↳ can music save your mortal soul ?

closed starter || @jckwhetstone​

“Hey,” Lia whispered softly, crawling over the blankets to wake her husband up. Her heart beat raced as she thought about that term again–husband, her husband–and the magic that came with the title. It was the same kind of magic she had when she woke up next to him in the morning or fell asleep right beside him at night. She didn’t quite care she had only been using it for about a day or two–she hope that no matter what, it would never lose its magic to her. There was only one person she could have ever wanted to call that name and she still could not believe it had really happened. In fact, she often debating on asking Jack to pinch her just to make sure that this was, in fact, reality. A small burst of laughter bubbled up in her chest as she learned forward to kiss his shoulder. “Wake up sleepy head, come on–breakfast is gonna get cold.” Lia had not made a proper breakfast in years–well, at least, not for her. Sometimes for her roommate when they had someone over–but this was different. Everything was different now and the idea of a new adventure gave her a new rush of energy–plus, with her performance earlier in the morning, she was feeling a new level of enthusiasm. “I even made homemade whipped cream! That’s gotta be tempting enough to get you out of bed,” She giggled and brushed a few curls out of his face. “Don’t leave your wife hanging.” 

Jack grumbled in his half-sleep, half-awake tiredness that often laced his bones in the morning. Having not been used to waking up next to someone, the sound startled him until he realized just who had tried to get him up- his wife. He still wasn’t over the feeling. How could he be, with having only been officially married for a little over twenty-four hours and the fact that it was Magnolia, of all people. He rolled over and smiled up at the blonde, a dopey smile pulling at the corners of his lips, “Breakfast?” It’d been so long since he’d woken up with breakfast and a wife and holy god, for once he felt... happy. He’d been thankful that Halloween had fallen on a weekend this year, so that he could enjoy these few precious hours with his partner. Jack pushed his nose into the palm of Lia’s hand as she brushed his curls away, before capturing her wrist in his own hand and pulling it down to give it a gentle kiss, “Happy wife, happy life, right?” He sat up and stretched, feeling his bones pop and his muscles turn into jelly- they’d had a long night of decorating and... decorating and honestly, Jack would’ve been happy to spend the entire day cuddling but it was clear that his wife was not going to let that happen. He pulled himself out of bed and stepped towards Magnolia’s side, only to scoop her up in his arms, “I didn’t get to carry you over the threshold of our “house” last night, so let me take advantage of this.” A small laugh escaped his tired voice as he stepped into the kitchen and placed Lia gentle down on the counter, “What did I do to deserve this feast?” He kissed Lia a few times- a few pecks and a deeper kiss- before grabbing a plate. 

“I’m sure you have your reasons Mrs Landon, but I will not have you talk to my staff like that.” Max responded in a cool calm way as an older lady ranted to him. It was his first day and already he had a woman demanding that one of his staff be fired for looking at her in the wrong way. After managing to calm the lady,  Max walked away from her with a sigh and an eye roll. He could deal with a lot of things, but he wouldn’t stand for his staff to be mistreated.  Max made his way into the bar area to get to the ranting old woman a complimentary glass of champagne and then shook his head. “ Would you believe that I have been working here for less then an hour and already I have chaos and drama.” He rolled his eyes and poured a glass of champagne for the guest and then smiled as the yoda heighted old lady appeared next to him demanding the glass. “ Here you go Mrs Landon, you have a lovely day now.” He said  with a smile and watched her walk away. “ Jesus Christ that was close.” he sighed. 

@malnatimedia​

Jack was at the bar- because honestly, when was he not at the bar- and caught the commotion from the start. He’d seen Mrs. Landon plenty of times- she was a regular that liked to start shit for free shit (which he knew, he’d seen her pull it enough times but honestly... if she could afford to stay at the Malnati...). Jack rolled his eyes as the new manager walked over- he could tell the guy was new, but only because Jack had been here for a long six months and had seen too many friends come and go in that time. He tipped the neck of his bottle at the manager as Mrs. Landon waddled off, “You did great, champ,” a snort followed, “Don’t let it get to you. She’ll pop in every now and again for no reason. I’m convinced she just likes the taste of our cheapest champagne but refuses to pay for it because it’s cheap.” Jack stuck a friendly hand out, “Jack Whetstone, Guest. But honestly, more like resident for how long I’ve been here. The good thing is that while I do like to start shit, I don’t usually do it to employees... while they’re working.” He leaned back in his chair at the bar, “Sorry that happened on your first day, though. Hopefully the rest goes smoother.”

“What about Thanksgiving though?” Nic had always been partial to the holidays that surrounded food–but Thanksgiving had been particularly special to her. Her favorite memories came from watching football games with her brother and dad–the one time of year he wasn’t….well, a jerk–and destroying an entire pie from kroger each. She didn’t like that people were so quick to just…erase it–but then again this was not what this conversation was about. She had to stop getting so sidetracked–but perhaps, if she’d taken a moment to actually get to know Lia she wouldn’t have been surprised. Although–she probably would have if Jack had told her he was getting married–

Oof, that stung. She felt herself recoil, slightly, from his remarks–her face dropping its wall of emotionless stupor as Nic tried to process. Selfish, again. Selfish, selfish, selfish. Was that what she was? Was that how she had always been? She chewed her lip uncomfortably as she let the silence envelop them. Maybe it was–maybe Jack had just finally learned what other’s had known from the beginning. They say if something is repeated as a pattern in your life–there’s probably some truth to it. Not even three weeks ago, Beau was saying the same thing right to her face, in that stupid room. Her chest tightened again and she took a deep breath. “I never said I wasn’t happy for you Jack. I never once said that–and yeah, my attitude wasn’t the most warm and fuzzy. And I’m sorry–I’m really fucking sorry. I wasn’t the kind of friend you needed then and I haven’t really been lately. You deserved to have someone celebrating your big night, shooting the shit with you and having a grand time. I didn’t do that–” She winced again–he had a fantastic night, without her. In spite of her. Not only had it begun but it had….really taken off. He didn’t need her, he had who he needed in his life now. She’d proven to be less a friend in a time where she should have been one–and no one needed dead weight. She felt her eyes start to water and she immediately felt sick–not here. Nic desperately did not want to cry in front of him–because then she’d make it about herself again and she didn’t want that. She had come here to apologize–really apologize. Why couldn’t she get it out right? “I instead let my frustration become the focus and it wasn’t fair to you.” A pause and she dug her nails into her thigh deeper to divert attention from her desire to cry. “And Lia. And I’m sorry–I really am. That’s not the kind of friend you deserve–you deserve someone like Noah.” This wasn’t going to end well–she needed to leave. He clearly did not want her there and she’d said her piece. Well, most of it. The part that mattered, anyway. “But I am sorry–and I’m really glad you’re night wasn’t ruined.” Another pause, and a deep breathe. “I-uh, I should go though. Don’t want to interrupt your morning routine..”

“What about it? Christmas decorations go up early- no one decorates for Thanksgiving where I’m from. It’s all about Christmas lights and displays and who can have the biggest and boldest.” He didn’t particularly mind Thanksgiving, but since his dad passing close to the holiday, he tried to avoid it like the plague or spend a few weeks with his momma if he could. He didn’t... hate Thanksgiving, he just... wished it didn’t happen as close as it did to the anniversary of his dad’s passing, that’s all. Nic wouldn’t have known that, though- she’d met him after the fact, and it’s not like he spoke about his dad often enough. 

“That’s the thing, Nic. You don’t typically say very much, but it all comes out through your actions. You didn’t have to say you weren’t happy for me for me to know that you weren’t pleased. I’m not a fuckin’ idiot that only cares about alcohol and sex, you know I can handle the emotional shit if I need to.” It was as if something had snapped in Nic in that moment- he saw tears well up in her eyes and an instant feeling of regret washed over him. This was his best friend, he shouldn’t be making her hurt, just because she made him hurt. That wasn’t how friendship worked. Jack swallowed his pride, pushed his hurt away and stepped towards Nic to let her hands fall on her shoulders, “You’re really just gonna leave in the middle of a conversation?” He shook his head, “I never would’ve pinned you as someone that ran away from hard conversations, Nic. Look- it’s fine, alright? If it’s tearing you up enough inside to make you want to cry,” Jack carefully and gently forced her chin to look at him, “Then I forgive you, it’s fine. You made the effort to come up here already and I appreciate that. I just don’t understand why you got so upset. You’re my best friend, me getting married isn’t going to change who I am. Trust me- I like to drink and talk shit too much for a wedding certificate and a gold ring to change that. It’s not like you to get all up in arms over something like this.”

“Christmas? Already?” Nic blurted, slightly surprised. It wasn’t even…thanksgiving yet and they were already decorating for a December–Nic, focus. Get it together, you have a mission. Ok, so he opened the door, that was good. She could work with that. “I suppose its good to get a jump on things early.” Nic said, keeping her tone as level as possible. She would not let her emotions get the best of her, not today. She was mature–she was not a child. She could prove that. Nic feeling like she had to prove something was nothing new, but it felt so odd having to do it in front of Jack. Even when he wasn’t asking her too–or was he. Getting distracted again, Nicolette–focus. “Well, sounds like it was a nice night.” The blonde rubbed the  back of her neck, her anxiety making it hard for her to stand still–not that it was ever easy for her in the first place. The silence felt heavy and she did not like the way it weighed heavy on her shoulders. She wanted to get defensive, but up a wall and keep people out–but the truth was she was tired of doing that to everyone. And she didn’t want to do it with Jack. After all, he was her best friend–is. She could not afford to think otherwise or else she wasn’t sure what she’d end up doing–crying or getting sick or maybe a combination of both. 

The jab made her wince and she bit her lip again–this was becoming all too familiar to the last time she had an emotional conversation with someone and by goodness, it was not her favorite state to be in. “I didn’t call you an ass wipe, first of all.” She let out a sigh–he wasn’t going to make this easy–but why should he? It wasn’t like she had really been too compassionate to him last night. “I–I came to say I was sorry. Am sorry. For, uh, ruining your night last night. It wasn’t…cool. Or very best friend like.” Understatement of the year, Nic.

Jack rolled his lips together in a half-smile, not able to bring himself to give the blonde much more than that, “Yeah, Christmas. Starts November First, every year, right on the dot. She’s been doing it for as long as I can remember.” The first was always a bitter day for him- a sad day, more like- where he just couldn’t get Magnolia out of his mind. This year, though, he was glad it was different. Jack watched Nic process her thoughts with an apathetic look- he took a lot of shit, he could handle a lot of shit- but his best friend basically telling him to fuck himself on his wedding day? That was reason enough for Jack to be upset. 

“You might not’ve said it, but I know you were thinking it,” Jack uncrossed his arms and let them fall to his side, only so that he could lean against the wall outside his suite’s door. “Sorry?” Jack bit back a laugh- it wasn’t like Nic to actually apologize for something, and even now- even though Jack knew she was trying- it just didn’t feel like she was. He bit his lip, “Look, Nic. I get what you’re trying to do. Save face, yadda yadda. Don’t think you ruined my night,” he bit out, a harsher tone coming out than expected. Jack wasn’t expecting to still be this upset, “I’m not going to give you the pleasure of thinking that because quite honestly, I had a fantastic night. Would I have liked it more if we’d gotten to share a few drinks together as best friends, abso-fucking-lutely. But we didn’t- because you made it about you. I get that you constantly have a lot of shit going on in your life, Nic. I do. With your brother, now your ex- I get it- but for once I just wanted you to be happy for me and celebrate. I didn’t tell anyone except momma. That was the point. It was half thought out, at that. I just don’t understand why you got so upset. Especially when I didn’t think marriage was something you even cared about.”

closed starter || @jckwhetstone​

Nic chewed on her lip, running a free hand through her blonde hair as the other was shoved in her pocket. Her feet carried her back and forth the small distance she’d chosen in the hallway, right in front of Jack’s door but she couldn’t bring herself to knock yet. First of all–was she even sure he’d answer? He’d made it crystal clear that she was being childish, that it was her problem for being hurt in the first place. Because right–it was so easy to just…suck it up that your best friend chose to not tell you he was getting married? A heavy sigh rushed out of her and she learned against the wall, looking at his door. Maybe he had a point–of course, she had a right to be hurt but perhaps she had once again been selfish and didn’t think about her words before she said them out loud. She didn’t mean to hurt him–and she meant what she said in that guest book entry. But…marriage is not something that is usually sprung on people–and marriage is also time consuming. Time was finite and having a spouse meant priorities changed, right? Which brought the blonde to her second point of contention: was she even sure he’d answer? What if she was face to face with little miss sunshine and have to deal with that whole thing. Then again she was making large assumption Lia had even moved in and…”Argh!” She groaned quietly, dropping her head in her hands. Jack was her best friend–her meant the world to her and knowing she had clearly hurt him–that she had pushed him away–was gnawing at her with almost greater intensity than her sleepless nights over Liam. She was going to need to take the risk–she had too. 

Taking a deep breathe she stood up from her spot on the ground and knocked on the door, her chest tight with nerves. “Hey–uh, it’s me.” Oh god, don’t hate me yet–please. 

Jack had been having a particularly good day- he woke up next to his wife that was certainly not dressed in anything aside from a twisted sheet and a dopey smile. He’d even called out of work for the day to try to catch up and spend some time with Lia- they’d spent most of the night decorating (and then some), so when there was a knock at the door, Jack’s eyes glanced to his bedroom where Lia slept soundly. He was thankful that it’d been a long night, or he’d worry that they’d end up waking her and that wouldn’t have been the way he was hoping to wake his newlywed up. Jack recognized the voice instantly and bile quickly shot to his throat- he still couldn’t understand why Nic was upset. Sure, he’d gotten married, but he hadn’t changed otherwise. He still ate way too much food, he still smoked way too much pot, and he still loved his best friend (platonically, of course. Not that he’d need to remind anyone of that). Jack pulled the door open just as he pulled a shirt over his head and stepped out the door, letting it close gently behind him. “Uh, hey,” Jack rubbed the back of his neck and looked awkwardly at the wall next to Nic’s head, “I’d uh, invite you in, but it kinda looks like a disaster right now with Christmas decorations literally sprawled all over the floor and Lia’s still asleep so.” 

Jack shrugged his shoulders and shoved his fists into the pockets of his pajama pants; he was certainly it was going to take Nic a lot longer than this for them to talk again. “So...” he dragged the word out, “What’s up? Come to tell me I’m an ass wipe again for putting myself and relationship before you? Or did you come for some other reason?”

JACK WHETSTONE || the Halloween Masquerade || #marriedinvegas

10/31/2020 - JACK & MAGNOLIA WHETSTONE

There’s a moment when you say to yourself, “Oh, there you are. I’ve been looking for you forever.” Except... my moment happened when when I was too young to even remember and then happened again six months ago in a random hallway, in a random hotel in Chicago. I’ve spent my life chasing the feeling of finding someone special and didn’t want to wait to make her mine forever. Happy wedding day, my love. 

If you’d like to listen to Jack & Lia’s wedding song, click here. 

If you’d like to read Jack’s vows to Lia, click here.

Beneath the cut is the story on how Jack and Lia got engaged, in their own perspectives. 

saf: why do skeletons make bad drinking partners?

saf: because they don't have the stomach for alcohol.

jack: i....

jack: i hate you

17. Who would be your ideal partner?

“A cute blonde that I grew up next to,” Jack shrugs his shoulders, a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

44. Do you have a strong accent?

“I don’t think I do- but all of my coworkers make fun of me. They say I sound like I’m from the back woods or somethin- but I don’t hear it.”

79. Who was your first real crush?

who is the happiest person that you know?

“The happiest person I know?” Jack thinks for a moment and sips his beer- his first thought is Magnolia, but he’s seen her emotions flip flop around (you know, like a normal person) that he actually gives it some additional thought. “My momma, I think. I guess- for someone that’s been through so much, she just still seems so happy and so at peace, you know?”

have you ever thought of baby names? 

“I mean, yeah- who hasn’t?” He shrugs his shoulders, “I mean, I should probably get to it since I’m in my thirties and all- but I feel like any name I actually decide on is up in the air until my spouse helps, you know? I’d like for my dad’s name to be included in my future son’s name somehow though- maybe a middle name? Jeremy- that was his name.”

what songs take you back to your teen years?

“Oh god- Thrift Shop by Macklemore- it’s what started the obsession. Also... Young, Wild, and Free by Snoop Dogg? I spent many nights driving around town with Derek to that song. Good times.” 

are you a good judge of character? have you ever really got it wrong? 

“You know- I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about it?” Jack chews on his bottom lip, “If someone wrongs me, I just ditch them. It’s harsh, yeah- but you know, people change and grow up. That’s good- they should- but I’m not gonna waste time waiting around for them to do it.” 

do you believe in destiny?

Jack rolls his eyes and motions for the next question. 

what is your favorite scent?

“The air after or just before a big storm- fresh and wet and just... it’s so comforting.”

have you ever been in love?

JACK WHETSTONE || Fall Festival - A Day at the Farm || A Look in his Camera Roll