Hi everyone!

So, I posted this story a few years ago. I took a hiatus from writing, and since I have not updated this since my senior year of high school, I wanted to change it and make it better!

SO, here is the story of Ellie! I hope some of my old readers are still around, and I hope I have some new ones as well! Please feel free to leave a review!

-Christine

Chapter 1: Ellie

"I don't see what all the fuss is about. It doesn't look any bigger than the Mauretania."

"What are you talking about, Rose? This is the largest ship in the world!" I exclaimed.

"You can be blasé about some things, Rose, but not about Titanic. It's 100 feet longer than the Mauretania, and far more luxurious! Thank you for proving my point, Eleanor," my sister's fiancé then turned to my mother, "Your daughter is far too difficult to impress, Ruth."

My mother chuckled in response, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Everything Caledon Hockley said was perfect in her eyes. Cal could do no wrong.

"So this is the ship they say is unsinkable?"

"It is unsinkable! God himself cannot sink this ship!" he exclaimed. Rose sighed.

"Oh God, help me," she whispered quietly to herself.

I reached over and gave my sister's hand a squeeze. I knew how difficult this engagement was for her, and I felt terrible. I could have easily been in her position. She was always so bright, optimistic, and curious. The golden child between the two of us. But now, she was just so sad. She just seemed to go through the motions each day, and I knew she was unhappy. She never talked about it with me, but I knew. Trying to lighten her mood, I pointed at the group of dogs trailing behind us.

"Rose, look at how beautiful those dogs are! Especially that Airedale!"

"Aw Ellie, they are adorable!"

"Ellie," mother shook her head, "I named you Eleanor, I don't understand why you have to change that."

"Mother, you know I prefer to be called Ellie. It suits me more than Eleanor does."

"Yes well, I prefer a lot of things as well, Eleanor. Just like how I would prefer if you were married by now."

"Oh well," I shrugged with a taunting smile. Mother gave me a cold look in return. Rose pulled me aside, while mother and Cal made their way ahead of us.

"You keep being yourself, Ellie," Rose whispered to me, "I wish I was you. You never have to be tied down."

I opened my mouth to reply, but our stewardess Trudy tapped me on the shoulder.

"Miss Ellie, your ticket," she motioned to the officer in front of me.

"Oh! Right, sorry!" I handed it over quickly.

"Thank you, miss, if you head your way down to the left a steward will escort you to your cabin."

"Thank you," I nodded.

Titanic was a floating dream that would remain in my memory for the rest of my life. The crystal chandeliers were hanging high, not a speck of dust on them. Light poured in through the windows, making them sparkle so bright. The china placed in the dining area was freshly polished, twinkling from the chandelier reflection. Walking past the dining room, I could smell this evening's meal being prepared. Chicken, maybe? My stomach rumbled.

The hall carpet was full of intricate detail, burgundy with designs traced in a golden color. My breath was taken from me as I was brought into my cabin (Rose and Cal shared one, mother and I had our own). I was privileged, but this was a kind of elegance I had not experienced. Never had I seen so many pillows on one bed. Giggling like I was a child again, I collapsed onto the bed and buried my face in the pile They smelled so crisp and clean, like fresh cut grass. The sheets felt so smooth and cool against my skin, I felt so relaxed, refreshed already. Not a soul had slept in this bed before- I would be the very first.

"Is everything alright for you, miss?" Trudy asked me. I sat up, smiling.

"Everything is wonderful Trudy, thank you."

"Do you need help unpacking?"

"No, not at all! I can take care of it myself," I took my suitcase from her hand, "You can go see if my sister needs anything."

"She's in the sitting room, right near the private promenade deck."

"Tell her I will meet her in a few moments, if you can."

"Not a problem, miss,"

"Thank you," I smiled.

As I unpacked, I began to reflect on everything Trudy had down for us these past few years. Mother hired Trudy after the maid Rose and I had grown up with passed away. Carla had been so great, she did more for me and Rose than our own mother. She worked hard, and when Trudy took over about five years ago, she had large shoes to fill. Trudy was determined to prove herself around the house, and she did. She was always there to do whatever we needed. I was bothered by the fact that we even had a maid. We were not royalty or invalids, we were completely capable of doing things on our own. I never understood why mother found it necessary. I knew mother would tell Trudy to unpack her things and put them away as soon as she saw her. It made me feel sick.

After unpacking, I headed to the sitting room directly across the hall from my cabin. Rose had a painting in her hand and Cal's close friend (and bodyguard, basically) Spicer Lovejoy came in through the other side of the room with a steward carrying Cal's safe, which he took with him everywhere.

"Ellie, who is the artist of this painting, again?" Rose asked me, not taking her eyes off it. She got most of them from an auction the last time we were home in Philadelphia.

"I'm not too sure..."

"God, not those finger paintings again. They certainly were a waste of money." I looked up to see Cal standing in the doorway.

"The difference between Cal's taste in art and mine is that I have some. They're fascinating. It's like being inside a dream or something. There's truth but no logic." Rose stated.

"What's the artist's name?" Trudy asked. Rose pondered, her face scrunched a bit.

"Something Picasso?" Rose said, thinking.

"Something Picasso? He won't amount to a thing." Cal scoffed. "He won't, trust, me. At least they were cheap."

Cal had always downplayed Rose's thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. He treated her as if she was far below him. The two of them had been engaged for six months now, and Rose was pushed to do the wedding planning from the moment he proposed. As her maid of honor, I had tried my best to be supportive to make this time less difficult for her. I knew she did not love him, and he certainly made it easy for her not to do so. He seemed to be so oblivious of her feelings, when it was so obvious to me by just seeing the looks on her face in reaction to things he said.

He was either oblivious or he just did not care.

Later that afternoon during lunch, Rose was clearly frustrated. She was more defiant, which was not like her at all. She made the daring move of smoking in front of mother, which was a shock even for me. Mother leaned in towards me after Rose excused herself quickly.

"What has gotten into your sister?" mother leaned in towards me to whisper.

"I don't know, mother," I lied. I knew it was Cal. Rose just had to talk to me.

"Well she always talks to you," mother replied hoarsely, "Go check on her, please."

I nodded and excused myself, pushing in my chair. I walked down to the hall and out to the deck- I saw her leaning over the railing.

"Are you alright, Rose?" Smoking in front of mother, that's something new."

Rose had a cigarette in her hand now. She chuckled and took a drag.

"This just isn't fair, Ellie. They're not fair."

"Want to talk about it?"

"I can't say anything. Sometimes I feel as I'm their little puppet. I can't speak my mind, I'm being forced into a society I don't want to be a part of," she sighed, "I can't even choose who I want to marry."

I placed my hand on her shoulder. I wasn't really sure of what to say.

"You're not in love with him, are you?"

"Not at all," she sighed, "I don't love the person he is. I keep trying to see some good in him, something I can live with. But I can't, Ellie. I feel like I was dragged into this, and I had no say in anything. This isn't fair. I can't stand it. I just…I just want to scream," she bit her bottom lip, "I only said yes because I would have felt ashamed if I rejected him. I was scared."

"What they're doing isn't fair to you," I said. Rose took in another drag of cigarette, leaning against the railing. I stood next to her.

"Ellie, I wish I could get out of this. I would do anything, you know," she looked out to the ocean "Sometimes I wake up and wish I hadn't."

"Please don't say that, Rose. You can leave. It's not the end of the world if you don't go through with this. It's not worth it."

"Easy for you to say," Rose scoffed, "I'm not as strong or as independent as you, Ellie. I'm not a fighter."

"Yes you are, Rose. Do not do this to yourself if you can't do it. Sooner or later, it's going to catch up to you. It's not worth it."

"Then what happens, Ellie? We lose everything," she took another drag of her cigarette, "I don't want our father's name to end up dragged in the dirt," tears began to well up in her eyes. I sighed and pulled her in for a side hug.

"His debts are not yours to pay."

"Rose!" we whipped around to see Cal. Rose tossed her cigarette, holder in tow, over the side of the ship and into the ocean. "What are you two doing out here? It's freezing."

"Oh Cal, it's gorgeous out here."

"Your mother was wondering where you two ran off. You should go back to her. Come on, now," Cal walked next to her, taking her arm, "Are you coming with us, Eleanor?"

"Yes, I'll catch up," I said. Cal nodded and him and Rose walked off.

I looked out, seeing the rest of the deck, seeing the vast ocean ahead of me, the lower deck below me. I was beginning to worry about Rose, and I hoped she took my words to heart. Our father was a wonderful man. Three years later, his death still hits me as if it happened yesterday. I understood where she was coming from, but the pressure of covering up the debt our father left us in with a marriage to Cal should not have been dropped on her shoulders. I was lucky. Cal took an interest in Rose right away.

Me? I had rejected numerous wealthy suitors mother attempted to arrange me with. Mother gave up on me, which was exactly what I wanted. But now, Rose was her target and I was starting to feel guilt set in. If I wasn't so selfish, Rose wouldn't be in this situation. I sighed, and my eyes drifted from the ocean to the people on the lower deck. There were children, running around with their parents trailing behind them. I smiled at two twin girls chasing each other with bouncy, dark curls, one was clutching a doll. My eyes then trailed to a group of three men. They must've been from third class, considering the way they were dressed. One wore a black beret and had darker skin. He must've been Spanish. Maybe Italian? A golden-haired man was sitting on a bench, looking like he had a sketch book of some sort wide open on his lap. He was actually looking in my direction.

The third man had a brown coat on, along with a brown bowler's hat atop a head of curls. He was leaning against the side of the ship, taking a drag of a cigarette as he was talking to the supposed artist on the bench. He was tall, shoulders broad, relaxed. Rugged. The blonde haired man turned to him to say something, and then he smiled. Even though I was far away, I could tell his smile was warm. I continued to watch him interact with the man on the bench. Suddenly, he turned in my direction and I could swear he was looking right at me. I felt my face flush, and I left quickly.