Chapter 2.-New Sides
Sixteen had started out nothing special. Haley had a few guys she liked and went out with here and there but nothing special. Jax and Tara fell apart when she left last year, Op and Donna were expecting their first kid, and Piney was the only person who wasn't too busy for her anymore. Haley hadn't spoken much when she was around the family anymore. Sunday dinners were an in and out thing for her. Gemma actually smashed her phone once because she wouldn't put it down. She wanted to get away for a while so she made her way to the clubhouse and climbed up to the roof. Juice watched her and followed her up.
"Why the disappearing act Haley?" She leaned back and lifted the sunglasses off her face.
"I don't know. Just like it up here. No one up my ass about what to do or where to go." He sat next to her and looked over the edge. Jax had been looking in her car to see where she was and when he looked up Juice and Haley looked down. He didn't look happy.
"I think you are going to get yelled at." She smiled.
"It's worth it to hang out with my favorite girl." He always did have a soft spot for her and she knew he would do anything that Jax and Opie wouldn't. He was only a year older than her and younger than the guys. Haley knew she was growing into a gorgeous woman and she used it to get Juice to do a lot of things.
"Hope you mean that. I don't know where he went and he may think something perverted." Haley leaned back and folded her shirt over her chest and lay back on the roof. Juice looked at her smirked and looked away from her knowing she wanted him to stare.
"You can't do that right now. It's not fair and I am going to get my ass kicked." She giggled and blew him a kiss as he sat next to her. Jax made his way up the ladder and over to the pair.
"Busted." Haley stated getting Juice to laugh at her.
"What's so funny?" Jax eyed Juice and he put both hands up in the air.
"Later Haley." She lifted herself onto her elbows.
"Bye Juice." He shook his head and disappeared down the ladder.
"Knock it off Haley. He is going to think you have a thing for him." She shrugged and dropped back down. Jax looked her over noticing her slim figure and he looked away hoping she didn't catch him staring.
"What do you want Jax?" He leaned against the wall and watched her laying there.
"We haven't really talked since that night."
"What night Jax? The one where you basically called me a croweater or the night after?"
"Haley it's been two years. You know I didn't call you a croweater. I wouldn't do that. Juice looks like he is into you. Do I gotta talk to him?" Haley shook her head and pretended the night wasn't brought up.
"I can handle him. He is more a puppy dog than a threat." Jax laughed and stared at her legs and moved his eyes back up to hers. "What's wrong Jax?"
"Wendy left me." Haley hadn't really noticed there was a place to leave. "Drugs before me I guess."
"Why didn't you talk to me before?" He shrugged and she unfolded her shirt so she was covered sitting up.
"You just didn't seem interested in talking to me anymore."
"Family Jax. No matter what. Remember?" He smirked at her and she almost melted from how amazing he looked.
"How could I forget? You'd kick my ass before letting me forget it." She laughed and waited for him to keep talking. "She was supposed to be it for me Hales. I gave her a ring and she pawned it." Haley wanted to hug him and make it better but she couldn't she figured it'd be taken the wrong way if anyone saw them.
"Wanna give me a ride somewhere?" He nodded and they scaled back down the ladder.
"Haley where are we?" Jax didn't recognize where she had led them. They were next to a field and she jumped off the bike put her helmet down and took her shoes off. She looked at him smiled and went running along the side of it. He couldn't help but smile at her. She was so full of life and he just wanted to be a part of that. "Wait up!" She cut through trees and could hear the river. Jax was far enough behind that he saw her shorts fly through the air and heard a splash. He slowed down hesitating getting closer.
"I'm in my bra and underwear. Nothing you haven't seen before." He got to the shoreline and slipped his leather off and then the rest of his clothing to his boxers. He turned around and she saw the SOA tattoo for the first time. She wanted to get closer and move her hands over his back. When he turned around and noticed her staring she dunked her head under the water and laughed.
"See somethin you like Darlin?" She blushed and when he reached his hand out to help her she pulled him in.
"Maybe. Do you?" She got out and he noticed every curve on her. He couldn't speak and just dunked his head under the water.
After they swam and dunked each other a few times they got out and lay on the river bank for a while. Jax looked at her and when he started thinking about how he missed her and wanted to kiss the amazing woman in front of him he stopped himself and jumped up putting all his clothes back on.
"Where's the fire?" He looked back at her wanting to say something so bad.
"Get dressed Hales. I gotta get you home. Op is probably wondering why your car is at the clubhouse." She huffed and got dressed and walked past Jax. He knew she was mad at him. They were having fun and he just turned around and cut it shore.
"Op doesn't care. He has so much going on." Jax wanted to just say that she has him.
"You have a family that is so large it's ridiculous. Don't let it get to you."
"You don't get it Jax." She got back to the bike and slid her shoes on. He turned her around to face them and he hugged her tight. He understood he just couldn't be there for her like she wanted. Out of nowhere she got on her tip toes and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks. For today." She turned around and put on her helmet. His skin was tingling where her lips were and he pushed it out of his mind.
"Wanna come over for dinner? My mom was bringin food and I won't be able to eat it all by myself. You know how she cooks." Haley smiled at him and nodded.
Haley walked through Jax's house and noticed that it was really empty. She touched the picture of her, Opie, and him. She smiled and felt warmth behind her as Jax reached around her to grab the picture. Her back was almost flush against his chest. She looked over her shoulder at him and they heard Gemma walking in the front door.
"Jax! I have dinner." Haley walked around the corner first and he cleared his throat and set the picture down. "Hey baby! What're you doin here?" Haley smiled and leaned in to give Gemma a kiss on the cheek.
"Jax and I were just talking and catchin up. I haven't been talkin to anyone and he got worried. You know how the guys are with me." Gemma smiled and looked up at Jax as he rounded the corner.
"Someone had to get her to talk. Juice isn't the best influence." Haley punched Jax in the arm and Gemma shook her head.
"You two never change." They smiled at her and she raised a brow, "Juice huh? I think he should have a talk with me first." Haley flushed and Jax laughed at her.
"It's nothing. I flirt he flirts that's it. I get what I want and start again another day." Gemma cleared her throat and Jax's mouth went into a straight line. "Not like that you perves. So Ma what's for dinner?" They all smiled and sat down enjoying each other's company. After it was all done Haley cleaned up and Jax sat at the table with Gemma. While she was doing dishes Jax and Gemma went into the living room for a quiet talk.
"Op was worried Jax."
"About what? She was with me."
"That isn't what I meant. Piney showed up wasted and he was looking for her. I think I am gonna have her stay at the house for a while. Give her your old room." Jax thought about something else but Gemma wouldn't let it fly.
"She could stay here. I got an extra room and I can keep an eye on her and Juice too."
"No. You two living together would be bad. Op would want her with him. At least this way Clay and I can watch her and you always know where she will be. Plus I always wanted another kid after you and your brother. A girl would be nice." Haley heard the end of the conversation.
"You guys don't have to do this. I deal with my dad all the time. Don't worry about it." Gemma stood up and hugged her.
"You are comin home with me. Get your stuff." Jax stood up and hugged her tight. He leaned over so he could whisper something.
"Anytime. Doors always open." He slid her a key after Gemma walked out eyeing them wearily.
Haley remembered the last time she was in the room and she took a deep breath pretending it never happened. Clay came in a while later and she could hear Gemma filling them in. Haley was unpacking her bags when Clay walked in, "How's the move?" She nodded and smiled at him. "It's not forever Haley, but as long as you want. We aren't keeping you prisoner." She stood up and hugged him.
"Thanks Clay. I'm gonna like it here. I was here more than home anyway." He smiled at her and kissed her forehead.
"Anything you want just ask." He closed the door and she pulled out her phone.
'Thanks for today Jax. I have needed it for a long time.'
'Me to Hales. I missed u.'
'Me too.'
'Nite Hales'
'Nite Jax'
Haley didn't go back to Piney's anything she wanted Gemma and Clay would grab for her and she saw Jax more. She lived so close to Op she could see him Donna and the baby whenever. She knew something was different in her life. She just wasn't sure how different. She got a text at around midnight on her seventeenth birthday telling her to climb out the window. When she did Juice was there with a dozen roses and a helmet. She smiled and they booked it to his bike. She forgot to grab her phone but it was too late.
"Happy birthday Haley." She smiled and couldn't help herself she finally gave Juice the kiss he'd been waiting years for.
"Thank you. I needed some free time." He smiled at her and moved a strand of hair behind her ear. She bit her lip and held the wrist that was next to her face in her hand. He finally moved and took her to the field he showed her a long time ago. "Are we night swimming?" He shook his head and moved behind her to cover her eyes.
"Trust me?"
"Yes." When he got her where he wanted her he moved his hands away from her eyes and she saw a lit up picnic and a large cupcake with an H on it.
"What do you think?" She couldn't hold back. She turned and kissed him on the lips. It went from innocent to passionate and they slowly made their way down on the blanket. When they stopped making out he sat up and pulled a joint out of his pocket. She smiled and greedily grabbed it and sparked it up. After they ate the cupcake and goofed off a bit he took her home. When they pulled up Jax was outside waiting. He was furious.
"Where the hell did you two go?" Haley got in between the guys and gave Juice a quick kiss on the cheek and signaled for Juice to go.
"He brought me to the river for a while. He got me a birthday cupcake and we talked."
"That it? You smell like bud Hales. And your make-up is smeared." Haley's eyes went wide and she knew what Jax would do when he saw Juice next.
"Don't be mad at him! He did something and I thought it was sweet so I kissed him." Jax wasn't sure what he was really mad at. That she was kissing Juice and sneaking around with him or that he wasn't the one who she kissed on her birthday.
"Get in the house." He couldn't understand why she always had to change.
"Is Gemma mad?" He smirked at her. He couldn't stay mad on her birthday.
"What do you think?"
"Shit." She bit her lip. "Cover me?"
"Always." He walked in front of her and helped Gemma calm down.
Jax's birthday was a few weeks later and he distanced himself from Haley when Wendy came back to try one more time. Haley hated her before she wouldn't trust her now.
'Happy Birthday. Hope 20 is special'
'Thanks Hales'
'yep'
