Let's see, my muse has been working over time, this idea has been in my mind a little bit and now it's here. It's AU, a take on what Juice's 'story' would be like if he had started off in a different city after leaving Queens. So, here it goes, the first chapter of Sirens.

Queens, NY

"Where are you gonna go?" Aries Santiago looked at her best friend and furrowed her brow, worry etched in her gorgeous features as she watched the young man pack his bags. "You don't know anyone anywhere else but here Juice."

Juice paused looking back at the brunette before shrugging his shoulders, he didn't even have a fully thought out plan. He was just gonna jump in his Civic and drive until it either broke down or he found a city worth settling down in. "I can't stay here. Too many people are after me and I'm in too much trouble to start fresh. I'm going out west, maybe California. I don't know Ari, maybe I'll end up in New Mexico."

The brunette huffed, letting out a breath of frustration at her best friend's lack of a plan. "I'm just worried about you Juice. It's going to be the first time you're away from Queens, that you're away from your ma. She's gonna miss you!"

He shrugged again, thinking about his ma for a moment. "I think she rather me be alive and across the country than buried in a cemetery in Queens." He zipped up his bags and frowned. "Over two decades alive and I can pack everything I own in a few bags. Depressing."

Aries nodded and moved towards the man and wrapped her slender arms around his broad shoulders the best she could. "I'm gonna miss you Juice… If you ever need anything, I want you to call. I'll drop everything and come to wherever you're living. Don't hesitate to ask for money either, I know you're resourceful but you're going out there for a fresh start, one that doesn't involve illegal activity. Pretty sure that's what has you running now. I love you, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I love you too." He patted the top of her head and laughed when she smacked his arm away from her. "I'm going to be fine, you're gonna be the last person I call on for help. I will call you when I need to hear your lame ass jokes. I gotta head out, make sure you look out for my Ma, alright? Keep her sane and laughing."

"I will." She smiled and watched him pick up his bags before flashing her his signature large and goofy smile. "Wait… I have something for you." She dug around in her purse before pulling out a black envelope. "I want you to take this money. Use it for snacks, gas, motels, whatever you need to make it to wherever life is taking you. Don't refuse it, I gotta look out for you somehow since I didn't get the invite to up and leave Queens." She pushed it into his chest and patted his arm. "You can pay me back whenever. Just gotta make sure you're safe."

Juice slipped the envelope into the front pocket of his backpack and smiled at Aries. "Thanks, mom. I'll pay it back in full." He pulled her into another hug, inhaling slowly, engraining the scent of her in his brain. It was going to be a long time before he saw her again, before he could hug her and joke around with her. "I'm going to miss you Aries Santiago!" He pulled away from her and laughed. "If anyone asks, you don't know where I went, alright? I'm not gonna drag you into my shit."

Aries crossed her arms and smirked. "I know! You've told me this a hundred times already. If you're leaving me, go now before I end up packing and jumping into your piece of shit car with you. I'll see you when I see you."

Eight Months Later…
Tacoma, WA

Juice looked at the line of bikes that he had just finished washing as a punishment for not tending the bar correctly the night before. It had taken him a couple of hours to get them clean and up to par. Kicker, the charter president wanted his bike washed but not waxed, Gage, the vice president wanted his washed and double waxed and the weirdest request ever was from Casper who wanted half of his bike waxed and the other washed. It was a lot to remember but he was grateful that his memory was agreeing with him today. "All done." He looked over at his friend and fellow prospect Jimmy and smiled. "How's the shoveling of snow coming?"

Jimmy glared at Juice. "How does it look like it's coming along? I'm out here in boots and boxers, shoveling snow out of the way. I'm fucking miserable but I just keep reminding myself, five more months and I'll be a full patch. You're so lucky that you got Happy as a sponsor, Kozik is cool but he's a bit goofy."

He chuckled and shook his head. He didn't feel lucky to have Happy as a sponsor, in all honesty he would have preferred Kozik. They got along way more than him and Happy did. Happy was the strict older brother while Kozik was the goofy best friend to the strict older brother. "He's so intense. He's taught me a few helpful things. Still sorta scares the shit out of me though." He tucked the red rag into his back pocket and looked around the expanse and smiled. He was as far from Queens as he could've gotten. "You can always talk to Happy and ask him for some advice, he's not going to bite you. Doesn't seem like a biter."

"Are you shitting me? I'm still terrified of him and the bigger one, Keahi or Fire or whatever they call him." Jimmy shook his head as he looked around the lot and sighed. "I'm just waiting to get a full patch and get to do more than bitch work all of the time."

Juice shook his head and laughed. "I'm waiting for the patch in party. I hear those are legendary. Kozik was telling me it's even more out of control than the Friday night parties they have around here." He looked over to the clubhouse to see Happy and Kozik walking out of it, both holding beers. "Look like you're doing shit, Kozik and Hap just walked out."

"Shit." Jimmy grumbled as he began slipping on a patch of ice, grabbing a hold of Juice's kutte before slamming into the ground and having Juice land on top of him. "Fuck!"

"Look at the idiots." Happy shook his head as him and Kozik walked towards the two men laying on the ground. "Can't even shovel snow right. Get up, now." He looked down at Juice and Jimmy and rolled his eyes. "Ain't gonna get anything done by laying down on the job."

Kozik laughed as he rested a booted foot on his prospect's chest. "I don't know what you're doing. I don't think Kicker told you to shovel the snow like this. Pretty sure he said to haul it to the end of the driveway, way down there!" He looked down at Jimmy and shook his head. "Having trouble following directions?"

Jimmy shook his head. "No, no. Kicker just told me to get it off to the side so it'll melt and flow down the driveway… He said the sun will melt it." He pushed Kozik's foot off his chest and stood up, wrapping his arms around himself as he worked through the chill he was filling.

"Just take your ass into the clubhouse and warm up." Kozik slapped the young man's back and shoved him towards the building. "I don't need your shit shrivelling up and falling off."

Happy shook his head and watched Kozik and Jimmy walk towards the clubhouse before looking at Juice. "You did a good job with the bikes." He nodded his head, offering the young man a rare compliment. He wasn't about complimenting, ego boosting or babying Juice. He needed Juice to learn that there was a certain way shit worked out in SAMTAC, he was going to teach him to protect the club and the family of the members at all costs. So far though, it was proving a bit difficult to get Juice's head wrapped around the concept. "You think you can manage to stop making me look bad?"

Juice nodded as his smile faded from his face. "Yeah, I don't know what happened last night man. I just slipped up and didn't handle what I needed to. It won't happen again." He shook his head as he and Happy stopped in front of the bikes. "I washed yours just like you wanted me to."

He shrugged his shoulders and examined his bike as he took a sip of his beer. "It's a bitch to wash all the bikes. We all went through it though, the members just like fucking with the prospects. If you give them a reason to, they'll give you more bitch work. Right now though, you're getting shit tossed at you for little mistakes, preventable ones. Just think a little before you act and they won't give you as much shit as they do the other kid."

"I'm trying my best here, the only thing I have going for the whole being assigned to cleaning is that I don't mind it much. I like things neat and organized." Juice smiled and looked at Happy. "What was your prospect year like?"

Happy rolled his eyes. "Don't let them know that you love cleaning or you'll be cleaning their houses." He tossed his empty can into the trash and sat down at the metal picnic table. "It was like yours, not as much punishment. I did what I needed to do to complete it and get my patches. Within a few years I had earned my 'Unholy Ones' patch. It varies from person to person, you got five months left and then we'll take it to the table."

He smiled and nodded, eyeing the patches on Happy's kutte. "I just wanna be part of the family. I already consider all the guys my brothers. I just hope I can keep it up for the next five months and making you and them proud. Show you guys I'm not a waste of time."

Happy smirked. "Glad to see you're finally understanding how shit works around here. I gotta head out soon, you gonna be good around here? Think you can listen to at least Gage? Shit, even listen to Casper. Just power through it all, you're almost finished."

"Yeah, yeah. I can do that." Juice nodded, watching Happy move from the table and towards his bike before he moved off the table himself and straight into the clubhouse.

SOA

"Juice!" Casper shouted into the man's ear doubling over in laughter as Juice jumped. "Gotcha! I need another beer!"

Juice rubbed his ear and looked at Casper before looking towards the bar. "Yeah, I'll grab you one. You want anything else man?"

"Nope! Just a beer." Casper pulled a passing sweetbutt onto his lap and squeezed her thigh. "Make it two beers!"

"Got it." He nodded and moved towards the beer, quickly grabbing two beers before turning back to Casper and seeing him making out with the same redheaded sweetbutt that had been making out with another brother just moments before. "Here." He cracked both beers open before setting them down on the side table. "If you need me, just shout for me." He mosied off towards the pool table, picking up empty cans and bottles as he went.

"Juice! Juice!" Jimmy jogged towards his friend and smacked the back of his head. "You gotta help me with the bathroom. I can't get the sink to turn off."

Juice paused and looked over at Jimmy and groaned. "So, did you just leaving it running and unattended?" He shoved the trash into a bag before tying it off and moving towards the bathroom ahead of Jimmy. "You put a bin or some towels down right?"

"No." Jimmy shook his head as they walked into the bathroom, his boots squeaking on the wet floor as he watched Juice twist the handle on the sink and get the water to stop running. "I swear I tried that shit! It wouldn't turn off! It just started flowing more!"

He rolled his eyes, flashing the man a confused look. "Maybe you were turning it the wrong way! You try to turn it the other way? Righty, tighty; lefty, loosey." He crossed his arms as the door swung open violently and Kicker and Gage appeared. "Just cleaning up this mess." He looked at the President and VP.

Gage looked between both men and smirked. "Why don't you two grab your bed sheets and clean this shit up." He crossed his arms and exchanged a look with Kicker. "Better yet, why don't you guys sleep in here tonight, just set up camp."

"Seriously?" Jimmy shook his head, taking immediate note of the mistake he had made. "Sorry Gage."

"Like I said, set up camp in here." Gage pushed Jimmy's head. "I mean it, if I see you two prospects sleeping anywhere else, you'll lose your kuttes immediately. Right Kicker?"

Kicker nodded. "Right. I'd clean this mess up, wouldn't wanna ruin your mattresses from the water."

Juice clenched his fists, waiting for Kicker and Gage to retreat before turning towards Jimmy. "Seriously? You dragged my ass in here for help and now I'm getting a fucking punishment because you flooded the bathroom!"

"I'm really sorry but it won't be that bad. It's not like we have to sleep in here right now… We can wait until the party is over and no one needs to use the bathroom." Jimmy nodded as he shrugged his shoulders. "It could be worse, I mean we could've been told to sleep outside in the snow I shoveled."

"Oh, that's worse than sleeping in a nasty ass bathroom?" He rolled his eyes and pushed his friend out of the bathroom, grab your sheets. No way in hell I'm using mine for your mess. I didn't do this shit, I just tried to help a brother out." He followed Jimmy into his room and shook his head again. "You're room is dirtier and smellier than the bathroom, no wonder you don't think it's a gross punishment."

"Like your room is any neater. All the guys are slobs." Jimmy ripped his sheets off the bed and balled them up in his arms as he moved out of his room behind Juice and next door to Juice's room. "Alright, maybe your room is freakishly neat." He looked around the small space and shook his head. "We still gotta drop your mattress on the bathroom floor too."

Juice shook his head again. "Your mattress goes down first, then we'll put mine on top. Sleep feet to head." He backed out of his room and sighed. "You start cleaning that shit up, I gotta call to return." He watched Jimmy disappear into the bathroom before he walked out of the side door and to the back of the clubhouse, passing through the hole in the chain link fence and towards his favorite quiet spot. He found the fallen log and sat down, lighting up a joint as he pulled out his phone and dialed the only number he had memorized by heart.

"Hello?" The voice asked, sounding groggy. "Who is this?"

"Aries, it's Juice." He replied back, smiling at the sound of her voice. "New number."

"Juice!" Aries yelled into the phone. "What's up!? Where are you!? How are you!?

He laughed. "I'm good, I'm really good. I'm in Washington, Tacoma to be exact. It's going good so far. I just wanted to touch basis with you. It's been eight months since I left. How are you? How is my Ma?"

"Washington? Isn't it always raining and shit out there, worse than New York!" She laughed. "Man! I miss you and your lame ass jokes. I'm alright, work has me stressed out, I need a damn vacation. She's good, really good. She's missing her baby boy though. I had to sit through an hour long trip down memory lane."

"You should come out here for a visit one day and check it out for yourself. It's not too bad out here. I found a group of friends, it's been good for me to be out of Queens. I just needed to hear a familiar voice from back home." He took a drag from the joint and exhaled slowly as he watched the water in the creek move rapidly. "That sucks for you. I'll call her, text her number to this one and I'll reach out. I'm glad you've been good though."

"My JuJu has a group of friends? I'm so proud of you." She laughed. "Maybe, I'm not sure how much of a vacation raining Washington will be. I'll see if I can get some time off… I have to go now though. I need to help my sister with her kid. Don't wait eight more months to reach out to me. I love you Juice, I'm glad you're happy out there."

Juice laughed. "Yeah, I have friends… It'll be a good vacation, peaceful and relaxing. I love you too Aries, don't wait too long to come out and visit your JuJu." He shook his head and stubbed out his joint as he heard footsteps on the ground behind him. "I love you too." He murmured before ending the call and shoving his phone into his pocket.

"Leave you alone for a few hours and I come back to hear that you and Jimmy have to spend the night in the bathroom for flooding it?" Happy thumped the young man on the back of the head. "Thought I told you to stay out of trouble, it'll make shit easier on you for the next five months."

He nodded. "Jimmy flooded the bathroom… I was just trying to help him by turning the water off. He's an idiot." Juice stood up from the log. "How'd you find me back here anyway?"

Happy shrugged. "I came back here during my first year here too." He clapped Juice's shoulder. "Let's get back to the clubhouse. You gotta let Jimmy handle his own shit, there's a limit to how much you help a brother. He'll never be a man if he can't handle his own shit. You gotta worry about your own shit too. Steer clear of the idiot and focus on staying on the President and Vice President's good side. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it." Juice nodded as he felt his phone vibrate. "I need to check that… I reached out to an old friend." He pulled his phone out and looked at the message on the screen before opening it and looking at the picture and smirking.

"To think I thought you were playing for a different team…" Happy tapped on the screen and smirked. "Just a friend you said? None of my female friends send me pictures like that." He shook his head and chuckled.

"Just a friend. She's gonna visit soon maybe." He shrugged his shoulders as he slipped the phone back into his pocket.

"Good for you, make sure you keep her out of the clubhouse. The guys will eat her alive." Happy walked ahead of Juice. "Remember, be a man and handle your shit!"

Juice laughed as he stopped short of the fence. "I think I'm gonna hang out back here a little while longer before I have to go into the bathroom and sleep." He watched Happy nod before he turned back around and headed towards the log and sat back down. Five more months, five more months and he would hopefully be a full patch. He slipped the phone back out of his pocket and pulled the picture out and smiled, feeling some of the stress of being a prospect slip away. "Five months and I'll be a Son."

Did you love it? Like it? Dislike it? Let me know yeah? The first chapter is always the hardest to get done, so let me know your thoughts about it. :)