Ocean of Memories

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Shoot," I swore under my breath as I glanced at a passerby's watch. Jack glanced back at me. "You okay?"

I nodded, then added, "I need to go back. For tea."

Cora puckered her lips into a sad face. "Really?"

I nodded. "Sadly."

Jack nodded, then added, "Will you be back?"

It made me happy to see that he wanted me back. "Of course," I responded. I bent down and kissed Cora, just as her father called to her. She winked at Jack, then scampered off to find her father.

I turned to Jack. He was studying me, with those amazing eyes of his. "I-I don't wanna go back," I tried. He smiled. "I know, love. I know."

I couldn't believe myself, but a few tears came to my eyes. Jack looked concerned, and that made me want to cry harder. Jack reached for my one arm and pulled me into a hug. "What's wrong?"

After I has regained some control, I responded in a shaky voice. "I-it's just... Jack. I'm engaged. To Cal. I'm going to be married when we get back to New York. But- he doesn't make me feel the way you do. And I don't know if that's a good thing, or a bad one. I don't know if what we have is worthless or not, but all I know," I paused to take a breath. "Is that I love you. And you make me feel like no one else does. And I don't know if you feel-"

I was about to continue my rant, of course, when Jack took a few giant steps towards me and kissed me, straight on the lips. I was overjoyed, a little mad, but mostly extremely happy. Cal had never kissed me- I had never let him- but have you ever felt that surge of electricity that rages through you? When you just know something is right? That's what I had here, and now.

I pulled away and my eyes flicked back and forth between his. "A-all I know, is I'm not in love with him."

Jack interrupted me and finished my sentence for me. "I'm in love with you."

I smiled. I wanted to stay so badly, to escape my prison. But that wasn't possible. Jack gave me one last kiss on the forehead, then escorted me back to my entrance to first class.

I stepped up the first step, but Jack pressed something into my hand. I looked down at it. A locket. "It was my mothers," Jack explained. "She's the only other woman who's ever cared about me." He paused and then continued shyly, "Besides you."

I put it on proudly. "Thank you, Jack," I whispered. He winked and jerked his head towards the gate. "See ya later, princess."

As I went back to my stateroom, I smiled despite myself. I really couldn't believe myself somedays. I was in love with a third class steerage passenger on my way to my own wedding, I had kissed him twice, and I didn't even know what he did for a career. We hasn't even known each other for more than 16 hours.

Somehow that seemed okay.

Cal barged into my thoughts angrily, as usual. "Rose! You're late- where were you?"

I forced myself to remain calm. "Taking a walk," I replied cooly.

Cal seemed to buy that. "Hurry up and get dressed for tea."

He closed the door behind him with a bang, and I heard him tell Lovejoy to lock the safe. Sighing, I slipped into my tea dress and looked at myself in the mirror. Jack made me feel more fearless. More able to do something that I hadn't been able to do before.

I needed him, and I wanted him. That was for certain.