I couldn't really wait very long to get to work on the new chapter so I really do hope that people are liking this story because, I honestly don't know as I type this. I just have to say that the work done by Charlie Hunnam, Maggie Siff and Katey Sagal are amazing and leave me speechless. Truly beautiful work. I promise not to make this piece very long so that I can get to the story. Thanks for taking the time to read. :)
DISCLAIMER:
All characters belong to Kurt Sutter and FX Network.
Friday had arrived quicker than Tara had realized, leaving her wondering where her week had gone. After sleeping through her alarm, she quickly dressed herself, grabbing whatever was closest. She tossed her hair into a messy bun and sprinted out of the house. Reaching her locker, she rushed to grab her biology and spanish books before turning to run to first period.
"Ms. Knowles." Mr. Cooper sternly said as she slowly closed the door behind her, trying not to cause more of a disturbance than she already had. "You're late."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cooper." She looked down as she hurried to her seat.
"Just follow along until you get caught up." She nodded in reply.
Jax smirked, watching her fumble to get everything ready for the notes she needed to take. "Tara Knowles is late?"
She sighed. "Overslept."
"Wow." He grinned. "I didn't think you had it in you."
"Ha. Ha." She rolled her eyes. "You're so very funny."
"Okay. Who wants to tell me the stages of mitosis...in order?" Mr. Cooper asked.
Tara raised her hand and began. "Interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase."
"Thank you, Ms. Knowles."
"Wow, you're really good at this stuff." Jax was impressed.
She chuckled. "I like science." He just grinned as she continued. "I know what you're thinking...'nerd'."
"Nah." He shook his head. "I was just thinking that you could probably help me out sometime."
"Oh, I don't know."
"Come on. Gemma's been riding my ass about this damn class and if I could just get through the next couple of tests, make her see that I'm not a complete dumbass, maybe she'll ease up on me." Jax pleaded.
She sighed. "Meet me at the park after school and we'll try it out."
"Thank you, Tara."
"If you waste my time, Teller, then I'm done." She looked at him sternly.
"Yes, ma'am."
After school...
Tara sat at a picnic table, highlighting things in her book. She stopped for a moment to let her hair down and went right back to what she was reading. As Jax approached, he found himself suddenly aware of how pretty she was. He'd never really looked at her that way before, but for some reason, he noticed that she wasn't awkward little Tara anymore. He could see the bits of red in the hair she had finally let down as it glistened in the sunlight. He wasn't blind; she was a gorgeous girl. He swung a leg over to sit on the seat across from her.
"Hey there, teach." He gave her that half smirk as he winked at her.
"I've been waiting half an hour, Jax."
"I know. I'm sorry. I, uh...I got caught up with something." He looked back toward the Charming High parking lot.
"The blonde or the redhead this time?" She asked without looking up.
"What?"
"Come on, Jax." She looked at him, knowingly. "I may look down alot but I'm aware of the hoards of girls all over your every move."
He just chuckled. "I'm here with you, darlin'."
"My dad will be so proud." Tara rolled her eyes. Jax Teller was very aware of the hold he held on women and therefore, come off extremely full of himself. "Open your book."
An hour later...
"Hey, Tara, thanks again for this." Jax told her, closing his textbook. "When you explain this shit, I don't feel so stupid."
"You're not stupid, Jax." She told him. "You're just...distracted."
"I guess." He looked down, before looking back at her. Her skin looked so delicate, her lips were full and her eyes captivated him. "Hey, what're you doin' tonight?"
Tara laughed. "Um...probably dinner, studying and sleep. It's kind of a rarity in my house." Her dad was pretty loud when he stumbled home in the middle of the night. Tara took that as her cue to get up and make sure that he had landed on his bed and not the floor.
"We're having a party at Piney's cabin. You should come."
"Piney's letting Opie have a party?" She raised her eyebrow in suspicion.
"He's with the club in Nevada." Jax clarified. "So...will you come?"
"I don't know." She shook her head. "It's not really my scene."
"Please?" He gave her the worst fake pout she'd ever seen, causing her to laugh and Jax to smile in return.
"Fine." She caved. "If I can get out of the house then I'll drop by."
"Good." He got up and walked away from her, calling back to her. "I'll see you tonight, Knowles!"
Later that night...
Tara stood in front of her mirror, staring at herself and realizing that she was not dressed for a party, but more for a really exciting study session. She pulled her sweater sleeves over her hands and reminded herself what a bad idea this was. What was she thinking? Her and Jax Teller? It would never happen but the last few days she had been giving herself the idea that she could possibly have a chance; the smiles, the way he'd wink at her, how nice he was. Then again, didn't he do that with every girl. She pulled her hair back, then dropped it back down, pulled it back again before letting it fall again and stay there.
"Stop this." She told herself. "Just go and if it sucks then you'll bail."
"Hey, man, you seen Tara?" Jax asked Opie as the party picked up energy. The cabin was full of girls trying to get either boy's attention and half of the school who had caught word of the festivities and showed up anyway.
"Tara?" Opie looked genuinely confused.
"What are you, doin', man?"
"What do you mean?"
"Tara? She's not one for this kind of shit." Opie reminded him.
"Shut up. I wanted to invite her, so I invited her." Jax reasoned.
"You think you're gonna get in those tight jeans of hers and I cant tell you that you're not." Opie laughed, taking a swig of his beer.
"Tara's different." Jax defended.
"Oh, is she?"
"Yeah, I like talking to her." He looked down. "I don't want to get in her jeans."
Meanwhile...
Tara walked past the crowd that had accumulated in front of the cabin and squeezed through the front door, looking for any face she might recognize.
"Well, well..." She heard a female voice behind her. "If it's not the little bitch who can't look where she's going."
She looked at the redhead who was now standing in front of her.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I was invited." Tara shot back.
"Oh yeah?" She scoffed. "Well, I'm uninviting you. We don't want you here. Look at you."
Tara glanced down at her jeans and Converse and then at all the other girls. She definitely stuck out.
"A friend invited me." Tara stuck to her guns.
"Oh, Jax?" She chuckled as another girl joined her. "I think he's got enough to keep him occupied."
"I'm sure." She replied, trying to move past the two girls.
"I said, leave!" The redhead blocked her again. The blonde next to her adding a "Yeah."
"There you are." Jax suddenly appeared. "I've been looking for you everywhere."
"Little bitch." She heard the girl snicker, causing Jax to turn.
"Don't you have a dick to suck?" He snapped.
She scoffed before looking at her friend and said,"Let's go."
Tara looked down at her shoes. "Thanks."
"No problem. I'm sorry about that."
"Look, I really shouldn't be here." She shook her head. "I'm just gonna go."
"Please don't." He tried to stop her. "Come on, one drink...and if you still wanna leave, I'll walk you home."
"One drink."
Jax and Tara sat at the empty lawn table in the Winston's backyard, the party raging behind them. Jax had brought them each a beer. Tara had only a couple experiences drinking and didn't make a habit out of it. After seeing what it had done to her dad, she wasn't too fond of the after effects of alcohol. She took a sip and let the cool liquid flow down her throat.
"Yeah." Tara continued the story she was telling. "Cancer got her about six months later."
"I'm really sorry." He was genuine, sweet even.
She smiled at him. "Thanks. It hits my dad the hardest. He's just not my dad anymore."
"What do you mean? Jax asked, concerned.
"He drinks. To numb the pain, he drinks. He's contantly drunk or passed out."
"Tara..."
"It's fine. I take pretty good care of him...he's my dad, you know." She said, Jax nodding in reply.
"What about your mom? How's she taking things now that your dad's gone."
"She's dating."
"What?"
"Yeah." He shook his head. "Clay. My dad's right hand. I think they had something going before my old man died."
"That's...I'm sorry, Jax."
"Not your fault, darlin'." Jax looked over at the girl he was opening up to. The way her skin lightly glowed against the moonlight, the slight sparkle in her eyes. He felt the overwhelming urge to kiss her. He moved closer to her and took a deep breath.
"Hey, Knowles." He said, causing her to look up. It was then that he caught her lips with his. Soft, gentle and sweet, he kissed her. It was everything he hoped for and more. Tara pushed lightly on his chest, breaking them apart.
"What? What's wrong? Did I do something?"
"You shouldn't have done that." Tara said, her hand flying up to her mouth.
"I wanted to." Jax gave her a small smile.
"Jax...I'm not like those girls."
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
"If that's what all this is about then, I'm sorry, but you're wasting your time." She got to her feet. "I'm not gonna sleep with you, Jax. I'm just not. I have to go."
"Tara, wait."
"I'll be fine." She called back. "I'll see you at school."
Jax wanted more than anything to go after her but knew it'd be worse. He knew it was different with Tara, but she didn't. He was going to make sure that she knew.
This is really fun to put together. I'm hoping to have a chapter three up soon so check back. Thanks for reading. :)