Chapter 2

Tara blushed as she felt the full affect of Jax's grin land on her. When she looked over towards him, she was startled to see that the smile didn't reach his eyes. Tara watched Jax silently for a moment trying to understand and make sense of the shadows that lurked in his gaze. Jax's grin dissolved as Tara's silence continued and he began to grow uncomfortable under her scrutiny. She wasn't looking at him the way the other girls did, with hunger in their eyes, but as if she was trying look past the surface, to see inside him.

"I'm sorry about your dad." She said softly, as she remembered his father's death in November. Her words were said so softly that Jax had to lean closer to hear them. Tara didn't say anything more; she knew from experience that no words could bring comfort after losing a parent so young, so suddenly. As she said the words Tara remembered the rumble of motorcycles that filled Charming in the weeks before Thanksgiving. Many different charters from the Sons had made the trip out to keep vigil for the fallen president of the original charter. And once John Teller passed, the funeral that followed was one whose likes had never before been seen in Charming. The funeral procession was huge. Motorcycles from all over, crowded the streets of Charming. Businesses had closed for the day as the locals stood out in the streets watching the procession in awe.

Tara felt doubly bad for Jax. She remembered how lost she was after her mother died. How her father drowned himself in booze so she had no one to turn to. But not only did Jax just lose his father, he had lost his younger brother Thomas, three years before. Tara's only clear memory of Thomas was from the last charity festival she had attended with her parents. She remembered his sweet smile and loud laugh. She felt tears spring to her eyes at the thought of how young Thomas must have been when he died. She hated that at such young age she and Jax were so familiar with an adult's pain. Tara mentally shook herself, reminding herself that losing herself in those kinds of thoughts would get her no where.

"Thank you." Jax returned just as quietly, in all seriousness, his eyes meeting Tara's as he searched her eyes. He saw the sympathy and understanding there, but also the sorrow that he knew must be mirrored in his own. Jax realized that out of everyone, Tara was the only person who truly knew what he was feeling. She had lost her mother when she was very young, and while Melinda Knowles didn't receive the type of send-off that John Teller had, Jax knew she was deeply loved and missed by her only daughter.

Neither spoke anymore during the rest of the class period. David tried to get Tara's attention during the lulls, but to no avail. When the bell rang, Tara gathered up her books and moved towards the door quickly, eager to get out of the classroom before she became the center of attention again.

The rest of the day passed normally. Tara saw Jax and Opie in two of her other classes, but the teachers in those classes had been in Charming for as long as anyone remembered, so no scenes from first period were repeated.

When then final bell rang Tara made her way over to her locker, she gathered the books she would need to do her homework and stuffed them in her bag. She shut the locker with a bang and followed the mass of students outside into the afternoon sunshine. Tara bypassed the rows of buses, preferring to walk home instead of squeezing into the big yellow cylinder with the other students. It only took her about twenty minutes to make the trip from school to home. Tara sighed when she saw her father's car parked in the driveway. It hadn't been there in the morning, meaning her father finally stumbled home sometime after dawn. Tara shook her head as she climbed the porch steps and noticed the open door. Loud snores greeted her from the living room and Tara saw her father sprawled out on the floor in front of the couch, sleeping off his latest binge. Tara closed the door behind her, stepping over the empty bottles and piles of trash. She dropped her backpack onto a kitchen chair and pulled out a trash bag. She returned to the living room and quickly picked up all remnants of her fathers latest mess. Tara froze when her father grunted and moved, his arm reaching out. Tara released the breath she was holding when he settled back down and slept on.

Tara returned to the kitchen and began putting things together for dinner. She began pulling her books out of her bag while dinner was cooking and looked through her assignment book to see which would be the quickest to finish and set to work.

After finishing dinner, Tara set aside a plate for her father and moved her schoolbooks from the kitchen into her bedroom. She closed the door quietly and slid the lock firmly into place. Tara meticulously worked through her assignments and reading, trying to ignore the shouts and bangs from outside her door that heralded her father's awakening.

The first few weeks of school went by without any major troubles. Jax and Opie had taken to arriving to Mr. Michaels' class just as the last bell signaling the beginning of first period ended. Tara would watch the vein in Mr. Michaels neck throb and get larger each time Jax and Opie sauntered into the room just as the bell rang, preventing them from being officially late. With the change in seating arrangements for this class, Tara quickly learned that being around Jax Teller could be a lot of fun. Jax often spent the class whispering disparaging comments about Mr. Michaels and their fellow classmates in Tara's ear. Tara would often have to clap her hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter after one of Jax's more scathing, but accurate comments.

On a Friday a little over a month after the semester began, Jax arrived to first period alone and well ahead of the bell. Tara raised her eyebrow in question as Jax dropped into the seat next to hers and moved his desk a few inches closer. He angled himself so he was able to face her.

"What's going on?" Tara asked, looking up at the clock. Jax was so early that half of the class still hadn't arrived.

"So when are we going to hang out?" Jax asked without preamble.

"Excuse me?" Tara asked, stunned by his words.

"You heard me." Jax replied.

"I know what I heard, but it couldn't have possibly been what you said." Tara retorted.

"Why?" Jax asked in confusion.

"Why what?"

"Why couldn't that have been what I said?"

"Because, we don't hang out. I'm not your type." Tara reasoned.

"What makes you think you're not my type?" He asked puzzled. Outside of the joking comments they would exchange during class, Jax didn't remember mentioning or doing anything that would give her that idea.

Tara turned in her chair and scoped out the classroom. Her gaze fell on two of the girls behind her who had been in the group Jax smirked at the first day. Amy White and Katie Daniels had already hooked up with and been discarded by Jax. The two girls could be sisters; blonde hair, big tits, and no brains between the pair of them. Tara studied the two girls for a moment, sure that Jax's eyes followed her gaze. When she turned back to him Jax appeared sheepish.

"Aww come on babe. It was just some fun. Doesn't mean they're my type." He drawled.

"I could continue." Tara teased, nodding to Brandi Dixon, another blonde bombshell who Jax hooked up with in the fall.

Jax just shrugged unapologetically and shot her a smile.

"So I guess you're not interested in hanging out then?" He finally asked, his tone deceptively light. It didn't take long for him to figure Tara out. She wouldn't be like the other girls, tossing her panties at him when he deigned to send her a wink and grin. No Tara would require a different approach.

"I'm not one of those girls Jax." Tara said quietly as the bell rang for the start of class. Jax moved his desk back into place as he mulled over Tara's words. She was smart, so much smarter than any of the girls he usually hooked up with. Jax enjoyed the class they had together, liked talking with her and being near her. Even though he tried to keep his tone casual when he asked her out earlier, Jax did feel an uncommon nervousness in the pit of his stomach. He already knew, if anything every happened with him and Tara it wouldn't be simple like the rest of his hookups, he already felt a deeper connection with her than he had with any other girl. He wasn't sure if he was ready for what they could become if they did get together, but his wasn't willing to sit back and watch her slip past him. His eyes narrowed as he watched her reply to David's comments during class, obviously trying to ignore him. Being ignored was definitely not something Jax Teller would accept.

Over the next few weeks Tara found herself at a loss. After turning him down, Jax seemed to make it his sole mission to change her mind about them going out. It started off simply enough. Jax switched seats in the classes he and Tara shared so they were always seated together. In their biology class he and Opie came over and hijacked her lab table, scaring off the students who she usually worked with. Every time Jax would make one of these moves he would shoot Tara a glance with a raised eyebrow, obviously looking for some kind of response. Tara would just smile back blandly, and return to her work. Unfortunately, paying attention in class with Jax at her side proved to be difficult. While his comments in Mr. Michaels English class were amusing, trying to pay attention in her other classes with Jax whispering in her ear was not as easy.

Even with the inconveniences they caused, like trying to pay attention to the teachers or the new attention she was garnering, Tara enjoyed the easy camaraderie that Jax and Opie provided. The two usually didn't arrive to classes on time, but in the few minutes between periods Jax and Opie kept up a running commentary on the other students and classes, or telling dirty jokes trying to make Tara blush. She began to look forward to the times when they were in class together and as difficult as he made it for her to pay attention in class, Tara missed Jax's company when he and Opie would decide to ditch school.

As their friendship grew, Tara became privy to a side of Jax that she was sure no one else saw. On the days when Opie ditched alone, usually to haul his father Piney back from the Samcro cabin, Jax would take his seat beside her without his usual quips. He would remain quiet throughout the class, his mind a million miles away. Tara saw the sorrow he still carried in him after the death of his father, how the loss weighed on him. She saw the true Jax, not just the overly confident playboy who brushed everything serious off, but a young man who had already been through so much and was trying to make sense of it all.

And while he hadn't made any additional comments or gestures regarding them hanging out, Tara knew that Jax was actively pursuing her. Not only that, the other students at Charming knew this as well. Boys kept stopping to look her over, finding her more interesting now that Jax seemed to be after her, while the girls glared at her jealously, wondering what she had that they didn't. Tara could feel the girls' judgmental eyes as they looked over her, obviously comparing her to themselves, and more often than not deciding she was lacking. Tara couldn't help the grin that would cross over her face after passing the girls in the hall. She knew that many of them had already been used and discarded by Jax, that they had meant nothing to him.

In addition to the new attention directed her way, Tara was annoyed to see that even though Jax had been pursuing her, he was also still seeing other girls. She would pass by him in the hall flirting or kissing one girl or another. She ignored him when she caught him in those embraces, swearing to herself that if, and it was a big if, if she and Jax ever got together she would not stand for him flirting or doing anything with other girls. She would never be okay with being just another notch on Jackson Teller's belt, sitting on the sidelines while he continued his promiscuous ways. She'd managed just fine on her own all this time. And as strong as her convictions were, she couldn't help the jealousy she'd feel when she saw him with the other girls. So whenever she felt the tide of jealously surge through her, she consoled herself with the reminder that all those affairs lasted less time then he was spending trying to get into her pants.

After the change of seating didn't get him anything beyond having more time to talk with Tara in class, Jax apparently decided to take things to the next level. When their biology teacher Ms. Adams reminded the class that the second exam of the semester would be the following Thursday at the end of the period, Jax turned in his seat to Tara.

Tara looked at him curiously, noting the smirk on Opie's face as he watched them from the other side of the lab table.

"So you're pretty good with this stuff right?" Jax asked leaning close.

"Pretty good, yea." Tara answered modestly.

"So I was thinking." Jax began, the rest of his sentence cut off at Opie's snort. Jax glared at his friend before turning his attention back to Tara. "I was thinking, we should study together." He continued with a grin. "This stuff is way beyond me and while normally I wouldn't care, Ma is on a rampage about doing well, trying to make everything go smooth after the old man and all. Make him proud." He finished with a nonchalance Tara knew he didn't feel. She wanted to call him out on making up half-assed excuses, but bringing his dad into it was a low-blow, and she couldn't be sure if he was full of it or sincere.

"Okay." She said after a moment's hesitation having decided that there must have been a shred of truth in there somewhere. Jax didn't bring his father up lightly.

"Yea?" Jax asked, surprised that Tara agreed so easily.

"It'll be good for me too, having someone to study with." Tara said with a shrug. She tried to play it off cool, but she felt her heart racing at the thought of spending more time with Jax, time alone, outside of school. Tara hid her blush by busying herself with her books and gathering up the rest of her stuff.

Jax's eyes narrowed at Tara's words, intent on her face. He smiled when he saw the telltale blush across her cheeks that belied her blasé words. "Cool. How about tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night?" Tara repeated. "Sure."

"I'll meet you at your place after school? Around 4?"

"We can just meet in the library. It'll be easier to study there." Tara replied quickly.

"Nah, I can't study in libraries, too quiet." And not private, he thought.

"Okay." Tara replied reluctantly, hoping that tomorrow would be a day her father would head out for drinks straight after work.

"Alright, see you then." Jax said getting up from the table. Tara watched him and Opie head out of the room, Opie slapping Jax's back as they maneuvered out into the hall.

Tara spent the next morning before school cleaning the house and hiding her father's liquor bottles. She heard him come in relatively early the night before and hoped it was a sign that today would be a good day. She checked the house one last time to make sure everything was in order before heading off to school. In first period, Tara was surprised when Jax and Opie didn't slip into the room just as the final bell rang. She was sure Jax would've been in school, at least to make sure she didn't flake on their study date.

As the day continued on, the seat next to hers remained empty. David Hale used Jax's absence to his advantage and chatted with Tara throughout the day. He talked about the upcoming football game and asked if she was going. Tara shook her head, she wasn't into school sports. David pressed, saying he'd love to have her come out sometime, that it'd be great if she'd come see him play. Tara answered noncommittally, trying to be polite as David had always been kind to her, but did not want to give him any false hope.

After classes ended, Tara made her way home slowly, sure that Jax wasn't going to show up. She didn't know if she was relieved or disappointed. Probably a little of both. She knew that meeting up with Jax outside of school would just lead to things that she wasn't sure she was ready for. When she arrived home she frowned as she saw her father's car parked haphazardly in the driveway a sure sign that he never went to work, instead headed out to the bars then returned home. She took a deep breath as she opened the door and peered inside. She didn't see her father in the living room and took a few cautious steps inside as she closed the door quietly behind her. She felt a flush of anger as she looked at the mess before her. Empty bottles littered the floor, a pillow had been ripped open, it's feathers scattered throughout the room. She put her backpack on the floor by the door as she moved deeper into the house. She continued towards the kitchen and saw the refrigerator door standing open, food lying on the floor. Tara looked down the hall at her father's closed bedroom door and tiptoed to her own room, closing the door silently behind her. She slid the lock into place and leaned against the door, frustrated, a moment before her father's bedroom door slammed open. Tara jumped as his fists pounded against her door. She slid down to the floor, pulling her knees up to her chest as her father's muffled voice came through the door.

Tara waited a few minutes for her father to tire himself out before she opened her door. He stood in front of her, fists clenched, tears streaming down his face.

"You're nothing like her." He spat. "You'll never be good like her."

Tara closed her eyes at the rush of pain his words brought, trying to tell herself that he didn't mean it, didn't know what he was saying. She understood that looking at her hurt him. She looked so much like her mother.

"There's no food in this fucking house!" He yelled after she didn't reply.

"I'll have to go to the store and get something." Tara said quietly, stamping down the urge to point out that there would have been food if he didn't toss it all over the floor and let it go to waste. "Then I'll make dinner."

As Tara moved past him, he reached out and grabbed her arm. Tara cried out as he squeezed painfully, each finger digging into her skin. She could smell the alcohol fumes on his breath.

"You're an ungrateful bitch!" He yelled. "It should have been you! Not her!"

Her father squeezed her arm tighter, causing tears to spring to her eyes, when she heard a knock at the front door.

"Who is that?" Her father yelled, his head turning towards the sound. Tara wrenched her arm out of his grasp and hurried past him.

"Coming!" She called out, grabbing a sweatshirt from the closet and pulling it over her.

"Where the hell are you going?" Sam yelled, following her. "Come back here you bitch! You need to fucking make me dinner!"

Tara ignored her father, and brushed the tears away as she picked up her backpack and pulled open the door.

Jax stood just outside the door, the surprised and concerned look on his face telling her that he had overheard her father's last words. Jax craned his neck, trying to peer into the room behind her as Tara quickly shut the door. Jax turned his gaze to Tara's face, noting the dried tear tracks that lined her cheeks.

"Are you okay?" He asked quietly as Tara moved past him and off the porch. Jax followed close behind as Tara moved up the street.

"We should study in the park. It's too nice of a day to be inside." Tara said quickly, turning down a corner towards the park.

"Tara!" Jax called, bringing her to a stop.

Tara turned at looked at him. "I'm fine. Don't worry about it." She turned and continued walking. Jax kept pace with her, walking silently by her side, deciding not to push her.

As they got closer to the park, Tara broke the silence.

"He loved her so much." She said quietly, trying to explain away what he'd heard and seen. She hated seeing the pity in his eyes whenever he glanced at her. "And I look a lot like her. So it makes it hard for him. He doesn't even realize what he's saying."

Jax remained silent, not knowing what to say. He didn't have any experience with things like this. Even growing up in the shadow of a motorcycle club, he'd never witnessed a member verbally or physically abuse a woman.

"He usually just sleeps it off." She continued, trying to downplay the scene earlier. She looked to where Jax walked next to her, trying to read what he was thinking.

"All he does is say things?" He finally asked, studying her face, his blue gaze serious.

"Yea." Tara lied. "And not very often. Today was just a bad day."

Jax nodded, resignedly accepting her response, even though he hated doing so. But he didn't know what else he could do at the moment. He wasn't her boyfriend, he didn't have any say in what happened in her life, wasn't in a position to step in if she didn't want him to. And it was obvious by the way she tried to make excuses for her old man that she didn't want him to get involved.

When they reached the park, Jax led Tara over to a table off to the side away from where the other townspeople were relaxing in the afternoon sun. Tara sat down at the table and began pulling books from her bag setting them out with her school notes on top. She was surprised when Jax sat opposite her, without any books, his gaze turning distant.

"You okay?" She asked quietly, worried he was going to bring up her father again. "You weren't in school today." She continued hoping to change the subject.

"No I didn't feel like going." He replied, his gaze meeting hers.

"How come?" Tara asked, expecting a shrug and sarcastic retort along the lines of 'felt like taking the day off', his usual response.

"My mom's getting remarried." He said in a low tone.

Tara remained silent for a moment, as she took in his words. It had only been four months since Jax's father died. She saw the angry flush that moved across his face and understood his anger. If her father had remarried so soon after her mother died she didn't know if she could forgive him. Then again maybe if he had found someone else she would still have the father she remembered from before her mother died.

"Do you like the guy? The one your mom's marrying."

"It's Clay, she's marrying Clay. He was my dad's best friend. Helped start the club."

"At least you know him right? And if he was your dad's friend he must be a good person." Tara said trying to make him feel better.

"I guess. He's VP for the club, well president now. He wants me to be his best man. I know he's just doing that for the club. Show of strength and unity and all." Jax leaned back, closing his eyes as he lifted his face to the sky. "It just fucking sucks."

"It's too soon." Tara replied, instantly understanding Jax's discomfort.

"It's only been a few months. And she's already moving on. Everyone is. The club voted Clay in as prez and now he's marrying mom. My dad started the club, was it's first president." Jax said trailing off.

"And he deserves respect." Tara continued as Jax opened his eyes to look at her.

"Yea he does."

"Have you talked to your mom about this?"

"No. I want her to be happy."

"And Clay makes her happy?"

"Yea."

Tara didn't know how she'd react if her father had told her he was going to get married again, let alone only months after her mother died. But from what Jax said it sounded like everything was already moving forward and Jax was stuck with having to keep his feelings about it inside. She hoped that the thought of his mom's happiness would help Jax swallow this bitter pill a bit better and take away some of the anger she felt him. Tara felt herself blush when Jax finally turned his eyes to her and began to study her face.

"You have green eyes." He said softly, almost reverently as he leaned closer.

Tara's eyes closed and she stopped breathing when Jax's lips brushed hers.

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for all of the reviews! It's great to hear you guys are enjoying the story. I've decided to stick with the author's notes and it will probably be my main form of communication. The work schedule is increasing, which is good for the real world, not so good for going online. So back to the author's notes I go. Thanks again, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'm sure we're all looking forward to this weeks episode.