Coming Home
Disclaimer: All Home and Away characters are property of the Seven Network.
Part Two
Okay, just breathe. You can do this Martha; you can go on three dates with the most annoying guy in the world. You just have to remember that bride. The month's worth of house cleaning. Focus, and ignore, ignore, ignore any remarks that Jack Holden may happen to make. No matter how… amazingly sexy he may look, I thought as my eyes caught his, and they glimmered a little as they swept over me.
'No. Stay strong. Do not give into his charms, that you've seen him flaunt every other weekend', I said to myself while I rolled my eyes and watched him prey on another innocent girl.
'Because there really isn't an ounce of jealously in your body. And when someone says "Jealous much?" you roll your eyes, don't you? Because that would be fiction, and not fact.'
"I see you finally gave into my charms." Jack commented, as he approached my side.
Funnily enough, that same eye roll appeared immediately after the words had left his mouth.
"Nup, just going to drink till you're cute." I retorted, taking his hand off my elbow and strutting ahead of him. "And I'll be passed out long before we get there." I said, smirking, as Jack grabbed at his heart, and said "Ouch" sarcastically.
"Hey, let's not kid ourselves," I said, as he tried to keep up with me. "You and I both know why I'm doing this."
"Because I'm great in bed and you so want that opportunity!" Jack said suggestively, as he pulled me close and began to move seductively against my body.
"AS IF!" I replied, shoving him away as I groaned. "It's because I hate laundry. And I want to prove people wrong once and for all."
"Wrong about what?" He replied, wiggling his eyebrows at me as he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the club.
"Wrong about us." I yelled, yanking my hand out of his grip and ignoring the tingles that were left from where his hand had briefly held my own.
-
"Okay, date one is officially over." I snapped at Jack as I walked briskly out of the club.
"But why?" He whined next to me.
"I don't know, maybe because you made out with some random while I was RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!" I screamed in his face, but he just stood back smirking at me.
"What?" I asked, exasperated.
"Oh, nothing." He said, as he continued to smirk at me.
"You are trying my patience." I said, as he scoffed a little, attempting to turn it into a cough.
"What?" I growled at him.
"Firstly, you aren't the most patient person in the world…" He began, as I snarled "Not helping your cause Holden."
"Point proven" He continued, undeterred. "Secondly, you wouldn't care about the girl if…" He paused, and I could feel my face turn red with anger.
"If… what…" I said slowly.
"If you didn't like me." He replied, doing a little dance.
I glared at him as I spun on my heels and stormed off into the dark night.
I did not, under any circumstances, like Jack Holden.
-
Date two. His choice. Why I ever trusted Jack Holden to make a choice about a date, I'll never know. But he messaged me saying he had this "Really great idea."
Who was I to say no? Even though I really hate the fact that I'm still even going through with this. Because I didn't like the boy… man… whatever he was. He riled me up, annoyed me to the extreme, and knew how to push all the wrong buttons. Not the right ones… the so far from right it wasn't funny ones. He knew exactly how to make me scream in anger and frustration, and want to hit a brick wall.
"Glad thee could join me sweet Maiden." I thought Jack's voice said from behind me… but no… Jack, isn't that clever. Nor can he speak that sweetly. But, much to my horror, I spun on my heels to find Jack grinning at me, dressed in some kind of medieval ensemble, complete with sword and tights.
As soon as my eyes scanned downwards, I immediately regretted it, as I felt my face begin to heat up.
"See something you like, Mackenzie?" He smirked as he walked over to me, handing me a dress bag, which obviously contained my costume.
"Yeah." I replied "That cow. Think it will date me?"
"Not on you're life." He replied, thrusting the bag towards me. "Hurry up, we're going to miss the main event."
"What's that? Everyone dropping dead from the plague?" I said snarkily at him, as he just glared before pointing towards the change rooms.
-
"How did they walk around with this much clothing on, and still manage to feel attractive?" I complained, to myself more than him, but he still smiled at me all the same.
"Feeling a little self conscious?" He said, moving closer to me, and whispering in my ear "Don't worry, you look gorgeous."
I felt the heat rise to my face, and knew I needed to say something… otherwise, well, there was a clear possibility that I'd be falling for his charms soon enough. And I could just not have that.
"Oh my god." I squealed, pushing past a disappointed Jack and walking towards the sword-fighting arena. "They have fairy floss here." I said, taking out my wallet and buying my own bag.
"And yet you fail to notice to display of pure masculinity right next door." Jack said, shaking his head in vain.
"Fairy floss or guys bashing one another with a sword…" I said, weighing up the options. "Nah, this little pink piece of heaven wins every time." I finished, popping a piece into my mouth, as Jack snatched a handful.
"Hey! You greedy little…" I said, taking a step closer to him.
"You're date, you pay." He smirked at me, as he pulled his sword out and walked towards the arena.
"Where are you going?" I asked, trying to mask my fear.
"To fight. I'm going to show you what a real man looks like in the ring." He said, "Wanna come be my damsel in distress?" He asked, taking my hand once more and pulling me with him.
"Yeah, distressed about spending so much time with you." I muttered, and Jack pretended not to hear.
This was not good.
-
"THAT STINGS" He cried aloud, as I placed the ice tenderly on his bruised eye.
"Some display of masculinity." I said, laughing at the face he was pulling, attempting to mask the pain he was feeling.
"Do you think I knew he was going to bash me like that? It's supposed to be fake fighting!" He cried, as the ice fell from his eye.
"Oh, so you were going to pretend to be a man?" I said, smirking at him "I guess that comes second nature to you." I laughed, as he pouted.
"Gee Mackenzie, you're sympathy for me is really touching." He said sarcastically "Besides, I'm a man." He muttered as an afterthought, causing me to laugh a little.
"You're just a big sook." I said softly to him, as I attempted to gently put the ice on his eye again.
"And are guys not allowed to be sensitive?" He asked, as he looked at me with that lustful gaze, and I knew that if I didn't have the strength to break this eye contact, I'd never be able to again.
"Nah, I like them rough and tough." I joked finally, turning away from him quickly, pretending not to notice his crestfallen expression.
"One more to go." I said softly to myself, as I heard him move behind me.
"You're right to get home?" He asked coldly, abruptly, unwilling to meet my eyes.
"Yeah." I sighed softly, looking away from his hurt expression as he stormed off.
What had I done? And what had I just realised?