly stare.
"Uh…sure," Rose nodded. "What is the Quarry exactly?"
Moira rolled her eyes and Jack laughed good-naturedly.
"The Quarry is where all us poor folk go and hang," Moira crossed her arms.
"Come on Rose, it’ll be fun," Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.
"Jack…I don’t know if…" Moira began but there was no stopping her friend. He was going to insist that Rose came, much to Moira’s displeasure.
"Your car or mine? Or do you want to take the L?"
"Your car," Moira snorted already heading out the door.
"Don’t be too late!" Mae called as Jack and Rose followed Moira out the door.