Jack
Part Two-NC-17
A week had passed since Titanic had gone down, taking Rose with it, and Jack was left with Liz, a poor Irish girl who followed him wherever he went. He found himself more than attracted to her. He even lusted for her after a while.
He felt in debt to Rose, and felt he could never love someone else again. But for some reason, he couldn't help his feelings; couldn't help the strange tingling sensation through his body when she hugged him; couldn't help getting close enough to her and wrap his arms around her, smelling her hair and touching her soft cheeks. Liz had pecked his own cheeks once softly with her lips, but he took it more as a friendship kiss rather than one of loving affection.
Now, as they sat in their rat-infested apartment, Liz sat on a wooden chair, reading a book they had found under the bed. It was some sort of women's book, filled with strange stories of men and women and what they do together.
"This is so confusing,"Liz sighed, turning the page, "I mean, I would never think of doing any of these things."
"What things?"Jack asked, distorting his face when he read the descriptions, "That should be outlawed."
"What the people or doing or the book?"Liz joked.
"Preferably, both,"Jack replied, with a laugh, leaning over her shoulder and reading along with her, "So, are you going to tell me the plot or what?"
"No. You'll have to read it yourself, Jack Dawson, for I'd feel much too embarassed to describe the details to you."
"You're mean, Liz,"Jack messed her hair and sat on the bed, Liz struggling to put her curls back into place.
"I'm mean AND my hair is messed now. Do you want me looking like a public disgrace?" She walked over to the bed and slightly hit him with the book, to which he replied by pulling her down with him and beating her with the pillow.
Liz laughed wildy and rolled over, then he rolled over her. "Jack, my hair!"she joked. He stopped, their smiles faded and took on a more serious expression. He moved his lips closer to hers, and she stopped him.
"You know,"she whispered, "I've never been kissed before, Jack."
"So why are stopping?"
Liz shrugged and moved her face closer to his, their lips meeting and breaking slightly. But it didn't stop them in the throws of passion. Her hands caressed his back, moving up and down. He continued to kiss her, reaching for the buttons of her blouse. Jack asked Rose for forgiveness as he disrobed Liz of her shirt.
"Jack,"Liz said, gasping for air, "Maybe we should stop. I mean, we've known each other a little over a week. And I've never done--this--before. Jack-"
But he wasn't listening as he reached for the laces of her corset. Liz let him continue, for stopping would be useless at this point, and it wasn't as if she didn't want what was about to happen.
"I don't know what to do,"Liz told him, turning his head so she was gazing into his handsome blue eyes, "I'm not--I--Jack, do you love me?"
"What kind of a question is that?"he asked, just as he was about to pull her corset from her heaving breasts.
"Well, it's just, Rose--I mean-"
"I still love Rose. I always will. It's just that-I have to realize
she's gone now. You're the one alive now that I couldn't live without. And I knew Rose for only two days before we-"
"You don't have to continue, Jack. But maybe now isn't the best time for us to--do this."
Liz removed his hands from the top of her corset, sorrowful that they couldn't do more. She pulled the top closer to her and began to redress with her blouse, which had been quickly tossed to the floor.
"Why are you doing this, Liz?"Jack asked, getting up from the bed. His excitement had faded, leaving him wondering what ran through the head of this girl who was so passionate.
"I don't think I'm ready to give myself to you. It's all too soon. I wish I could, Jack, but something inside of myself tells me to wait until the time is right."
"Have you ever had a suitor?"
"Only one. And you're a much better kisser. But I didn't really like him. Not many people liked me, and I thought I deserved such an odd person, considering no one else wanted me."
"I want you."
"That's obvious,"Liz couldn't help but laugh a little, breaking the tension surrounding her, pulling her blouse on,"How about you, Jack? How many girls have you courted? Or-had?"
"Rose was only my second, if that's what you mean,"Jack replied, "I both ways. I hadn't ever had anyone else but her. I was always too poor for anyone to want me."
Liz walked over to him and kissed his forehead. "Poor creatures, both of us. Aren't we? It's wonderful we can be poor creatures together."
"You're the only reason I've made it through the past week, Liz,"Jack stated, watching her go to the mirror and brush her hair. He suddenly thought of Rose and what she must be thinking of him right now. From one woman right on to the next.
"What was she like, Jack? Was she beautiful?"
"Liz, I'd really rather not-"
"Was she good, Jack? More than anything, that's what I'm nervous about. Not being as good as she was. You truly love her, and I worry about that, too."
"Why?"
"I don't know. You've loved someone else. That sort of makes me feel--jealous. I don't get jealous easily, but to know that I don't fill up the whole space in your heart makes me--there aren't any words to describe it. Just--I'm jealous."
"I always have more room to love, Liz,"Jack walked up behind her, kissing the small of her neck, moving around and around.
"Please, Jack. You're going to make me do something I don't want to do. Well, I want to do it, but it isn't right."
Jack laughed and turned her to face him. "When you're ready, I'll be waiting. I mean it. I won't leave, and I won't force you, either."
"You're so caring, Jack. I really do wish I could give myself to you right now. I just can't. I'm sorry to make you wait, Jack. We're an odd pair, aren't we? And it's my fault you aren't enjoying yourself right now."
"As long as I'm here, with you, I'm enjoying myself."
Liz looked into his eyes, and then directed her attention to the floor. She was so attracted to him, and here he was, offering a proposal she couldn't refuse. And yet she was.
"Why are you crying?"Jack asked, catching the tears as they rolled off her cheeks.
"Everything makes me cry. It makes me cry to know that even though I'm being dreadful, you still stay by my side. Like I'm not just your street girl."
"No, you're a beautiful woman, Liz. And I just want you to be ready for anything that comes along. Like-"
"Like what we almost did just now?"Liz asked, "Oh, Jack, you have no idea how much I want to. But there were many girl back home my age with children, and I'm not ready for the responsibility of anything to that extent."
"Neither am I,"Jack replied, stuffing his hands in his pockets and sinking into the chair Liz had been sitting in only moments before, "But it's just that-"
"You don't have to say it, Jack. I know what you mean. And I promise that as soon as I'm ready, I'll come to you."
Jack stared up at the ceiling as he lay on his bed. The stars shone outside his window, casting their light onto the earth. Somewhere up there, Rose was looking down at him and shakin her head in disgust, he knew. He couldn't shake the feeling that somehow he was betraying her.
In the bed on the other side of the room, he heard the movements of Liz in her bed, struggling to sleep. He wished he could climb into that bed with her and make love to her, resting his excitement. But the feeling did not go away as he heard her soft breathing, a sign she was finally sleeping.
Jack stood from his bed and quietly stepped over to Liz's. She was sleeping soundly, lightly snoring under the sheets. He kissed the tip of her nose, working down to her mouth.
She moaned softly, opening her eyes. "Jack, I just fell asleep about three seconds ago. However, if this is the way you're going to wake me up-"
Jack slid himself under the covers with her. "Liz, I know you said that-"
"Jack, I've been thinking,"she said, snugling close to him and laying her head against his chest, listening for his quick heartbeat, "And I'm ready. We're man and woman, and we can't help what we feel about each other, and we both know we at least lust for one another. So--"
"So?"
"Jack, I love you more than anything in the world right now. It may only be a little more than a week, but love has its ways, doesn't it? There's got to be more than waiting for years before--well, you know."
Jack kissed her again, feeling the cloth of her slip under his hand. She was so beautiful. So was Rose. God, what was he doing? But it couldn't be helped. He had strong feelings for this girl the same as-if not stronger-the ones he felt for Rose. They were so alike. And yet so different.
His excitement grew as she unbuttoned his shirt, feeling his chest with her bare hands. Her touch was so soft, it sent shivers up his spine. Her lips against his made him think only of her, and Rose was forgotten for only a while.
"I still don't know what I'm doing,"Liz whispered, "Is that alright?"
"Liz, I-"but she had kissed him before he could fully reply. She had started to unzip his pants.
Jack awoke, the sunlight in his eyes. He squinted and noticed something was different. An arm was draped around around his torso, a head of golden hair falling softly around his neck. Liz was still peacefully asleep.
Jack pulled the sheets around him, covering his naked body. Even though Liz had seen all there was to see, he thought it indecent to be in front of like this and try to act non-chalant.
Liz groaned as she woke, noticing Jack moving around and her arm had fallen from him. She had the same reaction as Jack, pulling the blankets around her chest and curling up. "I don't know why I feel so embarassed,"she told him, "I certainly wasn't last night."
Jack laughed and gave her a good morning kiss. "I think I'm going out to find some work today,"he said, gathering his clothes from the floor, "I might as well find us a decent place to live. This place is a rat's nest, and neither of us deserves to be living in it."
"I want to be back home, with me family,"Liz said, pulling her robe on, "I miss them. I wonder what they'd have to say about us."
"They wouldn't approve of me, that's for sure. I feel like I pressured you too much."
"I didn't do anything I didn't want to do on my own accord, Jack Dawson,"Liz scolded, "Don't think I don't have a mind of me own."
"I never said that,"Jack hugged her, kissing her eyelids, "I love you. That's all that matters right now."
"Oh, alright,"Liz smiled, "I'm going to get my shower. I'm so happy this morning I think I can fly."
She disappeared into the scummy bathroom, leaving Jack alone to ponder his actions. He could her the rumble of thunder outside, and went toward the window to watch the rain. He had the sudden realization that each raindrop looked like tears, and that those tears were being cried from Rose in Heaven.
He tried to shake the thought from his head, but couldn't. "What have I done?"he asked himself, "Rose, I'm so sorry. So sorry."
He placed his head in his hands, the hands that had touched both Rose and Liz, and wept for Rose's soul.
Part Three
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