IMBF
Hello loyal readers! WOW. Its been almost two years since I've updated this story. Trust me, every time I get a new review from someone begging me to update, my heart breaks for you, because I know first hand how awful it is to fall in love with a story just to find it unfinished/never updated. SO, I would like to sincerely apologize for that. I assume that most of you don't remember what's going on in this story or have never even read it before, so go ahead and start from the beginning. Again, sorry I'm such a terrible updater, and without further ado, here is chapter 10 ^_^
Jack walked down the third class corridors at a steady pace, his heavy foot steps letting it known that he was on a mission. He kept his hands firmly in his pockets, his fists clenched and damp from anger. He was able to regulate his breathing somewhat, but his heart was beating furiously and he could literally feel his blood boiling. He knew he shouldn't have left her there alone. As much as he tried to make up excuses in his head about leaving her alone, he couldn't get the guilty feeling to lift from his shoulders.
He finally made it outside to the boat deck, ignoring the pinch of the Atlantic air. It was around 12:30 a.m., and the decks were deserted and deathly quiet. He was thankful for that though, because it made it easy for him to sneak into the parts of the ship that he wasn't allowed. Once back inside the ship, this time in the first class area, he had to strain his memory to trace his steps back to Rose's stateroom; a place that merely hours ago was so intimate and magical for him, was now going to become a place caught in violence and fury.
He knew he only had to round one more corner before reaching room B54, which he remembered to be the "sitting room" as Rose referred to it. He heard a steward walking down the hallway, and quickly rounded back around the previous corner to keep out of his line of vision. While having his back pressed up against the wall, which was the purest shade of white he had ever seen in his life, he took advantage of the moment to gather his thoughts. He hadn't thought about what he was going to say to Cal, or more importantly, what he was going to do. All he knew was that he couldn't let Cal get away for doing what he did.
Jack was finally able to gather his thoughts and regulate his emotions, and bravely walked the remaining distance to the door.
..
Cal was pacing the sitting room back and forth, his right fist wrapped with a damp cloth. He was cursing to himself about being such an idiot and giving Rose the chance to get away. She just continued to make a fool out of him more and more, and it made him angrier than he had ever been before.
He turned to face the door when he heard it swing open behind him, but it wasn't who he had expected it to be.
"You," was all Cal was able to get out, in the deep menacing tone he had so perfected.
Jack held an intense gaze with Cal as he shut the door behind him. He took a couple of casual steps towards him before resting his hands calmly in his pockets.
"How on earth did you get here?" He sneered. "I can't imagine anyone letting a rat like you in these parts."
Jack said nothing. Just continued to stand in front of Cal, examining the man before him.
"Say something you filth!" Cal raged. Jack had had enough, and in one quick motion drew his right fist out of his pocket and punched Cal in the left side of his face. Cal stammered backwards for a moment, but was quick to gain his composure back and grabbed Jack by the color of his wool jacket. "How dare you touch me!"
Jack grabbed a hold of Cal's wrists and expertly twisted and bruised them until he was finally out of his grasp. They stood silently in front of one another for a moment, both breathing heavily with fury.
"How dare you touch her!" Jack yelled.
"Oh, so the little slut ran to you I see," Cal said with a sarcastic smile.
"You're a bastard," Jack said. "A sad excuse for a man."
"I'm more than a man than you'll ever be. I don't understand why she favors you anyway. What can you give her? Nothing!"
"You're wrong. The only thing I can't give her is extreme wealth, which she doesn't want anyway. But I can give her everything else. I can give her love, and freedom, and I can show her the world that she is so desperate to see and be a part of," Jack said, his face becoming red. "You keep her trapped in this life like an animal, and its slowly killing her inside!"
Cal stood silent, examining Jack through squinted eyes. "I guess I never saw it that way," Cal said softly. "And I suppose you're right. Why would any respectful lady want to be with a handsome, wealthy business man like me, when she could look forward to the exciting world of being a whore to a gutter rat."
Jack barely was able to blink before his emotions overtook him again as he gave Cal another blow to the face. But this time, Cal fought back just as hard. They were in a heated battle, knocking over all of the luxurious furniture that was in their way, all the while screaming obscenities at one another.
"You damn bastard!" Jack yelled as he got the advantage over Cal, whose already wounded hand was ailing him in the fight. Jack was able to grab Cal by the shoulders and slam his back against the wall. He steadied Cal with one hand by pinning his chest down, and with the other he continued to hit him. "Don't you ever come near her ever again!" He yelled, emphasizing his words with a swift punch.
"Oi! What the 'ell is goin' on in 'ere?" A strong Irish voice came from behind them.
Jack's arm that was holding Cal up released him, causing Cal to fall to the ground. He turned around to see a short, chubby, yet authoritative looking man standing before him, and with a very pale and shocked woman behind him with hair just as fiery as Rose's was.
Cal let out a sigh of relief. He had sent Ruth to grab the master – at – arms to report Rose missing when she ran off. He wished they had arrived sooner, but was very pleased that they found him and Jack in this condition.
"Thank God," Cal spat out. "This bastard steerage rat came in here and attacked me! He was trying to steal my money!"
Jack turned back around and glared down at Cal.
"You sick son of a bitch," Jack hissed.
"Hurry on men! Cuff him up!"
"What? NO!" Jack yelled, trying to get out of the grasps of the men who were surrounding him. "I came in here because he attacked his own fiancé! He should be the one arrested!"
"Stop resisting!" One of the men yelled, twisting Jack's arm in an unbearable way.
"This is horseshit!"
…
"You should be sleep," Fabrizio said to Rose as she sat up in the small bed. "I promise Jack."
Rose smiled gently at the kind young man she had only met once before, but she knew of what importance he was to Jack and what a good person he was.
"Its okay, it'll be our little secret," Rose said. "Where did he go, anyway?"
"Oh, um, uh," Fabrizio stammered, scratching his head. "He went to take a um, how do you say…walk! He is taking a walk," he finally was able to get out as he sat in the empty bed of their other bunk mates.
"Oh," Rose whispered, unable to hide her disappointment. "Well, I certainly feel much better. Thank you so much for bringing me the soup."
"Di niente (you're welcome) Rose."
"And I hope its not terribly inconvenient that I will be staying here for the rest of the trip. I know its incredibly rude to just interrupt your life in this way."
"Oh no no miss," Fabrizio said. "Whatever keep you happy, because you make Jack so so happy."
A smile came upon Rose's face and her heart swelled when she heard those words. She couldn't believe how lucky she was. "You're a very nice man, Fabrizio," Rose said genuinely. She could never remember encountering such warm and kind men as Jack, Fabrizio, and Tommy before, with the exception of her father. "I hope we can all stay close after this trip is over," Rose said, wanting to make sure Fabrizio knew that he didn't have to leave Jack's life just because Rose was there.
"Si miss," Fabrizio said. "But uh, I just hope you know that this life is hard. We really have no money," he said shyly. "I know by your nice dress than you are in first class."
"Well, yes," Rose said, just as shyly. "But I cannot keep living in that life with those people. It is slowly suffocating me. With Jack, I feel so at peace, and alive, and like I can truly be myself. And he is truly just so wonderful, in everyway. He saved me, in every way that a person can be saved. And Fabrizio, please keep this between you and I…but I have fallen in love with him," she whispered, her cheeks turning a soft pink color. "I would go through anything to be with him. I don't care how difficult it is. Despite my outward appearance, I'm actually quite a strong girl."
"Oh si miss, I know that," Fabrizio said in regards to her last statement. "And I know he love you too. I know my friend very good and I know that he love you."
"Really?" Rose asked, breathing a sigh or relief mixed with excitement. "Oh, I do hope you're right. And I wish he would come back already!"
"Fabrizio!" Tommy screamed, swinging the door wide open, causing it the slam back against the wall. Rose jumped at the unexpected intrusion and looked frantically from Tommy to Fabrizio.
"Oh, I'm so sorry miss Rose," Tommy said, taking his hat off and nodding his head politely towards her. "I didn't mean to startle ya."
"What is wrong?" Fabrizio asked as he stood up.
"Its Jack," Tommy said, shooting a sympathetic glance towards Rose when he saw her eyes widen. "He's been arrested. I saw them taking him down into custody a couple of corridors down."
"Merda (shit)!" Fabrizio hissed.
"What?" Rose asked in confusion as she stood up. "Arrested? For what?"
"Well I don't know miss," Tommy started, but was interrupted by Fabrizio.
"I sorry Rose, but I lie to you. Jack was not taking a walk. He want to go talk to the guy who…" he said, gesturing to her face.
Rose's hand flew to her mouth and she immediately ran out of the room.
"Miss Rose!" Tommy yelled, "where are you goin?"
"I have to go help him!" Rose said.
"Wait, you should rest. I can take care of it."
"With all due respect Tommy," Rose said gently, "I think I have a better chance at the officers listening to me than you do."
Tommy sighed and nodded his head in agreement. "Well, at least let me and Fabrizio go with ya, just to make sure nothing bad happens."
"Alright, that's fine," Rose said as she turned on her heel, and followed Tommy's directions.
There you have it! Now, I'm not going to sit here and promise you that I'll have an update by tomorrow or anything, but I can promise you that I will try my absolute hardest to update as soon as I can. Thanks guys, and PLEASE REVIEW :)