Sink or Swim

21

Jane's POV

April 14th, 1912 - 10:45am (almost 11 hours until the ship hits the iceberg)

I made my way down to the third class area and found Fred sitting alone. I walked up to him, smiling slightly when he looked up and saw me. 

"Jane," he said, surprised, "Harry's not here."

"Oh," I sighed, "do you know where he might be?"

Fred shrugged, "try checking our room?"

Fred looked down with a frown and I furrowed my eyebrows before I sat down next to him.

"Everything okay?" I asked. Fred looked up and me and shook his head with a sad laugh.

"No," he replied, "not really. It's just-"

I looked at him, "just what?"

"I really like Millicent," he explained, "but I just don't know how to tell her. She's at the Church on board right now, and I was hoping that perhaps, when she got back, I'd find a way to tell her...but I can't think clearly."

I smiled at his frazzled state and looked around before I looked at him, "you know what you should do?"

"What?"

"Just man up and tell her," I said, "because even if you don't succeed, you'll at least be glad you tried."

He bit his lip and I decided to lean forward, "that's what I'm going to do too."

He looked up at me and frowned, confused. I laughed.

"I'm going to tell Harry how I feel," I explained, "I'm not sure how it'll go. I don't know what is going to happen but I want to be able to be sure that no matter what, I would have tried to do something."

"But your mother," he said. I gaped at him slightly, shocked that he knew. Fred blushed and scratched his scalp.

"Harry tells me everything."

I sighed and laughed.

"Of course he does," I stood up, "okay, well...wish me luck?"

He nodded, "good luck...and what about me?"

"Good luck," I smiled, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on his cheek before scurrying off.

~

I stood in front of Harry's stateroom, frozen with a sudden fear. I didn't know how to tell him I loved him. What do I say? Do I say anything? Should I kiss him instead?

I shook my head.

I'll just wing it.

I knocked on the door, twice and I heard movement from inside.

"A second," his voice called out. Soon the door opened, with Harry on the other side as he threw a shirt on. His hair was ruffled and his eyes were still half closed as if he was recently woken up. He blinked, yawning as he focused on me and cleared his throat.

"Jane," he coughed, rubbing some sleep out of his eye, "what are you doing?"

I bit my lip, wringing my hands, "may I come in? Please?"

He looked at me sadly and sighed, looking down before he nodded and stepped aside to let me in. He closed the door behind me and I looked at him.

"I'm sorry for waking you," I replied softly, a bit intimidated. He shook his head with a soft smile, walking over to his bed and sitting on it.

"It's okay," he sighed, "what did you want to talk about?"

I bit my lip, "I have to tell you something."