Dislcaimer: All characters are property of the seven network.



Summer Secret

-Part 3-

She sat down on the edge, twisting her hair dry. "Why the hell did you do that?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"Well, you were going to get me beaten up! I had to do something." Jack explained. Martha smiled; she could see the funny side of it.
"Look out! The man's back!" She exclaimed, pointing behind him.
"What?" Jack asked, spinning around. Martha jumped in the water and onto his back. She laughed as she dunked him under.
"I can't believe you fell for that." She shouted through the water. As soon as she'd stopped pushing downwards, Jack came crashing up. He laughed as he picked her up, dragging her to the deeper end in his arms.

She pulled the door open and left it swaying, allowing Jack to enter freely. "I'll just be one minute." She said, racing into the bathroom. Jack strolled in the apartment. After half an hour of playing in the pool, they both agreed to get changed and then head back downstairs. Martha of course needed more time to get ready, so they arranged for Jack to stop by on his way downstairs.
"Are you sure you're okay about leaving your party?" Martha asked, walking out of the bathroom.
"Yea. They probably haven't even noticed I've left." Jack laughed. Martha and Jack stopped as they listened to a roar of cheer from the Stag's party outside.
"I think they've noticed." Martha smiled cheekily. Jack looked up to respond but was taken aback by her beauty. She was wearing a flowing skirt, pale singlet and flip-flops. She also had her damp hair down, making her look even more stunning. "What?" Martha asked, staring at Jack. Jack snapped out of his daydream.
"Oh…er…nothing." Jack lied, standing up and walking towards the door. Martha shrugged and followed him, closing the door behind her.

Martha and Jack sat outside, the summer sky now fading, the outdoor lights compensated for the lack of sunlight. Martha followed Jack to a table near a lamp.
"You look great." Jack complimented, unable to hold it in. Martha blushed.
"Thanks. Some idiot pulled me in a pool so I had to get changed into the only other outfit I had." Martha smiled. Jack laughed.
"Idiot.." He joked. "Well, it's a nice outfit." Jack grinned.
"Thanks. Me and my friend were supposed to be going out, hence the skirt." She told him. Jack suddenly stood up.
"Well, why don't we?" He proposed.
"Why don't we what?" Martha asked, confused.
"Go out! Come on!" He smiled, grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the hotel.

"Holden!" Craig shouted running after them. Jack spun around, remembering about the Stag party he'd run away from. Martha signalled that she'd continue to walk outside and wait for him there.
"You don't mind if I go out for a while with Martha do you?" Jack asked. Craig chuckled.
"No, not at all." He smiled. "I just wanted to wish you luck." He winked. Jack laughed as he walked off. "Have fun!" Craig shouted after Jack playfully.

A few hours later a drunk Jack and Martha were walking along a busy road in Sydney. It was overpopulated with bars and clubs, yet it still looked beautiful. The summer sun had faded, replaced by a beautiful dark sky. Martha gazed up to the stars.
"Aren't they pretty?" She asked.
"Just like you." He smiled. Martha looked up at him.
"That's just cheesey. Next you'll compliment my eyes…" She teased, flickering her eyelids.
"You can't blame me for trying." Jack laughed. Martha began to walk, but tripped over her feet and stumbled into Jack. Jack's balance was also off thanks to the drinks he'd had, and they fell crashing into a wall.
"Whoops." Martha whispered as they both laughed. Jack slowly pulled himself up, and then dragged Martha to her feet. "Whoa!" She squealed, nearly falling backwards. Jack grabbed her shoulders, holding her up the best he could. They were a few inches apart now, and could feel the attraction. He stared into her eyes, and his face neared hers. Martha suddenly began to laugh. "Sorry. I can't take you seriously with that on your face." Jack lifted his hand up and rubbed his cheek where the pink temporary tattoo sat. He chuckled.
"Why'd you dare me to put such a stupid thing on? I bet I look queer with it on my cheek." Jack exclaimed.
"You look pretty." Martha teased. "Anyway, it's very cool… I've always wanted a fairy tattoo right there." She said, roughly poking her hip.
"Well what's stopping you?" Jack asked. Martha shrugged.
"Granddad will kill me. 'If you ever touch guns, drugs, tattoos or get in to trouble with the police, I'll flamin' kill ya.'" She mocked in a low tone voice.
"Well, I dare you to get one." Jack smiled, gesturing to the building behind her. Martha turned slowly to find the blinding neon light illuminating her face. It read: 'Tatuus, Peersings & Stooff.' She spun back around to Jack.
"Hell no." She replied. Jack smiled.
"So you're a chicken then hey? You're giving up and making me the champ?" He cheered excitedly, beginning to dance. Martha looked at him. 'I can't let him win.'
"Don't start your victory dance yet fairy boy; I'm going in." She said, putting on a brave smile. She took a deep breath and walked into the shop, approaching the heavily tattooed man in leather.

"You sure you want to do this?" Jack asked worriedly. He hadn't expected Martha to take it this far; to see her lying on the chair waiting for the needle wasn't something he thought he'd see.
"Yup." Martha said bravely, trying to act calm.
"This is stupid Martha, you don't have to do this!" He said.
"Yes I do." She replied. Jack shuddered as the man brought out the large needle. He spun around and made a dash for the door.
"I'm… just going to go to the shop." Jack said, stumbling out the door. This cheered Martha up slightly; Jack was afraid of needles. She'd have to tease him about this later.

-

"Aarggh! No! No! No!" She screamed "I don't want it anymore. I'll pay for the needle, just please, don't give me a tattoo!" She begged. The bald man sighed, angrily snapping off his rubber gloves and throwing them aside. Martha looked down at her naked hip, gazing at the black imprint that she was now scarred with. 'It could have been a lot worse', she thought as he placed a dressing over the top. After he'd finished Martha slowly stood up and walked towards the street. She could see Jack's figure through a shop window. She was blocked from exiting however, by two men dressed in blue.
"Hang on there." One said, holding her by the arm. The other cop ran through the shop and into the staff room. Seconds later he returned with the tattoo artist and a bag of white powder.
"Look what we have here." The second cop said, swinging it in front of the angry tattoo artist's face. Martha watched as he was dragged into one of the cop cars, shocked. She began to step away when the first officer held on tighter.
"You're coming down the station young lady." He said.
"What do you mean? I've done nothing wrong! I didn't know about the drugs! I just came for a tattoo!" She exclaimed, but the police officer didn't believe her, so he persisted in guiding her to the police station.

-

Jack strolled over to the dark, empty shop. He read the timetable that was stuck onto the door.
"She must have been his last customer." Jack thought, stumbling off into the darkness.

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