Life and Love
By Lisa
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the pretext to this fic,
and it's been written for non-profit purposes :) Please R/R -Note: This is
M/J centered :) I dunno how long it'll go for, I'll just keep going I guess
:P hehe
Enjoy!
"I prefer to believe in people." Martha smiled down at the young man, holding his notebook in her hand, her other hand balancing on the bag slung over her shoulder.
"Well I can't have you trustin' me too much. I'm Martha." The man stood to meet her and smiled back, nodding.
"Jonathan," he replied, looking towards his book. "You need any help with it?"
"Uh.no, thanks though, it's fine." Jonathan shrugged. They stood awkwardly opposite each other for some time. "See you tomorrow?" she asked, and for a moment he thought she looked afraid for some reason. He nodded.
"Sure," he replied, watching her as she walked away, his notebook tucked under her arm.
*
Martha didn't go far, choosing a large tree in a nearby park to sit under. She looked at the front of the notebook. 'Jonathan Kent' was written on the inside cover. Notes were scrawled through the front pages, the date of each lecture written neatly along the top line. She looked at the details of the latest lecture, and discovered that he'd picked up on the important bits. She smiled to herself, suddenly finding it hard to imagine there was a whole twenty-four hours before she would see this man, who she hardly knew, again.
*
Jonathan got back to his room before realising that he needed the assignment sheet that was folded and tucked inside his notebook before he could do any of the work. Oh well, he thought, may as well leave it to next time. Martha, since she was in possession of his notes, could show him how to do it. He sat down on his bed, grinning. It was only just sinking in that she had approached him. He'd never noticed her before today. He had seen her glance behind her once or twice during the lecture, but had assumed at first that she'd been looking at someone else. Their eyes caught, however, and after he smiled at her, she turned around. She never looked back at him. He thought about approaching her after the class had ended, but had seen her talking to a group of women immediately afterwards, and decided against it. Before he knew it, there she was, standing in front of him. Jonathan hadn't realised how attractive she really was until she was standing there, the sun framing the light orange hair. He couldn't believe it.
'See you tomorrow?' she'd asked him. Hell yes, he'd felt like replying. I'll see you every day for as long as you want. All he could manage was a 'Sure'.
*
"Martha will you be home for dinner tonight?"
"Sure mum," Martha called as she closed the front door behind her.
"What time?" her mother continued, but was met with silence. She smiled to herself. Martha had come home yesterday, subdued and thoughtful, but there had been a glint in her eye that her mother hadn't seen there before. Thoughts were already scrolling through her mind. He's studying to be a doctor, or a businessman, or a justice official...
*
Jonathan was sitting in the lecture hall, keeping mostly to himself. He checked his watch as the lecturer walked in and greeted a couple of students. He looked around for Martha. She said that she'd be here. Unless she was sick.Unless she was lying- He looked up with a start as someone took the seat next to him, moving just a little too far into his personal space. Martha smiled down at him.
"I didn't see you come in," he managed. She handed him the notebook.
"You were looking." It wasn't a question, but a simple statement. Jonathan felt his cheeks burning, and for a moment was completely speechless. "Sorry I'm late," she continued. He nodded. The lecture had already started. She was still watching him.
"We should, ah, listen," he said. She nodded.
"Yeah," was all she said, turning her head to the front and listening in. Jonathan didn't take his eyes off her for another minute or so, watching as her hair fell to cover his view of his face, as she leant forward, scribbling something down in her own notebook.
*
The lecture finished and everyone packed up their things, the whisperings between students becoming louder conversations as the lecturer left. Jonathan turned to Martha and saw that she was already ready to leave.
"You wanna grab something to eat?" she asked.
"Sure," he replied. She laughed. Jonathan was taken aback momentarily. The sound of her laughing caused his stomach to turn.
"Is that all you say?" she asked.
"No, course not," he replied. "I just." She raised an eyebrow and stood.
"Come on, I know a place."
*
Martha and Jonathan walked across to the park.
"They make the best hotdogs just across here," she was saying as they walked through the gardens, their shoes leaving impressions on the soft lawn. They both ordered and as Martha dived into her bag for her purse, she felt an arm on her hand.
"I'll get it," Jonathan said, handing over a note and some change. Martha took their lunches and they walked over to a bench, sitting next to each other. Jonathan took his hot dog and looked at it curiously. "You sure it's safe?"
"Best in the city," Martha replied. She watched as he took a bite. So cautious, she thought. So cute.
"Mm, nice!" Jonathan exclaimed, and he wasn't just saying it. He devoured the food before she'd gone half way.
"You know, no one's ever bought me lunch before," she stated, looking over at him.
"Can't imagine why not," Jonathan replied.
"You're not from around here are you?" He shook his head.
"Narr, Smallville. Some way out-" She nodded.
"I've heard of it. You live there?"
"Born and bred. You?"
"I live across town. Where are you staying?"
"One of the boarding houses-" He drifted off, pausing. "Did ya go okay with the notes?" She nodded, smiling.
"Yes, thankyou." She didn't tell him that she hadn't even read the notes, staring instead at every loop in his handwriting, imagining his fingers guiding the pen over the page with skill and ease. "What brings you to college?" Jonathan took a deep breath.
"Dad's not too healthy at the moment. I'm gonna have to take over and I wanna make sure I know what I'm getting into. So I'm able to manage it myself, you know?" Martha nodded.
"You have a farm?"
"Yeah."
"Get many tornadoes?"
"Sometimes, depends on the weather. You ever been there?"
"No, I've never been out that far."
"Ever?" She shook her head. He fell into silence. That'll change, he was thinking. She was smiling at him again, he noticed, glancing over at her. "What?" he asked. She shook her head, turning back and glancing at her jeans. He laughed. She looked back up him suddenly and the intensity in her eyes shocked him. "What?" he asked again.
"Do you wanna go out with me sometime?" she asked. He hesitated. He never thought a woman could do that, just come out and ask something like that- Jonathan realised that he hesitated for too long, because she tore her eyes off him and looked back down, laughing in an effort to protect herself. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I guess I'm not used to asking-" She stopped as he let a hand rest on her cheek, pulling her face back to him. "-anyone out," she finished softly.
"You do that often?" he asked. She shook her head, his hand still resting along her cheek, his thumb running along her jaw.
"Never," she whispered, as he leant in. Their lips brushed together, and Jonathan inhaled the strong scent of her lipgloss before he tasted it.
"Mm, fruity," he whispered as they pulled back from each other. She laughed, a hand touching her lips at reflex.
"You never answered my question." Jonathan took her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers and squeezing. He couldn't believe what this woman was doing to him. So quickly. He was already falling for her.
"Of course I'll take you out sometime," he replied, leaning in to kiss her again. This time it lasted longer, his hands settling around her waist, pulling her closer to him, while she ran her fingers along the back of his neck. Martha had noticed the way he'd replied. *He* would take *her* out sometime. She wanted this man forever.
Fear gripped her suddenly and she pulled back. Jonathan took her hand, sensing something was wrong.
"Martha?" he asked. She was breathing deeply and looking away. Eventually she turned to see him, and he noticed the tears building up in her eyes. "What is it?" he asked. She watched him carefully.
"This is, uh..." she lost her words, and watched as he grinned.
"I know," he replied, hugging her to him. "Let's take a walk."
*
"Where are we going?" Martha asked, taking Jonathan's hand as it left her waist. He smiled down at her.
"I'm going to get a jacket from my room for ya, cos it'll get cooler tonight." "For me?" Martha asked. He nodded.
"Yeah, why not? Come on up." She followed him up to his room. "Sorry 'bout the mess." "No, it's okay-" She stopped as she saw another young woman standing in front of what she was assuming was Jonathan's door.
"Nell-" he started as Martha came right up behind him. Martha glanced the woman over. About her age, give or take a few years. Long, brown hair, and the most stunning, glowing eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Your father's in the hospital here," she stated. "He was rushed here at lunch. They think he had a heart attack." Her eyes welled up. "I'm sorry Jonathan-"
"Is he okay?"
"I don't know. I came looking for you."
"I-I was in a lecture-"
"That ended two hours ago. I checked." Nell reached out and took his hand. "Come on, I'll take you to him." He nodded, frozen, and was halfway back down the hallway before he remembered Martha. He turned, a look of helplessness in his eyes.
*
Martha looked around the hospital, before she found the right ward and asked after Mr Kent. She found the hallway, and stopped as she saw Jonathan and Nell hugging tightly, both of them, it appeared, were crying. She held in her own tears as she saw the woman kiss him lightly on the lips, before holding onto him once again. She turned and walked away. She had to get as far away as she could. It was obvious that this woman and Jonathan were together. Who had she been kidding? He was too good to be true!
Jonathan looked up in time to see a familiar figure turn and leave in a hurry. A familiar figure, he repeated to himself. He'd only spoken to this woman a few hours, seen her a few days. And yet she was as familiar to him as if they had known each other for years. He had to see her again. Nell realised that he'd backed off and gave him some space.
"Jonathan, you okay?" She held his hands tightly between them and he realised that she wasn't going to let him go away. A part of him didn't want to go away. His father had just died. He needed to be here.
An hour later Nell and Jonathan arrived back at his room, after Jonathan had filled in the appropriate paperwork. He got them a drink and they sat down.
"Thanks for coming," he mumbled, resisting the urge to turn on the small television set.
"No worries, really," she replied sincerely. There was a pause. "Jonathan, I know this is a bad time, and I don't want to cause another problem, but-"
"Her name's Martha," he replied, knowing her question without her having to ask.
"Oh," Nell replied. "She's pretty."
"Mm," he grumbled. "I leant her my notes."
"Is that all?" He looked over at her, and was already suffering so much pain at the loss of his father that he couldn't hide all else that he felt.
"I don't know," he replied honestly. "This is all...too much."
"Of course. Listen," she stood. "I have to go back, but you've got to pull it together, Jon. You have to get back to that farm and look after the place." He nodded quietly as she left, but not before kissing him gently on the cheek.
"I prefer to believe in people." Martha smiled down at the young man, holding his notebook in her hand, her other hand balancing on the bag slung over her shoulder.
"Well I can't have you trustin' me too much. I'm Martha." The man stood to meet her and smiled back, nodding.
"Jonathan," he replied, looking towards his book. "You need any help with it?"
"Uh.no, thanks though, it's fine." Jonathan shrugged. They stood awkwardly opposite each other for some time. "See you tomorrow?" she asked, and for a moment he thought she looked afraid for some reason. He nodded.
"Sure," he replied, watching her as she walked away, his notebook tucked under her arm.
*
Martha didn't go far, choosing a large tree in a nearby park to sit under. She looked at the front of the notebook. 'Jonathan Kent' was written on the inside cover. Notes were scrawled through the front pages, the date of each lecture written neatly along the top line. She looked at the details of the latest lecture, and discovered that he'd picked up on the important bits. She smiled to herself, suddenly finding it hard to imagine there was a whole twenty-four hours before she would see this man, who she hardly knew, again.
*
Jonathan got back to his room before realising that he needed the assignment sheet that was folded and tucked inside his notebook before he could do any of the work. Oh well, he thought, may as well leave it to next time. Martha, since she was in possession of his notes, could show him how to do it. He sat down on his bed, grinning. It was only just sinking in that she had approached him. He'd never noticed her before today. He had seen her glance behind her once or twice during the lecture, but had assumed at first that she'd been looking at someone else. Their eyes caught, however, and after he smiled at her, she turned around. She never looked back at him. He thought about approaching her after the class had ended, but had seen her talking to a group of women immediately afterwards, and decided against it. Before he knew it, there she was, standing in front of him. Jonathan hadn't realised how attractive she really was until she was standing there, the sun framing the light orange hair. He couldn't believe it.
'See you tomorrow?' she'd asked him. Hell yes, he'd felt like replying. I'll see you every day for as long as you want. All he could manage was a 'Sure'.
*
"Martha will you be home for dinner tonight?"
"Sure mum," Martha called as she closed the front door behind her.
"What time?" her mother continued, but was met with silence. She smiled to herself. Martha had come home yesterday, subdued and thoughtful, but there had been a glint in her eye that her mother hadn't seen there before. Thoughts were already scrolling through her mind. He's studying to be a doctor, or a businessman, or a justice official...
*
Jonathan was sitting in the lecture hall, keeping mostly to himself. He checked his watch as the lecturer walked in and greeted a couple of students. He looked around for Martha. She said that she'd be here. Unless she was sick.Unless she was lying- He looked up with a start as someone took the seat next to him, moving just a little too far into his personal space. Martha smiled down at him.
"I didn't see you come in," he managed. She handed him the notebook.
"You were looking." It wasn't a question, but a simple statement. Jonathan felt his cheeks burning, and for a moment was completely speechless. "Sorry I'm late," she continued. He nodded. The lecture had already started. She was still watching him.
"We should, ah, listen," he said. She nodded.
"Yeah," was all she said, turning her head to the front and listening in. Jonathan didn't take his eyes off her for another minute or so, watching as her hair fell to cover his view of his face, as she leant forward, scribbling something down in her own notebook.
*
The lecture finished and everyone packed up their things, the whisperings between students becoming louder conversations as the lecturer left. Jonathan turned to Martha and saw that she was already ready to leave.
"You wanna grab something to eat?" she asked.
"Sure," he replied. She laughed. Jonathan was taken aback momentarily. The sound of her laughing caused his stomach to turn.
"Is that all you say?" she asked.
"No, course not," he replied. "I just." She raised an eyebrow and stood.
"Come on, I know a place."
*
Martha and Jonathan walked across to the park.
"They make the best hotdogs just across here," she was saying as they walked through the gardens, their shoes leaving impressions on the soft lawn. They both ordered and as Martha dived into her bag for her purse, she felt an arm on her hand.
"I'll get it," Jonathan said, handing over a note and some change. Martha took their lunches and they walked over to a bench, sitting next to each other. Jonathan took his hot dog and looked at it curiously. "You sure it's safe?"
"Best in the city," Martha replied. She watched as he took a bite. So cautious, she thought. So cute.
"Mm, nice!" Jonathan exclaimed, and he wasn't just saying it. He devoured the food before she'd gone half way.
"You know, no one's ever bought me lunch before," she stated, looking over at him.
"Can't imagine why not," Jonathan replied.
"You're not from around here are you?" He shook his head.
"Narr, Smallville. Some way out-" She nodded.
"I've heard of it. You live there?"
"Born and bred. You?"
"I live across town. Where are you staying?"
"One of the boarding houses-" He drifted off, pausing. "Did ya go okay with the notes?" She nodded, smiling.
"Yes, thankyou." She didn't tell him that she hadn't even read the notes, staring instead at every loop in his handwriting, imagining his fingers guiding the pen over the page with skill and ease. "What brings you to college?" Jonathan took a deep breath.
"Dad's not too healthy at the moment. I'm gonna have to take over and I wanna make sure I know what I'm getting into. So I'm able to manage it myself, you know?" Martha nodded.
"You have a farm?"
"Yeah."
"Get many tornadoes?"
"Sometimes, depends on the weather. You ever been there?"
"No, I've never been out that far."
"Ever?" She shook her head. He fell into silence. That'll change, he was thinking. She was smiling at him again, he noticed, glancing over at her. "What?" he asked. She shook her head, turning back and glancing at her jeans. He laughed. She looked back up him suddenly and the intensity in her eyes shocked him. "What?" he asked again.
"Do you wanna go out with me sometime?" she asked. He hesitated. He never thought a woman could do that, just come out and ask something like that- Jonathan realised that he hesitated for too long, because she tore her eyes off him and looked back down, laughing in an effort to protect herself. "Sorry," she mumbled. "I guess I'm not used to asking-" She stopped as he let a hand rest on her cheek, pulling her face back to him. "-anyone out," she finished softly.
"You do that often?" he asked. She shook her head, his hand still resting along her cheek, his thumb running along her jaw.
"Never," she whispered, as he leant in. Their lips brushed together, and Jonathan inhaled the strong scent of her lipgloss before he tasted it.
"Mm, fruity," he whispered as they pulled back from each other. She laughed, a hand touching her lips at reflex.
"You never answered my question." Jonathan took her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers and squeezing. He couldn't believe what this woman was doing to him. So quickly. He was already falling for her.
"Of course I'll take you out sometime," he replied, leaning in to kiss her again. This time it lasted longer, his hands settling around her waist, pulling her closer to him, while she ran her fingers along the back of his neck. Martha had noticed the way he'd replied. *He* would take *her* out sometime. She wanted this man forever.
Fear gripped her suddenly and she pulled back. Jonathan took her hand, sensing something was wrong.
"Martha?" he asked. She was breathing deeply and looking away. Eventually she turned to see him, and he noticed the tears building up in her eyes. "What is it?" he asked. She watched him carefully.
"This is, uh..." she lost her words, and watched as he grinned.
"I know," he replied, hugging her to him. "Let's take a walk."
*
"Where are we going?" Martha asked, taking Jonathan's hand as it left her waist. He smiled down at her.
"I'm going to get a jacket from my room for ya, cos it'll get cooler tonight." "For me?" Martha asked. He nodded.
"Yeah, why not? Come on up." She followed him up to his room. "Sorry 'bout the mess." "No, it's okay-" She stopped as she saw another young woman standing in front of what she was assuming was Jonathan's door.
"Nell-" he started as Martha came right up behind him. Martha glanced the woman over. About her age, give or take a few years. Long, brown hair, and the most stunning, glowing eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Your father's in the hospital here," she stated. "He was rushed here at lunch. They think he had a heart attack." Her eyes welled up. "I'm sorry Jonathan-"
"Is he okay?"
"I don't know. I came looking for you."
"I-I was in a lecture-"
"That ended two hours ago. I checked." Nell reached out and took his hand. "Come on, I'll take you to him." He nodded, frozen, and was halfway back down the hallway before he remembered Martha. He turned, a look of helplessness in his eyes.
*
Martha looked around the hospital, before she found the right ward and asked after Mr Kent. She found the hallway, and stopped as she saw Jonathan and Nell hugging tightly, both of them, it appeared, were crying. She held in her own tears as she saw the woman kiss him lightly on the lips, before holding onto him once again. She turned and walked away. She had to get as far away as she could. It was obvious that this woman and Jonathan were together. Who had she been kidding? He was too good to be true!
Jonathan looked up in time to see a familiar figure turn and leave in a hurry. A familiar figure, he repeated to himself. He'd only spoken to this woman a few hours, seen her a few days. And yet she was as familiar to him as if they had known each other for years. He had to see her again. Nell realised that he'd backed off and gave him some space.
"Jonathan, you okay?" She held his hands tightly between them and he realised that she wasn't going to let him go away. A part of him didn't want to go away. His father had just died. He needed to be here.
An hour later Nell and Jonathan arrived back at his room, after Jonathan had filled in the appropriate paperwork. He got them a drink and they sat down.
"Thanks for coming," he mumbled, resisting the urge to turn on the small television set.
"No worries, really," she replied sincerely. There was a pause. "Jonathan, I know this is a bad time, and I don't want to cause another problem, but-"
"Her name's Martha," he replied, knowing her question without her having to ask.
"Oh," Nell replied. "She's pretty."
"Mm," he grumbled. "I leant her my notes."
"Is that all?" He looked over at her, and was already suffering so much pain at the loss of his father that he couldn't hide all else that he felt.
"I don't know," he replied honestly. "This is all...too much."
"Of course. Listen," she stood. "I have to go back, but you've got to pull it together, Jon. You have to get back to that farm and look after the place." He nodded quietly as she left, but not before kissing him gently on the cheek.