Mark looked over at the bride. He didn't even know why he was here. He guessed he just wanted to see if he had feelings for Justine after all these years, but all he felt was relief that she had dumped him. He remembered her words so long ago.
"Mark your really good in bed and I like you, but socially I'm looking for something different."
Mark snorted he was lucky he had got away from her. Looks like she finally got the kind of man she wanted. A wealthy man of great social standing. Mark looked over and seen Hannah sitting under a tree holding a baby and smiling. He grinned as he remembered the last time he seen her three years ago, she had dumped a pitcher of tea all over him, but that was Hannah, as long as he had known her she was a klutz, always tripping or falling or spilling something. But she was very sweet, if not the shyest girl he had ever met. She had followed him around starry eyed the whole year he had dated Justine. She must have been about 12. He remembered every time he spoke to her she would stutter. Justine had made fun of her cruelly because of the crush she had on Mark telling her she was too ugly for Mark.
Mark had jumped on Justine for being cruel, but Justine had just laughed. He remembered her dad's cruel words to her at the barbecue three years ago. Her family treated her like crap. He studied her intently playing with the baby. She hadn't changed much, she still had long brown hair, but she had grown up and had a very appealing shapely figure, the kind Mark preferred these days. He was sick of women who looked like they were starving themselves to death. He wondered if he should go speak to her.
Trelassy poked Hannah.
"Look who's checking you out." Trelassy said.
Hannah looked up to meet Mark's steady gaze across the lawn. Her mouth went dry and she blushed and ducked her head.
"Girl go talk to him." Trelassy said taking Robert.
"No." Hannah hissed.
"Listen I got this book called 100 ways to win the man of your dreams, it's in my car, it works, how do you think I landed Pete?" Trelassy said.
Hannah looked up.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yep, I know you like him, well this will help you get him, what do you say, I'll go get the book and you can look it over tonight, but in the mean time, show some backbone girl, go talk to the man." Trelassy said standing up.
"Well okay, I guess it can't hurt just to say hello." Hannah said standing up.
"That's the spirit, now go on; I'll be back with the book in a few." Trelassy said.
Hannah took a deep breath and started toward Mark. He had turned back to watch the couples dancing.
Hannah had made it almost to his side when she tripped, on what she didn't know, But she went flying toward the ground. She closed her eyes and got ready to slam into the ground when she felt something cushion the fall. She felt hard strong arms wrapped around her.
She slowly opened her eyes and found her self staring into amused Green eyes. Hannah blushed in embarrassment. She couldn't believe she had just made a fool of herself once again.
Mark sensed her embarrassment and tried to ease it.
"It's nice to see you again little girl." Mark said smiling while he still held her in his arms.
Hannah peeked up at him, he didn't look annoyed with her in fact he was smiling. She figured she should be polite.
"IIIt's nnnnice to sssee you MMMMark." Hannah stuttered and turned red in embarrassment. God she was a loser.
Mark glanced down at her lowered head. Poor little girl growing up in Justine shadow had really taken a toll on her.
"You look very pretty today." Mark said
Yea right Hannah thought. But just him saying it brought a flush of pleasure to her cheeks.
"You think ya can stand now?" Mark asked with his arms still around her.
Hannah was mortified, her she was just laying in his arms like he didn't have a thing better to do than let her lay on him.
"IIII"m ssssorrry ." Hannah said and pulled away from him.
Mark caught her arm.
"Hey I don't ever mind catching a pretty lady." Mark said grinning.
Hannah looked up at him and smiled, he was sweet even if he was a liar.
"Now that's better." Mark said brushing a stray hair back from her face.
Hannah's breath caught as his finger skimmed her cheek. It was like electricity shooting through her.
Mark bent and picked up her glasses where they had fallen to the ground.
"Here let's put these back on so ya can see where yer going." Mark said and slid them on her face.
"Thank you." She managed with out stuttering.
"Hannah I see you're at it again, terrorizing Mark every time he comes here." A shrill voice said.
Mark turned and seen Justine standing there. She was beautiful as always.
"You'll have Mark scared to come here." Justine said laughing.
Hannah blushed and turned to leave.
"She still has that little crush I think." Justine said.
"Justine shut up." Mark said.
Why had he ever dated her, must have been hormones, he thought.
Mark turned to stop Hannah from leaving only to see she had already disappeared.
He turned back to Justine.
"How can ya be like that to yer own sister?" Mark asked angrily.
"Oh Mark face it she's a loser, always has been always will be, why give her false hope, you like women like me, not some shy backwards book worm." Justine said smirking.
"Yea well my taste has improved in the last 12 years, thank god." Mark snapped and turned and left.
He was home for good, he would see Hannah again, looked like she could use a friend around here. He decided he would try to befriend her. He knew a few nice guys maybe he could set her up, build up her confidence, lord knows she needed it with a family like this.
