...Chapter 7...
...Tired of Getting Hurt...

A few hours later, it was dark outside, the party already started, and Alyssa was still sitting in the same spot on top of the picnic table, when a big truck pulled up into the parking lot. Alyssa looked up and saw Juice and Chibs getting out. "You're home, Love!" Chibs yelled, giving her a hug.

"Yep, I'm home."

He let go of her, then Juice took over. "My turn." he paused. "You've been gone too long, I've missed you."

"I missed you too." then she let go of Juice and looked at Chibs. "There's a party going on in there."

"For what, Love?"

"Me coming home."

"Why are you out here, if the party is in there?"

She shrugged. "I just needed time to think. I'll be inside in a little bit."

"Okay." he gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Welcome home." then Chibs went inside the clubhouse.

Juice sat down next to Alyssa and sighed. "What's going on?" she looked at him with a blank stare. "What are you even doing out here by yourself?"

She looked at the ground. "Where do I fucking begin?"

"What?"

"Jax pulled up with Tara, a while ago... at my party." she paused. "And when he was at my house when I came home last week, I basically ended it."

"Whoa... wait, you were here for a whole week? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just wanted to be alone."

"Oh." he nodded, then looked at her. "Aly, you know damn well that neither of you is or will ever be over."

"No, Juice, I think it really is." she paused and sighed. "This time."

"Well, whatever happens between you guys... I'm here for you."

"Thanks." she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

A few minutes later, Jax walked up to them, and said "Aly, can I talk to you for a second?"

Juice got up from the picnic table. "I'll be inside and I'll save you a beer or two, Al." she nodded, then he walked away.

Jax got in front of her. "Can we talk?"

"We have nothing to talk about, Jax... it's over."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do." she nodded. "I'm tired of you hurting me all the time... What? When you told me you didn't want me to go to London to see my dying grandmother, was me seeing you fuck Tara my punishment for going anyway?"

"No, Aly... I'm sorry you saw what you saw, it's not gonna happen again."

"You know Jax, part of me wants me to believe you, but I can't... because one way or another, no matter what you say you're gonna do, you always go running back to her. I get that she was your high school sweetheart or whatever, but she left you, and went to Chicago because she couldn't handle the 'MC' life, she was too weak, and she left you broken." Alyssa got off the picnic table and stood up in front of Jax. "I was there to pick up the pieces and I even got that damn crow tattoo for you and for what? It obviously means nothing anymore."

"It does mean a lot to me, Aly." he paused. "Look, what if I can stay away from her."

"How can you, Jax? You brought her to my homecoming party and not only that, she's Abel's doctor."

"You're a very important person in my life." Jax leaned in closer to her. "And I don't want to lose you."

"Dude, I'm at the point to where... I can't believe anything you say anymore." she shrugged. "You tell me one thing and do another."

He pushed her into the picnic table, pinning her in between his arms, and was inches from her face. "I'm so sorry, Aly... just give me another chance."

"On one condition."

"What?"

"Tell me you love me." he looked at her with a blank stare. "It's just three words... say it and I'm yours." Jax opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She just nodded, moving out of his way. "That's what I thought... you say I'm important and that you don't want to lose me, but you can't even tell me you love me." she shook her head and walked into the clubhouse.

Clay walked up to her. "Have a beer, Aly-girl!"

"No thanks, Clay... I'll just have some soda."

"Fine." he laughed. "More beer for us."

Happy laughed. "Yeah!"

Alyssa nodded, leaning on the bar. "You guys can have all the beer and alcohol."

"Well, what kind of soda would you like?"

"Sack... just get me a Pepsi."

"Coming right up."

Seconds later, Juice walked up to her. "What's up with you, Al?"

"What?"

"You never turn down beer."

"Here you go." Half Sack said, giving Alyssa her drink.

"Thanks." then she turned to Juice and shrugged. "I just don't feel like drinking right now."

"Okay." he laughed. "Like Clay said, more beer for us."

As the night went on, Alyssa's homecoming party was mostly for the guys and the crow-eaters, but Alyssa went home early, because she wasn't feeling good.


It's been a week and Alyssa's been sick like a dog. Gemma and Juice would stop by to see how she was doing, but she can't seem to shake off her sickness. It was a Friday afternoon and she was feeling a little bit better, when there was a knock on her door.

She got up, wrapped herself in her blanket and opened the door. "Aye, Aye... 'ello Pinky."

"Holy shit, Pete."

"You forgot I was coming?"

"A little bit... sorry, I've been sick this past week." she smiled. "Come in."

Pete grabbed his suitcase and duffel bags, then walked in. "It's all right." he nodded. "I was supposed to be here sooner, but there was a football match and." he paused. "Never mind... where do I put my stuff?"

"In my room, follow me."

"All right." he nodded, then they walked into her room. He put his stuff on the ground, then gave Alyssa a hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." she let go and both of them sat down on her bed. "So when I feel better, is there anything you would like to do?"

"Let me think." he paused. "We can go to the beach or Disneyland, or whatever you want, Pinky."

"Whatever I want? This is your vacation."

"No, no, no... we can do whatever you want."

"Okay." she nodded. "How 'bout meeting your family? Is that on the list of things to do?"

"I don't know, Aly." he shook his head.

"You don't have to if you don't want to... but being in this small town, we're bound to run into someone."

"All right." he smiled. "First, I want some sleep, jet lag."

"Yeah, I know how that feels." she chuckled, getting up and locking her door.

"Wow, that's a nice TV. How big is it?"

"It's a 'fifty-two inch, flatscreen." she smiled. "HD baby!" she laid down on her bed as Pete was taking off his shoes. "I think you'll like my bed, it's huge, and fluffy."

He laid down next to her and smiled. "You will be here when I wake up, yeah?"

Alyssa nodded. "I'm not going anywhere."

"All right." he smiled, then pulled her down, and gave her a kiss. "I am so tired."

"I bet." seconds later, there was a knock on her door. "Stay here, I'll be right back." Pete nodded, then Alyssa walked out of her room, opened the front door, and frowned. "What could you possibly want now, Jax?"

"I haven't seen or heard from you in a week, can I come in?"

"No... I've been sick and I don't feel good." she shook her head. "I'm not in the mood to fight and argue with you either."

"Aly, I'm sorry." he paused. "I'm sorry for hurting you... you don't deserve it."

"No, she doesn't, mate." Pete said, walking out of the bedroom. "And you are fucking stupid for doing it."

Jax's jaw was dropped to the ground with his eyes widened. He couldn't move or speak, he was in complete shock. Alyssa was just standing there, shaking her head, thinking that this little reunion will not be good.