Hey guys! I'm glad everyone seems to like it so far! I hope I don't disappoint. Again, the story starts off rather slow between Mina and Jax just to let their attraction build towards one another, ontop of everything else going on in Jax's world.
I am finishing up That Was Then, This is Now. Since I post daily, the last chapter will be posted on Friday! For now, I don't know how regularly I'll be posting new chapters for this. My goal is to be able to write ahead this week so I can start posting daily by next week. I hate waiting for stories to update so I want to make sure I'm able to do the daily updates for ya'll! Just bare with me for a little bit :)
Let me know what you think! You don't even know how much it motivates me hearing your ideas and suggestions!
As always, I only own my OC's and story plot.
At 5am the blaring sound of Mina's alarm clock was heard throughout the house. Although she pressed the snooze a couple time, it was time to get up. As slowly as possible, she jumped out of bed and jumped in the shower to get ready for her day. She had the opening shift at the shop with Matt and she could not handle any bitching today. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail, leaving her side swept bangs down. She pulled on a pair of dark wash distressed jeans and a plain white vneck with combat boots. She grabbed her grey leather jacket and her purse heading out the door to her blacked out dodge charger.
Pulling into a parking spot she got out walking inside where Matt was already counting the money.
"Oh look who decided to get to work early" He glanced up at her before continuing his count.
"Yeah, Morning." She mumbled as she made her way to the back to take off her jacket and pull on her apron. She heard customers start to come in and ran out to the front. Making drink after drink as Matt took the orders. She hated working with him. He was always such an asshole and never picking up the slack.
About an hour or two after Rachel came to work and her workload eased up. Mornings were brutal at the shop and if she was stuck with him any longer she might just quit. She heard the door chimes and looked up to see the familiar blonde hair and a smile crept across her face. Without him waiting in line, she made him a cup of coffee, telling Rachel she'd be right back and stepping around the register walking up to him.
"Hey you, I made your regular." She smiled handing him his cup.
Jax was completely caught off guard by the notion and the widest smile came across his face. "Thanks darlin'" he took the cup and went to pull out his wallet but she put her hand up to stop him.
"It's on the house, least I can do for the ride home last night." She smiled
The heard the TV's volume get louder as they heard the news talk about the school shooting that just occurred at a local middle school.
Mina's hands flew to cover her mouth as the whole store went silent watching the screen in horror. "Oh my god!" She exclaimed and Jax's eyes shot down to her, instinctively putting an arm around her holding her close to him. It was strange the urgency he felt to comfort her.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. Did you know any of them?" He asked seeing her eyes getting watery.
She shook her head no before looking up at him. "They're just kids, Jax. How does a little kid get his hands on a gun like that?"
He sighed and pulled her in for a hug. Her small arms wrapping around him and he felt complete. Centered even. Deep down this is why he came in. He loved the feeling she gave him and knowing he'd be seeing Tara today, this was just what he needed. It still amazed him how this girl he'd just met the day prior could make him feel all these things. But he didn't want to fight it.
Mina heard her name being called and looked over to see a irritated manager looking at her from behind the register. She wiped her eyes and looked up at Jax with an annoyed smile. "I gotta get back." She nodded.
Jax glared at her manager with a threatening look before turning his attention to her. "Yeah. I should get going"
She gave his hand a squeeze before walking backward still facing him. "Be safe Jax. I'll see you around." She turned to go back towards the counter.
Rachel gave her friend a soft nudge on the arm and a wink after watching the interaction between the two. "Mina Noelle Viera, are you seeing Jax Teller?!"
Mina laughed and continued making the order. "God, No! One: He's married and Two: You know Addy would killll me!" The girls laughed as Matt shot them a warning look.
XXX
Jax showed up to the courthouse to pick up Tara after her hearing. Enough was enough. He was tired of her ignoring him, he needed to see her. His mind was racing on the school shooting. Those were their guns. How did it end up in the hands of an 11 year old boy? God they'd be in so much shit. Yet instead of being stressed, his mind wandered to Mina. The care she had for people she didn't know but also the warmth of her touch as she had her arms wrapped around him. It was the same feeling he'd gotten the night before when she drove him home. He grew to miss that feeling whenever he wasn't near her.
He was broken out of his thoughts when the doors opened and Tara came outside. Without a word spoken he handed her a helmet before strapping his on and heading for the house where his mother was waiting with the boys. When they entered the house, her whole demeanor changed. She seemed to soften and was immediately greeted by the overjoyed kids.
He noticed the awkward interaction between his mother and his wife but Tara's focus was solely on the boys. Gemma watched Tara with the kids before pulling her son to the kitchen to let him know about Nero's problem with the school shooting.
"What?" he folded his arms watching his mother pace.
"Something went down with Nero's crew. He's coming by." she answered, putting her hands on her hips.
"What? Now?" He couldn't believe she'd invite him over knowing he needed time with Tara.
"Yeah," She scrunched her face."Sorry."
"What happened?"
"It's about that school shooting this morning."
Jaxs eyes widened. He know this would blow back on them. He shook his head and walked back to the living room where Tara and the boys were to pull Tara aside. They walked into the bathroom and he could see her demeanor change again. He tried to give her a hug but although she hugged him back, it was standoffish and cold. Maybe it was from being in jail but he was sensing this distance for a long time now.
XXX
Mina got out of work at 3. She was exhausted and all she wanted to do was go home and nap before anything else. She walked down the street to her car and an all too familiar figure was leaning against it.
She rolled her eyes and dug her keys out of her bag as she approached. "Get off my car asshole." She tried to reach for her door handle but the 6 foot figure blocked her.
"Can you just stop and talk to me? Please Mina." His deep voice pleaded but she just shook her head.
"Nothing to talk about Chris. Now get out of my way before I kick you in the balls so hard you'll be tasting your own children." She cocked an eyebrow cocking her head to the side before smiling bitterly.
"Mina, babe, I can make this right. Come on, how are you going to throw all those years down the drain for this?" He tried to put his hands on her arms but she swatted him away with a laugh.
"Chris, unless you can unstick your dick in your ex, there's nothing you can do to make this right." She pushed him out of the way and got in her car, rolling down the window after putting on her aviators, "This better be the last time I see you."
Mina ran up the stairs of her house banging on her sisters front door. She was livid that her sister would let that scumbag know where she was working. Adrianna opened the door in a robe and a cup of coffee and Mina barged in.
"I can't believe you! I cannot fucking believe you Addy! I specifically told you NOT to tell Chris where I was working. He was at my goddamn car when I got out!" She waved her arms in the air as she paced back and forth.
Adrianna sighed and sat on the arm of the couch watching her sister. The girl had a temper but it wasn't usually directed at her. "Mina I'm sorry. I am. He just looked so broken and he was groveling. I had no choice!"
"No choice?! Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Mina stepped closer to her sister.
"Mina, just give the guy another chance. He loves you. He really does." Her sister spoke in a low soothing tone. She knew how to calm her little sister but she knew she deserved this.
Mina stepped up to stand in front of her sitting sister, looking down in her eyes. "If you think it's best for me to give my lying, cheating, piece of shit ex another chance - than I have no choice but to believe that you don't give a shit about me.
She walked back outside slamming the door behind her before getting into her car and driving off. She loved taking drives. It eased her in every way possible. Mind, body, and soul.
XXX
After meeting with Galen he was nothing but irritated. Clay had made the ties almost impossible to break and Galen wasn't taking no for an answer. If he had any chance of getting Tara to stay, he needed to get out of guns and soon, but that would have to wait. He needed to make sure the mother of the boy who shot the school wouldn't rat. They'd moved her up to the cabin but from what he was hearing she was becoming a problem.
"How is she?" he asked approaching Nero.
"Even, for now. Gotta make sure she stays that way."
"Jax, Gemma's outside." Juice's voice called out to him. He walked outside to see his mom getting out of her car.
"What's going on? He asked leaning against the side of the car.
"Just saw Clay. He was spewing some shit about how sorry he was and how I was doing the right thing. " Gemma stated crossing her arms over her chest.
"Doesn't sound like Clay."
"No, sounds like a traitor that caught a deal." She leaned forward as she spoke. "That nurse. The one that Otto killed. Her brother is the one protecting him."
Jax ran his hands over his head. "He's a Marshall." Gemma nodded. "Shit"
Hearing gunshots Jax shoved Gemma down behind the car when the yelling got louder. He saw Darvany with a shotgun aimed at the men as she shouted at Nero's cousin. Jax aimed his gun to shoot but Nero's cousin Arcadio yelled out to him causing the distressed mother to point the shotgun at him and Gemma.
"Drop the guns!" She screamed at the top of her lungs before getting in the car begging Arcadio to go with her. Nero shot Arcadio in the head prior to him getting in Gemma's car. As Darvany got out running and screaming, Jax was able to tackle her to the ground pointing the gun down at her.
"Jax! No!" Nero screamed behind him. "We don't do that, Mano"
Jax shook his head staring down at the crying woman. This bitch was going to be a problem. As Nero tied her down in the bedroom with Tig and Chibs, Jax pulled Juice aside and let him know that she needed to be handled. When it came time to get her high again, he'd smother her with the pillow and make it seem like an OD. It took some convincing but Nero took Jaxs word for it.
XXX
Mina had been driving around for almost 2 hours when she hit a rocky road and felt her tire pop. "Shit!" She slammed her fist on steering wheel before getting out the car to check it out. She pulled out her phone to search for a tow truck, settling for the closest one to her house.
After sitting in the car for over 30 minutes, she saw the tow pull up. Getting out she was greeted by a lanky looking guy, with brown messy hair and beard.
"Hey, thanks for coming out all this way." She smiled softly at the driver.
"Not a problem, Miss. Call me Rat." He held his hand out for her to shake.
Mina laughed at the name before shaking his hand. "Rat, huh? I'm Mina."
He laughed and nodded. "You can wait in the truck, it'll be a minute for me to get this up."
She nodded and grabbed her purse from the front seat before getting into the tow truck. Soon after Rat got in driving them to the Teller Morrow auto body shop. She got out the truck and sat by the tables that Rat had told her to when she took a minute to stare at the sign. Teller.. Teller.. Shit. Wasn't Jax's last name Teller? Yup. She turned her head to look at the adjoined building to see Sons of Anarchy MC written in big ass letters. Part of her got excited but the other side didn't want to be around any man at the moment.
Gemma stood by the car talking to Tara as she dropped off the kids. Her eyes caught the familiar petite brunette walk over to a table by the garage and sit down looking at something on her phone. A smirk crawled onto the older woman's face knowing Jax would be here soon. As good of mother as Tara was, she couldn't trust her as far as she could throw her. This girl was local. It would be in Jax's best interest to find someone local. Seeing Tara leave, Gemma walked over to the picnic table sitting across from the young woman.
"Lookin' for Jax, sweetheart?" Gemma asked with a visible smirk.
Mina looked up from her phone seeing the older woman. Shit this was his mother. "No, Ma'am.. I mean Gemma. Popped my tire while driving, this was the closest shop to my house." She shrugged her shoulders.
Gemma nodded at the woman. "Need some coffee? Water?"
"I'm alright, Gemma. Really. Do you know how long it'll take?" Mina smiled softly at the motherly figure.
"I'll go check." She stood up, walking over to the office.
XXX
Jax stopped by the coffee shop on his way to TM. Walking inside he didn't see Mina anywhere so he walked up to the counter looking down at the other woman behind the counter.
"Hey, darlin'. Is Mina around?" he asked leaning his elbows over the high counter.
Rachel looked up at the gorgeous blonde and her face immediately turned red. "Uh.. um. She has a pretty strict rule about telling men where she is."
Jax looked at her confused. "I think it'll be okay."
Rachel nodded shyly. "Her shift ended at three. She might be home."
Jax smirked at the woman before patting the countertop. "Thanks." He walked out of the shop disappointed. After the day they were having, all he wanted was a little bit of peace before the next order of business had to be handled. Shaking his head, he got back on his bike driving over to TM.
He parked his bike in the usual spot walking towards the office door when his eye caught his mother at the picnic table talking to someone. He lit a cigarette and made his way over when his eyes nearly popped out of his head after hearing that beautiful laugh. Mina's laugh.
"Am I interrupting somethin'?" he said with a big smile walking up to the table. He saw a light in Mina's eyes as she smiled up at him sweetly.
"Hey baby" his mother stood up to give him a kiss. "Mina's tire popped on the highway, it's in the shop right now. If you got some time, why don't you keep her company while I set up her paperwork."
Mina blushed at the older woman. "Oh, Ya'll don't need to worry about me I'm sure you got things to do." She waved her hand at them.
"No trouble at all, darlin'" He took a seat across from her at the table as Gemma smirked at the two.
Mina smiled and grabbed the cigarette from his hand, taking a long pull before handing it back to him, blowing the smoke up in the air.
He smirked seeing her perfect lips press against the cigarette. "Stressful day?"
Mina laughed running her hands over her face. "To say the least. Judging by the look on your face, yours must be worse?" She smiled softly at him. Her phone rang at the table and she immediately hit decline turning her attention back to Jax.
"You can answer that if you need.."
"No." she interrupted quickly before her phone rang again and she hit decline.
His face scrunched with concern as her phone rang a third time and she turned it off. "Everything good?"
She looked up at him and he handed her his cigarette again. "Good isn't a term I'm familiar with." She shrugged taking another pull before handing it to him so he could do the same. "What's going on with you?"
He thought for a moment as to how much to tell her. He didn't know her more than two days now but she did say she could keep her mouth shut and he needed to vent. He took a deep pull and stubbing it out. Before he knew it, words had started coming out like vomit before he could even filter them.
"Everything's going on. That school shooting this morning? The gun links back to the MC. My wife just got out on bail today. I'm tryin' to get the club out of guns and the IRA ain't lettin' that happen. On top of everything, my stepfather might have made a deal against the club."
Mina pulled out a cigarette from her own pack, lighting it and taking another pull before offering it to him. Blowing the smoke out to the side. She listened carefully, hearing the stress in his voice but the nervousness in it showed he didn't talk about this with just anyone. She nodded her head after he returned her cigarette and took another hit giving him a small smile. "Sounds like some deep shit, Pres."
Jax laughed before taking her cigarette. "To say the least." She'd handled that better than he'd thought. There was no judgement in her eyes. No pity. No disgust. It was as if it had been the most causal thing in the world. She had to know even more than she was letting on about the club.
She smiled and reached her hand out, giving his a squeeze. "Shit happens Jax. Just gotta handle it and move on."
He held her hand in his. Feeling the smoothness of her skin under his fingertips. His eyes staring right into hers. "How are you so okay with all that."
Mina smiled and put the cigarette out. She opened her mouth to say something but heard her name being called. She looked behind him to see Gemma by the office door and her car in front. "I'll see you later, Jax." She smiled and walked over to Gemma, who said it was on the house. After giving the woman a grateful hug, she got into her car and drove off the lot. Jax watched her body move it was like she'd been floating on air. He liked her. He was drawn to her. She left the lot and he found himself missing her. Gemma leaned back against the door frame with an accomplished smirk on her face. She liked that girl. Her son liked that girl. Tara had to go.