Sink or Swim

13

Jane's POV

April 12, 1912 - 9:25am

"You came back to the cabin late last night," mother said as we sat in our private deck, sipping tea. I looked up at her with a flushed face but managed to conceal it as I lifted the cup to my face.

"I was invited to small gathering," I answered. She rose an eyebrow and nodded.

"In the third class deck?"

I clenched my jaw and looked down, "if you know where I've been, why would you ask me then?"

"You're not to associate yourself with people of that sort," she said, "you're lucky your father doesn't know otherwise he probably wouldn't even let you out again for the duration of this trip."

I bit my lip, "why can't I associate myself with people like them? They're not dangerous."

"You don't know that, Jane," she said pointedly.

I looked down at my hands and fiddled with my fingers. I heard my mother sigh and I looked up to find her shaking her head.

"Stay away from them. That's all I ask," she stated.

~

Harry wrapped his arms around my waist as I approached him and his friends on the common deck. For a while, everyone else seemed to fade out around us as I became mesmerized by his eyes and the smile he showed me. He pulled me to him and smiled as he leaned forward and kissed me. I blushed as I heard whistles and pulled away, glancing over to find that brown haired girl glaring at me.

"Hello there," Harry whispered, leaning over to rub his nose against mine. I smiled softly and stepped away, interlocking our fingers. He frowned and pulled me to him again, looking down at me as I gazed up at him.

"Hi," I replied. I looked over at Fred and smiled when he smirked at me and nodded.

"Hello, Jane," he greeted. I smiled in greeting, finding Harry's friends seemingly tolerable since the party. They were actually quite wonderful people.

The wind blew and grazed us with a cool breeze causing me to step closer to Harry. He noticed and rubbed his hand up and down my arm.

"Cold?" He asked. I nodded. He tilted his head at me and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Why are you so quiet?" He asked. I looked up at him and bit my lip. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked to his friends, grabbing my hand in the process.

"We'll be right back," he said. They all nodded and he led me over to another part of the deck. He walked up to the railing and leaned against it as he looked at me.

"Everything okay," he asked. I bit my lip and shrugged, picking at the wooden part of the railing.

"Jane," he whispered, pulling me into him, "talk to me."

I looked up at him as the wind blew a few pieces of hair into my eyes. He smiled softly and slowly tucked the hair behind my ear and smiled at me.

"My mother knows where I went last night," I whispered, "she was quite upset and told me to stay away from you and your friends but-"

"But?"

I looked up at him, "I can't seem to bring myself to do so...nor do I want to."

He smirked and leaned forward, pressing his lips to my forehead, "and what are you going to do about that then?"

"Absolutely nothing," I replied, "I want to be with you."

He smiled brightly and pulled me to him before he leaned down and kissed my lips. I smiled against his mouth and hesitantly placed my hands on his chest.

"You may want to pull away."

We jumped apart to look at Fred who pointed behind us. I turned and saw my mother walking about on the deck with her friends that she had made during her time on the ship. I sighed and looked at Harry before I stepped back and allowed a small distance between him and I. It wasn't too far, but it was enough to insinuate that what we had was nothing more than a friendship.

Even though it wasn't.

My mother caught my gaze and walked over, glancing at Harry and his friends as she walked over.

"Jane," she greeted.

"Hello mother," I smiled. She smiled back and looked at Harry.

"Harry, right?" She asked. He nodded and smiled. I looked behind and saw Fred shift uneasily.

"Yes ma'am," he answered, "I trust you're doing well?"

She nodded and smiled with tight lips, "I am, thank you."

She looked at me then and I straightened my posture, "I need you to be at our cabin tonight at around 7:30. Try to be on time, we can't have you getting too crazy."

She took one glance at Harry and then at the rest of his friends before she nodded and finally walked away, hands clasped in front of her as her round skirt swayed in the wind. I sighed and looked to Harry and his more-than-less unimpressed friends.

"Quite the mother, she is," Fred sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair. I bit my lip and shrugged.

"I apologize," I sighed. The brown haired girl that was glaring at me earlier snorted and shook her head.

"The rich girl actually feels bad," she mumbled. Harry frowned at her and grabbed my hand.

"Watch yourself, Millicent," he said, talking to the brown haired girl, "she's not as bad as you think."

"Sure she isn't," she replied, as the feeling of discomfort seeped through my veins, "she's one of the rich people on this ship. She has everything and she's spoiled. Of course she's not bad."

"What is that supposed to mean," Fred asked. I sighed and tugged my hand from Harry's as I made my way down the deck and towards the first class area.

I wasn't dumb enough to not realize when to take a hint. It was obvious I wasn't wanted and I wasn't even surprised. Whatever this was between Harry and I was fairly new and recent so I could understand their hesitance to let me into their group...Millicent especially.

I heard footsteps making their way to me hurriedly.

"Jane," Harry breathed as he came in front of me, "don't leave please."

I shrugged, "I didn't feel wanted."

"The only person that didn't want you to be there was Millicent," he replied, "and she's just jealous."

"I don't want her to be jealous," I said, "and I'm not spoiled. Yes I'm privileged, yes I have money but I don't...I'm not...spoiled.."

Harry tilted his head at me and his eyes turned soft.

"You're not," he said, "you're just...different than all of us. That's all."

"Well maybe that's her problem," I sighed, "if she can't handle the fact that I'm different - as you put it - then she should stay away from me."

Harry sighed and shook his head, "I'm not going to defend you or her because both of you are friends of mine, but-"

"Harry, I have enough self respect to know that I don't need to be in places where I'm not wanted," I interrupted him, "and-"

"Okay," he said, "okay...well then, why don't we just walk around, hm? You and I?"

I pursed my lips and looked out to the ocean, "fine."

He smirked and held out his hand for me as I took it softly. He gingerly wrapped his fingers around mine and pulled me along with him.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Anywhere."

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