The bike rumbled loudly as I rolled across the pavement before coming to a stop and cute the engine. I didn't remove myself from the seat yet though. I wanted to enjoy the sun that had soaked through the leather of my jacket and into my skin. Never in a million years did I think I would find myself back in my little hometown of Charming. When I left at the tender age of sixteen I vowed to never return. But that was ten years ago and I didn't have a choice now. I had nothing left except for this. Maybe this. Would he even remember me? It had been so long ago when Daddy died and I ran. I could have wrote, could have texted or emailed or even come back but I didn't. Instead it had been nothing but me, Daddy's bike and the pavement underneath my wheels for most of those years. Eventually I realized I would never find a home like Charming and had to come back. Even if that meant facing the consequences.
With one last breath I pulled myself up off the bike and removed the helmet leaving it on the handle. Thankfully no one was outside of the club which meant I had a few more seconds to turn and drive away if I chose to. Instead of doing so I bucked up and slowly pushed open to door into the dimly lit bar. I could hear the laughter and low music, the sounds of glass bottles on table tops and pool balls clacking against each other before I could see it. Once my eyes had adjusted to the lighting it became hard to breathe. He saw me first, then the others. The room grew quiet aside from the music and my flight or fight instinct flooded. Swallowing the fear that was climbing in my chest I let go of the door and slowly stepped forward. All eyes were on me as I made my way across the bar towards the one with the salt and pepper hair. I didn't even make it half way across when I felt arms around me. It took me a few seconds to realize Jax had wrapped me in a hug so tight I could hardly breathe.
It was surprise that surged through me before a small sliver of happiness as I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my cheek against his shoulder. "Jax." I whispered. He said something but it was too muffled to hear. When he finally pulled back he was smiling as everyone else looked on curiously.
"Madison McGee. What the hell are you doing back in Charming? It's been what, seven or eight years?" He left his hands on my shoulders and I didn't mind a bit.
"Ten." I said lowly. My eyes flickered towards the older one quickly before settling back on Jax. The smile spread across his face killed me. I had run away from home, away from him ten years ago and here he was accepting me with open arms as if nothing happened. I could have stood there just smiling at Jax forever but I wasn't lucky enough. I could hear the scuffling as the man stood from his chair, the others following right behind. They had to have remembered. I could remember a few of the faces; Opie and his father Piney, Tig whom I never really cared for, and him. Clay Morrow. The one I had tried to kill right before I ran away. It was like the blood in my veins had become ice as he advanced on me. Jax sensed me tense up and turned to find his step father mere inches away. Stepping in front of me as protection I put a hand on his arm. "It's ok. I knew what would happen if I came back." I whispered and tried to give him a smile. He nodded once before taking one step to the side so he wasn't completely blocking me.
"Clay." I said in greeting. He still looked the same as when I left. The cold and somehow caring look in his eyes. Rough hands, large arms, cold demeanor; it was all still there.
"Maddie." The silence was unbearable. Everyone just stood there, occasionally shooting glances at each other. Finally Jax broke the silence.
"Clay look she…" Clay cut him off with his hand.
"I am the president of this club and I will be the one to make this decision. It was my life that was aimed at." I could feel Jax tense wanting to fight back. I slipped my hand into his and squeezed.
"I came back because this is the only family I have. I was young when my dad died. I know I shouldn't have questioned why you did it. I had nothing left when you took him and I flew into a murderous rage. I have spent the last ten years thinking about what I did and punishing myself. I came here to pay the consequences, whatever the cost. I'll go without a fight." My throat closed in around itself shutting me up. I had fully known this could be a death sentence walking into the bar like this but I took that chance. I braced myself for the first blow as Clay took one step forward and raised his arms. I wasn't going to fight back. I was going to take what was coming to me. Closing my eyes I swallowed hard as I felt his arms around my small frame. What the fuck? I opened my eyes and turned to look at Jax. He stood there with a look I figured mirrored my own. Shock, confusion. I didn't hug him back, just stood there until he stepped back.
"It's good to have you home Madison." He smiled and I almost laughed. What the hell was going on? You could see from the looks of the other members faces they were as lost as I was. Clay must have noticed and laughed out loudly. "Come on, did you really think I was gonna shoot you right here in the club? Let bygones be bygones huh kid? Now someone get Madison a fucking beer." He stalked off towards the bar, the others all visibly relaxing and joining him. I couldn't move. I stood there watching their retreating backs not sure what to do.
"Jax?" I whispered and looked at him. He only shrugged and wrapped an arm around my shoulders and began leading me to the bar. I shuffled alongside him until he gently pushed me down on to a stool. Almost immediately Clay pushed a bottle into my hand and lifted it to my mouth. I took a few gulps before placing the bottle onto the polished bar top. Looking over the president's shoulder I saw two guys sitting at a table close to the bar. I only noticed them because they kept looking over at me. I didn't recognize them and on one of their cuts it said Prospect. The prospect one smiled and lifted two fingers in a wave. The other shot me a look then turned away. Frowning I hopped off the stool and almost ran out of the bar and back to my bike.
The warm air felt nice compared to the stale smoke filled one I had just been breathing in. The seat felt warm and comfortable as I sat down but didn't get ready to leave. What the hell was I doing back in Charming? This was so stupid. And why the fuck did Clay just welcome me back? I threw god only knows how many knives at him before hitting him with a fucking chair. If Gemma hadn't come in with that gun pointed at me I would have kept going. I knew she didn't want to shoot me. The way her eyes had filled with tears as she screamed at me to run.
"Maddie, you ok?" I heard Jax before he was even close. I didn't turn to face him.
"Yea, just a lot being back." Tightening my hands around the handle bars I pictured taking off again and this time not coming back. "I guess I'm still kind of in shock with what just happened with Clay." I sighed and stood up off the bike. I was barely fully off the bike when Jax wrapped his arms around me pulling my tight against his chest.
"Shits been off Maddie. Just take it as it is. I don't know if I could have just sat by and let you be killed." I could feel him shaking his head as mine pressed tighter against his chest. I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of motor oil, smoke and sweat. The same old Jackson Teller I knew and loved. We stood like that until I heard a familiar voice call out Jax's name tentatively. I could feel his arms loosen but not let go so I pulled away a little and opened my eyes. Was that…?
"Madison McGee?" I let go of Jax and took a step forward trying to place the face.
"Tara?" I asked. The smile that broke out across the female's face answered my question. Tara and I had always been kind of friends way back when she was dating Jax in school. At first she hated me and thought I was trying to steal him from her but once she started to learn a little about the club and my father's involvement in it she backed off. I suppose in her shoes I would have been a little protective too. Every girl in our school wanted the bad boy Jax Teller but he had his heart set on only one girl. It had been right before I left that she took off and broke his heart. It was good seeing her back and the way she looked at Jax, back in his life.
"When did you get back?" She asked before wrapping me in a hug.
"Today, just a little bit ago actually." I mumbled. I shot a look to Jax telling him to keep his mouth shut about what happened in the bar.
"Come on, let's grab some drinks and you can fill me in on what you have been up to." Silently I followed her back into the club.