Remember this Place? ((Mack))

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack meandered around Hogsmeade, not having a particular destination. Amazing how he had been interested in random things in a shop just a few weeks ago. Ever since Haille had come to his home, he was darker. I mean, who couldn't be with that little freak running around the house? At the beginning, Jack thought she would soon tire of her antics, but she didn't. In fact, she got worse. She begged for attention and did all sorts of things to grasp it. She was such an idiot, such a fool. Father would soon grow bored with her too, just like Jack turned an annoyed face whenever she said something to him. He voice was rather high pitched sometimes, and each time she said "Jack this, Jack that," it seemed like she was screaming something, echoing in his brain. No, Haille was NOT a part of the Rendel name, nor would she ever be. Father just had to get bored, as he surely would! He had to.

Hogsmeade wasn't very busy today. Christmas was over, the excitement was gone, and the crowds decided Hogsmeade was somewhat losing its fun. Even Jack didn't feel much for the small village anymore. In his third year, he had fallen in love with it, and visited it as many times as he possibly could. That said, he often met new people, often no one of recognition, but still, many names started to show a face, and he began to remember who and what people where, instead of just guessing. Jack found that memorizing the names of purebloods and mudbloods enjoyable until he realized it was just stupid. A complete waste of time, and anyway, he could decide for himself who was worthy by meeting them, not by hearing their name. Jack was shaken out of his thoughts when someone ran into him. The person was a younger kid (only could be a third year) and appeared to be in a hurry. He stepped back with an embarrassed grimace. "Watch where you're going." Jack scowled so darkly that the kid looked away, abashed. "I was... I only..." "As much as I'd like to hear you ponder over what word to use, I don't have much time to translate a half-wits half-thoughts." Moments later the kid was walking away, and Jack was glad to see that his gait was much slower the before. Amazing how cruelty can have an effect on people.

The Shrieking Shack. Something about the place drew Jack to it, and it was certainly not the looks. The name served a purpose as it was a run-down shack. Jack did not only know this from his eyes, but from experience. A smile suddenly appeared on his lips, and it stuck on. With a sigh, he leaned against the fence, butterbeer in hand. (Always had to have a warm drink in this weather.) Too bad the old thing was too rickety though - not very comfortable, in other words. After a terrible creaking, Jack straightened up, afraid that it would collapse with his weight on it. Looking back at the building, his thoughts wondered elsewhere. Closing his eyes, Jack let the soft breeze play with his bangs. Just enjoying. The fact that it was winter didn't seem to bother him much. Today wasn't one of the cold days. In fact, it was warmer. And Jack liked it that way. Lost in his own thoughts, Jack didn't hear a person approach behind him.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Worthless? Worthless?! WORTHLESS?! Mack's teeth ground as she read the article over again. Worthless, eh? I'll show her worthless! Her fingers curled into a tight ball and she crumpled the piece of paper up into her palm. Then, without warning, she launched the piece of paper across the room toward her older sister. It hit Dixie square in the middle of her head and then fell to the floor with a 'swish!' Dixie turned on her heel and sent a glare toward Mack, a deathly glare. Being locked up in the same room for the past two days was bad, but this was just far worse. They were in Hogsmeade staying at the Inn for their mother's wedding. Their mother's wedding to Hank Bradshaw - why was she still getting married to him? They weren't sure, but nonetheless here they were.

And to top it off, Dixie had volunteered to right an article for the nearby newspaper thing and she wrote it on purity of blood, "Mudbloods and Mutts" it read. How original. In it was a very unflattering reference to Mack and she had just finished reading the article upon request of Trevor, who she was still thoroughly mad at. How could he lie to her about such a thing? No matter. Right now her anger was toward her sister, her one and only sister, "Now, now Mack, I took a lot of time writing that. You needn't go throwing it about. It doesn't deserve to be on the floor, unlike some..." Mack's anger was seething. Who did she think she was...!? She started to lunge at the older girl but there was a sudden movement of the door and Trevor was standing there, in his tux - looking slicker than usual.

"When you two cows are done arguing over shoes, they are ready for you in hair and make-up." He said smoothly before turning on his heel and walking out. Mack and Dixie took off their shoes in unison and launched them at Trevor, hearing the crash of a vase and the shriek of one hitting him - they ran to the door to see which one it was. Trevor stood rubbing the back of his head and holding a white pump. Mack grinned and picked up her light green dress, making her way over to him, she plucked the shoe out of his hand and walked back into the room. She slipped her shoe back on and then walked down the corridor to the next room where everyone was waiting for her and Dixie. She sat down and looked at her reflection.

Mack couldn't remember what her natural hair colour was anymore. She knew it was a shade of blonde, but what shade? She had dyed it a red colour and now she was forced to dye it back to blonde for the wedding. It didn't look to bad actually. It looked nearly natural. It fell down in golden locks and it was whiter than it had been before. Some lady came up and jabbed her fingers into Mack's hair, massaging her scalp and then pulling out a comb and some clips. Great. Sitting in an uncomfortable chair for three hours just so she could get her hair up in some weird formal style. Mack put her headphones in her ears and turned the music on, letting her spirit soar.

Hours later she opened her eyes to see an updo that looked semi formal but messy. She had two tendrils framing her face and her bangs were puffed slightly above her crystal blue eyes. It was pulled back into a very high pony-tail curled and then had glitter gem stones placed in it. She liked it, actually. Next was make-up. She did as she was instructed and when she looked in the mirror she looked completely different. She had green eyeshadow on her eyelids, and a light eyeliner underneath. A little bit of blusher and some lippy. But she didn't look all that bad. Mack stood up and walked out of the room, heading back to the main room when she heard two voices. She recognized them instantly. Dixie and Trevor. She leaned further toward the voices and caught her breath. No. That...bastard!

She picked up the silky green clothing in her hands and made her way to the coat closet, pulling out her black suede one and then ran out. Her feet carried her past everyone to a familiar place. She didn't even think about it being occupied. Her heels clicked on the cobblestones as she made her way to the Shrieking Shack. Anger was pouring out of her. She was seething with rage. Wait. There was someone up there. Mack made her way up the hill and stopped as she realized who it was. Jack. She stood there for a moment, and then took a step or two forward when he didn't acknowledge her presence. Then she spoke; "A sight for sore eyes, eh?"

[Jack Rendel S5]

Reminiscing. That was the word that described Jack at the moment. Father always said reminiscing was for women. To Father, women was just a problem, and he didn't think much of them except to be his house working slave. Even Tessa had been kept on a tight leash in their happy marriage days. At least, that's what Jack thought. He didn't know for certain, but his guess couldn't be far off. Anyway, Father reminisced all the time. About what, Jack couldn't tell, and it was probably better he didn't know. Jack sipped at his butterbeer, savoring the taste on his tongue and the warmth that seeped through his limbs. On the inside he was warm. That was all he could ask for now. Just for a few moments. Jack found that if he closed his eyes, he could just wish the day away, going to a different time, where there was no Haille, where Father and Tessa were still together. True, he couldn't remember anything much as he was only a toddler, but he knew that he had been happier then than he was now. Anything was better then reality, and right now Jack just wanted to escape....

"Mack?" Jack's eyes were opened, but he still couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. He managed to keep his mouth closed during this major shock, but his eyes couldn't stop from opening wide. Jack was usually never tongue-tied, he just frequently thought over his words before saying them. But now, he was sincerely unable to voice a word. He made a few gesticulations in the air, but still couldn't find the words. "Wow." He breathed finally, gathering himself back together. The butterbeer helped too; it's warm substance draining away the surprise. "What's the occassion.... princess." The last words brought a smirk to Jack's lips, and he watched with amusement to see Mack's reaction. He had been hoping to - now that he saw it - make her either smile, or get her mildly angry. The only problem was it seemed to already be upon her. If a rain cloud was to be over Mack's head, lightening and thunder would surely be rumbling up to Jack.

"What's the matter?" Jack paused, tried to figure out what could have happened, but gave up. It was no use. Too many things were happening in Mack's life, and he had his own problems clogged in his brain as well. Jack smiled at Mack and patted the all-not-too-pleasing-bench, motioning for her to come stand by him.

[Mackenzie Holden]

"No, I'm the ghost of Christmas past. Yes it's, Mack." She retorted in a snipish tone. The wind whipped at her blonde hair and she tucked some loose curls behind her ear before pulling her coat tighter around her body. Wait. What? Mack's eyes pierced Jack and she raised an eyebrow; "Princess? Oh, please Jack, don't flatter me." The wind snipped by again and her curls flew behind her and she had to look away before she felt her eyes tear up from the stupid wind. The occasion? Oh, yes. Occasion. Mack shrugged and looked at Jack again, "My mum's wedding. But I'm not going. You are welcome to trade me clothes and go in my place." She sent him a smirk and then walked over toward him. She had to resist the urge to throw herself in his arms and cry, she mustn't cry. She was mad. Not sad.

"The matter? Everything. Trevor's a liar. Dixie's twisted. My mum is marrying a Bradshaw. Trevor and Dixie have this huge secret and I know what it is. And to top it off Dixie is now a bloody Queen of Slytherin, so she thinks it's her place to put me in mine." Mack leaned against, well she wasn't sure what it was, but she leaned against it anyway and rolled her eyes at the thoughts that were rolling through her bloody head. Mack closed her crystaline eyes and rolled her head around on her shoulders. She sighed and stopped, letting her head fall onto Jack's shoulder before opening her eyes again and speaking; "My life is too dramatic for anything. Tell you what, I'm going to run away. No one will miss me. Hell, if anything they'll be happy. One less mouth to feed."

She looked up at Jack and smirked. If there was one person in the world who knew about Mack's life, it was definitely Jack. He knew her better than anyone did and she was thankful to have him in her life. She grinned inwardly and fiddled with the fabric her dress was made of. It wasn't a bad dress. But Mack just, didn't like dresses. At all. Period. End of story. She wondered if Jack thought she looked nice. Wait. No she didn't. Mack mentally slapped herself, "What are you doing out here?" She asked suddenly - just to keep her mind off things she didn't want to think about.

[Jack Rendel S5]

"Oh shut it." Jack smirked at Mack's amusing retort. "You just surprised me, that's all." Since when did Mack where a dress anyway? Was he supposed to just take it like, oh, there's Mack, all dressed up and looking like she was about to slap someone. Honestly, her facial expressions did not fit with her, well, life-like costume thing. He knew Mack would never wear such a thing on her own free will, especially get her hair all done up and stuff. He watched her, smiling inwardly as she really did look nice. Maybe it was just refreshing to see her in something so... so not Mack. It just made him think. "It fits." Jack shrugged, still smirking. "With the hair, make-up, dress, everything. Maybe you should start doing it more often." Jack's smirk widened. She did look nice though. He was giving her a compliment, since coming out with it would just be too strange and... just not expected. "I - oh." Jack took a deep breath. He wasn't good at this. Especially with weddings. He had never been to a wedding, and probably never would be. His father wasn't going to marry any time soon, that was for sure. As for Tessa, who knew? According to Padme, she was still rather pretty, but had problems mentally as well. Jack didn't believe Padme for an instant. Tessa was fine, no doubt.

Before Jack could even put a comment in for the wedding, Mack began talking about problems. Maybe he had asked her too many questions. The way she said things made him angry however. Very angry. He tried to swallow it down, but as she went on about Trevor, Dixie and her mom, it just recoiled again. Jack bit down his tongue, letting Mack get everything out. He did feel sorry for her; she appeared quite stressed and not at all herself. Well - maybe she was still Mack. The Mackenzie Jack knew was always in dramatic situations, and was put under a lot of pressure. He could understand how she felt, although her situations were often more dire then his. He shook his head, "no, many people will miss you. I can't talk for your family, but I know that I would miss you. So don't run away. Well actually - run away and come live in my house." Jack smirked. Wouldn't that be the life? Of course, with Haille there it complicates things, but it was an idea. Mack looked like she would do anything. So why not? Jack smirked; he knew it was far-fetched that Mack would actually run away. But still - if she got any ideas...

"Doing? Nothing at all. I was just bored and... I don't know." Jack didn't feel like talking about the time they had gone into the shack; it hadn't been one of the pleasant memories he had. Especially since Mack had gotten angry at him, and Vreeland had been there. The whole thing was a fiasco and rather silly, now that Jack thought about it. When there was a good minute of silence and Mack didn't open her mouth, Jack finally had to ask, "Well?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Are you going to leave me hanging or what? What's the secret between the Queen and the moron? Why do you say Dixie is twisted and what did Trevor lie about?" Jack clenched the fist farthest away from Mack so she wouldn't see. Boy, would he enjoy beating Trevor for hurting Mack. If he did, he would have a reason. He hated that kid. "If Trevor hurt you, just holler and I'll pay him a visit. Next time, he won't wear that little smirk of his when he sees me." Jack growled, but a smile was crossing his face all the same.

[Mackenzie Holden]

"So that makes," Mack held up her right hand and counted off the people who would miss her, "one." She sent him another smirk before looking down. Though she didn't say aloud that the one who would miss her actually was the only one that mattered. But what he had suggested actually stuck in her mind. If she ever needed to get away, she knew where to go. OK, so she knew where to go before that. But, still. She let that suggestion float to the back of her mind before looking back up at him and listening.

The Shrieking Shack. Hmm. Not the best place for a nice thought. Memories were there. Memories that weren't the best to remember. Eh. Bridget Vreeland. Mack remembered that. How she had gotten herself knocked unconscious and how they both some how managed to blame Mack for the shack caving in. Or at least, that's how Mack remembered it. It could very well be wrong, "Well?" Jack's voice broke the silence. And Mack looked at him. He wanted to know. She sighed and breathed in the smell of the suede before saying; "The secret has to deal with some illegal magical items. I don't know what. But they are trading them. Trevor l-lied..."

How was she supposed to tell Jack that Trevor lied about there ever being a Madilyn Hanner and that it was all a bloody conspiracy between him and her father? She didn't know how. And she hadn't planned on telling him unless he asked about it. It wasn't something that could just be brought up in casual conversation. Jack would surely beat Trevor to a bloody pulp if he actually found out that Madilyn wasn't real, and that Molly Hanner was indeed an only child, and that Trevor was the reason Mack was under so much stress.

[Jack Rendel S5]

"Only one?" Jack raised an eyebrow. Only one? How could that be? "Surely Mary, and some of the other Slyths would miss you?" He reminded her gently, as Mack didn't seem too exuberant on herself. Meaning she didn't have much self-honor, as Jack liked to call it. He wouldn't have mentioned that only one person would miss him if he were in her shoes. No, it would probably be something more like a made-up fifteen. He sighed and shifted his weight to the opposite foot. "Illegal items?" Jack's mind raced with the possibility of what that could be. Mack didn't know much about it - or so she said - so it could be practically anything. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Jack muttered under his breath. Trevor was a little idiot and Dixie, well, Jack wasn't sure what she was. Something a little rougher then Mack, and more spoiled too. A brat, perhaps. Mack's answer to his question about Trevor simply did not satisfy Jack. The hanging off sentence, the way she hesitated... not good signs.

"I heard Dixie is a big hoity-toity Queen now?" Jack asked with sarcasm drifting through his voice. He didn't want to talk about Dixie. No. She didn't have anything to do with Jack, and he most certainly wanted nothing to do with her at all in the future. But - it was something to talk about. "I saw her article. Doesn't flatter you much, does she?" Jack turned his head to look at Mack, wondering if she had seen the article. Had Dix possibly hidden it from her? That seemed nearly impossible; Dixie would surely like to seize the moment of Mack's pain and or embarrassment. Jack just refrained from saying anything more about the silly article. It was a piece of paper, and Dixie had spoken her mind. So what? Okay, so maybe she was getting more respect then Mack because of the Queenship. She always did get more respect, to be frank. Jack just sighed and turned to look at the shack again.

"So..." He didn't look at Mack, it was prudent that he kept his eyes off of her. Otherwise, she would see his desire to know, and that may be a bad thing. "What did Trevor lie to you about? Or whatever he did?" The supposedly casual demeanor he had built up at the 'so' part crumbled. His voice had been rough and injured. Why didn't Mack want to tell him? He thought they had trusted each other with problems. Mack had made him make a promise about something of the sort. So why was she hesitating? He only looked at her briefly, but even then his hair got in the way, and Mack's facial expression still remained unknown. Turning back to the shack, Jack let the breeze caress his face and wash away his temper.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack shrugged as Jack mentioned Mary and the other Slyth's who might miss her. Might was the keyword. She looked out over the village of Hogsmeade. Even if the wind wasn't sharp and chilly, just the look of the village would make you frozen. It was dull, grey, ordinary. Mundane. Mack thought gloomily. Oh, how she despised the mundane. Her blue eyes looked back at Jack and she shrugged about the illegal items; "Nor me. But then again...I used to help her with those, so it isn't at all shocking." She pulled her jacket tighter around her. Of course, the bridesmaids dress she was wearing did nothing for warmth.

"Hmm?" Mack asked, her attention returning to Jack, "Oh, yes. Dixie's a Queen now. And that article? You can't listen to anything she says. After all, she's recently been hospitalized. Who says she's well enough to be back in the real world? What do those doctors know? Nothing at all, I say." Mack said this with so much distain that it was seering her mouth. She blinked a couple of times, because her eyes had gotten full with tears of anger, and then looked at the shack again. Trying to avoid Jack's question. The one she knew would be coming any moment. The one she knew he would go crazy about.

"Well, remember, at your birthday party? How I told you - I had a twin named Madilyn Hanner and she died some odd years ago? Yeah. He lied about that. Madilyn Hanner didn't even exist. Molly Hanner was an only child...Madilyn was just a figment of Trevor's imagination. He concocted this whole, scheme....with....well I am not sure with who. It could be a variety of people who want to see me die at their laughter. But I don't care." She answered this with a matter of fact tone and nodded her head once as if to say that was the end of the discussion.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack smiled at Mack's response. How could he have expected less from her then the ordinary? Dixie being hospitalized was a good way to make people look down upon Dixie instead of Mack, yet the article was being spread around and she certainly could not keep up with gossip. Like the wind catching a fire, gossip around Hogwarts spread quickly. "Doctors are doctors, Mack." He reminded. And she didn't have the degree, or the knowledge of doctors, especially the ones that took care of insanity. "She's been insane her whole life. One factor broke her down, but that doesn't mean she hasn't been breaking down slowly for the past few years. I don't know anyone that could act like she does toward you." Except for your father. Jack bit his lip. Enough was said. Before he went too far into the no-return zone.

Jack turned his head so fast he got a crick in his neck. What? Had he misunderstood somehow. Her words left him flabbergasted, totally knocked off course. What was she saying? Trevor lying about... Madilyn. Oh. Her. Mack's deceased twin. The whole situation grew overwhelming and a sudden ticking in Jack's head erupted into a wave of emotion. "WHAT?" His eyes widened as he relieved himself from the word that had been penetrating on to his face. And what a word that was. "What" could mean a thousand different things, but this was was being used for incredulity and disbelief. How could that filthy rat do that to Mack? How? Jack licked his cracked lips. This... that... that bastard! Tension made all his muscles strain to do something, anything that included beating Trevor into a bloody ball of screams. "It was all a joke? A bloody, half-witted, cruel, bastard's idea of a joke?!"

Jack usually never resorted to that word, one of the more censored words to describe a person. But in this scenario, it was used for a reason, and he was sure as hell going to stick to it! By all the tricks you could pull, that one was the filthiest. His rage couldn't be satisfied until he saw Trevor again; until then Mack might just have to deal with him being moody. "Bloody hell." He rubbed his neck ruefully and turned to lean against the fence for support. "He made that up just to make a laughing stock out of you?" Jack summarized a short while after taking breathing exercises. Anger was something he had learned to control over the years. A little. Breathing was a good thing. In. Out. And repeat. Simple as that. The results were a passive face, even if it was transparent, and a strained, almost-controlled voice. "I'm sorry, but that's just...." He didn't have an excuse. Oh well. Take another route, Jack. "Are you still living with that... thing?"

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack pulled on a tendril of hair that was near her face before turning to Jack. This was why she loved him. No. Not love. She just liked him...a lot. Not love. But anyway, this was why she cared for him. He was always there for her, and he cared for her too. She felt safe and secure when she was with him - like nothing else in the world mattered. Mack sighed and bit her lip. She watched Jack fly off the handle, and then ask her if she was still living with Trevor. He was now leaning against the fence, and she imitated him. She cocked her head at him and sent him a small smile; "I don't think he did it to humiliate me, though he could've. I think he did it because he was angry at his father, just about as angry as I was at my mother." She remembered the day her mother told her about her and Hank getting married. She was so mad at her mom that she was seeing red. She couldn't think clearly. That was the advantage Trevor had, he had a longer time to deal with it.

"I think he thought maybe getting to me, tearing me upside down and inside out with this whole Madilyn-slash-Molly business, would get to my mother and cause her to call off the wedding. No such luck. My mum is stronger than that, and I don't think he was counting on the fact that I'm stronger than he thought I would be. Dixie had talked me down and into the mud before he met me. You know Dixie's distorted version of who I am, he wasn't expecting...well...me." She looked away from Jack, away from his electrifying blue eyes, and watched the skies. The colour was a dull grey, nothing new. She was hoping maybe some pink would light up the sky - but Mack usually hoped for the hopeless.

She pulled her attention back to Jack and found herself leaning her head on his shoulder. She wasn't tired, but she was exhausted with the days going ons. Mack hated weddings, and this was precisely why. They were never simple. Maybe she would elope when or if she decided to marry. But then she would have to put up with her husband. Just the thought of living with someone she despised made her skin crawl. Speaking of living. Mack sighed and lifted her head off Jack's shoulder before answering his question; "Yeah. I mean, after all our parents are getting married. But since I don't live there during the school year, everything should be twice as sweet and just as dandy."

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack shook his head. "Okay, so maybe he was angry about your mom and his dad. But why you? Why not make something up about Dixie?" It was never Dixie. Dixie seemed to be the most respected asset of the Holden family right now, or at least everyone treated her that way. Dixie this, Dixie that. Even Mack had to talk about Dixie. It wasn't in a good way, but still, all the talk about Dixie. She almost never talked about her mother, or her father, as much as she did Dixie. Jack turned back to the shack.

"I do hope Mr. Bradshaw is a better person then his son." Was all he muttered as Mack told him more about it. He had never known someone to just make up stories like that to get what they wanted; talk about conceited. When he got home, he would be sure to tell Father to do extra slaving over the couch that Trevor had sat at. He wanted to be rid of that devil all together, even if he had to take a vacuum to it himself! "Maybe it would have been better if your mother had been weaker." He mused. "Then we wouldn't be worrying about Bradshaw's anymore, or about that wedding you have to attend." He disliked weddings. All laughs and smiles, while more then half the world's kids have divorced parents. Somewhere inside him, he wished that the wedding was called off, or that they would get divorced very soon. If he ever wanted to visit Mack, he would have to see Satin's face again.

He relaxed a little when Mack leaned her head on his shoulder. He couldn't be angry all the time, honestly. Sighing, he closed his eyes until he felt the weight leave his shoulder. He wished she had stayed longer. "I hope it goes well." Jack vouched. He turned away from Mack so she couldn't read his expression. The light breeze felt good on his burning face. He couldn't remember ever feeling this upset over something that had nothing to do with him. Pretty sad. Jack put his foot on the fence, having half a mind to just jump over it right then and there. "Did he?" He asked, turning back to Mack with a penetrating stare. "Did he tear you up like you mentioned? Did you believe what he told you about it?"

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack scoffed; "Come on, Jack. Would you believe something like that if you were Dixie? No... Trevor knew I had the most family 'problems.'" She made her fingers make quotations when she said problems. She rolled her eyes and put her head in her hands, but still listened to Jack. She didn't even try to say something good about Hank when he mentioned him. Truth was, even if he was a good person - Mack didn't want to admit it. She didn't like Hank one bit. And that wasn't just because he was marrying her mother. Ok. Maybe it was. She did, however, sent Jack a sharp glare when he said that about her mother.

"She is weak, Jack, that's the whole reason why she's getting married. She can't be on her own. She needs someone to lean on. And even if she wasn't weak, she would probably still be with Derreck then, and I would have another problem on my hands." She sighed again, and leaned her head on his shoulder, pulling his arm around her. She needed to feel safe. The feeling she hadn't felt in years.

When Jack turned to her with that penetrating stare, which was worse with his electric blue eyes, Mack had to divert her gaze. And slowly she nodded; "Yeah. I believed him. I had no reason not to. After all, we hated the same thing, and he knew about Molly and the Hanner's. I never doubted anything. Until he started pressuring me to do this and that at the Hanner house..." Mack sort of trailed off and shrugged. She really didn't want to talk about it anymore.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack just shrugged and held Mack close to him. Trying to relax. He hoped Mack was able to think better then he could. A thousand thoughts darted into his mind and demanded attention. It was hard to concentrate on what Mack was saying. Something about Dixie. He didn't want to think anymore, just to sit down and relax. Attempt to, anyway. Anything was better then doing nothing. As he put his chin on Mack's hair, he closed his eyes.

"You're lucky." He whispered. "Derreck's gone. This... Hank, he might be a better father then the other one. You get to start all over." Inside Jack felt jealousy spring up like hot coals in his stomach and mind, making a fresh wave of dizziness wash over him. Mack didn't have the abusive father anymore. Yet he, Jack, hadn't gotten off so easily. Father was still there, ever lurking in his mind and always in his life. Like a pest that refused to stop buzzing in his ear. Every attempt to get it away made it want to stay more. Father fit this metaphor so well he might as well have been the bug. With Haille there, it made things even more confusing and so much more... hurtful. Now that the physical abuse had stopped, Father was doing the mental works on him. Purposely or not, it was still happening. Jack could feel it himself, whenever he was home. And it was because of his new sister, Haille.

How many times had he wanted to start all over? Get a new dad, a new mom, a new sister, or maybe even a brother? How many times had he wanted to lead a new life? It was impossible but that made it tantalize him even worse, enticing him to believe in false hope. Mack had believed a liar, and Jack was believing one too. Himself. Unconsciously, he held Mack closer, trying to give her comfort and drive these maddening thoughts out of his mind. "You went in the Hanner house?" Jack asked, wondering how things could get even more bizarre. It must have been tough for her to see it; the life she should have had instead of being robbed of everything by her very own Father. Maybe she wasn't so lucky. Jack couldn't decide! His eyes remained closed as he tried to work everything out. "You should be getting back, right? For the wedding, and everything? Your mom will be worried." Jack didn't want her to go, yet he voiced these words, almost as if he wanted Mack to leave. She was all ready for it, in the dress, make-up and with the hair-style and everything. Why was she here with him still? "Is Trevor still here?" He asked, trying to look relatively careless as he said it.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack closed her eyes. How many times had she dreamt this? How many nights had she lain in bed, wishing she had a different father? How many minutes during the day did she spend nursing a fresh wound, and cursing her father? How many songs had she written about her life, and they had turned out her best? How many days of the year did she spend planning out her escape plans, her run aways? And now that Derreck was out of her life forever, why wasn't she celebrating? She should be at that wedding, toasting to a healthy relationship, smiling and laughing. But instead she was here. With Jack, where she felt she belonged the most. She never felt safer than when she was with Jack. She never felt more cared about than when she was with Jack. Truth was, she didn't want to leave him to go to a party she didn't quite support, even though she should.

"Jack?" She asked, her voice cracking only a little. She licked her lips and looked up at him through the corner of her eyes. What she was about to ask him, probably wouldn't be a smart thing to ask. After all, it could lead to serious destruction. But she didn't want to go to that wedding alone. She...just couldn't. She couldn't face Trevor and Dixie and her mother and Hank and all the guests alone. Mack wasn't that strong. She didn't think she would ever be that strong. She sighed and then spoke again; "If...I go back to the wedding...would you come with me? You don't have to be dressed up or anything. Just come..." She was nearly pleading with him, but she felt it was necessary for him to be there with her.

"If you come, I'll answer any questions you have...we can go out afterward...do something to get away from the celebration-that-shouldn't-be." Mack said this as she closed her eyes against the wind that blew past them. She pulled her coat tighter around her a bit and then opened her eyes again, "You don't have to. I just...don't want to face them alone, you know?" She looked up at him, and twisted her face into a pout, "Please Jack?! Please please please? I'll get on my hands and knees and beg if I have to..."

[Jack Rendel S5]

Not what he expected. Go to the wedding with her? They were in Hogsmeade, and there was curfew, Professors, and where was this wedding? In Hogsmeade or somewhere entirely different? Mack was nearly begging him to go; Jack wouldn't be surprised if she started dragging him away soon. Shaking his head as he listened to her pleas, Jack was trying to decide which way he should go. Back to boring homework in the castle, or to a wedding he didn't want to see? An event that he shouldn't witness, least he cause a scene with Trevor. He would be there.... The thought triggered something in his brain, something that decided for him right away.

"Oh, what the hell? Sure, I'll come with you." The fact that Mack's pleas had not been the only things that committed him to this answer he was not about to say. Or think about. Perhaps the guilty conscience would show on his face, and then he would need to be strapped to his seat during the wedding. He would look like some animal, a disobedient dog perhaps... and yet he would have his way, whether strapped to the chair or attacking Trevor, the idiotic liar should get the hint. Either way worked. Jack put his hands in his pockets. He wasn't afraid of being ridiculed; over the course of his life he had ignored it. This would be no different. As for Professors and the stupid curfew; who cared? Jack didn't. Mack wanted him to go, so he would go. Trevor would be there, so he would be there. Simple as that.

"Let's get going. They might be waiting for you." He told Mack quickly, turning to face her with a grin. "Don't get me to do something like this again. It's nearly suicidal." He was referring to his Father. If Roger found out, death would be waiting for him at home. He found this hard to ignore, even though he was determined to be at the wedding. Knowing that Father despised both the Holdens and the Bradshaws and still going to their wedding with the girl he had been forbidden nearly a million times not to see was not a good idea. Still, Father was not going to chain Jack to his guidelines. He was his own person and would decide what to do. He would take responsibilities for his actions and deal with the consequences, no matter what they included. He wouldn't disappoint Mack in her time of need.

"Where is this unwanted wedding taking place?" Please, let it be Hogsmeade. If it wasn't, this would be murder.

[Mackenzie Holden]

When Jack finally did agree to go, Mack knew it wasn't for the reason she had asked him. She wanted him to go to be there with her, to be there for her, to help her through this; at least for a night. But she knew now that he had only accepted because it meant an oppurtunity to pummel Trevor into a bloody pulp. And Mack was slowly regretting asking him in the first place. But what's done is done, and that was the problem. Mack pulled her jacket tighter around her and then looked him, but quickly looked away; "It's in Hogsmeade. And don't worry - I won't." She then turned on her heel.

Confused on what to feel, to feel angry; or hurt; or upset, Mack led the way back to the inn where the reception and ceremony were both being held. It was a rather large inn, actually one of the many Hank Bradshaw co-owned, hence the wedding taking place there. The decision was between Hogsmeade and some place in Cambodia, luckily they had chosen Hogsmeade that way Mack and Dixie could both attend. But it wasn't any difference, Mack didn't want to go to either. She sighed as she picked up her dress a little so it wouldn't drag on the ground. Her heels clicking as she walked next to Jack. There was silence, but it wasn't a nice one, and when they finally reached the inn a bunch of people were gathered around it. Mack stopped in her tracks; "This is why I hate weddings... Marisol! Hi! How are you?" Mack called through a false smile. A tall girl with red hair came up to her and kissed her on both cheeks.

"Wonderful, darling! My sisters and I were just reading Dixie's article, very well written if I do say so myself." Marisol greeted, sending a giggle toward the other two girls. Mack smiled a small smile while looking down at her feet; "Jack, Marisol Kensington, my cousin from my father's side of the family. She is the chief editor of her school newspaper at Beaxbatons, also the oldest of the three girls. Marisol, this is my boyfriend Jack Rendel." Mack introduced them, and then yanked on Jack's hand - pulling him toward the entrance of the inn while explaining; "She's also the biggest gossip at Beaxbatons."

They slipped into the grand ballroom quite easily, and Mack was almost thinking they could get in without being noticed. How wrong could she be? "Oh, Mackenzie, I don't think scum is on the guest list..." Mack closed her eyes and turned to face Trevor; "Then what are you doing here?" She asked with the same tone of voice he had. Trevor sneered and leaned on the chair in front of him. She watched as his eyes looked Jack up and down, and she just knew he was thinking about how he wasn't even dressed for the wedding. Not that there should be a wedding anyway.

"Does Mum know he's here?" He asked, suddenly looking at Mack. She glared at him. What right did he have? She cast her eyes to the carpet, watching the patterns - tracing them with her mind. They repeated in all direction, and she found the middle point. When she looked back up Trevor had a smirk on his face; "Don't call her Mum. She isn't your mother. You don't deserve a mother like her." She slipped off her jacket, suddenly feeling very hot, and put it on the table next to her. When she looked back at Trevor he was sneering at Jack.

"So, what are you doing here? Feel sorry for Mackenzie because she's a gullible little prat, or are you here because you have nothing better to do with your time? Oh, I know, you wanted to piss daddy off didn't you? Why else would you attend a Holden-Bradshaw wedding? Especially since Roger hates both of our families..." Mack looked at Jack, waiting for his response. This was what he came for after all. An encounter with Trevor.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Mack knew the facts. He could tell. Her response, the silence that sat between them... it all fit. Was he really that transparent? "Okay." He said, forgetting to be glad it was in Hogsmeade. Right now, it might as well have been anywhere but here. Then he couldn't go. The way she was acting made him feel like she regretted asking. And that hurt. It stung, really bad. Too bad to explain it in words. Mack was leading him away, while he had half a mind to turn around and run back to the castle. Marriages were always troublesome. In more then one way, obviously. And the inn that it was taking place in, disastrous. Far too busy, even if all the people were crowded on the outside.

Marisol. He nearly forgot to give a nod at Mack's cousin. On her father's side. It proved to be so when she mentioned Dixie's article in such a round-about way that Jack had to raise a contemptuous eyebrow. Mack dealt with it well, he thought, better then he would have. By now, Marisol would have been limping away with a black eye. Jack had never been to a wedding, so maybe he was just not experienced with it all. "Oh." He nodded at the explanation Mack poured forth as she dragged him around, without any resistance of Jack's part. This was strange, but he felt so lost, so forlorn. Why was he here among this group of strangers? He didn't know any of these people, and Mack was acting alien to him as well. She was angry, probably, but why Jack just couldn't understand. He was here, with her, wasn't he?

The ballroom. Jack had seen more magnificent ones in his lifetime, but it was any eyebrow-raiser. He was surprised that there was an inn that was as elegant as this in Hogsmeade; of all places. The large room made him feel even smaller, and when he heard the slippery voice of Trevor, he nearly jumped. He had hoped that they could avoid him. Wait. Why had he come here? To get Trevor back? Old rage swung in and built up in his chest, making his heart race faster. He was talking to Mack, hardly taking notice of Jack. Or so he thought. Trevor's voice was like a vacuum cleaner; just an endless drone of nastiness. Honestly, it got old. And then it happened. Trevor attacked. With much more brutality then Jack had expected, but oh well, he could deal.

Now, how to handle it? His mind buzzed while fury sprang into his eyes and danced like flames, making them sparkle with a malicious light. The ruthless way, he decided. The annoying way he hated and hardly ever used himself. "Now, now, watch your language. Piss Father off? Don't flatter yourself. I mean, why would he get angry over something as insignificant as this?" He asked conversationally. While inside his coat his hand itched to pound him. "If you knew Roger Rendel like you pretend to, you'd understand that he is no longer angry at the Holden's. Don't you get it? Derreck's not there, so why should he be? Although he might be now, Father doesn't like to associate himself with liars." He looked directly at Trevor as he said this, his eyes burning with hate that clearly scraped off his light tone. "Your face, Trevor... do you need a napkin? That sneer is rather unsettling and napkins always help to wipe of something that's stuck there permanently, you know? Even if it does show off your personality quite well..." Jack smirked and laced his fingers in his jean pockets. "You see, people like me and people like you - which are more like savage animals - don't match. So, as wonderful as this conversation is, I'm afraid I have better things to do then chat about yourself and my father. If you'll excuse us..." He unceremoniously pushed Trevor aside, grabbed Mack's hand, and led her away.

Through the crowd he weaved until he was certain Trevor couldn't see them any longer. "I did it." He whispered, surprised that the encounter had sapped all his strength. Shoulders sagging, Jack led Mack to a table and sat down. "I did it!" He said again, only louder. He had accomplished the impossible all to show that he was here for Mack, not for Trevor. He hoped she understood.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack had mixed emotions toward Jack's response to Trevor. She wanted to give Jack an 'I thought so...' look but give Trevor an 'Are you happy now?' one at the same time. Considering she couldn't do either, she stared at Jack - her mouth opened slightly. It wasn't until he had pulled her away from Trevor that she could regain composure and think of something to say to him. The only thing was, she didn't know what to say to him. It was evident that he had gone to confront Trevor, but he had also gone for Mack - it was just the Trevor thing that persuaded him. Or so Mack thought. But if that was true, she owed him an apology. Mack wasn't good with apologies.

Mack looked down at her hands before actually speaking; "Congratulations." She told him quietly. Then she looked back up and her eyes had a spark of sorry in them, hoping she wouldn't have to say anything. Hoping that if she did have to then she wouldn't stumble over her words in the apology she would have to form. She looked back down again and sighed, she didn't know what to say. She was at a complete loss for words and that didn't happen often for Mack. She always had an opinion on something, and she never held back on when she was going to voice it. She was very outspoken, but there was always one person who could shut her up and he probably wasn’t even aware of it.

“I’m sorry.” She said it so easily, as if she was used to saying those words when in reality she wasn’t. Mack rarely apologized to anyone, but she was sure she had apologized to Jack before – maybe that’s why it was so easy for her to say it to him now, “I’m sorry for thinking you came solely to beat up Trevor, either with words or fists. I’m just paranoid like that I suppose.” Mack tried to smile, but it came out more of a smirk which was okay. She smiled too much anyway. Mack pulled on a hair tendril again and then looked at Jack before looking around the ballroom. Oh, no. Mack hid her face behind her hands.

“I wasn’t aware Jack was coming, Pet.” Dixie smirked down at the two. Trevor was one thing, Dixie was completely separate. If this were a videogame, Trevor would have been one of those little bugs that are easy to squash, and Dixie would be the big boss. Mack looked up at her sister; “Spur of the moment. You had a guess, why couldn’t I?” Dixie shrugged and took a seat on the other side of Mack, as if she was welcomed to sit with them. She looked over Jack’s outfit with a raised eyebrow.

“Last minute…that’s noticeable. How’s your sister doing?” She asked, her eyes locking with Jack’s. It wasn’t a secret that Dixie and Padme were very close. They were like sister’s rather than Mack and her were. That was okay, except for the fact that Dixie was probably rotting Padme inside out. Not that she wasn’t already rotten.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Congratulations? He admits, that wasn't what he was expecting. Maybe at least a smile? But no, Mack seemed to not want to say anything. He had scanned the word for sarcasm twice over, but it remained just there. No emotion besides maybe something that showed she was tense. Not that that was good. Mack was always tense. Honestly, she needed to settle down for a while. Relax. And maybe he should do the same. Sad thing was; he gave people advice. He didn't listen to advice, even his own. Jack put his head on his hand, thinking. The whole Trevor thing was over with and done. Thank god. Yet a bigger obstacle was in his way, one he was determined to over come: Mack. Why was she acting so? It made him wonder if she still felt the same about him as before. It was important to him, he suddenly realized, so very important. And he didn't want to lose her. Ever. Yet he didn't want to chain her to anything, not even himself. That would almost be a crime.

Jack shrugged. The apology didn't make him feel any better. "It's okay. You had every right to think that way." Jack wasn't sure where to go. What to say? Even what he said didn't make up for what he felt. Jack was always confused, even as a child he had been listless. A feeling he wished could go away, like his fleeing childhood. Yet it remained, hovering like a shadow over him. His words showed it, his attitude, his body language. It was something he didn't want anyone to see, to recognize. Mack probably couldn't even see it. Which was good. It was more like a splinter in his foot, something that was only skin-deep. But it hurt, no matter where it was. And this was the times he wished that he could be stronger, more confident with, well - himself. It didn't help that the next person to come over and have a nice little chat was the one Mack and him had been talking about with so much venom. And I mean, besides Trevor. The big honcho, Queen Dixie. Jack rolled his eyes but straightened up, conscious that she was eying up his attire. It was fine with him; just a sweatshirt and torn jeans. He pulled off his jacket and put it on the back of his chair.

"Padme's fine." He didn't want to talk about her. She was always on his mind any other time, so why worry about it now when so much else was bothering him? In fact, Padme was not at all fine, but having internal conflicts of some kind; something Jack could understand entirely. But why share that with Dixie? Perhaps she was the cause for this disturbance? He didn't care anymore; he just wanted to forget his little sister. She was such an annoyance anyway. She and Dixie were perfect. They should have been sisters. Jack's eyes wondered away from Dixie's brown ones. It was no good. He had used all his strength against Trevor in a battle to control himself. Dixie was almost impenetrable, so why try? He couldn't look at Mack anymore, and Dixie was impossible, so the table cloth got his gaze. He wasn't sure what to say. Dixie was such a strange creation, and he had hated her ever since Mack had told him about her. Her and her little wishes that had been carried out by Mack for years. Yes, it had been something like hate.

"You wrote a very interesting article." Jack said calmly. The wrong words. He wanted conversation, something to make him seem like he knew what he was doing. The first thing he noticed when he lifted his eyes was that she was sitting across from him. Uh-oh. Leaning forward although his better told him to leave, Jack attempted to meet her eyes again with force. "I'm sure it impressed your fellow Queens thoroughly. I don't believe I've said it before, but congrats. Now you can continue torturing kids and have someone compliment you for it afterwords."

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack bit her bottom lip, and her eyes looked down again. She was so ashamed, and yet she was so…irritated. But not with Jack, with herself. She knew she was a confusing person, she knew she made hardly any sense at all. It was one of the reasons she had begun singing, because that was when she made the most sense out of all. But she had stopped after the tour, concentrating on school; and now Mack would give anything to have it back so she could pour her heart and soul into a song. Her songs. Like she had that night at the club. Maybe then she wouldn’t be so confusing. And the way Jack said she shouldn’t be sorry, it just felt like she should be sorry ten times more. Her eyes flickered to look at Jack while he spoke to Dixie, but he wasn’t looking at her or Mack.

“You thought it interesting? Oh, well my life goal is complete then, I have interested you with one of my many master pieces. I shall now go retire.” Dixie said this with so much sarcasm Mack would have slapped her. But she frozen to her seat, still and motionless. She knew she had no power over Dixie, so why would she even try to do something about it. When Jack started talking about the Queens, Mack looked from Dixie to him rather quickly; not wanting to miss a beat. Without much effort, Dixie rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair; “You think I wrote that to impress them? Oh, really Jack, you know nothing. You amuse me so. I wrote that because it needed to be heard, if it impresses the right people along the way…well, then, that’s just a plus.”

Dixie was so cool, not in the good way, I mean; she was so confident with her words. She glided through everything without a scratch, and she always kept that smug grin on her face wherever she went. If you didn’t know any better, you could say she was perfectly sane. Except, she wasn’t. She had actually just been let out of a mental hospital. A loony bin. A mad house. With crazy people. Mack relished in this for a bit before allowing herself to be pulled back to reality. Dixie was speaking to her now; “As for my guest, Mack, I didn’t think you’d mind me inviting him. After all, he was a friend of the family for years before…” She shot Jack a small smirk, “he came along.” Mack scowled and whipped her head toward Dixie so fast that her neck could have snapped off.

“Don’t you dare blame Jack. He wasn’t the reason Jamie went nuts like you. Jamie went nuts because he’s a lunatic, and he believed there was something between us. I just-“

“You just crushed his poor little heart right into the ground and left him lying there for me to come and save. Aw, poor Jamie baby, but Dixie will make him feel all better.” Dixie interrupted sourly. Mack scoffed.

“I’m surprised you had to pick up my left overs, couldn’t get a guy of your own Dixie?” Mack raised a quick eyebrow as Dixie sprang to her feet, her fists clenched. Mack knew she had done it, but this argument was getting old. And seriously, Dixie really needed to grow out of the fact that Mack had wanted nothing to do with Jamie or her sister and his relationship. In fact, it sickened her and amused her at the same time. Honestly Mack was too tired to put up with one of Dixie’s little tantrums at the moment, so when a woman came and swept her away for a fix in her make-up, Mack welcomed it whole heartedly. Dixie continued to scream as she was led away, though.

“See? Nutters.” She directed this to Jack before she put her head in her hands. This was not how she had wanted it to go. But what had she expected? A nice welcoming party for Jack. Of course not, but she didn’t think it would be something like this. Especially since Derreck wasn’t anywhere near them. He was somewhere in Egypt doing God knew what, and Mack really didn’t care. She felt a bit disappointed at everyone’s behaviour though. She just hoped Jack wasn’t regretting coming, though she couldn’t blame him if he did.