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Chapter 9: Bonding, sorta

When Gemma and them left, Mom was sitting at the table talking to Caleb. I was told to either sit and listen or go and be quiet. I choose to leave, not wanting to hear her talk about quitting when I wasn't going to. I grabbed my water bottle from the 'fridge, feeling Caleb's eyes on my back as I retreated upstairs to my bedroom. I locked my door again, keeping the light off. I pulled out my laptop from the drawer on the nightstand. I plugged in my I-Pod to my laptop, going through my list of songs. I took a small drink, a slight burn and I sighed. I was about to switch on a song when someone knocked on my door.

"Callie Ma said to get your shoes, we're going on a tour around Charming." Caleb's tone was bored and low. I huffed re-capping the bottle and throwing it on the bed. I couldn't even get some peace and quiet.

"I'll be there in a few minutes." I replied grabbing my pack of tic-tacs from the drawer. I popped one in my mouth, bitting down immediately. I know my breath would smell like something and I was prepared. I left my room, Caleb following behind me. "I smell mint." He said as we walked down the stairs. "Tic-Tac." I replied. He held out his hand and I poured two in his hands. He threw them into his mouth, sucking instead of biting. I grabbed my sandals from the front door and slipped them on, following Mom as she left the house. The silence was weird.

I walked at Caleb's slow pace, "What she say?" I asked and received no answer. I frowned, why was he talking to me? He climbed into the passenger seat. I had no choice but to sit in the back, alone. i huddled in my seat frowning as Mom drove out. Caleb was quiet in his seat in front of me. It was weird how sad I was when he ignored me. My own twin. "We're heading to the shop and from there we'll walk around town." Mom told us in a happy tone. I couldn't muster a smile, I was feeling cheery.

Mom drove us there quickly, the world passing us very fast. About 5 minutes later, there we were, parking inside where the car wouldn't be in the way. Mom got out first. I dragged to get out. How would it feel walking around town with them two? I had an idea, horrible. I slammed the door shut, sighed to myself.

"What's wrong Jazzy?" Clay's loud voice startled me. These men and their loudness was going to give me a heart attack. Mom smiled looking at her dad. I felt sadness in me again. The word 'dad' wouldn't ever be used with me. My dad was a no show, hell Mom never even told me who it was but I knew she had a good reason. She didn't want to hurt us.

"Nothing. We're gonna be taking a walk around town. You know, to get used to it." Clay nodded to his daughter.

"Careful and have fun." He told us and we all gave some sort of answer. I just nodded not wanting to be verbal. Mom walked first, Caleb behind.

Once we walked out, it was just us. A small three person family. We walked down the sidewalk, viewing all the buildings around. When we reached the main street, there were more stores to choose from. We walked for a while, passing a diner on the way. "Ma what time is it?" I asked, my stomach rumbling low.

"Almost lunch." She answered and I smiled. Food soon. We passed that cigar shop again. I tensed when I saw that man inside. He caught me walking by, a sort of sick smile on his face. I looked away from him, his stare sending chills up my spine. We went inside the clothing store right beside the cigar shop. I was timid about entering, did I really want to look around or did I want to just explore? I spotted a girl walking towards us and behind her a trio of girls. I was in desperate need of friendship. I wanted to talk to someone else but I was unsure on how to make new friends. Mom entered the store with Caleb. I lingered outside. Go in or stay out?

The girl walking alone had short black hair, in her hands was a book. I raised my brow, bookworm? She was wearing black skinny jeans with a red blouse. She paid no attention around her, only when she looked up in case someone was in front of her. I wouldn't have paid much attention to her if not for the trio behind her. The one in the middle stood out more, her long blonde hair and green eyes. She wore a pink tank top with blue capri jeans. She walked ahead of her friends, bumping into the girl who was minding her own business. I shook my head, what did she do to them?

I usually stayed out of other people's business not wanting to have anything back fire in my face. That time felt different, the girl reading didn't do anything. She just stuttered a sorry and moved away from her, walking on. The blonde didn't seem to like her reaction. "Stupid freak." She said loud enough that I could hear. The black haired girl cast her eyes to the floor doing her best to walk fast. I didn't want to stay back any longer. I hated bullies.

"Hey!" I shouted stepping forward. I caught the black haired girl by the shoulders, whirling her around. She looked frightened, startled by contact. The blonde girl and her followers looked at me, surprised and angry. "Watch where you walk." I told her. The blonde haired girl walked to me, a smile on her face, her hips swaying more than they needed to.

"What you gonna do if I don't?" She asked though I know it was more of a rhetorical question. She looked me up and down and I raised a brow at her.

"I don't want to have to do anything to you." I told her stepping closer as she did so. She couldn't threaten me. I took no threats. She laughed at me.

"You can't do shit you weak ass bitch." I narrowed my eyes at her. I grabbed her by the shirt in a threatening manner. No one calls me a bitch.

"Try me." I warned, shoving her away. I turned my back on her, turning to the scared teen girl. She was trying to figure out what to do. She was as confused as me. I didn't know what I was doing standing up to her. Maybe I just couldn't handle seeing someone who wouldn't fight back. I could see her dark orbs flutter with fear. I gave her a weak smile, I still wasn't happy.

"Sorry for grabbing you-ah!" I yelped when I felt my hair being yanked. I turned halfway, glaring at the blonde girl who dared to touch me let alone pull my hair. She had a fist full of my hair on her hand and I laughed in her face. I reared my fist and then punched her write in the face. She screamed as she fell to the floor, blood dripping from her nose. Her friends surrounded her trying to help her up. I shook my head. "Next time don't go for the hair pulling you blonde bitch." I hissed at her, staying in my place. I wasn't going to go off on her because I was mad. I already did enough damage. She could press charges if she wanted.

"You broke my nose!" She whined. I rolled my eyes. I turned back to the girl who I yet to get a name from. She was surprised, her eyes on the girl on the floor. I tensed again when I saw the two men from inside the shop, the one with the tattoo and the shorter man staring at us. I was getting a bad vibe from them. Suddenly the door from the clothing store opened and Mom and Caleb exited. Mom looked horrified as she spotted the girl on the floor and me standing.

"Oh my God are you okay?" Mom looked at the girl who had dry blood on her upper lip. Mom glared at me and I shrunk away. Her glare was scarier than any I had ever seen. She turned away, embarrassed and stalked off, her friends right on her heel. Mom grabbed my arm, pulling me close.

"What do you think you're doing?" She hissed.

"She was being a bully and she pulled my hair." I replied. I didn't start the fight. I promised I wouldn't start fights anymore. Mom sighed, rubbing her temple for the hundredth time. She did that a lot nowadays.

"Let's go." I sighed. I turned to the girl who stood there frozen like a statue. "Sorry again. I didn't mean to do anything." She was smiling, actually smiling. "That's alright. I was getting sick of them anyway. I'm Melissa by the way." She held out her hand. I took it, the friendly gesture a good thing.

"Callie. Well I'll see ya around." She nodded to me and watched as we all walked off. I really wanted to talk to her, needed to make a friend or my whole summer would be boring and hell. Mom was scolding me all the way telling me that I try and not get into trouble. It was the same lecture as before when I got into trouble at school. I nodded while she talked, trying to see if that would get her to stop. After a while Mom sighed finally getting the point that I wasn't listening to her fully. My hand finally hurt, a late reaction to punching the blonde girl in the face.

Mom's phone rang and she answered, ushering us towards the car. "Oh right now?Okay...I'll be there in five." She hung up real quick. "Jax!" She yelled seeing as he was the closest one. Jax stopped mid walk and looked at Mom, turning his direction and walking to her, rag in hands.

"What's wrong?" He asked wiping his hands from the oil.

"I'm heading to the hospital, interview." So Mom was going to be working at a hospital? "Can you watch them for a few?" Jax nodded, putting his hand on each of our shoulders. She kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Jax." Mom waved to us as she got into the car. "Watch Callie. She already got into a fight." I flushed, did she have to tell everyone everything? Jax laughed, patting me on the back as if saying good job. Mom frowned but she couldn't press the issue or she'd be late. I walked to Gemma's office but the door was closed. I groaned, Gemma wasn't there.

"She ain't there. Come on." He ushered us into the clubhouse. There were a few men there, including Chibs, Opie, Juice, and Prospect. I still couldn't handle being near so many men. I glanced at the pool table. I didn't know how to play. I would have liked to but I didn't know. Caleb flopped onto one of the two couches, groaning in boredom. I glanced at the bar. My drink was on my bed.

Jax's voice took over the silence, "Who did you get into a fight with Callie?" I broke my gaze from the bar to Jax who was surrounding the pool table with Chibs. I kept myself quiet not wanting to talk. Jax looked at me when I didn't answer. "You know sooner or later you're gonna have to talk to me. Maybe not 'bout this but something else." I glared at him, walking to the couch and sitting down.

Yeah I was being difficult but I didn't care. I didn't want to talk.

"Aye he's right." Chibs agreed, taking a shot. I glanced at the table. I wanted to play. Wanted to do something instead of just sitting. Jax caught me staring. "You wanna play?" I quickly shook my head.

"I'll teach ya come on." I reluctantly got up, slowly making my way over to him. "I still wanna know."

I sighed, "You're not gonna stop are you?" He grinned with a shake of his head. "Fine since you're gonna teach me to play but you go first."

He nodded. He handed me one of the sticks. "I wanna play too." Caleb pipped up jumping off the couch. "I got 'im." Chibs said motioning for Caleb to go to him. He was more than happy to oblige. Jax told me how to grip the pole, using my right hand to steady the tip while my other arm kept the pole raised. He kicked my feet into place and pushed my top half a bit over so I could have a good grip. For a minute I felt exposed, feeling like I was giving everyone a good look of my behind. I did my best to ignore how I was feeling, my mind going back to pool. I hit the middle of the white ball, watching as it went straight and hit a few balls that went into a domino effect, hitting the other colored balls.

"She's a pro." Jax laughed as a few balls went straight down into the sockets. I smiled feeling proud. Suddenly Caleb hit, a few of the balls going into place too. "Aye he is too." Chibs laughed along with Jax. I narrowed my eyes at Caleb, a grin on my face as I leaned on the pole. Caleb caught my stare, a smile slowly forming on his face when he realized what I was thinking.

"Me vs you?" I asked with smirk.

He laughed, "You're on."

So we played the game, one on one, attracting a a few people. He was solid and I was striped. He sunk in a few of his and I did so too, nearly a tie between us. He leaned over the table, hitting the white ball and scattering the rest. When I was going to play, Jax spoke up.

"I held up my end." I took my shot and stood straight.

"Stupid bitch was messing with a girl, I got involved," Caleb shot and he sunk one of his. I frowned. "she said a few words, I said a few words," I took my shot again, hitting one of mine and sinking two. I grinned when he glared at me, muttering something. I let out a laugh. "She pulled my hair and I turned around and punched the bitch." Laughter erupted from a few men. I laughed too.

"Bet your Mom wasn't too happy with that." I jumped at the sound of Gemma's voice. I whirled around, the smile still on my face. "Nope but it was worth it. She thought I wouldn't do anything."

A shout from Caleb turned me back around. I let out a huff as he did a victory dance. "Again." He laughed and Chibs put the balls in the triangle. He started first, sinking a striped ball. I was solid.

"Get back to work people." Clay shouted and I heard groans from a few of the men who had to get out of the clubhouse to work on the cars. Caleb and I left alone playing Pool, some of the men coming in and out at times. We played pool for a very long time, he won three games I won two.

I guess I was going to like it in Charming after all.