HEART'S ALL GONE

A hint of vanilla perfume and flaming red hair might have gone unnoticed if there hadn't promptly been the distinct sound of shots being fired back in the gym. Jake Martin had only just started to leave the building, hurt and angry with the way Clare was acting. He felt conflicted in that instant. Did he go back to the dance and risk getting killed to save her or did he try and protect himself and … this girl. He cast a quick glance over her pale features. She seemed petrified in her dark dress. She wasn't going anywhere. Self-preservation won and in an instant, he was found himself running toward the nearest storage closet but not without at the girl's waist, shoving her over his shoulder and dragging her right along with him - setting her down on some boxes when they were inside. Emerald eyes gazed up at him, mascara already starting to run as a single question escaped her lips.

"What is happening in there, Jake?" she asked.

He had so much on his mind already with the fact his dad had dropped the bomb on him only hours ago that he was marrying his girlfriend's mother. It wasn't that he hadn't known that they were dating but his dad hadn't stayed in a relationship for more than a few weeks since he'd started dating again and that had taken a long time post divorce. Even when he'd tried, it had stopped when his mother died. He still grieved like they'd never slip up at all. Helen was a good woman though. Jake knew that. Jake wanted his dad to be happy again even if love was far too complex for him to even begin to completely understand. He'd really liked Clare though. Love. Well, he wasn't convinced he hadn't been a bit pressured to utter the word but he definitely cared about her a lot. He'd thought they could be mature enough to handle their parents getting divorced. She'd only proven that she wasn't. She wasn't the level-headed girl that he thought she was. All he'd wanted to do was leave the dance and accept the fact the relationship was over. They were going to be be step-siblings and his father was right. Ending it now really was for the best even if it did hurt. The idea that Clare could be lying in there dead now was unbearable though. Relationship or none he didn't want the last words he ever said to her to so bitter. He was definitely going to beat himself up over it.

It took him a moment to process the fact she knew his name. He shook his head, sitting across from her glancing at her as if he was trying to put a puzzle piece together. He'd seen her before. Maybe no in class. She didn't have classes with him but he'd seen her around the school. She knew who he was. He felt a little bit bad that he couldn't say the same.

"I don't know," he said running a hand through his hair in frustration. He kept glancing at the door as if it might open at any moment. He was on the look out for something to defend them with. His code of honor meant he'd have to fight to protect them both. If they were going to hurt a girl, they were going to have to go through him first. "It sounded like gun fire in there. Things like this didn't happen back in Muskoka. As soon as the coast is clear I'm getting in my truck and not looking back."

"Clare might have a problem with that. Aren't you two dating?" the red head asked, raising an eyebrow at him. It made Jake a little uneasy knowing that someone not only knew his name when he didn't know theirs but also knew that he'd been dating Clare. "She's probably worried sick about you. I mean, wherever she thought you were going - she couldn't have thought you were going to be long."

"I doubt she'll be expecting me back anytime soon. We got the wonderful news our parents are getting married tonight and things just sort blew up in my face. I'm pretty sure I just broke up with her. I was on my way out to my truck when I saw you and heard the shots," he said honestly, not so sure they wouldn't end up getting shot like everyone else just because they started to hide. He figured there was no point in hiding from the truth.. "Who are you by the way and how do you know so much about me?"

"Hannah Belmont," she said extended a hand in greeting, smiling quietly in the dark. "I have classes with Clare actually. I've borrowed her notes before and your name was on way too many of them. I'm also pretty good at reading people. It's a gift and a curse. Sorry to hear your night hasn't been so great. If it makes you feel any better, I came with my cousin because he couldn't get a date and as fate would have it some girl he's had a crush on forever showed up dateless and he abandoned me for her. I was about to go try and find a bus."

"You're the one who is dating Mr. Betenkamp's nephew," Jake said as the lightbulbs went off in his head. "I swear, I haven't been able to sit through a single science class without hearing how the grade 10s were outshining us. I'm sure your boyfriend is kicking himself that he isn't getting to see you in that dress."

"He's unfortunately grounded. He decided he needed to show off and pretend that he knew how to drive so I wouldn't leave him for one of my neighbors. ," she explained, playing with the straps of her dress which Jake found pretty distracting. Even if his heart was still a wreck over Clare, he was still male and pretty girls were still pretty girls. He averted his eyes and pretended to be interested in rolls of toilet paper instead. "Looks like we'll both be having an amazing summer of alone time unless something changes. Your luck could change."

He let out a bit of a bitter laugh at that. His luck wasn't going to change. His dad was still going to marry Helen and he was still going to be forced to live in the same house as a girl he'd once made out with. The thought alone made him both disgusted and sad. More than any of that, Clare wasn't going to change. She might have been smart and pretty but she was still pretty immature at times. There relationship had been pretty rocky. Yeah, she was great to makeout with but had it really ever been enough? Would it have really have lasted the distance? He had his doubts. He supposed only time would tell what was going to happen. He'd been disappointed enough in life to know that this was going to be okay though.

"Honestly, I think it's better off this way," he said with a shrug. "I care for her but I don't know. I think things would have just gotten more awkward if we'd stayed together. I just hope she's okay in there - I mean, I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her and I wasn't there to protect her. Her mom would never forgive me. It's complicated."

His voice trailed off as he notice her facial features change. Had he said the wrong thing? Usually he was good with words and people gravitated toward him because of it. He was good with people even if he preferred the outdoors and being alone to them. Women were confusing to him though. He was sure he hadn't said anything. Maybe he had though. Was he supposed to be acting like his life was over and he was never going to be okay again?

"You could have left me out there and run to protect her," Hannah told him after a moment apologetically. It was clear she was sincere about it and he just shook his head. He'd made that decision and he didn't regret it. It had been the only one he could have made that would have made any sense. If he'd run back, he could have been hurt too. Clare had friends in there. They would have protected her. "I froze up. I'm sorry."

"Stop that nonsense," Jake said shutting all the apologies down. "The decision is already made. Besides we don't even know if we're going to make it out of this ourselves. Don't go apologize for something you didn't choose to do. I don't want to spend what could be the last few minutes of my life feeling bad. You want to do something - tell me a joke."

Hannah raised an eyebrow at him again before nodded in acknowledgement of what he said. He watched as he face furrowed in thought. He was unprepared of what came out of her mouth next. "What does the little mermaid wear?" she asked after a long moment, a sheepish expression forming on her face.

Jake hadn't watched a lot of Disney movies growing up so he wasn't sure. He decided to offer up his best guess which was a little lame at best. "Scales?"

Hannah shook her head no before offering up the cheesiest answer ever. "An algae-bra," she told him which earned a chuckle and a head shake. He wasn't used to math jokes but it was sort of cute. He got it. It was going to do. She was getting his mind off things which was what he wanted. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to really know her. He could already tell she was probably smarter than he was. The fact she was a year younger didn't matter. He knew Mr. Betenkamp bragged on her and she made a math joke. Even if his skill set fell more on the practical side of education, he could appreciate smart girls. He'd dated Clare afterall.

"So math joke lover, do you ever do anything other than show people up with you brains?" he asked, genuinely interested in getting to know her. He didn't have many friends who were really friends and most girls in the school were too busy hitting on him to actually hold a conversation with him. She seemed different and right about now a friend sounded about right. Hell maybe he'd make friends with her boyfriend too and get a boost to his grades. He didn't care about University but a little boost to his GPA wouldn't hurt.

"Well, Plaid boy, I do a lot of things actually," she told him him matter of factly. "My parents and I go up north a lot. It's actually quite nice this time of year with the wildlife and flowers. I like to listen to music and some people would argue that I have pretty decent taste in it. I take cello lessons. I can't say that I'm that great at that. What about you? Do you have hobbies other than building things - nice sets by the way?"

"I happen to play guitar," he told her enjoying his new nickname immensely. "Watching sports, hanging outside - and I used to really enjoy tormenting Clare's ex but I suppose those days are over." He was mostly joking about the last part. He'd ended up getting along okay with Goldsworthy even if he didn't think they'd ever be the best of friends. He definitely was not going to add that he was also enjoyed making out with Clare. It wasn't something he thought she'd like to hear.

She laughed hard tossing a roll of toilet paper at his head at his joke which only made him laugh harder. Her laughter was contagious and he was almost on the verge of tears even though nothing had been that funny when he heard the door opening. He immediately jumped up in front of her, shielding her instinctively. Both of their eyes widened and their pulses increased until -

"We're clearing the building. Everybody okay in here?" the police woman asked.

Instant relief and nods.

"Wait, is everyone okay?" Jake asked her.

"Just one injured. He's going to be okay though. They're taking him to the hospital. If you didn't see anything, you're asked to evacuate immediately. This is a crime scene," she told them firmly.

Jake nodded and started to head out into the light, followed by Hannah. He was concerned about who the one person was but it being a male meant it wasn't Clare. He'd worry about who it had been later.

"Lucky break, sneaking off to make out during a shooting," they heard the offer say under her breath as she moved on to check other places for other people who might be lurking.

The look on both of their faces was pretty priceless as they went the other way toward the exit.

"She thinks I was making out with you," Hannah said, laughing uncontrollably at the idea. "How funny is that? I mean, you're pretty cool but you're no Wesley."

Jake wasn't offended at all by the comment. He was just as amused. He might have his flaws but making out with girls who have boyfriends wasn't his style. Especially not when he'd just ended a relationship with someone else. He could see where someone might have gotten the idea though. Dark room. Pretty girl. School dance. A few months earlier, he might have tried to make a move but not tonight.

"Whatever. You know you want me," he said with a smirk as they reached the cool night air. "Don't worry about calling a taxi. I have the truck and you've kept me sane tonight. Consider a ride home part of my thank you."

As they reached the parking lot and the familiar red truck she couldn't help but tease him a little. "You do actually have a license right? I don't think my parents can deal with any more phone calls about me riding with people who pretend to impress me," she said as she climbed inside.

He pulled out his wallet and handed it to her so she could see it. He didn't want there to be any questions about that. "Is that good enough for you, Ms. Belmont?" he asked as started the truck, waiting for a yes before he started to back up and make his way with her guidance toward her house. She played with his stereo, singing along once she found a good station much to him amusement. She was really starting to grow on him.

"So still running away from your problems?" she asked as they pulled into the driveway. She had her phone in her hand. She'd sent a few texts back and forth to get the details on what had happened. "Clare could probably use you at the hospital. Adam is a good guy and you know how close they are."

"I think the cabin is the best place for me to go honestly. I just need to go straighten out my head before coming back to deal with everything," he said with a shrug, grabbing her phone from her and programming his own number into it. "You can keep me posted on things though. The signal is a little bad up there but - I'll respond back when I see it. Send me bad jokes if you must."

Hannah smiled, unfastening the seat belt to give him a tight hug. It was honestly the very thing he needed and he wrapped his arms around her to hug her back. "I'll text you so you have mine. Let me know you made it safe and promise you'll call if you just need someone to listen," she said offering up her ear as a friend. For the first time in a while, Jake felt like he had a real friend as she pulled away and slipped into her house. He was okay with that.