Tara jumped straight up holding her chest. Her heart was beating rapidly. Tears soaked her face. Her entire body was covered in sweat. She felt as if all of the air had been sucked from her lungs, she was suffocating.
She blinked several times to clear her vision but there was only darkness except for the illuminated light on the clock sitting in its place on the nightstand by the bed.
1 a.m.
Confusion swept over her. How did she get back to the motel room? Where was Jax? She flipped on the lamp and looked around the room. Everything was in place. Who had cleaned it up? When the police took them for questioning the room had looked like a tornado had blown through.
Was it a dream? It couldn't have been. It felt so real. She picked up her phone, there was a text from Jax that came in at 10 p.m.
"Sorry I missed ur call. We were in the middle of it. I hope u had a good day. I'll talk to u tomorrow. Sweet dreams babe."
She reread the message a few times, her heart was still racing like she had been running a marathon. She called Jax only to get his voicemail.
If that was a dream it was the most vivid dream she had ever experienced and it scared the shit out of her. She had a feeling she wouldn't be able to rest or calm down until she heard Jax's voice, she had to know he was okay. Since he wasn't answering his phone, she did the only other thing she could short of calling Gemma.
She packed her stuff, climbed in her car and drove to Charming. Classes were important but she'd be brain-dead if she didn't at least find out for sure that it wasn't real. She had to be certain.
She unlocked the door at Gemma's and tip-toed to the stairs. She froze when she felt something hard and cold pushed into her back.
The light blinded her as Gemma flipped the switch, "Jesus I could've killed you. What are you doing here? Why ain't you at school?" Gemma hissed, removing the barrel of the gun from Tara's back.
"Is Jax here." Tara asked and took a calming breath as Gemma nodded.
"Everything okay? What's wrong?" Gemma questioned.
"I'll explain in the morning, right now I just need to see him." Tara called back as she hurried up the stairs to Jax's room.
She saw the outline of his body sprawled out on the bed and it instantly calmed her nerves. It had been a dream, just a dream.
Tara sat down on the bed and placed her hand over his heart. Jax jumped, eyes flashing to hers.
"Tara?" He rubbed his eyes taking note of her tear stained cheeks. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Everything is fine." She whispered.
"Why have you been crying? Why ain't you in Oakland?" He asked, sitting up and pulling her into his lap.
"It's stupid actually but I just needed to see you-see that you were here and not in jail I mean." She sighed, giving him a small shrug.
"Jail? What made you think I was in jail?" He questioned, he was still groggy and she was confusing the shit out of him.
"Well I'm not sure what happened. Everything is kind of fuzzy. I don't even remember much of today. I know I got out of class and when I got to the motel Dean was there-at least I think he was."
"Dean was at your motel?" Jax growled interrupting her.
"I'm not sure because I remember calling you and telling you about it and then you came there. You told me you loved me and then we were brought down for questioning by Alec's father and I found out that Dean's a Private Investigator hired by Alec to find me and somehow a recording device was placed in my bag or my room or something and they were using that and a video that Dean had recorded against us. It was horrible and then I woke up covered in sweat feeling like my heart was going to explode and I'm so confused. You are here so I know it wasn't real but it felt so real-so real that I'm sitting here with you now because I just had to see you and know for sure you were safe. I've just never had a dream that realistic before." She explained, wiping away the stray tears falling down her cheeks.
Jax held her close, "Shhhh. It's okay babe. It was just a bad dream." He spoke softly, in a calm soothing voice. He rubbed her back gently.
"I know." She nodded. "I just needed to be sure so that's why I came. I'm sorry I woke you."
"Hey. Don't be sorry. I'm glad you're here, I'm just sorry that all of this has you so tore up. That's my fault." He stated, mentally kicking his own ass for the pain she's enduring because of his need for revenge.
"It's not." She shook her head, "let's not talk about any of that anymore. Ever." She shuddered at the thought of someone actually placing a bug somewhere and her dream becoming a reality.
Jax understood her meaning and knew it was best to let it go. He was fairly certain that Dean wasn't a PI. Juice had looked into him when he first started dating Tara. The two of them may had been at odds over her but were in agreement that there was something just not right about that fucker. Nothing was found of any significance but after Tara's dream they may dig a little deeper, just to be on the safe side.
"Deal. Come on, get some rest you look exhausted. What time do you need to leave to go back to school?" Jax questioned, scooting down into bed and letting her lay on his chest.
"I'll make up the work I miss tomorrow. I just want to be here with you, like this." She yawned and nuzzled his chest.
"Okay. Get some sleep baby." He kissed the top of her head. "One more thing before you go to sleep though." He paused letting her look up at him.
"Yeah?" She asked, yawning again.
"All of that other stuff might not have been real, but I do love you." He rubbed her hair back, gazing into her eyes.
"You do?" She asked, stunned.
He nodded. "I do. More than you know."
"I love you too." She smiled and leaned up to kiss softly before settling back down to lay on his chest and listen to his heart beating.
That dream may have terrified her but this right now, being here wrapped in his arms was pure bliss. It was the perfect ending to a shitty night. She smiled to herself and let sleep take her again, hoping that the sound of Jax's breathing would keep all of the nightmares away.
"Come and eat kids." Gemma ordered outside of the door.
Both Jax and Tara groaned in response. It was way too early to be awake, but Tara had a feeling Gemma was getting impatient waiting to find out what was going on, why she was back here instead of at school.
She stretched her arms and legs out before climbing out of bed and treading downstairs with Jax following closely behind her his hand on the small of her back.
"Okay, good you're up. Now, what's going on?" Gemma questioned before they even got sat down.
Clay must have been waiting to because he put his paper down and watched them carefully when they entered the room.
"It's nothing." Tara blushed, embarrassed that she reacted the way she did over a dream.
"Bullshit. Something happened, nothing didn't have you almost getting shot sneaking into the house in the middle of the night. So let's have it." Gemma ordered, not taking her eyes off of Tara's.
"It's really nothing," Tara sighed. "a dream that scared me."
"You drove all the way here for a dream?" Clay asked, biting back a smile.
Tara nodded, "I needed to make sure he was okay."
"It must have been one hell of a dream." Gemma stated, tone softer, an amused smile.
Tara fought the urge to roll her eyes, they didn't understand and that was going to have to be okay she was just glad Gemma was easing up and not forcing her to talk about it in detail. She really didn't want to go through it again. The first time was more than enough.
"When do you go back to school?" Gemma asked, pouring another cup of coffee.
"Tomorrow, I guess." Tara muttered. She wasn't looking forward to going back, not now.
After breakfast Tara excused herself to lay back down, she had a massive headache.
Jax talked to Clay about digging deeper into Dean, giving Clay and Gemma the rundown on what caused Tara's departure from Oakland to Charming in the middle of the night. Jax still wasn't sure if Dean had really showed up at Tara's motel or not, since Tara didn't even know but he was going to find out one way or another-just without Tara's knowledge. He didn't want her carrying the burden of someone else like she was with Alec. He wouldn't put her through that again.
She was asleep when he made his way back up to the room. She looked so beautiful laying there, so peaceful. He vowed to himself to never make the mistake he did the first time; he would do everything in his power to keep her happy. She deserved all of the happiness in the world and he was determined to make sure she stayed that way. He refused to be the reason her heart broke again, if he could help it.
Tara felt refreshed after her nap, her headache had finally faded. Jax was nowhere in sight, but he had left a note saying that he had gone to the clubhouse and he loved her. Her heart felt so full, butterflies filled her stomach.
She stopped by Saint Thomas before heading to the clubhouse, a girl at her school had asked why she was taking classes in Oakland when they were offered in Charming. Tara hadn't heard of classes being offered in Charming but she was going to find out. The girl said her mom teaches in Charming part time and works at Saint Thomas as administrator the rest of the time.
"Hello Tara, I'm Margaret Murphy. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Tara smiled and shook her hand, "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me."
"What can I help you with?" Margaret asked, sitting down at her desk.
"I attend classes with your daughter, Cynthia," Tara explained, "She told me that the classes are offered here in Charming. I was wondering about how to apply to come here?"
"Why do you want to come here if you are already accepted there?" She asked.
"Well my family is here and my job. I still haven't found a job there and I didn't want my family to have to keep supporting me." Tara stated, leaving out Jax and SAMCRO. She wasn't ashamed of them but didn't want to advertise either, she had a feeling her affiliation with SAMCRO wouldn't help her with this particular task.
"I see." Margaret nodded. "I will see what I can do. Classes already started here a little over a week ago, so if you are serious about the transfer you may not be able to start until the fall courses start. If I can get you in you will have to work extra hard to catch up, they won't give you any slack for starting late. The classes may be full, they usually are but if someone dropped out, I may be able to get you in." She explained.
Tara nodded. "I understand and I appreciate whatever you can do."
"Fill these out. I'll be back to check on you in a moment." Margaret handed her a stack of papers. By the time Tara finished filling them out her hand was sore.
"Finished?" Margaret stuck her head in the door and asked.
"Yes ma'am." Tara nodded, handing her the paperwork.
"Good." Margaret flipped through the papers to make sure everything was filled out appropriately. "Well good news Ms. Knowles, there was a drop out and we should be able to transfer you in. I'll have to check to be one hundred percent certain but it shouldn't be a problem. I'll call you this afternoon and let you know."
Tara's face lit up, "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Tara hurried out of the hospital to TM. On the way there she decided to wait before telling anyone. She didn't want to get their hopes up and then something not work out.
Tara sat at the picnic table with Donna watching Jax and Opie work on their bikes.
When Saint Thomas's phone number appeared on her caller ID she couldn't contain her excitement.
"Excuse me." She stated before running off to sit in her car.
"Hello?" Tara answered, biting her lip.
"Ms. Knowles, this is Margaret Murphy." She paused. "I have good news. I was able to get the board to speed up transfer due to your circumstances. You start tomorrow morning. Can you be here in an hour we will go over all of the details and get you ready to go?"
Tara's smile was plastered on her face, she was going to be able to stay here in Charming with Jax and her family and continue her education.
"Yes, Thank you so much. I'll see you soon." Tara stated, jumping out of the car to give everyone the news-Jax specifically.
When she returned Jax and Opie were standing at the picnic table drinking a soda. She rushed up to him, jumped into his arms-knocking his soda all over the both of them.
"Sorry." She exclaimed laughing.
"It's all good. You alright?" He asked, smirking. "What's going on?"
"Yep! I'm great!" Tara giggled. "Gemma!" She shouted.
Gemma, Clay, and Piney stepped outside of the office.
"I have some news I wanted to share with you all," Tara looked to each one of them. "I'm not going back to school in Oakland."
"I thought school was what you wanted sweetheart." Piney spoke first.
"It is, just not in Oakland." Tara answered.
"Where then?" Opie asked.
"Here." Tara replied, holding up her finger to silence Jax who was about to interrupt. "A girl in my class said her mom taught part time here and I spoke with her today at Saint Thomas. She was able to get me transferred, I start tomorrow."
Jax picked her up and spun her around. "That's great!"
"I thought you'd say that." Tara winked.
"That's the best news I've heard all day. I was worried about you being in O-town by with no protection." Opie added.
"Well, no need to worry about that. I'll be staying here with my family." Tara smiled. "And in bed at night with you." She whispered.
Jax winked, "might not get much studying done."
Tara grinned. "I'll get lots of studying done in anatomy."
With that the group disbanded leaving Jax and Tara in their own little world.
"I love you." She whispered.
"I love you more." He stated, rubbing her cheek with the back of his hand.
"No way." She objected.
"I'll let you think you're right." He smirked.
"Hey lovebirds, lets finish these bikes bro." Opie rolled his eyes and laughed when Jax pulled Tara in for another kiss.
"I've got to get this done, I'll be finished as soon as I can 'kay?" Jax placed his forehead against hers.
She nodded, "No rush. I'm gonna head down and fill out my paperwork for tomorrow. I'll see you after."
Her paperwork was finished; it was official she would be attending school in Charming rather than Oakland. She hurried back to TM, it had only been two hours and she felt like she was going crazy. She would have never been able to get through days at a time without seeing him. Now she didn't have to, things had worked out perfectly.
Her dream still haunted her, she pushed it away, not letting it take away her happiness. She was here, Jax was here and for now things were going great. She refused to let her worries get in the way this time. They would deal with whatever happens later together. For now, she would let herself be happy. She would let herself be in love for the first time ever. She once believed she loved Alec, but the way she felt about him was nothing in comparison to the way she feels about Jax. It was a great feeling. For the first time since her parents died, she felt truly loved.
Authors note: Sorry for the short chapter, I didn't want to leave you hanging to long. Thank you all for your continued support. I appreciate each and every one of you and I hope you continue to read and enjoy the story. Much love to you all.