Jack
Part One
Jack stood by the docks in New York. Why had Rose let go of his hand? Why had she left him like that? He hadn't been able to find her afterward, and now she was dead. And he was all alone.
Next to him sat a young steerage girl, perhaps around Rose's age. She had light blonde hair, and big blue eyes that were bloodshot. Her cheeks were tear stained, and her entire face was red.
"Are you alright?"he asked.
"My whole family is gone,"she said with a strong Irish accent, "All of 'em. Dead."
"Oh, I'm sorry,"Jack told her, "Do you have any place to stay?"
The girl shook her head. "Nowhere. I was suppsed to come here with me ma and pa and sissy. Now they're all dead and I'm alone."
"I don't have anywhere to go, either,"Jack said, "It seems a lot of people are the same way we are, with no place to go."
"Of course, the nice rich people can stay in a fancy place somewhere,"the girl said, rubbing her eyes, "They always are well off, even when they die."
Jack held his tears back, remmebering the feel of water rushing between their hands, pulling them apart. "I'm Jack Dawson,"he reached his hand out.
"Liz McCallahan,"the girl shook his hand, "It seems we're both alone. You aren't with anybody."
"You're right, there,"he said, "Everyone I knew died on Titanic."
"Maybe it's fate we met, then,"Liz told him.
"Maybe,"Jack said, "Unless we're just two people in a place where hundreds of people lost someone close to them."
"Well, I-I-I wasn't-I-"Liz became suddenly flustered, and felt utterly stupid for implying perhaps they were lucky to find each other.
"Don't get upset over it. It's just that everyone is suffering right now. Anyhow, what do you think you're gonna do now?"
"I don't know,"Liz began to cry again, burrying her head in her arms and sobbing into her lap, "I'm a stranger to America, and don't know my way around."
"I've been in New York lots of times before. I could help you find a place to stay, probably."
"Oh, could you?"Liz asked, "That would be so kind. Everyone has been so kind to me. I'm not used to it, what with being poor and all. People have always looked down on me."
"Don't let anyone make you feel less than you are,"Jack cautioned, "I always thought I'd stay a poor guy who'd get trampled on by the wealthy, until...Anyway, let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get out of this rain."
"Do you have any money?"Liz asked as they walked down the street, the girl following obediently behind, like a lost puppy.
"Not a dime,"Jack replied, "That's usually the case. If Rose were still here, I'd feel a lot better about that, too."
"Who's Rose?"
"Just a good friend,"Jack replied, not wanting to divulge the details that could make him completely break down.
"Was your friend on the ship when it went down?"
"I'd really like to change the subject,"Jack snapped.
Liz blushed and they walked in silence for a few moments. "Do you have any idea where you're going?"
"Not a clue,"Jack stopped over a bridge and looked out into the water. Why was this girl asking so many questons. She was beginning to bother him with her little quirks and numerous questions. He felt like he as on trial.
"Why are we stopping?"
"Do you want me to help you or not?"
"Please do."
"THEN BE QUIET!"
Jack turned around again to look into the water when he heard sniffing noises behind him. "Oh, God,"he muttered under his breath, about-facing to look at Liz. "Are you crying?!"
"No,"Liz's lip quivered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Look, I'm sorry, alright? I'm a little edgy."
"Just a little?"Liz asked, blowing her nose.
"I'm very edgy, alright? We both lost people dear to us, and I can't take it! Right now, the woman I love is lying at the bottom of the Atlantic!"
"Rose?"
Jack put his hands to his temple as if he were about to explode. "Yes, Rose."
"Jack, I'm sorry. I wish I hadn't asked so many questions. I wish I-"
"Just-please. Be quiet until I figure out what we're gonna do."
"Maybe I should just try and find my way around myself,"Liz said, turning away, "It's obvious you hate me."
"I don't hate you, Liz. It's just-maybe tomorrow I'll be better to you."
"You mean you'll stay with me until tomorrow?"Liz asked, hope rising in her voice, "Oh, that's wonderful! You don't hate me!" She rushed to his side, throwing her arms around his neck. He couldn't help but smile at this girl's strange ways, but they were good. Jack knew she was a kind and caring person.
He could smell her soft skin, her beautiful hair. He couldn't believe he was thinking this. Not after Rose. Liz was a beautiful woman. The type of woman he would have pined for back in Paris. And here she was, in his arms. And Jack couldn't do anything but think of Rose.
"Liz, calm down,"Jack laughed, removing her arms from his neck, "I'm staying by your side until I know you're safe. Don't think I'm gonna let you get hurt, now."
"Well, please don't yell at me, is all,"Liz pleaded, "I know I'm strange, and I never fit in back in Ireland. I was hoping to start over here, and I've gone and made a fool of myself again."
"No, you're being yourself. That's all." "Stop it, Jack," he said to himself, "You just lost the woman you love more than anything, and now you're attracted to this girl who you thought was the most annoying thing a minute ago. Or were only treating her badly because you didn't want to admit you were attracted to her? No, Jack, think of Rose. Think only of Rose."
"I hate myself,"Liz replied, jumping on the rail of the bridge, sitting down, and facing Jack, "I've had people tell me all the time growing up that I was strange and to act maturely. I can't do that. I just want to have some fun. Is that so bad?"
"Not at all."
"And now, I don't even have me ma to put me in my place," Liz said, tears ebbing, "Look at me. The water runs from my eyes like a sieve. And I lost my handkerchief. Me ma's good one, too! Oh!" She once again burried her head in her hands and cried into her lap.
Jack wrapped his arms around her in a hug, and she leaned her head into his shirt. "Oh, Jack. Why did this have to happen? I know I'm nineteen and most girls me age are married by now without their ma's and pa's. But I loved me parents, and I want 'em back!"
"There are just some things you can't control,"Jack said, stroking her blonde hair, "Unfortunately, that's the way of life."
"It's all fate. Have you ever seen a group of ants and stepped on them all, not caring about their lives because there are so many of them? Sometimes I think that's how God sees us; just like ants, running around just trying to live. And there are so many of us, he just doesn't care."
"Well, I don't know about that-"
"Don't think I'm going against God, now, Jack. I'm everything a good Catholic should be. I just can't help wondering why some things happen."
"Me, too."
"And what about Rose? I don't think she deserved to die, even though I didn't know her. You seem like a good man. She must have been good for you to love her."
"She was wonderful."
"So then why did she die? Was it God's way of saying he doesn't care?"
"I don't know, Liz. I don't know."
"I wish I knew. Then maybe my family would still be here. Look at this view, Jack. It's almost like flying."
"I'm flying, Jack!"
"Get down! You might fall!"Jack pulled Liz from the rail, "It's really high up here. You'd have to be insane to climb this rail."
"I was only having fun, Jack,"Liz said with a pouty look on her face, "It's all in fun. Now, let's go find somewhere to stay. I don't want to sleep in a gutter all night."
Jack couldn't help but be attracted to Liz. He didn't want to be, but his mind told him to pursue her. And in his mind, he continued to ask Rose for forgiveness.
Part Two |