Serenity

The Stars

With the portfolio shoved beneath his arms, Rose paid particular attention to Jack's well-defined forearms as his sleeves rolled to just below the elbow. A cigarette dangled from his lips, as he half puffed it, half simply exhaled out into the night air. The smoke formed little clouds before disappearing into the cold Atlantic air.

There was something beautifully alluring about the shape of his lips, the concentrated frown that formed between his brows, and how he glanced at her every few seconds as they walked side by side, their feet taking the same steps. Everything felt calming; the whooshing of waves against the ship caused a peaceful but welcoming cut through the generic silence of the night. It was harbouring a moment that was yet to come, and it was as if both could feel it, but neither wished to quite acknowledge it yet.

"You can certainly dance with the rest of us, Rose."

Rose couldn't help but smile at the affectionate tone he took with her, tickled pink that he reserved only for her. He ran his hands through his hair, and she pondered whether these were signs of nerves or just regular traits of his, which she hadn't noticed until now. There was very much she didn't know about him, and she found herself wondering just what she did wish to know about him.

He was mysterious, and she liked that, but she also felt the need to know him or to know some parts of him. Parts of his past. Parts of his present. Where he would go after this voyage. Parts of Paris. Parts that perhaps he hadn't exposed to others before.

She wondered if he'd share them with her, the game they were supposed to play long forgotten.

"I have never danced that way before, that is for certain." Rose was still giddy. Her stomach still felt as though it was suspended in mid-air.

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Yeah, I do." Jack tossed his cigarette overboard before looking to the sky, his gaze venturing off into another world.

"But I like this more." Jack's confession seemed to surprise her. And she knew he was telling the truth by the sincerity in his voice.

"There is something about looking at the sky that makes you feel so peaceful...but it's nice to share it with someone else. Gives you a different perspective. "

"Did the stars look this way in Paris?"

Rose awaited his response with bated breath. Her chest was still, he noticed this much. She raised her brows so that he hurried his response. When his gaze fell on her once more, she felt the flush of her cheeks. When he watched her, it was as though he could see into her very soul and she had never felt so fully exposed to another person in her entire life. Her breathing had returned and she slowly inhaled the air around her as though she struggled to remember that she needed it to survive.

Her heart had begun to race once more and she had just managed to steal the hammer of its pound. In the silence of the night, she was sure that he could hear every beat of it, perhaps even see it through the many materials of her clothing, see just how hard it was pounding.

"Not quite, but it was beautiful by the Seine, watching the artist's work until it was completely dark." He recalled, remembering the stars reflecting off the glassy surface of the river.

His voice broke the minute or two long silence and it was the most unimaginable response one could hope for. Butterflies fluttered, her hands shook, and his gaze had not wavered one bit. He was reading her every facet; watching her every response.

"Sounds like pure serenity," Rose smiled, "isn't that all one wishes for truly in their life?" Before he could answer, she quickly added, "You know I saw the sketches of the young woman without clothes." Rose approached the subject, her voice lined with a strange quiver; if he had noticed, he was polite enough not to mention it. "You must have had quite the love affair with her."