What The Water Gave Me

Going back to Toronto was the last thing he wanted to do but he felt himself being pulled their by such a magnetic force that he couldn't deny it. It only took a few moments after he was hung up on for him to start shoving a few clothes in a bag and to abandon the cabin for his truck. The road seemed to mock him at every turn. He'd said he wouldn't return back until the wedding but there was someone back there who needed him. He didn't know how long he'd stay but he knew that as many times as she'd listened to him talk about his problems, he needed to be there to listen to hers just once. Being there on the phone didn't feel remotely adequate. He wanted to be there in person to make sure she was actually okay and maybe punch Wesley Betenkamp if the situation merited it. He didn't like it when girl's cried. He never had.

The sun was already down when reached her neighborhood. Lights were going out and people were already heading toward sleep. He pulled to the curb, stepping out after a moment pacing in front of it for a moment unsure of what he was going to say when he even got to the door. He was second guessing his decision to come here more and more as the seconds passed. She was probably asleep or with friends. She didn't need him. He was about to crawl back in his truck and go all the way back to Muskoka when he heard the sound of a fence door opening and saw a tall, thin man with Hannah's facial features step out examining him.

"I thought you couldn't have a license," he said sounding slightly disapproving.

Jake's face twisted in confusion before he caught the mistake.

"No, I'm not Wesley, Sir. I'm Jake. Jake Martin," he said taking a few steps forward and extending his hand in greeting. It earned a raised eyebrow and a glance over. He knew he was being sized up by Hannah's father and it made him even more anxious.

"Paul Belmont," he finally offered shaking his hand back. "Hannah didn't mention anyone coming by. She's been upstairs ever since she came home earlier. She didn't even come out for dinner. You're not Glen Martin's boy are you?"

Jake felt instantly more concerned when her father said she'd not left her room and she hadn't ate dinner. He shot a glance toward a darkened half-open window, wishing he could just be up there already checking on her so he could alleviate this feeling. His manners were not completely lost though and it seemed her dad knew his father somehow.

"You know my dad?" he asked slightly shocked.

"Stole your mother from me. Lucky for me, I found Hannah's mother right after that," he said with a small laugh. "Small world really. Last I heard from her was your birth announcement though. How is she doing?"

That was a lot of information to process there. The question about his mom made him withdrawal slightly. His parent's marriage hadn't worked out. He'd been eight when they signed their divorce papers. He'd lived with his mom at first but then she got really sick. He'd been too young to really know grasp what was going on until it was too late. Then he went to stay with his dad full time. They moved to Muskoka to escape her memory. His dad had never quite gotten over any of it and neither had he. "She died," he said simply not wanting to expand on it.

"She was beautiful. I'm sorry to hear that," Hannah's father said putting a comforting hand on his shoulder before nodding and starting to guide him inside with him. "Well come on in. I'm not sure if Hannah's even awake but we'll see if company can lure her down."

"Who is this?" a voice said from the sofa. Jake was immediately taken by how much the woman looked like Hannah. She might have had some of the same facial features and height as her father but she was the spitting image of her mother. The curly red mane of hair and the eyes. He starred for a long moment just trying to compare and constrast the two in his mind.

"Glen Martin's boy, Jake. He's hear to see Hannah - wait, you are here to see Hannah, right?" Hannah's father said talking to both his wife and Jake at once.

"You're even more handsome than your father," Hannah's mother told him, standing and greeting him with pinches to his cheeks which only made the redden far worse than they already were. "Hannah's been in her room most of the night, Sweetie. You might have to come back. I made some brownies earlier if you'd like to eat one before you go though."

"You are both very kind but-" Jake started to say if he couldn't go up and check on Hannah he was going to leave. He didn't want to impose. He was cut off by the screeching of old stairs which made him want to fix them. His eyes moved toward the noise and as he saw her puffy, sad face he honestly found his words cut off.

"Mom and dad, you're suffocating him," Hannah said quietly, putting on her best fake smile as she made her way across the room. She exchanged quick questioning glances with him before continuing to talk to her parents. "If it's okay, I'd prefer to take my guest upstairs."

"Alright. Well it was nice meeting you Jake. Don't stay up too late," her mother said giving one of those motherly smiles that even Jake couldn't not notice. They quietly nodded and he followed Hannah up the stairs without much a question, only pausing to talk when she shut her door.

"How did you know I was here?" he asked quietly, trying to keep his voice down.

"The truck parked outside and there was talking downstairs," she said crawling right back onto her bed, tugging her legs underneath her and hugging a pillow to her chest. "I should be the one asking questions. What are you doing here? Why wouldn't you answer your phone?"

"I wanted to make sure you're okay and I was driving. Hard to answer my phone when I have my hands on the wheel," he said sitting on the end, letting his long legs dangle over the side of her bed.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry Alli was rude to you. She was completely out of line," Hannah said apologetically. She looked sad, tired and it really hurt Jake to see her like that. He just wanted to make her be the same girl who was always bursting with energy and enthusiasm.

"I don't really care what she says. She can tell Clare whatever she wants," he said honestly. He was so over the games and politics of Degrassi. The Grapevine could say whatever it wanted about him. At the end of the day, anyone who cared would fact check before they went believing that crap anyways. "You don't look fine. Do I need to go teach Wesley a lesson with my fist?"

"No," she told him almost immediately. Jake could tell she was fighting off the tears again. His face fell at the sight of it. "I should have known better than to think anything would ever go the way I wanted it to. I just thought for once someone smart and handsome could want me. I could be the girl that gets the guy and keeps him. His parents think I'm a bad influence. They threatened to transfer him out of the school if he didn't break it off with him "

"Come here," Jake said offering up his arms. He waited for her to come before he wrapped them around her, holding her just to comfort her. A hand moved to play with the red hair and he tried to push back any selfish teenage boy thoughts that came to his mind. He was there as her friend and he wanted to be a good friend. "Listen closely, okay? You're beautiful, smart and completely out of his league if we're being honest here. I'm sure he was a decent guy but if he was the right guy he would have fought to hold onto you. His loss is going to be some other guys gain. You can't hide in here and cry all summer if you're going to let that other guy find you though."

Hannah's arms tightened around him, holding onto him like her own personal teddy bear. He didn't mind it though until he heard her choking on her own tears and felt her sobbing into his arms. He knew there weren't a whole lot of things he could say to make this easier for her but he was going to try and be there for her. He felt his own throat closing up just hearing it though. He'd held back his own emotions for the past few weeks. Knowing his dad was marrying someone else brought back memories of their divorce, his mother dying. Experiencing his own break up just weeks before he'd been relatively hollow, minus the few nights he'd ranted endlessly about the whole situation. He'd allowed his anger out but he'd never let the sadness come through. He felt it finally all hitting him and he inwardly cursed himself for letting it come out. Before he could help himself he was crying too.

He wasn't sure how long they cried in each other's arms but he did know when she must have realized it. She pulled back slightly, her green eyes engaging his brown for a moment. She didn't ask questions but just nodded, wiped them away with her fingers and went right back to holding him tight. "Thank you for coming back for tonight," she told him softly against the crux of his neck. He could feel her warm breathe against his neck and he felt himself shiver. His eyes drifted closed and he tried to pull himself back together somewhat. She misconstrued the action all together, simply readjusted moving to lay against her pillows bringing her comforter around them.

"You could always go back with me," he said after a long moment of silence, measuring her reaction to determine whether or not it was the stupidest thing he'd ever said or the best. There was plenty of space without his dad up there. She could have her own room. They'd have plenty to eat,all the sunshine, wilderness and distance from the problems they needed. "Just so next time one of us has a bad day we save on mileage on the truck."

"Only if you lose the shoes and jeans - they're uncomfortable," she said turning on her side slightly. He voice was so neutral sounding that it took a moment to process what she was saying. He laughed slightly moving to kick off his shoes and undo his pants. His boxers weren't fashionable but it wasn't like she was really going to pay them that much attention anyways.

"Your parents aren't going to be freaked out by me not leaving, right?" he asked as he crawled back under the warmth of her sheets. "I mean, their natural thought is probably going to be that I took advantage of their gorgeous daughter and that's going to make for an awkward conversation when I ask I can abduct you for a few weeks."

"They trust me," she told him simply, using his chest as her new pillow. He hoped to God she couldn't hear how loud it was going at the moment. He hadn't actually been allowed to stay the night with anyone … well ever. People at Degrassi assumed he'd gotten around because he was a bit of a flirt when he first arrived. He had made out with his fair share of girls if he were honest but it wasn't like that. Even when he'd dated Clare, he'd always had to sneak away. There wasn't a whole lot of just laying there, cuddling with someone ever. He sort of liked it.

"Well then, thanks for saving me from awkwardness with my family," he told her, playing with her hair some more as he let himself get more comfortable. He could tell from the way she smiled, she liked it. Her eyes were already starting to close and he knew he'd lose her soon to sleep. It had been a long day for both of them though and honestly, he was perfectly okay with just falling asleep now. He'd talk to her more tomorrow.

This version of home wasn't so bad.