Give Up & Let Go

It was over. And he just knew it.

"Just give me one more chance, just one and I swear-" Jack pleaded, feeling tears form quickly in his dark brown eyes, threatening to spill over at any second.

"You swear what?" Blake screamed, cutting him off.

"I swear I won't ever hurt you again!" Jack cried out, falling to his knees and grabbing her legs desperately.

He couldn't let this happen. He just couldn't let her walk out of his life just like that, just like it was nothing. He couldn't bear that thought, her leaving him.

He knew he fucked up, he knew he did, he knew this time wasn't just like every other time he stayed out late without her, or came home wasted, this time he crossed the line. This time he kissed another girl, granted he was drunk out of his mind, it still was really no excuse, and that was just too much for his girlfriend of two years to bear.

"You can't swear that, Jack! You can't! I- I'm leaving! I can't do this anymore, I can't take it, I'm done Jack," she sobbed, pushing him off of her, grabbing her packed suitcase quickly, and heading for the door.

"Blake please! I love you so much, I'm so sorry!" he begged, getting up off of his knees and following her to the door.

"It's too late for that shit Jack, I'm gone," she cried, facing him for only a moment before walking out of their apartment, and not looking back.

~~~~~~~

She wasn't his anymore.

That's all he could focus on, that simple fact. It rang in his mind on a continuous loop, 'she isn't yours anymore, she isn't yours anymore, she isn-' like a broken record.

She wasn't his anymore, and yet here he was. Watching and waiting, watching and waiting.

Why? More importantly, what for? He didn't know. He knew it just might be worthless to even bother with trying anymore.

Blake didn't want him anymore.

Worse than that, she was over him. Even worse? She was engaged.

Sure, it had been over a year since he had broken her heart, and they had broken up, but the pain still cut and pinched and burned into him every day.

Their last fight ringing in his ears sadly, never fading. Her leaving him, a distinct memory. A poignant retention of what he had put her through.

She moved on, it took her a little while, but she did. Jack seems to be just a distant memory to her, and no longer a thought that killed her with each passing day.

She moved on to a new boy, a nice boy, a sweet boy, someone who could never hurt her, even if he tried.

Connor McDonough was not like Jack Barakat, and she was still unsure if she was keen to that fact, or if it really bothered her.

She loved the younger boy, she really truly did. If she didn't, there is no way she would have agreed to marry him, but she was afraid, due to the fact that, despite how much she wishes it weren't true, she still has feelings for her ex. She still has a sharp, distinct attraction to him, that she can't seem to push out of her mind.

Jack was a memory. One she still was trying to forget. So now it's really troubling her, why today, of all days, her mind is wandering back to him.

Why today, on her wedding day, she wishes he was still in her life.
-

"Jack, don't do this man," Jacks best friend, Alex, said to him over the phone.

Jack sighed, shaking his head as he continued to make his way to the front of the wedding ceremony, spotting a single seat in the front row that practically had his name on it. Jack was cradling the device to his ear, trying to be discreet about it, but still earning a few annoyed glances from the guests around him. He flashed an apologetic smile, and continued on with his conversation.

"Alex, I can't let this happen okay, I- I love her, you know that, and she still loves me, you'll see," Jack said quietly, before ending the phone call, and sitting down quietly, no one else noticing simply because they were too caught up in their own conversations.

He checked the phone before slipping it in his pocket, it read 4:56. He had four minutes before the ceremony was due to start.

He knew the risks, he knew he might end up looking like a major tool, and his life might as well be over if she didn't take him back, but that was simply a risk he had to take. For the past year and a half he had been trying to build up the courage to fight for her back, but he just couldn't do it. Now, knowing this was his last chance, he just had to take it.

His palms were sweaty, and he was nervous that he looked like a dork in his tuxedo, especially since no one else around him was wearing one, he just thought that was the proper wedding attire, well it was too late to do anything about it now.

He was perhaps overly confident about not being noticed. He knew it wasn't likely any one of Blake's relatives would recognize him. He had recently dyed his blond and black hair just plain black, and cut it a little bit, it was styled way differently than it had looked a year and a half ago, the dark sunglasses he had on helped to disguise him a little bit as well.

He fiddled with his cufflinks nervously, feeling eyes bearing into him from behind his seat in the front row. He turned around skeptically, facing Bailey, Blakes best friend.

"I can't believe you! I thought Alex was joking!" she hissed in a hushed tone, leaning forward to speak in his ear as she spoke to him.

"I have to do this Bailey, you know she doesn't love him like she loved me," Jack replied in the same hushed tone.

"Jack! You're a little too late now, don't you think? She's getting married in two minutes!"

"I'm gonna stop it," he replied simply, with assurance.

"You're insane," she replied with a slight chuckle, "Well, I was waiting for you to show up already, she needs you, you know,"

Jack grinned wildly and nodded, "I need her too, and here's my chance," he finished his sentence just as the music started up, and everyone faced forward as the groom and grooms men all lined up. He took off his sunglasses and slipped them into him pocket, knowing that even if he was noticed now, no one would be able to say a word.

-
Connor McDonough didn't know what to think when he first saw his fiancé's ex boyfriend sitting in the very front row of the wedding. He wasn't even sure if he was seeing things correctly at first.

He scanned the row, first and foremost seeing her immediate family, and then, he saw who else, but Jack. He had a different hair cut, but it was definitely him.

Connor tried not to gasp, or do anything rash, but seeing Jack at his wedding made him want to really punch him in the face. He thought that Jack had no right to be there, better yet, he knew that.

Jack had broken his fiancé's heart, and sure, Connor was glad, because if it weren't for Jack doing that to her, Connor would've never gotten the chance with her. It still made him so mad that Jack would have the nerve to show up.

Connor couldn't dwell too long on the fact that Jack was there, because before he knew it, Blake was walking down the aisle, and all he could focus on was her.
-

Blakes heart was beating rapidly as she took those first few steps down the aisle. Everyone turned in their seats to watch her, and she had to fight the urge to laugh nervously at all the attention she was getting.

Today was her big day, and now was her big moment, and in the back of her head, well, more somewhere in her heart, something just didn't feel right.

Her dress suddenly felt too tight, the smiles all around her seemed too fake, the white and pristine look of the venue seemed too polished, and the worst thing of all, Connor seemed too perfect.

As she walked down the aisle, she couldn't help but let her mind wander back to Jack. Jack wasn't perfection, he was far from it, and to her, that was perfect, in all the irony.

She knew he had messed up too many times to count, but that didn't mean he loved her any less. Jack was silly, irrational, and naive, but he was kind, sweet, and loving. Jack liked to party, drink, and get fucked up, but he liked to hold her, kiss, and have fun with her too. Jack was messy, dirty, and obnoxious, but he was funny, outgoing, and gallant all the same. Jack was a mess, but he couldn't help it, and she couldn't help but love him for it.

And those were her thoughts as she got up to the alter, tears in her eyes as she looked at Connor , and thought of Jack.

Her heart wasn't into this, it never really was.

She was trying to forget about Jack, that's all she ever tried to do. She loved Connor , but not like she loved Jack.

Her mind was racing as she tried to focus on what the priest was saying, Connor kept looking at her with anxious eyes, that only made her anxious as well. Doubts were swirling like mad in her troubled head, but all she could do was flash a fake smile, and go along with it all.

She felt as if this wasn't really happening, like maybe it was all a dream or something, and soon she would wake up, and Jack would be right next to her, snoring as usual, and she would laugh, and kiss him awake, and that would be that.

But she knew this wasn't a dream, and she was getting married, so why was she doing this to herself, damnit?! She needed to forget Jack, and know that after today, her life would be a whole new one, a married one, with a new last name and everything.

She willed herself not to cry at that thought.

"Is there anyone that objects to the marriage of these two people?" the priest asked loudly, snapping Blake back to reality.

She took a deep breath, knowing this wasn't movie, and no one would object to this. Jack wouldn't pop out of nowhere and-

"I object," she heard a deep voice say from the aisles, followed by a chorus of gasps.

Her heart beat seemed to stop completely, and her eyes widened in shock as she turned to see if it was really who she thought she heard, though she knew there was no way if could be anyone else.

She saw him, and she had to fight to not cry out in relief and astonishment.

"Keep going," she heard Connor mutter quickly to the priest, who just stared in shock as Jack got up from his seat and walked forward.

"No, wait, I object!" Jack said louder this time.

Blake looked around nervously, seeing her family and friends faces almost would've been funny if it weren't so devastatingly serious.

"Jack, sit down, don't do this," Connor muttered quietly as Jack made it to the front of the alter and stared at Blake.

"I'm sorry bro, but you really can't have her," Jack said with a shrug.

"Jack-" Blake said softly, staring at him with wide eyes, feeling like this whole thing was all too surreal.

"I love you," Jack said to Blake quickly, before facing the crowd.

"I'm sorry, to everyone who came out her today. I know most of you want to kill me right now, but just know that I wouldn't be here doing this right now if I didn't love this girl right here," Jack began, motioning to Blake.

Connor continued to glare at Jack, but walked to Blake, taking her hand roughly and speaking quietly in her ear, "Blake, ignore him, it's gonna be okay,"

She shrugged him away softly, and shook her head, looking at him with sad eyes, "Just wait Connor , just-" she began but was cut off by Jack speaking up again.

"I made a big mistake, a year and a half ago, and not a single day has gone by that I haven't thought about her, and how much I love her, so much. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let her do this," Jack said with a nod, the wedding guests continued to stare at him in shock and awe, not knowing what else to do. Blake's mom was smiling, tears in her eyes, she was actually happy Jack was here, doing this, she always liked him so much more than Connor .

"Blake, I know this is crazy, and I'm crazy, and this is just a lot for you to take in right now," Jack said as he walked over and took her hands in his, "But I love you so much, I never ever stopped. I need you in my life, without you, I'm pretty much nothing," he chuckled softly, "I know I've made mistakes in the past, but if you take me back... I can promise you, with all of my heart, that I will never hurt you again." Jack said with hopeful eyes, looking at the girl he loved and adored.

Blake couldn't even stop the tears from falling from her eyes as she stared at Jack, then back to Connor , who looked devastated, as if he already knew what would be the outcome of this.

"Jack, I-" she said softly, staring at him.

"Wait, one more thing," he said to her quickly before facing the crowd again, then back to her, "if I'm wrong, if I am wasting my time here, and just made myself look like the biggest douchebag ever, then by all means, stay with Connor , he's a nice guy, he has a nice band, a nice life, and maybe you guys could be happy tighter, I mean, sure, I'll leave, and you all can just continue on with this pretty little wedding, no hard feelings," he sighed heavily, "Or, you can leave here with me, and I can make you happier than he ever could. We could leave, and never look back," he looked deep into her eyes and gave a small smile, staring at her for a few seconds before speaking again, "So if you don't want me, in your heart, you honestly are over me, and over us, then I can be man enough to let you go... But see, I really don't think that's the case, and maybe this is just me being my typical cocky self," Jack said to her with a smile, "But I think you still love me, almost as much as I love you,"

Blake sighed heavily as she cried out, all the memories of her times with Jack hitting her suddenly like a ton of bricks. She knew he was right. He was totally completely ridiculously right. She loved him, she wanted him. She needed to just follow her heart, and that was that.

Without another thought, she leaned forward, and she kissed him, in front of the entire wedding.

Connor stormed out quickly, walking down the aisle with tears spilling down his cheeks, feeling like his heart was kind of just ripped to shreds, but hey, this wasn't his fairy tale, it was Blakes.

Jack smiled and wrapped his arms around her tightly, picking her up and spinning her as she cried her happy tears.

The crowd just stared in awe. No one knowing what to say or do, besides a few select people who were smiling, and clapping, knowing this is what was meant to be.

Jack picked Blake up bridal style, and they looked at the audience of people with grins on their faces, as Jack began walking down the aisle with Blake in his arms.

"And that's all folks," Jack chuckled as he neared the exit.

Blake laughed and buried her face into his neck, a huge smile still plastered on her features. She just could not be happier, which was a good thing, I mean regardless of if she got married or not, it was still her wedding day, and she deserved to be happy.

When they got out of the venue, Jack put her down, and kissed her passionately, before taking her hand and practically running to his car.

"I love you," he said to her as he ran, and she laughed.

"Well good, because I love you too, you idiot," she said with a grin.

He chuckled as they got to his car, he opened her door for her before running to the drivers side and slipping in.

"So where to?" he asked as he out the keys into the ignition.

"Oh what, you didn't have some sort of elaborate plan for what you would do once I left my wedding for you?" she asked with a laugh.

Jack shrugged, "Well, no... I never thought that far ahead," Jack said sincerely with a shrug.

Blake laughed at him before speaking again, "Well, where can we go when I'm wearing this wedding dress?"

"Waffle house?" he suggested, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

"You know it baby," she chuckled as he began driving off, into the sunset? Not quite, but to the waffle house, in wedding attire. This might not have been the ideal fairy tale for most, but for Blake and Jack, it was nothing short of perfection.