As always you guys are amazing. This chapter was a lot of fun for me to write, I like playful Jax and Tara. Anyways if you have ideas on what you'd like to see in a chapter let me know, because I plan to continue this until she leaves for San Deigo so I've got about three years to cover. I had no idea if Jax had a set birthday but I've decided to put it in December. There you go, enjoy. -Lanie xx
Tara grew frustrated with Jax over the next few days. With his birthday quickly approaching she wanted to buy him something that he'd like but every time she would ask him he'd give her a smart ass answer. And some of the answers she received earned him a slap across the chest.
There was also the fact that she didn't have much money to spend. Just what was left from her savings, which would only have money again once summer hit. It's why she believed that he had refused to give her real ideas. Tara made the mistake in telling him that her Dad spent most of their money on alcohol. That wasn't going to stop her though. Tara was very determined to find something he liked. She wanted Jax to see how much she cared about him. And what is better than a meaningful birthday present?
As the day finally came, Tara still hadn't found the gift she wanted yet. But she knew that she still had a little bit of time. She poked her head into her Dad's room to let him know that she would be taking the cutlass for a few hours. There was some grumbling of protest but she knew he wouldn't fight her on it.
Grabbing the list of what she needed, she first headed to the store. Tara wanted to make him cupcakes, that way if she really didn't find anything; he'd have those to eat. After buying ingredients she walked around other stores hoping to spark her interest.
The more time she went looking the less she actually believed that she'd find something for him. After all Tara really had a lot to learn about him still. Right as she was about to walk out of the store, she saw it. It was going to be perfect; she just hoped he liked it as much as she did. When she walked out of the store with bag in hand, Tara seemed happier than she had been earlier. She was almost skipping to the car.
Back at her house she started on the chocolate cupcakes, those brought up questions from her Dad. Well her good mood in general was questioned by him. Tara figured he wasn't used to her dancing around the kitchen when she cooked. She just pushed him out the door and into the car with one of his friends, that way he didn't try driving home drunk.
When she closed the front door she heard the phone ring, picking it up she hit the answer button.
"Hello." She answered.
"Tara, hey." Jax said, and she should almost see his smile.
"Birthday boy! Happy birthday!" She told him excitedly.
"Not you to." A groan came from the other end of the phone.
"Shh, it's your day, get used to it." She put the cupcakes into the oven.
"Whatever. I've gotta tell you something." He told her.
"Okay shoot." She said, growing more attentive to the conversation.
"I can't come over like originally planned. The club is throwing a party." He told her as if it was nothing.
"Oh… Okay… Well you go have fun tonight and we'll celebrate tomorrow." She tried to contain the hurt.
"You could come?" Jax told her simply.
Tara let out a sigh. She knew that she would be an outsider if she decided to go. "No, I don't think that's a good idea."
"You're probably right. Gemma would probably eat you alive and that's not to mention the rest of the club."
"That was my point. It's not really my scene."
"It will be if you hang around" He said softly.
"Time will tell. So tomorrow?" Tara asked.
Yeah, tomorrow." He said hanging up.
Tara put the phone down and tried not to sulk. She looked over at the present and let out a sigh. At least she would get to give it to him tomorrow. She knew how much the club meant to him so she tried not to be too upset. The two of them were only friends. There was nothing more to it. But she wanted there to be. Tara didn't know if she could trust herself enough to fall for him though.
To distract herself, she wrapped his present. She took her time on it and tried to make it look perfect. Tara always liked to wrap gifts, through the years she's just gotten better. By the time that was finished she had to pull the cupcakes out. After letting them cool off
She spent the rest of her night, reading and eating some of the extra cupcakes she made and drinking. Not even to make her drunk but just enough. She figured that would lighten up her night. Part of her wished that her Dad was home so she'd have someone to talk to. At about 9:30 she decided to call her best friend Anna.
"Anna speaking" The friend laughed.
"Banana, I'm so bored." She whined to her friend.
"Where's your booooy" She put an emphasis on boy which earned her an eye roll.
"Shh, he isn't my boy Anna! We're friends." Tara replied in honesty.
"You'll be together before you know it. And you want it to happen. You like him!" Anna said, too excitedly.
"If that's what you want to believe. Now, tell me about this boy." She changed subjects.
The two continued to talk and she was happy it was about different things. Tara was giggling and happy when she heard a knock on her window. She looked over at the clock and it was past 10 now. It took a lot for Tara to be afraid but with Anna telling her she was going to get kidnapped and die, she was a bit reluctant to go to the window.
"Tell Dad I love him. Also you can have whatever you want from my room." She told her, giggling and rolling her eyes.
She moved her curtains to the side and her face broke out in a smile. Pushing her window open, she spoke into the phone. "Not going to die tonight, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
She hung up the phone as Jax climbed effortlessly into the room. Tara closed the window and laughed. She didn't see why he was here or why he didn't use the front door. But she was happy to see him, really happy. That might have something to do with the fact she was drinking though.
"Jackson, why aren't you at your party? And why did you just climb through my window?" She put her hands on her hips and tried to be intimating.
"Someone's been drinking again." He kissed her head before walking over to her bed and sitting down. "I love them all but I'd much rather be here with you and the cutlass was in the driveway, though I'd guess he isn't here."
"No, he isn't. I'm glad you're here. Hold on, stay." She told him before going out of her room. She grabbed one cupcake and a candle and his gift before making her way to her room. Jax raised his eyebrow but laughed.
"I was hoping you'd give up. I didn't want anything."
"Too late I can't take it back." She smiled.
"You made cupcakes. Filled with poison?" Jax laughed.
"Maybe weed if you're lucky." She rolled her eyes and asked, "Can I have your lighter?" She watched him shake his head. "Please, let me light your candle." Tara whined.
He took the stuff from her hands and set them aside on her night table before pulling her to him on the bed. She let out a squeal of surprise and she was laid beside him, her upper body laid on his chest.
"Your cupcake though." She protested.
"Just spend a little time with me and give yourself time to sober up." Jax told her, wrapping her arms around him.
She smiled at up at him. "I'm not drunk."
"Tara I can smell the alcohol on your breath." He raised his eyebrow.
"It was one drink! I can walk in a straight line if you want me too." Tara giggled.
That got a kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Just stay like this for a while."
Tara nodded her head and laid her head down. If he wanted to hold her, she would gladly let him. The two stayed like that for what seemed like forever. But neither seems to mind. Turning to look at him, he was already intently watching her. Tara moved her hand so she could run it through his hair.
"What are you thinking about?" Jax asked in a whisper not wanting to disrupt the peace.
The last thing she wanted to tell him was what she was really thinking. About how all she wanted was to kiss him, cuddle and be his girlfriend. After all, those thoughts were all new to her. Tara thought that they might have come from her conversation with Anna. Jax ran his hand across her cheek to bring her back to reality.
"I'm just trying to figure out why you left to come here." She asked softly.
"You're here, the croweaters are there." Jax smiled at her.
"A what?" Her brow furrowed.
That term sounded familiar but she didn't know exactly what it meant. Though she knew if she guessed her answer would probably be correct.
"Basically they're club sluts. They know that they just get used for the all guys enjoyment." He shrugged.
"Oh, okay." Tara started to wonder if that's what he was going to want from her. She knew the type of people that hung out there and she wasn't like that. "Have you ever—"
"Let's not worry about who I may or may not of slept with." He interrupted knowing what she was thinking.
Tara knew that he probably slept around quite often. She knew that there were girls that they went to school with that would throw themselves at him and Opie. It's tough to imagine them passing all of them up.
She saw Jax eyeing his gift before speaking. "I'm curious now."
Tara smiled at him shyly as she handed him the wrapped gift. She really hoped that he would like it. Tara watched as Jax started to open it. He looked at the box before looking up and smiling at her. Right then she knew he liked it. The gift was a model of a Harley-Davidson Dyna-Glide, a motorcycle. The model that she quickly was taught that was his.
"It's my bike." He at stated.
"The first bike I ever rode." Tara shrugged.
"This will have a special place in my room."
"The place I have yet to see." She hinted.
"After we figure out if Gemma is going to kill you or not." Jax grinned.
"Well that better be soon or my imagination will run wild." She joked back.
"I promise, I like you more than the half-naked woman posted around my room." She could tell that he was only halfway joking this time.
"At least clean the place up before bringing me in there." Tara told him.
"Don't want to see my boxers, Knowles?" Jax raised his eyebrow.
"Maybe that's not how I want to see them?"
"You can't say things like that and not mean them." He practically growled.
"And why would it matter, friend of mine?" She tilted her head to the side.
"Friend or not I wouldn't turn down sex."
With a roll of her eyes, she leaned over and grabbed the cupcake. "Lighter." She asked with her hand out.
They switched, he took the cupcake and she grabbed the lighter. After he gave her a brief lesson on how to use one, she light the candle in the cupcake. Tara sang to him and told him to make a wish. He blew out the candle before swiping some of the frosting and putting it on her nose. He laughed as he did so and took a bite after removing the candle.
"I hope you wished for something good." She whispered.
He smiled at her before looking over at the clock on her wall. "Shit, Gemma is going to be pissed."
Tara frowned knowing that he needed to leave, it was almost midnight. Plus he did sneak away from his own party. She handed him his stuff and walked him to the door. There was no need to climb through the window; her Dad still hadn't come home. Jax walked out of the door before turning to look at her.
"I'll see you tomorrow bright and early." He smiled at her as he leaned against the open door frame.
Tara leaned up and kissed him softly. When she pulled away she looked down as she felt her cheeks grow hot.
"Happy birthday Jackson." She told him, with a soft smile.
She watched as he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her back to him, his mouth against hers but this time he kissed her with need. Her body was pressed against his, his lips moved roughly. She felt Jax's hand grip on her hair loosen and soon his lips were soft against hers. With that he pulled away and smirked.
"My wish is already coming true." With that he turned around and walked to the bike.
Tara stood with the door open, breathless, her chest rising and falling. Once he was gone she closed the door and hoped that there would be a lot more of that in her future.