Learn To Let Go

[KaiyaBlake]

Helllllooo.

Firstly... I know I'm a liar, seriously it's bad. Sorry

But... you wouldn't believe how many times I FULLY wrote this chapter, and then got rid of it and re-wrote it *sighs*

So... enjoy. I hope

Chapter 20

“Arghh I hate school”, Martha yelled, frustrated as she flicked through the numerous books that lay in front of her.

“Well…”, Jack wrapped his arms around her waste, resting his head snugly on her shoulder so that their cheeks brushed together. “Maybe we should both leave school and run away”

“I’m seriously considering it”, Martha laughed before leaning back and placing a couple of small kisses on Jack’s cheek.

“Hey! Keep it G rated guys”, Tony ordered as he waltzed past Jack’s room.

“Oh we are”, Martha mumbled sourly before laughing. “If we ran away, we could finally start closing doors”, she beamed.

Jack pulled himself on top of her, peppering soft kisses down her cheek before pressing his lips against hers.

“Be careful. This is bordering on PG”, Martha giggled in between kisses.

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The bride made her entrance down the golden carpet of sand that surrounded her. Her hair resembling the sand perfectly as it flowed effortlessly through the wind.

She grabbed hold of her best friends hand securely, her face breaking into an uncontrollable grin as she mirrored her gesture. In that exact moment, she was glad she had chosen Martha to walk down the isle with her. No one knew her as well as she did… and no one could ever support her as much as she had.

Well… no one except the charming man she soon spotted close up ahead. She laughed quietly to herself as she noticed him fidget nervously in his suit, his face bearing the exact same smile as everyone else seemed to sport. There was one small difference though; his was there entirely for her. For them.

“Just don’t look at his face”, she felt her best friend lean in closer and whisper in her ear. And it was only then that she realised that she too had been watching someone… her someone. She smiled sadly as her eyes traced the outline of his still battered face before turning to Martha.

“You can’t tell me you don’t want this”, she said knowingly before Martha released her grip on her arm, kissing her cheek quickly before letting her walk to the moment she had been waiting for… the rest of her life.

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“You may now kiss your bride”, the priest said happily as Robbie wasted no time in doing just that.

Martha’s eyes welled up instantly as she watched the two kiss for the very first time as husband and wife. A rush of emotions coming to her as she couldn’t help but relate it back to her life. What it would be like.

“You okay?”, came Jack’s voice from behind her as all the guests made their way up to the bride and groom, showering them with hugs and kisses.

She turned around and faced him, a look of disapproval drawn on her face. “Don’t”, she muttered after a moments silence before walking away from him briskly.

“Don’t what?”, he hurried after her as she continued to walk further and further away from him.

Martha stopped in her tracks when she realised she hadn’t managed to loose him. Annoyed at his persistence she exhaled deeply. “Can’t you tell when you’re not wanted?”

He let out a small laugh. “I knew you’d be pissed about the note I left you”, he stated, his voice still carrying an amused tone.

Martha glared at him but decided against retaliating, instead using his remark as a gateway into what she had to say. “Do you really despise me that much Jack or are you just trying to dump all the blame on me for everything that’s happened?”, she pretended to ponder the idea when really she knew it was neither one. But she would never admit that to him.

“Do you really want to get into this now?”, Jack sighed as he scanned the beach behind them, watching as a crowd of people were celebrating what was meant to be a happy day. “It’s not really the time or place”, he stated in an attempt to dodge her questions.

“What did I ever do to you?”, she continued with her argument.

He began to get agitated as she raised her voice. “Seriously Martha can’t we just leave it for today”, he urged her to stop.

“No! We’re talking about this. You obviously have something to say, going by your pathetic note, so say it! Stop hiding behind it and say whatever it is you’re trying to say, to my face!”, she yelled, grabbing his arm and yanking it towards her as he refused to give her his full attention. She had no idea why this was making her so upset but she couldn’t stand the tension any longer.

“Alright!”, Jack surrendered, trying to calm her down. He ushered them over to a spot by some small sand dunes where they would be out of sight to any nosy onlookers. “The letter was a stupid idea okay, I shouldn’t have wrote it”

“But you still did Jack”, Martha’s voice had lowered since her previous outburst. Tucking her dress underneath her she sat down.

Jack sighed as he sat down next to her. “I don’t know what to say to you anymore”, he gave a small shrug as he looked across at her.

Her bright blue eyes sparkled against the reflection of the ocean and it made it all the more harder to be so close to her.

“I’m trying”, he spoke as his eyes remained fixed on hers. “I’m trying to be your friend but it’s hard”, he admitted.

“Why? It’s not like we haven’t just been friends before”, she pulled her legs into her body as if to give her some sort of comfort as she was talking to him. “You managed 15 years of it pretty well”

“True”, he chuckled lightly. “But back then, being your friend was all I knew. I didn’t know of all these extra amazing things I could have with you so it made it easy not to want them. But now…”

“It’s not so easy”, she finished his sentence for him as she tried to pretend what he was saying wasn’t affecting her. “Argh I hate this”, she groaned.

Jack let out a breathy laugh as Martha buried her head into the gap of her folded arms. She had to be the most complicated girl he had ever known, but then again he had to hand it to her with everything she’d faced through her life she had come out of it better than he ever would have.

“I honestly never thought we’d end up here”

She shifted uncomfortably.

Jack sighed. “I stuffed up”, he stated simply as she failed to respond.

His heart broke slightly as he spotted a small, crystal tear fall down her cheek.

Without giving it a seconds thought he reached over silently and used his thumb to gently wipe away her tears.

Surprised that she hadn’t rejected his touch he cupped her cheek tenderly with his hand, stroking it slightly.

“I wish you would talk to me”, he whispered as she slowly turned so as he could see her face clearly. “All I want to do is help you”

“I’m so pathetic”, a small laugh escaped from her lips. Jacks hand remaining on her face.

“You’re not”, he shook his head in objection.

“I can’t do this Jack”, she whimpered. “Any of it. I just… can’t”, She took hold of his hand and held it in her own, slipping her fingers softly through his as she gazed down at their entwined hands. “I really want…”, she stopped to correct herself. “…need my best friend back”

His face softened as he saw the desperation in her eyes. Her shell that she had hidden herself beneath was slowly falling off.

“Don’t be stupid. I’ve always been here”, he told her promptly, tugging on her hand slightly so that he was able to pull her into a warm hug.

It was true, not for one second did he ever leave. And not for one moment would he deny her his friendship or his support. If she needed him, he was there… no questions.

“This might be a stupid thing to say seeing as I’ve been home for about a week now but… I’ve really missed you”, he felt her smile against his chest as she cuddled into him further. He knew that this was the right thing to do, even if it hurt him, it was worth it if it made her smile.

“Hey”, he nudged her slightly. “You just said home”

She paused for a moment as if to re-play her words over in her head. “Well… I may have a house in the city. But this will always be my home. Won’t it?”, she checked to make sure.

“Er, I don’t know. It’s really getting to be a full house here”

“But I’m just one little person!?”, she cried causing Jack to laugh.

“Come on”, he pulled them swiftly off the sand, brushing off any little grains that had managed to stick to them. “We can’t hide out here the entire wedding reception”, he smirked as he held out his hand openly for her to take.

With a small smile still playing on her lips, she took his extended hand and allowed him to lead the way. “Lets get smashed”

“No!”, he instantly bellowed back.

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2 hours later…

“Oh god! Help me!”, she screeched. Scrambling behind the security of Jacks body as she obviously tried to hide herself from something.

Jack tried to turn so he could see her, but her constant moving behind him made it impossible. “From the monster that’s so clearly trying to chase you”, he chuckled as he spotted no one heading in there direction.

Coming out from behind him she poked her tongue out teasingly at Jack. “Who the hell let Martha near the alcohol?”, she sounded desperate as she tried to fix her hair. He could now clearly see the colour flushing up her cheeks.

Jack’s stomach dropped. “Oh no, don’t tell me…”

“Yes. It seems the cat has found the mouse”, Tash created an example as Robbie waltzed up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waste.

“Robbie I thought you were keeping an eye on her while I talked to Jack?”, she whipped around quickly to face him.

He stepped back slightly, holding both arms up as in a surrender. “I was! I turned my back for one second!”

“Ahhh”, Jack cringed, making his presence known again. “A second is like a lifetime in Martha’s alcoholic… bizarre mind”, he shook his head doubtfully. He tried desperately to find her through the midst of the guests surrounding him.

“Well that’s one down”, Tasha sighed.

Jack screwed up his face in confusion as Robbie looked to Tasha.

“Oh come on Jack don’t act all innocent”

“What!? I’ve managed to keep her away from any alcohol for over two whole hours! That has to be some sort of record!”, Jack was quick to defend himself. Genuinely proud of how long he had distracted her.

“Not that”, she whacked him on the arm lightly. “We all know, once Martha gets drunk it’s only a matter of time before you fall right down there with her”

Jack laughed in disbelief. “Me? As drunk as her? Are you sure you’re not drunk?”

Tasha rolled her eyes. “Jack just watch yourself”, she warned him.

“Okay Mrs Hunter”, he nodded seriously before smirking.

She paused for a moment before turning her head up so her lips met Robbie’s in a small kiss. “Yes… yes I am”, she smiled widely.

Jack slipped away quickly as the two newlyweds became distracted with each other, dancing and kissing. He knew what he had to do… find Martha.

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An hour later…

“… and that’s why you don’t mix drinks”, he laughed, holding up the previous two drinks he had taken from her as she listened carefully.

“You blow my mind”, she gasped, thinking he was incredibly wise for knowing such a thing.

“Jack no!”, Tasha groaned, having witnessed them for the last couple of minutes. She should have known better than to trust Jack with an intoxicated Martha. She could get him to do almost anything she wished.

He turned to find both Robbie and Tasha glaring at him disapprovingly. “Relax, I’ve only had a couple. Anyway, I function perfectly well whilst under the influence”, he tried to put there minds at ease. He reached out and grabbed on to Martha who had began waddling away from him.

“It’s true”, she nodded with a small laugh. She had no idea what they were talking about of course.

“Oh I’m sure it is”, Tasha rolled her eyes slightly. “He is absolutely hopeless”, she shook her head, pulling Robbie to the side where she could talk to him without them hearing.

Robbie smirked. “Looks like we’ll be the only ones remembering this day”, he wrapped his arms around her snugly and pressed a small kiss on her temple.

“We need someone to watch them”, she untangled herself from his hold.

“Why?”, he looked baffled. “Come on they’re just having fun”, he tried to lighten her mood.

Tasha couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s the point! When they get drunk their concept of ‘fun’ becomes a little x-rated”

“Seriously?”, he asked.

“No… I lied. A lot x-rated”, she shuffled around and snaked her arms around him.

“Well what do we do to stop them!?”

“Oh don’t worry, they’ve been apart for so long now… I doubt anything will happen”, she tried to assure him.

Robbie stared back at her unconvinced. They hadn’t been with each other for over two years, who was she trying to kid?

“I just heard it how you did”, Tasha backtracked. “We’re screwed”

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An hour later…

“A wounded soldier!”, she yelled out randomly as they strolled along the beach side. “That’s what you look like”, she affirmed turning her body towards him as she walked.

A small smirk formed on Jack’s lips as he thought about what he had said to Robbie the night before. “That’s what I thought… but sadly there were no girls lining up to here my war story”

“They better not, otherwise I’ll give them their own war story to talk about”, she looked him dead on in the eyes to show she was serious.

“I knew it”, he brushed past her, glancing back cheekily. He had slowed down on the alcohol once Tash had caught him, he’d already consumed a couple so he was slightly tipsy.

Martha ran to catch up like an excited little kid. “That I’m fantastic Jack? That’s practically a given”, she grinned from ear to ear as she attempted to walk backwards so she was able to face him.

“Well… that and the fact you are totally, completely, unconditionally in. Love. With. Me”, he stressed each syllable as they rolled off his tongue. He raised his eyebrows cockily as he smiled in defeat.

She also raised her eyebrows in a mock, giggling uncontrollably. He had to throw his arms out and pull her forward as she tripped over her own feet walking backwards. “You know what Jack Holden? I am”, she smiled, deciding now to walk safely next to him.

“You are?”, he looked confused, glancing down his shoulder to meet her bright eyes staring back at him excitedly.

“Yes but it’s a special kind of love”, she smiled flirtatiously. Although he was almost certain that it was the vodka pumping through her veins that made her do it.

“Incredible, amazing, hot-”, he threw a couple of ideas into the open before she cut him off.

“Friendship. It’s friendship love. Come on, that’s really the best kind”, she tried to woo him, slipping her hand into his and holding it gently… trying to symbolise their friendship.

He released his hand from hers and created some distance between them to show that she had upset him. “If I was still in 2nd grade maybe”

“We were cute in 2nd grade”, she mused. Beginning to veer off topic.

“You were cute”, he couldn’t help but add, a small smile curling up his lips.

She paused for a moment. “I was cute”, she agreed with a drunken laugh. “Now I’m cold… brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”, she over exaggerated, beginning to shake obsessively.

“Oh sorry”, Jack instantly apologized. “I’m so rude, do you want my jacket?”

“Yes-s-s p-please”, she kept on her act as she waited for him to hand her his Jacket.

But instead of that, he simply stared at her… a cheeky smile spread over his face. “Well I’m afraid I can’t give it to you… I reserve such things for someone who I know loves me… the ’unspecial’ kind”, he mocked by twisting around what she had said previously.

“I could give you the unspecial kind”, she murmured uncharacteristically, brushing up beside him and winding her arm through his. His earlier words incredible and hot meaning only one thing in her mind. “But you’re a girl who can’t handle a meaningless one-nighter”, she shook her head as if disappointed.

Jack looked away momentarily, trying to find any inch of self-control. Something… to keep him away from her. It didn’t help when she was hanging of his arm though. “You know I would but I prefer my women not to be legless”, he tried to act indifferent.

“Good thing I have two legs then”, she purred into his ear, her own drunken attempt to sway him.

He forced his hands to keep to himself. “A-ha-ha. Still not going to happen”,

“Not even just… a little bit?”, she lifted his hand and pressed her lips to his knuckles, grazing them slightly.

“Where the hell is a video camera when you need one?”, he said aloud. He cursed himself for not having some sort of evidence or witness to every word she was saying.

She jolted. “Hold up one second mister. I didn’t agree to that… exactly… did I?”, she chuckled, knowing herself that it was not something she should put past her.

He pulled her along, now hurrying his pace, desperately needing to put some people between him and Martha. He turned back to her, not being able to resist and pressed his forehead against hers momentarily as she scrunched up her nose with a cheeky smile.

“This night is going to be very long”, he told her as if she were a child.

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Next chapter – The wedding continues… will the flirting? Or have JnM jumped into this ‘friendship’ way too quickly?

[amz89]

Thankssssssssssssssss so much for this update, I'm glad J&M resovled things. Can't wait for more yah, wedding was beautiful too.

[Nourtz]

yay an update... it was sooooo cute oh, they just need to get back together!!

please update again soon i really really want to know what happens next

[Barbara]

Yay an update!

But I understand that you have other priorities. I hope your brother is doing better better now.

I loved the memory at the beginning!

Congratulations to Tasha and Robbie! They should enjoy their special day and stop worrying about Martha.

Martha is hilarious when she's drunk! She seems very hard to control.

Please let the flirting continue.

More please.

[lino]

Keep the chapters coming. I am laughing and smiling all the way through reading it.

[Zetti]

Hehehe Drunk Martha and at Tasha predicting that Jack would get drunk straight after

Loved Tasha & Robbie

Please dont leave it too long between updates

[Scotcaz22]

Loved the update!

Loved the flirting and may it continue - pretty please?

[dolly-999]

Hey, just read the whole story so far, love this fic, I was hooked from the start.

I'm so glad that Alex is out of the picture now, he didn't suit Martha.

love how you've added the childhood memories at the start of each chapter too, it ties it all together really nicely.

Update soon, I love it.

[KaiyaBlake]

Thanks guys

I'm glad you've started reading too dolly

[Pengzilla]

Take advantage, Jack! We won't hold it against you!

Great chapter, looking forward to the next!