Jack
Part Three
Jack felt guilty. Ever since he and Liz had made love three days ago, all he could think about was Rose. Liz was just there, not a person whom he had loved three days ago. She was just there.
"Jack, is something wrong?"Liz asked, snuggling up next to him on the bed, "You haven't been yourself lately. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I've just been thinking a lot."
"You don't regret what we did, do you?"Liz asked, scared to discover what his answer might be.
"Oh, no, Liz. I will never regret that. It's just--I don't know. I just wonder what Rose is thinking of me now."
"You still haven't stopped wondering about her?"Liz asked, crossing her arms and standing up. She stood in front of the window, looking at the street below.
"I'll never forget her, Liz, the same as you'll never forget your family. It's hard to forget, and I'll always remember-"
"You know,"Liz began, "For some reason I thought I'd be good enough to change all that. Is THAT it? I wasn't good enough? Why was Rose so much better than me, huh? Just because she was some first class snob-"
"Rose was more than first-class, and that isn't why I liked her. She was real, and down to earth, not the stereotype you have obviously formed about the wealthy."
"I don't believe you are saying this, Jack Dawson. They're all alike, all of those rich-"
"What did they ever do to you to make you form such absurd ideas?"
Liz was silent for a moment and turned back to the window. "I lied, Jack. I'm not a virgin. You may have noticed that."
"What does that have to do with the wealthy--oh, oh, Liz, I'm so sorry."
"I worked for him since I was a little girl, Jack. And as soon as I was thirteen-"
"You don't have to go on,"Jack said, noticing the tears in her eyes, "You don't have to." He hugged her, feeling her face lean against his chest.
"It was terrible, Jack. And that is why I refused you at first. I wasn't sure if you were going to be the same way, just have your way with me whenever you had the urge. But you're not like him, Jack, and I'm glad for it."
"Just because you want me to love you, though, doesn't mean I won't stop loving Rose."
Liz nodded, whiping the tears from her eyes. "I understand, Jack. It's my own foolish anger why I hate her."
"It isn't foolish. If I ever find who he is, I'll kill him myself."
Liz laughed and hugged him. "I'm sure Mr. Hockley will thank you for his own murder."
Jack stepped away from her, looking into her eyes. "Mr. WHO?"
"Hockley. Caledon Hockley. Jack, what's wrong? Jack? JACK?!"
Jack had flown into a rage and knocked over the chair. "Goddamn that bastard! I hope he rots in hell!"
"Jack, what's wrong?"
"He was Rose's fiance, Liz. I stood face-to-face with that son of a bitch!"
"Calm down, Jack,"Liz shook his shoulders, "It doesn't matter, now. If he was on the ship, he's probably dead."
"No, he's not. I saw him on the Carpathia, looking for Rose. Liz, he's still alive. And as soon as I find him, I'm going to have a very hight-strung conversation with him."
"What are the odds of you finding him, anyway? You're not going to search for him, are you? That would only be embarassing for me."
"No. I won't search for him. But if we ever cross paths, he better pray to God I don't kill him right there."
Liz kissed him. "I'm glad you'd do that for me."
"It's more for Rose than for you,"Jack thought, He's hurt too many women."
Jack felt Liz's arms surrounding him as he lay in bed, the sunlight pouring through the window. The brightness had awoken him, making him feel tired, but yet awake.
Liz moved next to him, and he felt her lips against his neck. "Not now, Liz. I'm too tired."
"But, Jack, it's morning. How can you be tired after sleping all night?"
"Liz, we didn't SLEEP all night,"he joked. Liz giggled and kissed him again.
"You're so silly,"she said.
"You're so drunk,"Jack replied, noticing the bottle of liquor by her side of the bed, "How much did you drink already this morning?"
"Not so much. As much as it took to make me happy,"she answered, words slurred. She continued to giggle and everything she saw until Jack thought he'd have to kill her.
"You need some really strong coffee,"Jack said, walking toward the small stove.
"Coffee never works, silly,"Liz said, fascinated with the white sheets on the bed, "Basically all you'll have is a wide-awake drunk. Now come back to bed."
"Liz, relax."
"If I relaxed any more, I'd be dead, silly. Now come here!"
"I'm going to go and buy a paper. Catch up on my news."
"Well, you can't go out with only your underwear on, silly. Get dressed. Actually, I think I'd like to see you go out dressed like that."
She laughed some more, and Jack rolled his eyes. "I'll be right back,"he pulled his shirt on, "And don't drink any more of that liquor!"
"I won't,"Liz replied, taking a swig from the bottle.
As the days wore on, Jack began to notice many faults Liz had. Her drinking, for one, was costing them a fortune. When she drank, she never did anything, and the apartment was a wreck as she slept, dazed and confused, in their bed.
Jack sat at the small table, reading the paper. So much news had happened since last week, the day Liz awoken him drunk as ever. He sipped his coffee, flipping through the pages.
Liz came up behind him and embraced him. She was actually sober this morning, and very affectionate, to say the least. "Oh, look. Wedding announcements,"she pointed out, "Let's see who is getting married."
Jack sighed with a smile as Liz read the names. "You know I never read this page,"he told her.
"All the more reason for me to read it for you,"Liz laughed, "Hmm, let's see. Liza and Paul DeMore, Sandra and James Harvey, Rose and Caledon Hockley, Dan--ROSE AND CALEDON HOCKLEY!"
Jack almost knocked over his coffee as Liz read the names. "It CAN'T be!"he cried, "Rose? Alive? Do you know what this means?"
Liz slumped. "Are you going to go and find her, Jack?"
"Liz, I've got to. I love you more than anything, but Rose--I've just got to find her. You have to understand. Now, will you help me?"
Liz nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "I'll help you. But you can't have her, Jack, she's married."
"I don't care, Liz. It doesn't matter now."
Part Four |