Titanic - You Are Safe In My Heart

Dinner

Jack POV:

I nervously made my way around the massive room. I scanned the room for Rose but couldn't see her anywhere. Maybe she hadn't arrived yet? I made my way to the bottom of a staircase and waited. After what seemed like hours, I turned around and saw her making her way down the stairs in a beautiful red and black dress. Her perfect face was hidden under layers of makeup and her lovely red hair had been done into a bun. She seemed awfully surprised when she saw me - I dont think she expected me to show up looking so posh. When she eventually got to last step, I grabbed her hand which was hidden under a white glove and kissed it. "I saw that in a Nickelodeon once and I always wanted to do it," I joked, smiling. She laughed at that and looped her arm in mine. She couldn't help but giggle at me pretending to fit in with everybody else.

We approached her fiancée and she grabbed his arm with her other hand. "Darling, surely you remember Mr Dawson?" She said as he turned to look at me. He also seemed shocked at how I was dressed. "Dawson? Well, it's amazing . You could almost pass for a gentleman." He said, which I sighed at. "Almost." I repeated, rolling my eyes as he turned away

As we walked down a second flight of stairs, Rose showed me who everyone was. "Theres the Countess of Rothes. And that's John Jacob Astor, the richest man on the ship. His little wifey there, Madeline is my age and in delicate condition. See how she's trying to hide it? Quite the scandal. And that's Benjamine Guggenheim and his mistress, madame obeir. Mrs Guggenheim is at home with the children, of course. And over here we have Sir Cosmo and Lucille Lady Duff-//Gordon. She designs naughty lingerie, among her many talents. Very popular with the royals."

Molly approached us and held out her hand to the one of mine that Rose wasnt holding. "Care to escort a lady to dinner?" She asked me, laughing. I smiled. "Certainly." The three of us walked down to the dinner table behind Cal, Ruth and a few others.

"Aint nothing to it, is there, Jack? Remember, they love money so just pretend like you own a goldmine and you're in the club." We approached two people who I remembered Rose described to me as John and Madeline. "JJ, Madeline, I'd like you to meet Jack Dawson." She introduced me and I shook hands with both of them. "Are you of the Boston Dawsons?" I was about to lie and say yes but decided to stay true to my home town. "No, the, uh, chippewa falls Dawsons actually," I replied.

"Tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Mr Dawson. I hear they're quite good on this ship, Ruth said. I smiled at her. "The best I've seen, ma'am. Hardly any rats." The table laughed at my joke before Cal spoke up. "Mr Dawson is joining us from the third class. He was of some assistance to my fiancée last night" As he said that, I saw Rose's smile fade, she definitely did not want to be reminded of that night. "It turns out that Mr Dawson is quite a fine artist. He was kind enough to show me some of his work today," Rose stated, as if she was proud of my work. "Rose and I differ somewhat in our definition of fine art. Not to impugn your work, sir." Cal responded, to which I shook my head.

Rose coughed into her napkin and signalled for me to put my hands on my lap so the server could place the tray down. I did so and noticed there were multiple forks, knives and spoons laid out infront of me. I leaned over to Molly. "Are these all for me?" I whispered, confused. She laughed to herself at my confusion. "Just start from the outside and work your way in," she instructed. I noticed the group were having a conversation about the ship as Rose chimed in. "Your ship is a wonder, Mr Andrews, truly" she complimented, which he thanked her for.

"And how do you take your caviar, sir?" The server asked me. I panicked silently but then remembered what Rose said about her hating it. "No caviar for me, thanks. Never did like it much" I looked over at Rose who smiled to herself.

"And where exactly do you live, Mr Dawson?" I was asked by Ruth. I debated whether or not I should admit I'm homeless. I decided to avoid the question with a joke. "Well, right now my address is the RMS titanic. And after that I'm on God's good humour" I laughed to myself, thinking I had gotten out of it but she asked another question directing me back to it. "And how is it you have means to travel?" I took a deep breath and scratched my nose. "Well, I work my way from place to place. Tramp steamers and such. But I won my ticket on Titanic here at a lucky hand at poker. A very lucky hand"

I smile at Rose who smiles right back at me. "And you find that sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?" Ruth commented. I noticed Molly glare at her. "Well, yes ma'am, I do. I've got everything I need right here with me. Air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I love waking up not knowing what's going to happen. Who I'm gonna meet. Where I'm going to wind up. Just the other night, I was sleeping on a bridge and now, here I am, on the grandest ship in the world, having champagne with you fine people. I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You never know what jand you're gonna get deslt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you. To make each day count.s" I finished what started as a sentence and ended as a speech.

"Well said, Jack" Molly said. Rose raised her glass, smiling and staring into my eyes. "To making it count," she said and everyone around the table repeated, raising their glasses.

During the dinner, I laughed at the stories along with everybody else, even if I didn't understand what was funny. I mean, seriously what was so hilarious about Molly's husband setting fire to his money? Rose leaned over the table to me. "Next it'll be brandy is in the smoking room" she presumed and like she said, someone syood up and asked the men to join him in a brandy. "Now they retreat to a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe."

They offeree me to join them, which I declined with the excuse of having to head back. "Jack, must you go?" Rose asked me. "Time for me to go row with the other slaves," I joked. She let out a little laugh as I grabbed her hand and kissed her hand. "Goodnight, Rose." As i kissed her hand, I slipped a note into it

Rose POV:

I frantically unfolded the note Jack slipped into my hand and read it from under the table so no one would see. It read: "Make it count. Meet me at the clock" I waited a few moments before excusing myself from the table. I made my way up the stairs to the clock where Jack was standing, his back turned. He turned around to face me as I approached him. "So you wanna go to a real party?