CHAPTER FOUR

Friday had arrived. Rose stood outside her locker, searching for her English book when her friends surround her.

“Rose you are going to the Hockley party tonight aren’t you? Word has it that Caledon Hockley, most popular guy in the senior class wants you to attend,” Katrina giggled.

“Sorry guys but I have other plans,” Rose shrugged, closing her locker.

“With Jack Dawson I suppose. I thought you broke off this friendship of yours,” Samantha sighed, wanting to avoid any trouble with Heather.

“Why would I do that? Just because Heather tried to throw her weight around. You guys can’t you see? She bullies you all because you let her. Stand up to her and she’ll stop.”

“So what’s on the menu for you two tonight?” Samantha asked curiously. “Maybe if you get time you two can stop by the party.”

“I don’t think so Sam. Cal’s parties are always long, stuffy, and boring. Jack is a more laid back, go with the flow kind of guy.”

“So where are you two going?” Katrina asked.

“To a movie and then he’s taking me bowling,” Rose smiled dreamily at the thought of spending some more time with Jack.

“A movie and bowling? How third class,” Samantha turned up her nose, trying to hide the fact that she was impressed with Rose’s choice of men. That she didn’t let social stature stand in her way.

“It’s perfect,” Rose sighed. “Just me and Jack. In a dark movie theater. Just the two of us…”

“For someone who claims to be just friends with a guy, you sure do sound rather hopeful that things will advance,” Katrina laughed.

“Alright! I’ll admit it! I really really really like Jack. If things do develop further, I won’t do anything to stop it. I don’t know what it is. It’s like we’re connected somehow. Like we knew each other before…in another life.”

Katrina and Samantha just look at each other and burst into fits of laughter.

“Another life? Oh Rose come on!” Katrina laughed. “Who would you two have been? Cleopatra and Marc Anthony?”

“No! They were Pocahontas and John Smith!” Samantha giggled.

“Or how about they were star-crossed lovers aboard Titanic!” Both girls burst into loud laughter, drawing attention from their fellow students.

“Shut up,” Rose glared at her friends. “I wasn’t serious. Seesh!”

“Well, while you’re slumming it, we’re going to Cal’s party. We’ll send him your love,” Katrina smiled.

“Please don’t. I still can’t believe I had a crush on him in ninth grade. What was I thinking?”

“Of course. We all know you prefer blondes now,” Samantha giggled.

“Shut up,” Rose growled, storming off to her class.

Titan High…

Cafeteria

“So Jack. Tonight’s the big night huh?” Tommy sat across from him, Fabrizio took the seat next to Tommy.

“What are you talking about?” Jack furrowed his brow in confusion.

Fabrizio rolled his eyes. “The date with Rose. That’s tonight right?”

“Oh. That. Yes. It is. But it’s not exactly a date. It’s just two friends going out together.”

“It’s a date,” Tommy looked at Fabrizio and laughed.

Jack shook his head and smiled. “You two need to get a life.”

“So what movie are you going to take her to?” Tommy asked.

Jack shrugged. “Whichever one she wants to see. Listen Fabri, do me a favor. Keep Heather busy at the bowling alley tonight. I don’t want her being rude to Rose.”

“I take it you had a talk with her by the way she was glaring at me all this week.”

Jack nodded. “She now knows to stay away from Rose.”

“I hope thing go ok for you tonight Jack. Rose is a real dish,” Tommy smiled.

Jack only rolled his eyes and went back to examining the mystery meat they had for lunch that day.

*

Jack pulled up in front of the Dewitt Bukater house directly at seven o’clock. Rose soon appeared wearing her best jeans and a pink and red sweater.

“You look great,” Jack greeted her.

“Thanks. So do you,” Rose smiled, noticing how his light blue shirt brought out the deeper blue of his eyes.

“So what movie do you want to see? It doesn’t matter, any movie you want.”

“How about Save the Last Dance. I heard it’s really good,” Rose suggested.

Jack shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”

The movie was great, but Rose could hardly pay attention to it since she was setting so close to Jack, sharing a bucket of popcorn, marveling at how good he smelt. She wondered what kind of cologne he used. Quite by accident, they reached in the bag at the same time and their hands touched. Not even thinking about it, they joined hands and remained like that for the rest of the movie.

“That was a good movie,” Jack nodded as they left the theater. “I’m glad you suggested it.”

Rose smiled. “So where to next Mr. Dawson?”
“Bowling of course. Do you know how to bowl Rose?”
Rose shook her head. “I never had a chance to learn. My dad went with his buddies but never bothered to show me the basics and my mother just doesn’t do that sort of thing.”

“Well then I’ll teach you. It’s really easy.”

Rose uncomfortably cleared her throat. “Jack…is Heather going to be there?”
“Yeah, but don’t worry about her. She won’t be a problem.”
Rose wanted to ask him how he knew that but letted it drop. Besides, she wasn’t scared of Heather. If the girl tried to start something, Rose would handle her.

The bowling alley was packed with teenagers celebrating the coming weekend. Jack led Rose through the crowd towards the table where Tommy and Fabrizio and another girl were setting.

“Hi guys,” Jack greeted his friends.

“So you made it. We were beginning to wonder,” Tommy laughed. “Hi Rose. It’s nice to see you again.”

“Same here,” Rose smiled.

“Don’t just stand there Jack, introduce me to your new friend here,” The girl looked at Rose curiously.

“Jen, this is Rose Dewitt Bukater. Jack’s new girlfriend,” Fabrizio introduced.

“We’re just friends Fabri,” Jack glared at his friends. “Rose this is Jennifer Heart. She’s a cheerleader at Titan.”

“And which school do you go to Rose or are you new to Titan?”
“I go to Preston,” Rose answered.

“Oh I see. Jack sure knows how to pick him,” Jennifer smiled. “Wow Preston. I want to go there so bad, but my parents are too stubborn to let me accept a scholarship or anything. So I’m stuck at dumb Titan.”

“Titan’s not that bad,” Fabrizio shrugged.

“Oh please Fabri, they still serve us chocolate milk for lunch. How lame,” Jen rolled her eyes.

“Better be careful how you talk about Titan Jen. If Heather hears you, she’d think Rose was a bad influence,” Tommy laughed.

“What’s going on over here?” Heather approached the group. “What’s all this laughing about and did I hear my name mentioned?”
“Jen was telling us a joke about school,” Fabrizio pulled Heather down next to him. It wasn’t a known fact yet, but Heather and Fabrizio have been dating for a couple of weeks. Both had neglected to tell Jack, unsure of his reaction.

“I see my cousin has decided to join us,” Heather glanced at Jack.

“I promised Rose I’d teach her how to bowl,” Jack smiled, taking Rose’s hand.

“What? You’ve never bowled before?” Heather looked at Rose for the first time that evening. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Not everyone knows how to bowl Heather. Lay off ok,” Tommy stood up for Rose. “Rose obviously wants to learn and that’s why Jack’s teaching her.”

“Come on Rose,” Jack took her hand and led her to the alley. He handed the bowling ball to her. “Just place your fingers through the holes. Now take a stance like this.”
Rose tried to ignore the tinge of electricity that ran through her when Jack placed his hand on her waist and positioned her in the proper stance. He placed a hand over the hand holding the ball.

“Ok. You just swing out, then in, putting all your weight behind the ball and let go.”

It’s a perfect strike.

“That’s not hard at all,” Rose turned to Jack and smiled proudly.

“Just remember to aim for the pens,” Jack nodded.

“I say we break up in teams,” Heather announced. “Jack Rose and Tommy on one team, Jen, Fabri and I on another. What do you say?”

“Uh I don’t know Heather. Rose is just a beginner,” Jen shook her head.

“What better way for her to learn than to really play? Come on Rose? What do you say or are you chicken?” Heather crossed her arms, throwing a challenging glare at Rose.

Rose narrowed her eyes. No one called her a chicken. “Ok. Fine. If you want to play rough, fine.”

“Rose you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. You have nothing to prove to her,” Jack stared at his date.

“She called me a chicken Jack. No one calls me that,” Rose smiled. “Besides, I have complete confidence in your teaching skills.”

Jack sighed in defeat. He knew Rose had a fire to her, and she was proving him right. “Ok. If you really want to do this.”

“I do,” Rose nodded and followed Jack to the table they’d be using.

They play for one hour. Being a beginner, Rose was a little wobbly with the ball, but soon she caught on and really flourished with the game. Her team won ten to nine. Heather just stood there and glared at her.

“Does that satisfy you Miss. Dawson,” Rose crossed her arms.

“Beginner’s luck,” Heather shrugged.

“Don’t you have something to say to Rose Heather?” Jack crossed his arms, glaring at his cousin. Even though Rose had handled Heather perfectly, he was still displeased with his cousin.

Heather rolled her eyes. “Ok. Fine. I’m sorry. Not only for tonight, but the other day too. Jack had made it perfectly clear that I was to stay out of his private life.”

“Apology accepted,” Rose shrugged.

“Well Rose, I better be getting you back. It’s eleven already. I’m sure your mother wants you back before eleven thirty,” Jack grabbed their coats. “I’ll see you guys later.”
“Ok Jack. It was great meeting you Rose and great game. We’ll all have to do this again sometime,” Jen smiled.

“I’d like that. This has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

“See you guys,” Jack waved, leading Rose out into the parking lot. One hour later, they pulled up in front of Rose’s house. Jack got out of the car and escorted her to the door.

“Well here you are. Home at last,” Jack stuffed his hands into his pockets, not really ready to say good night.

“I really did have fun tonight Jack. Even Heather wasn’t that bad. You didn’t have to make her apologize.”

“She needed to Rose. She has to learn she can’t push everyone around. A little humility was good for her.”

Rose giggled. “I guess you would know wouldn’t you Mr. Dawson.”

“Absolutely,” Jack nodded, stepping closer to Rose.

“Jack…how about we get together tomorrow? They’re having a festival in the park. It’d be fun.”

Jack laughed. “Are you asking me on a date Rose?”
Rose had no choice but to blush. “Well…ok. Yes. I am. So what do you say? Pick me up at noon?”

Jack nodded. “Ok. It’ll be fun. Besides, I was wondering how I was going to ask you out again anyway. You just solved that for me.”

Rose smiled. “Well I’m glad I could help you out there.”

“Rose is that you?” Ruth’s voice floated through the door. “It’s eleven forty-five young lady!”

Rose rolled her eyes. “I guess I better go in. My mother can get pretty grumpy if I break curfew. I’ll see you tomorrow Jack.”

“Ok. Night Rose,” He stepped up closer and quickly planted a small kiss on her lips, she barely had time to respond before he pulled away. “Good night Rose.” Jack takes off back to his car.

“Night Jack,” Rose watched him disappear into his car and drive down the street, touching her lips, still remembering the gentle touch of his lips.

“Rose Dewitt Bukater get in her right now!” her mother yelled impatiently.

“Coming!” Rose called, entering the house, her mind still on her date with Jack. She had a feeling this was the start of a wonderful relationship.

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