Remember this Place? ((Mack))

[Jack Rendel S5]

Silence. Not a word came from his lips, not a single syllable. His eyes watched as Dixie took it all out on him. Her slippery way of doing it made him dread a recovery on his part. So he didn't. Sitting here silently was a good was to recuperate. And not get hurt again. An extra plus. Jack had half a mind to close his eyes and pretend to be asleep; but then Dixie would probably jump across the table and strangle him. She looked like she could do it. He didn't want to underestimate her. Ever. It was too dangerous.

It took a while for Mack and Dixie to work it out. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Jack listened to the whole thing unravel, but none of it clearly interested him. Except for one part, which is practically obvious. Sliding a little farther down his seat, Jack watched as a woman that could have been from heaven led Dix away, kicking and screaming. Literally. Putting on a courages face, Jack turned to face Mack, straightening up in his chair.

"Agreed." He muttered, watching Dixie being dragged away with amusement. "I've never seen someone that loony before. At first I thought she was faking it and everything... but it's apparent she was hiding nothing now." With a satisfied smirk, Jack watched Mack's sister until she was out of sight, and even then he strained to see her, but to no luck. Oh well. Thing is, he would probably be seeing a lot more of that wacko then he wanted to. Goodbye wouldn't be permanent, and his smug demeanor would soon be wiped away. Soon. It was almost like fate. Seeing Mack in such a state wished he could cheer her up somehow. But Jack was never good at cheering people up, especially when it came to that "lifting up" nonsense. A prep talk almost.

"Dixie's like a dog. Have you ever noticed that? She's begging for attention, practically. Oh, let's go insult them before being dragged away screaming. I can almost imagine her thinking that. Or maybe" he adopted a girlish voice, "Ooh, there's Jack and my little sister. Let's go insult them for fun, make Jack want to leave and make Mack miserable. What a perfect plan!" He rolled his eyes for effect. "Honestly, you need to find a new sister. She's unbearable. Even Padme's better then her... but Dix's influence is sure to show sometime. I dread to see that day... by then I'll probably disown myself and go on the streets." He mused. Not that it would happen, but still.

"Jamie's here, huh? Or coming? I wonder how he can stand Dixie. Does he wear ear-plugs of the thickest kind, or perhaps ear-muffs? Either that or he's deaf by now. Which I can see happening." He leaned forward and put an arm around Mack's shoulders. "Oh, come on. Cheer up a little. I don't want to have to talk this whole wedding away. When I'm practically talking to myself. Really now, what's the matter? I'm still here, aren't I? Lighten up a little Mack. Forget Dixie and Trevor. Forget Jamie and forget the article. Try to enjoy yourself. I'd give anything to be in your situation right now, even if I had a loony for a sister, and am about to be related to that freak back there." He gestured back to where they had met Trevor.

"Where's the food around here? I'm going to starve if they don't bring it out soon."

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack laughed as Jack cheered her up, she looked at him and shook her head again; laughing still. He always knew the right words to say to her, even if she was in the worst mood in her life. And Mack has had plenty of 'worse moods.' Sometimes she wondered why Jack even put up with her, she knew she was a complex person. She was hard to keep up with, she had been told this so many times she could almost recite what she had been told. Mack pulled on a tendril again, some reason she just liked to watch it bounce. Her eyes found Jack's as he asked about Jamie and she slowly nodded; "Unfortunately. He was invited." Mack shrugged, "Not worried about it though."

When Jack started telling her to lighten up and forget about them and to just have fun, she looked at him and sort of smiled; "You're right. I shouldn't worry about them. You're here, that's what matters. I should just have fun." Mack leaned her head on his shoulder again and breathed in, trying not to go completely insane like her sister. That's what this wedding was doing to her. Driving her completely insane. She didn't want to be there in that weird dress, with her hair all weird like. She didn't like the shoes she was wearing or anything about the wedding. But Mack would do it for her mother, even though she really didn't have to. She could very well say she wasn't going to attend. But that would mean she didn't have a heart. And she did, no matter how black it was.

"C'mon, food's this way." She grabbed his hand and pulled him up, weaving through many more people. Some stopped to say hello, others didn't give her a second glance. They were probably the ones who read the article. Mack, still holding Jack's hand, pushed open the door to the kitchens where everyone was running around shouting orders. A small french man wearing a hat that was bigger than his head, tried to shoo them out but he was soon distracted by a waiter arranging the platters on the tray wrong. Mack shrugged and reached over to a long row of fruits. Popping a kiwi into her mouth she turned to Jack with a smile; "Snacks a'la Mack. Ooh, that rhymed!" She picked up another kiwi and chewed on that, as if it were the thought in her mind, it might as well be.

"We're not supposed to be eating until after the ceremony, at the reception, but I wasn't going to stick around for the reception. Unless my mum asks me to sing a song or something, which she pointed out she might very well do." Mack rolled her eyes at this thought. Sure she wanted to make her mum happy, but she didn't want to sing. What would she sing? All her songs were basically heart wrenching sad angry songs. Not lovey dovey songs. Well, except one. But she didn't like that one. She picked up a chocolate covered strawberry and put that in her mouth before looking around the kitchen. It was so busy, Mack couldn't remember when she had been somewhere so busy. Well, maybe New York, but that didn't even compare to the energy in this room.

She turned to Jack and grinned, "So um, I have to go get ready for the ceremony - and well, um, I don't know if you want to come with me to see what's going on or something. But if you do, then you can come, and I understand if you don't want to; it's complete dullness. You'd be able to get some more food and then find a seat in the rows of chairs and wait." Mack moved to run her fingers through her hair when she realized it was up; "Oh, right. But - anyway - I don't know what you want to do or anything...so, yeah..." Mack didn't know if she actually wanted him to follow her. She wouldn't say no if he wanted to, but she wasn't sure how her mother would react.

[Jack Rendel S5]

He grinned, feeling light-headed as his absurd prep talk seemed to have done it's job. Mack was laughing, whether at his stupidity or at how hilarious he must have sounded. He didn't care which one it was in the end, as long as she gave the whole melancholy thing a break. She could do that tomorrow, for God's sake, but today she had a wedding to attend. Anyway, it would tickle Trevor to see Mack upset. He knew that much. Pulling himself up, Jack nodded slowly. "Yes, no worry." He agreed, if only half-heartedly. He only remembered the last lovely chat him and Jamie had. About Dixie. Ugh. Talk about stupid. He had knocked Jamie one in the cheek though, if he remembered right. Ah. Good memories.

He didn't move when Mack leaned up against him. Again. It was nice in a way, it made him relax a notch. She took a deep breath in, making Jack's shoulder move. Tired, exhausted, thoroughly disturbed.... what was she thinking? Feeling? Mack had always been hard to read, harder then Jack, who was pretty much one dimensional. In a strange way, he was glad Mack got up to lead him to the food.

Getting through the crowd was no mean task. Jack wasn't sure which group he hated more; the laughing, happy ones, or the ignoring ones. Jack didn't have time to put the two and two together as he and Mack entered the kitchen, which, if he didn't know any better, was busier then where they had just come from. People scurrying everywhere. Platters hitting the counter, glasses clinking together, feet slapping against the floor in the bustle. Jack squeezed through with Mack, holding on to her hand tight. He didn't much feel like getting lost in a crowd like this, where he might just get trampled under these servants feet. Wrinkling his nose, Jack was relieved when they managed to find a spot of cover.

"I never knew you to be a poet, Mackenzie." Jack replied, sliding into the seat without much enthusiasm. Where was the good stuff, like dessert? He wasn't too overjoyed about the prospect of the fruit sitting in front of him, even if they appeared to be tasty and exotic. They just didn't hold a tint of enticement inside them, so he felt no need to reach over and pluck one from the plate. But he did anyway. Crunching into the apple, Jack shrugged. "I'm sure they won't notice that a few items from the fruit bowl is missing." The song part interested him a lot more. "Really? I never would have thought. Which song are you planning on singing, if she happens to ask you?" He couldn't remember the last time he had heard Mack sing while in the audience; it made this reception sound better. Maybe he would attend, just for kicks.

"Yeah, I'll go ahead and go." He said, standing and pulling the chair back in. He threw the core of the apple in the garbage. Yuck. "I think I'll be sitting in the middle back, close to the door but far enough that I won't draw too much attention. I wouldn't want to cause any problems." He added with some sarcasm before leading the way to the door of the kitchen, or wherever they were. He let Mack go through before closing the door behind him. "So, where exactly is the ceremony taking place?"

[Mackenzie Holden]

"Why Jack," Mack stated with a smirk, "Didn't you know all song writing is, is poetry? I have to be a poet in order to write songs." She popped a grape in her mouth before looking around the kitchen. She really didn't like weddings. She gave her mother two months before she left Hank. Maybe less than that. Mack knew it wasn't nice, but who said she was nice? Her mother couldn't hold onto a guy if her life depended upon it. And that's the thing, her life did depend upon it. Her's and Mack's. Without Hank they had no money, which was just weird - because they've always had money. When he asked what song she was singing, Mack shrugged and fiddled with her dress.

"A new one I wrote. I'm working on my second album now." She said this so casually it was as if it happened to everyone. At the end of her third year she had finished her first album and went on tour, now she was beginning her second album and Tommy was thrilled - but she couldn't say she was. She didn't know if she wanted to continue with the music career. She might just want to stay home and be....home, "But you don't have to stay for that. You don't have to stay for the ceremony...I just....didn't want to come alone. As selfish as that is." When Jack stood up and threw away the apple core, Mack smiled and stood as well. He planned to sit in the back...well that was good. But she didn't think it mattered where he sat - there wasn't any way her mother could miss a Rendel in the crowd of guests. She had radar or something.

"Well, the ceremony is outside." She took his hand led him to the balcony that looked down on the courtyard. There was a velvet carpet rolled down the aisles and an arch at one end of the carpet. Chairs were lined up neatly facing the arch. If you followed the carpet you would see that it led up a pair of stairs to a rotunda with a gazebo covering. Her mother would be coming down from there. Like a princess. Mack explained this all to Jack before looking at him and apologizing; "Sorry, but I really have to go. Um...go ahead and take a seat, anywhere really. It's not like they're going to kick you out..it's not like they can." She kissed him on the cheek quickly and then darted up the stairs toward her mothers suite.

[Jack Rendel S5]

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Never noticed." He wiped his hands on his pants. Some stickiness was still left over from that apple. "I'm no song writer Mack. I find that letting my thoughts out in a different way is much more helpful. Particularly throwing objects around, yelling, and slamming doors. A usual day at my house. You're lucky to have music available. It's much better then getting a stubbed toe, believe me." Jack grinned. "A new song? Dear me, I'll have to make time for that. I couldn't miss it for anything." His face darkened as he registered her tone. It was like she expected everyone to have the chance. Jack was not musically inclined so this was really rather disappointing that Mack felt it was nothing to be proud of. He didn't comment though, preferring to keep quiet. He hardly knew how to explain himself about it; getting tongue-tied and confused would only cause him extreme grief and humiliation. Best to keep silent.

"An outside wedding. How original. Well, I suppose it's better then being stuffed in some room." He let Mack lead him out and explain the going ons quickly. It seemed like she knew what she was doing, or at least what was going on. If only he could share the insight. "Um, sorry, but what - ? Oh, right. Bye." He watched her go before turning to the courtyard. Hmm. Where should he sit? If he sat in back, he would be one of the first things Pam Holden saw. It would be no good to have a unconscious bride, now would it? He would have to change plans. The middle looked exciting, what with all the guests squashed together and waiting. Talking in hushed voices while casting glances at others suits and* or dresses to gossip about it. Jack watched with disgust. It would be just plain icky to get himself acquainted with them. No offense to Mack's family or anything. New family, he should say. With a scowl, he new proper well that the front was off limits. Perhaps the back in the corner would do well? It seemed to be the only option that he had.

Keeping to the wall as people busily ran up and down the steps, Jack made his way down to the courtyard full of anxiously awaiting people. He tried to draw little attention to himself by sticking on the fringe of the crowd, yet that almost always caused strange glances. So he got quite a bit of unwelcome attention as he made his way to his chair, avoiding the people he knew. Trevor and Dixie he didn't see, thank god. That lightened things up a bit. Yet when he sat down in his chair, getting ready for the inevitable long haul, he had to wonder: Why was he doing this again?

(*you never know, someone might decide to wear a suit and a dress together. They could possibly create a new trend.)