A/N:
I apologize for not updating in while. I've been super busy with work and then with the Holidays snuck up on me, which gave me no time to write. Hope you guys like this chapter, a whole lot of Faith and Juice going on ;) Also I really hope I didn't lose anyone, not giving up on this story! If you want more periodic updates are you guys interested in me posting tumblr posts? Let me know if you do!
I can't believe that it's all over. No more Teller Tuesdays :( The series ended how I thought it was going to end. That doesn't mean I'm happy about how it ended, because if you watched it you'll know why.
stordec: Sorry for not updating sooner! Hope you enjoy this chapter ;)
ashlynnb14: Aw thank you! Lol I'm sure it's Juice's smile, it's contagious. Thank you, I'm glad you like artwork, sorry for the long wait, hope this chapter makes up for that ;)
red05: Thank you :) Hope you like this chapter!
I own nothing but my O/C, SOA belongs to FX & Kurt Sutter.
Eyes Wide Open
Chapter 10
"Blue Eyes"
"Milk check, Cheese check, two cases of monster double check." Faith ticked off the list of groceries in her hand; letting out a satisfied sigh as she looked out into her cart, filled with various foods and cleaning supplies.
Most people wouldn't be so happy at the sight of groceries but most people probably hadn't spent the last few weeks in shitty motel rooms, eating all their meals at road side diners. Sure she could have stayed in better places but most of them would have blown her budget.
"Speaking of a budget." Faith groaned to herself. She only had a few days to find a place for herself. Rent in Charming wasn't as bad as Rhode Island but it was still going to take a decent chunk of her savings. How was she going to save up for the shop now?
It was a good thing her instructor had pushed her to apply for the redwood gaming studio, even though it was a onetime gig, it opened doors for more opportunities especially in technology hub of North California. That would mean working her ass off, leaving no days off. Of course she almost cringed at the thought of having no days to unwind, but at the end it would be worth it when she bought the shop back. It was also a better alternative to living in the same space as Tara.
"Fuck." Faith silently cursed as the thought of her sister popped back in her mind after trying so hard not to think about her all day. The couple of sessions in the morning had helped, like they always did when she had something that was bothering her.
Faith shook her head. "No, don't do this to yourself Faith; don't let her get in your head." She talked to herself, pushing her cart towards the empty cash register. She flashed the girl a smile before placing everything two by two onto the conveyor belt.
"Shit." Faith cursed as the can that she was about to put on the belt dropped onto the floor and rolled away from her. Letting out a frustrated groan, she bent down to pick up it off the ground, only to see it picked up by someone else.
"Thanks." Faith said, not looking up as she got up.
"Your welcome darling."
Faith's body froze as she heard the word darling roll off the tongue of someone so familiar. Only a few people she knew that used that word, and she was sure that voice didn't belong to the members of the opposite sex that came into mind. Slowly she looked up to see the Queen of bikers staring her down.
"Gemma." Faith got out as she stood up straight, greeting her with a head nod. To most people in Charming Gemma Teller Morrow was an intimidating person, giving an almost hostile vibe when you first meet her but Faith wasn't like most people, she knew Gemma too well.
"Funny thing, I was just thinking of you." Gemma commented with a smirk. "I heard you were back in town, thought I'd have to track you down and say hello but here you are."
"Um excuse me." The teenage cashier interrupted nervously as she looked at Gemma. Everyone in charming knew about SAMCRO, and many feared them. Her father had always told her to stay away from them, that they only brought trouble. "You...you guys are holding up the line."
Gemma quickly turned and looked behind her, not noticing anyone. "Honey," She addressed the girl with raised intimidating eyes. "There's no one there."
"I'm sorry, it's just you can't hold up the line like that regardless if anyone's there...it's just our policy." The girl nervously replied back not being able to look Gemma in the eyes.
Faith had to admit, the girl had guts to stand up to Gemma, most people never wanted to even look Gemma's way.
"Look sweetheart." Gemma drawled as she walked up to the cashier with her basket. "Me and her" she nodded towards Faith. "Have some catching up to do. So unless someone lines up behind us and starts complaining, we ain't moving, got it?"
The girl gulped, nodding her head in understanding.
"Good." Gemma reaffirmed with a smile. She then turned her attention back to Faith. "Surprised to see you back in Charming."
"I don't see why." Faith answered without flinching, crossing her arms across her chest, not backing down from Gemma's stare down. "Charming's home, it always has, always will be.
Gemma let out a snort. "Really? Is that why you haven't been home in the last 5 years? I'm surprised that you didn't break your sister's record."
Faith's jaw clenched together at Gemma's snide remark. Her hands balling up into a tight fist as she compared her to Tara. She was nothing like her older sister; they were almost polar opposites of each other.
An amused smile fell on Gemma's face, seeing Faiths reaction.
Faith saw the pleasure on Gemma's face as it light up from watching her. It made her sick seeing how much joy the biker queen got from seeing her like this.
Taking a deep breath in to calm down herself, she quickly masked her anger with a forced smile. "See Gemma that's what I missed the most about you, your sense of humor."
"Funny," Gemma snorted cocking her head back. "Forgot out of the both of you, you gained Abby's sarcasm...she never really liked me either."
Faith couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. She knew her mother hadn't liked the queen of SAMCRO, she had heard countless stories of how her mother didn't like how Gemma thought she owned the town. "What's there not to like." Faith answered smugly.
"Exactly." Gemma agreed with a half smile, narrowing her eyes before a more serious look enveloped her face. The half smile soon disappeared as Faith was meet again with the infamous Gemma Teller Morrow glare. "Seriously, what do you want?"
"My can back?" Faith answered slowly with a raised eyebrow, reaching out for it with her hand open.
Gemma rolled her eyes at Faiths answer. "You know what I mean." She clarified, crossing her arms across her chest. "What are you really doing back in Charming, and don't give me some bullshit excuse like your sister did."
"I don't need to justify being back in my hometown to you." Faith answered back firmly. "Yeah I might have left charming but I knew I always was going to come back. School might have put that off for a few years but I'm here now and I'm not leaving again, not now, not ever."
Gemma pressed her lips tightly against each other as her hazel eyes looked over Faith, taking in the girl's body language. "Sorry if I don't believe you, you Knowles sisters have a track record of that."
Faith let out a sigh. Gemma could keep this starring contest all day not to mention the back and forth snide remarks. "What do you want me to say Gemma? "
"The truth for one." Gemma voiced. "I don't think you two being back in town is just a coincidence."
"Seriously?!" Faith raised her voice in annoyance, her eyes shooting up to her eyebrows. "What do you thinks going on? That there's some big conspiracy happening behind your back?!" She motioned with her hands. "Nothing is up Gemma, nothing! I told you why I'm back, ask Tara why she's here, I don't know and frankly I don't give a damn."
"You know you're more like her then you think you are." Gemma commented as she stepped towards her. "Jax would do anything for the both of you...for the first time in his life he contemplated leaving his family because of your sister and then even was willing to ride out all the way to LA to hunt your ass down."
Faith closed her eyes as Gemma brought up what happened 5 years ago. She knew one day she would hear it from Gemma...especially after finding out the lengths Jax was willingly to go to find her when he thought she had gone missing. Sighing deeply she opened her eyes to see Gemma watching her like a hawk waiting for what she had to say.
"I am nothing like her." Faith addressed sternly. She was tired of Gemma comparing the two of them. It sickened her to even think that she could share any similarity with Tara except DNA. "Like I said why I left Charming is different from why she left...we both know it so stop making something out of nothing."
Gemma looked the young woman in the eyes as she stood just an inch away from.
"And what happened 5 years ago...there was reason why I didn't tell Jax I was dropping out of OHSU, we both know he would've of tried to stop me...and since he knew where I was, nothing would have been in his way to stop him." Faith looked Gemma in the eye. "I know how important the club is to Jax...how it makes him feel like his dad's still around." Faith looked at her left arm before looking back at Gemma. "I would never do anything that gets in the way of that."
Gemma was caught off guard by Faiths answer. When Jax had find out that Faith had moved to LA, she knew her son was hurt by the fact someone he considered like a sister hadn't told him she was moving, closer to home even. It was the reason why she started having a strong dislike for the young Knowles; she saw it similar to what the older one had done. The last thing she was expecting were the words coming out of her mouth. She also had noticed the way Faith had glanced at the tattoo on her arm. Squinting her eyes, she realized that it was a tattoo machine. It all made sense to her now. After all Faith was sporting more tattoos now then she had when she left charming.
"I knew you weren't cut out for that nursing shit...no you're your daddy's daughter." Gemma acknowledged out loud, nodding her head towards the tattoo. "You're working at the shop aren't you?"
Faith had to give Gemma credit for figuring that one so quickly. "I know the MC is what Jax has left of his dad...the shops what I have left of mine."
This was the reason why Gemma liked the younger Knowles better then Tara. The girl had grown up adoring her father, and had gone to Oregon to fulfil his last dying wishes. She couldn't help the slight sympathy she also felt for the Faith. Even though Gemma had almost seen Tara like family once upon a time, Tara really was Faiths blood...and her own blood had deserted her.
Faith wasn't really a threat, the real threat was Tara and the way she could get in her sons head like no one else could. The love the two shared was dangerous for each other, and for the club. Love she feared one day would get her son killed. Still she would have to keep an eye on the younger one, just in case.
"Good for you." Gemma commented with a knowing smirk. "It's nice to see that one of you has good family values." The smirk soon vanished, Gemma's posture straightened into an assertive stance. "But that doesn't mean I don't got my eye on you...Jax is in a weird place right now...last thing he needs is doing you any favors."
Faiths forehead scrunched up, wondering what favors Gemma was talking about. She opened her mouth to question her but shut it instead. No, there was no point in arguing with Gemma, the woman could go on for days. The familiar distance throb in her head reminded her that it would best. Arguing with Gemma all day would make it worse, to the point where even an Advil wouldn't help.
"You can keep your eye on me all you want Gemma, I honestly don't care." Faith let out a sigh, turning back to the task she was doing before the Matriarch had showed up. Starting off by grabbing the pasta sauce can that was still Gemma's hand. "Now if you'll excuse me, I got to get going. I don't know if you heard, Steve's suffered a mild heart attack and his surgery's this evening; I want to be there for him." She turned her attention back to cashier, apologizing for the delay, and taking out her wallet to pay as the girl scanned the few last remaining items.
"Sorry to hear about that." Gemma replied sincerely, her hand unconsciously going towards her own chest, the scar from her own surgery visible, forever a reminder of what her mother had passed down to her, her son and her grandson. The sincerity was immediately replaced with a hardened glare. "Just remember what I said."
Faith turned her head and watched as Gemma walked away to the other empty till. A part of her mind still trying to wrap around the fact who she just had a run in with. She knew she would eventually, but she was hoping that luck would continue to be on her side and be able to carry on in Charming without running into anyone else that knew her.
"How did you do that?" The cashier finally found her voice and spoke up.
"Do what?" Faith asked as she took out her debit card, looking up
at cashier; having no clue what the girl was talking about.
"Talk to her like that." The cashier all but whispered as she looked over at Gemma who was walking out with a grocery bag in her arms, as if Gemma would be able to hear her if she didn't.
Faith followed the cashiers gaze, catching the back of Gemma's head as she walked out of the supermarket.
"Nobody says anything to her when she comes in. She's even scarier than the guys at the garage her family owns." The cashier finished.
Faith couldn't help but laugh at the cashier's remark about Gemma and the club. Of course to many of the residents of Charming the sons of anarchy were the big bad scary guys. The girl's parents must have told her the same stories that the kids she grew up with parents did. The fact that the club were always at Freddy's to get their Ink had made her a social piranha growing up. That and the fact some of the religious groups had deemed it sacrilegious to be involved in the culture that surrounded the club and the shop. Truly that was one part of Charming that Faith didn't like that was stuck in the 70's.
"You shouldn't listen to everything you hear about them." Faith mentioned as she handed over her debt card. "One of the nicest, kindest and the most sincere hearted person I know is one of them." She nodded her head towards the door. "She might be a bitch...but there's no real reason to be scared of her." Faith advised as she picked up her bagged groceries.
The cashier watched in amazement as Faith walked out. Left wondering to herself what had just happened. The two went from what looked like a full confrontation, and then ended with the girl with the tattoo's defending the club that was associated with the older woman.
Faith juggled with the paper bag in her hands as she dug into her purse, fishing for her car keys. Sighing with relief once she finally managed to wiggle them out; grateful that nothing had spilled out of her bag.
Suddenly she heard the Rolling Stones "Start me up" blaring through her bag.
"Fuck!" Faith cursed as she held the bag in against her hip while trying to reach into the deep pocket of her bag. "Hold on, hold on."
She opened the trunk of the mustang and dumped the bag of groceries in before quickly digging into her purse to find her phone again.
"Hello?" She answered the phone on her shoulder as she slammed the trunk close with her other hand.
"Hey..."
"Juice?" Faith said she placed the phone back onto her ear from her shoulder, recognizing his voice right away. "Sorry I was just juggling some bags in my hand when you called."
"Hey no need to apologize, I understand." Juice managed to get out, taking a seat onto the coach behind him as he looked around the small room, wondering how he was going to bring it all up. "You busy?" Juice asked as his foot tapped anxiously on the hallow office floor.
"Nope." Faith answered as she got into her car. "Finished up work about an hour ago."
"Yeah I'll be done in a couple of hours too." Juice got out, trying his hardest not to blurt everything out that he had just learned right there on the phone. "Want to hang out and do something?"
"Yeah that sounds good" Faith nodded her head, trying to hold back the smile that was creeping onto her face. It was the perfect distraction from it all. "I have a few hours to kill until Steve's surgery."
"Cool," Juice bit his lip, trying to keep it nice and short. "I can meet you at the motel."
Faiths brows scrunched together. Something was...off in the way Juice was talking to her, she just couldn't put her finger on it.
"I actually checked out of the motel room." Faith answered back, looking over at her back seat that was filled with a hamper of dirty clothes, everything else was in the trunk. "Had enough of staying in them. No privacy you know...I'm going to be staying at Steve's place, I'll text you the address."
"Oh." Was all that Juice could get out. He wondered why Faith was staying there instead of staying at home with Tara. He was about to open his mouth and ask but closed it instead, he'd rather ask her that question in person."Yeah that'll be good...I'll see you then."
"Yeah see..." Before Faith could get anything else in she heard the click on the other end and the line went dead.
Faith made a face as she grabbed the phone from her shoulder and held it in her hand, staring at the screen in a bit of disbelieve. Something was defiantly up with juice.
"Maybe he's just having an off day." Faith thought to herself before shrugging it off.
Whatever it was, she would find out later on.
The rumbling of a motorcycle on the quiet street came to a stop as its owner cut the engine.
Juice unstrapped his helmet hanging it on his bike as he look around the small ranch house. The smell of fresh cut grass catched his nose as he walked up to the front door. His hand reaching out for the door knob, but then remembering that he should knock instead. Just as his hand lifted up towards the door he heard the ballads of a familiar song blaring through the door. He smiled as he listened carefully, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up as he heard her voice singing along to what he was certain was AC DC.
Juice peered through the side of the window of door, grinning widely as he saw Faith with what looked like a, spatula in her hand; belting out to the lyrics of the song. He leaned against the frame of the door as he watched her strum an air guitar and shake her hips side to side. Damn she looked good as she did. His mind drifted away as he watched, entranced by the movements of her hips. Finally it dawned on him that he was here for a reason.
Straightening up, Juice sighed as he brought his hand up, his knuckles meeting the wooden door as he knocked on it. He waited a few seconds getting no reply. Peering into the window, he watched her dance on, unfazed by the knocking on the door. Faiths music must have been too loud because there was no response. He digged into his pocket for his phone, hitting the last number that was in the call log before pressing it against his ear. He watched from the window, listening as the music dyed down; Faith stopped dancing and took a quick look on her phone before unplugging the aux cable from the stereo.
"Hey Juice." Her voice came through the phone while he continued to watch from the window. "What's up?"
"Hey, you know you probably should turn your music down," Juice advised her, an attempt to hide the growing urgency in his voice."Never know who's knocking at the door."
Faiths face scrunched up in confusion; slowly she turned around and caught him peering in one of the small windows next to the door. Juice let out a little a small wave, making Faith laugh and shake her head as she walked toward the door.
"We'll maybe if you actually rung the door bell I would've heard you." Faith answered cheekily into the phone before swinging the wooden door open. Hanging up as she looked at Juice standing in front of her.
"There's a door bell?!" Juice asked into the phone, his eyes darting around the door looking for it. His eyebrows shot up in surprise as the door suddenly swung open, and Faith appeared in front of him.
Faith laughed and shook her head as she watched Juice looking for the bell in all the wrong places.
"It's right here." She pointed out at the gold plated button right in front of him.
"Oh." Juice voiced quietly, his hand reaching and scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "I wasn't expecting it to be that bright."
Faith bit her lip trying to hold back from laughing any more at Juices expense, not wanting him to feel any worse then he already did. She opened her mouth to invite him in, but was interrupted by the buzzing of the timer ringing from the kitchen.
"Shit." She cursed out loud. "That would be the pasta." Faith quickly turned around to go turn it off. "Come on in!" She called out as she ran to the kitchen." I just got to get it out of the oven before the cheese burns."
Juice nodded his head at her invitation, watching her as she ran back towards the kitchen. As he stepped into the small ranch house, the smell of household cleaners immediately caught his nose. Closing the door behind him, Juice then looked out into the spotless living room.
"You've been cleaning all day?" Juice asked out loud as he walked around the room, feeling like he was back in the 70's or something m. None of the furniture or even the TV in the room was from this decade.
"And I use to think that the clubhouse tech was stuck in the past." Juice whistled as he bended over and took a look at the old TV set.
"What?" Faith yelled from the kitchen not bothering to look up or turn around as she took out the glass casserole dish from the oven.
Juice turned around, glancing at the pictures on the wall as he headed towards her voice coming from the kitchen. "I was just saying that..." He stopped mid sentence, his dark eyes widened, his legs refusing to move as he stared at the large reptile that suddenly appeared before him and was now slowly inching towards him.
"Uh Faith!" Juice gulped before raising his voice, standing still as he could. The thing hissed at him.
"Sorry I couldn't hear you in there..." Faith apologized, wiping her hands on the towel that was hanging out of her pocket as she entered the living room. Stopping in her tracks, a smile playing at her the corner of her lips at the sight in front of her.
"Shit Faith don't come any closer." Juice warned with his hands. "It looks like it's pissed...I don't even know how it could've gotten in the house."
Faith bit her lip hard, trying her hardest not to burst out laughing.
"Ace, back down boy." Faith finally ordered the iguana.
Juices head shot up, looking towards Faith as she addressed the reptile by name. "You know this thing?" He asked slowly, his eyes darting back and forth between the two.
"The thing has a name," Faith clarified with a knowing smirk. Enjoying how the reptile was making Juice nervous. "Ace is Steve's pet Iguana."
"Pet Iguana?" Juice repeated out loud slowly. Who the hell kept an iguana as a pet, couldn't it just be something normal like a dog or even a cat?
"Yeah Steve's not really a dog or cat kind of person." Faith answered as if she read his mind. Clearly having the huge reptile in the room had Juice on the edge a bit. She could tell by his body langue and how his eyes kept darting back and forth between her and Ace.
"What's the matter Juice? Don't like reptiles?" She teased, not being able hold back the smile on her face, knowing it was borderline cruelty but it was funny watching a grown man especially one with a Mohawk, being afraid of a harmless iguana.
"I'm more of a dog person." Juice gulped nervously as he kept one eye on Ace.
Faith watched as Juice hadn't moved an inch since ace had slithered into the living.
"Come on Ace," She called out to the iguana as she walked toward the sliding doors in the kitchen that lead to the backyard. "You've been in the tank all night why don't you go outside."
Juice watched in amazement as the reptile poked his head towards Faith, slowly turned around and started walking towards the back door.
"Outside?" Juice asked with newly peaked curiosity.
"Yup."Faith nodded her head as pushed open the sliding door to let Ace out, closing it shut behind him as slithered out. "Steve made up the backyard so its feels more like home for Ace."
"And he never wonders off?" He asked as he watched Ace wonder deeper into the vegetation that was in the yard.
"Nah." Faith shook her head, crossing her arms across her chest, joining Juice in watching Ace. "The fences are too high for that and the trees aren't even close to them."
"Huh." Juice let out. "Never really understood why people keep them as pets."
"Iunno." Faith shrugged her shoulders. "Ace is pretty cool though; totally prefer him over a cat. Too bitchy if you ask me." She stated bluntly, turning to smile at a Juice as a questioning look feel on his face. "My friend Letty back in Rhode Island inherited her grandmother's cat, such a Diva." Faith let out a laugh, shaking her head at the memories. "She only kept her for like a month, cats drive her crazy."
Juice watched as Faiths face lit up from telling the story. "Why'd she take her in the first place if she doesn't like cats?"
Faiths warm smile was soon replaced by a saddened one. Why did Letty take in the cat? The same reason why she was back home. How it surrounded you in the memories and presence of someone you lost. She glanced down at her arm, memories of her own rushing through her before looking back up at Juice, dark brown eyes watching her carefully, waiting for her to continue her story.
"Her grandma loved that cat...she got it when Letty's grandpa died." Faith began softly, looking away from Juice as their eyes locked on to each other.
"She only took in the cat in because she knew how heartbroken her grandma would have been if she ended up at a shelter." Faith paused, looking out the window as her mind drifted away. "It was a way of having her grandma around you know? How we surround ourselves with things or objects that remind us of the people we lost, like their still with us."
Juices eyes fell on her arm, glancing at the tattoo machine he had caught her eyes lingering on before gazing away into the back yard. "Is that why you got that tattoo? Was it your dad's tattoo machine?"
Faith head jerked towards Juice, his question and acknowledgement of her tattoo catching her completely off guard. Sure juice had commented about her tattoo before but never really asked about it. Her throat constricted together, she never really liked talking about that particular tattoo, mostly because how much it meant to her.
"Yeah." She barely got out feeling her throat going dry. Her arms fell from across her chest, as she anxiously looked away from him, not wanting what she was feeling portray onto her face. "You hungry?" She changed the subject, gaining back her voice as she walked and turned towards the kitchen to the pasta that was cooling on the counter top.
"Yeah." Juice answered as he watched her turn away and walk into the kitchen. Deciding not to say anything more about her tattoo judging from her reaction. He followed behind her, stopping at the counter as he inhaled the delicious aroma. "Smells good" He commented as he took a seat on the stool that was underneath the extended counter."
"Thanks." Faith replied with a smile, "Ill grab some plates and forks." Turning around and heading to the basket of freshly washed dishes beside the sink. She took out the towel that was hanging from her pocket and began drying some of the plates she needed.
"So," Juice spoke as he looked around the kitchen, which was similar to the 70's era that the rest of the house was in with only the appliances being somewhat new. "What happened to you getting the keys to your place?"
"Lawyer never got back to me." Faith shrugged her shoulders. "Don't think he's back in town yet. Couldn't take it in the motel room anymore. Missed having a kitchen to cook in."
Juice shook his head at her answer, was it a lie too? Tara was her sister and she was close with Jax, two details he guessed she wasn't going to be telling him anytime soon. He couldn't hold it back anymore, frankly he was surprised he was able to for this long anyways. He needed answers and he needed them now.
"Are you sure it wasn't because your sisters already living there?" Juice blurted out, just letting it out in the open. He watched as she stopped drying the dish, the towel fell down onto the floor. "Why didn't you tell me Tara's your sister?"
Suddenly the plate in her hand slipped out her hand just like towel and come crashing onto the tiled kitchen floor. Shocked at the words that came out of Juice's mouth. How did he know? Not looking as she crouched down, absentmindedly picking up the broken pieces before feeling a sharp sting prick her finger. "Ouch." She hissed, pulling her finger back in pain, looking down to see crimson red blood starting to drip out.
"Shit." Juice cursed out as soon as he heard the plate break on the role floor, Faiths hiss of pain making him leap out of the stool and run towards her.
"You alright?" He asked in concern as he crouched beside her, grabbing her hand into his as he examined her finger.
Faith was caught off guard by Juice being suddenly beside her. "I'm fine." Faith let out with a breath, trying to ignore the dull throbbing in her finger. "It's just a prick." She played off as she grabbed the dish towel off the floor, taking her hand out of his as she wrapped it around her finger. "Just needs pressure on it. It's not deep enough that it needs stitches...I'll be fine."
Juice looked impressed as Faith wrapped the kitchen towel around her finger like a bandage. "Are you sure?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, watching the blood get absorbed into the towel. "I mean if it's deep enough I'm sure Tara can patch it up." He answered with concern, but still making it a point to bring her sisters name up again.
"Like I said I'm fine." Faith shrugged off his concern."And Tara's the last person I would go to for this." Faith let him know as she opened a cabinet by the sink.
Juice noticed how the last sentence was filled with so much venom. But still he had come here for answers, and he wasn't leaving without them.
"Why did you lie to me Faith?!" He asked with a more assertive voice. "That day when I helped you move your stuff into storage, you told me you didn't have family in Charming or anywhere in that matter. Me like the idiot I am, believed you." Juice laughed sarcastically as he ran a hand over his head. Watching her grab what a looked like a first aid kit from a cabinet. "Not only do you have a sister but that sister is no one other than Tara fucking Knowles."
Faith slammed the first aid kit onto the counter, her right hand clenching into a fist beside it. She got why Juice was angry, but still it didn't justify the way he was accusing her like it was some mass cover up. Slowly she turned to face him, His dark brown accusing eyes boring into her. "I didn't lie to you Juice." She stated rather calmly then she felt, mainly because Juice didn't know the background story between her and Tara. She hadn't lied to him, yeah she may have avoided tell him about Tara but that was because it had been 5 years since she had really thought about her, not at all expecting to run into her Charming, her mind still trying to process that fact. "I don't consider Tara my sister; we don't have any type of relationship, not for the last 11 years." Her blue eyes looked into his dark brown.
Juice blinked at her response. He wasn't expecting that answer at the very least. Still that had really changed nothing. "You may not have a relationship with her anymore but you're still her sister." Juice stated blankly. "Not to mention this whole time you never once mentioned you knew Jax let alone that he considers you like his sister." Juice looked down at his cut before looking into her blue eyes. "When were you going tell me that you not only know about the sons more then you let on but that your close to the guy who happens to be the VP of my club."
Faith let out a sigh as she shook her head. "I wasn't hiding it from you; it just never really came up." She answered as she looked up at him, to see him giving her a "yeah right face."I hadn't seen or talked to Jax in years. I was actually avoiding talking to him since I got here because the way I left things the last time I did, didn't end so well. As for Tara...she stopped being family the moment she left 12 years ago."
"Is that why you're hanging out with me? To piss your sister off?" Juice asked in an accusing tone. "By hanging out with someone from the club she hates, knowing her little sisters going against everything she left town for!"
"No!" Faith blurted out loudly. Her voice booming through the kitchen. How could Juice even think she would do something like that? "I actually like hanging out with you if that so hard to believe!" She all but yelled. "I don't give a shit that you're SAMCRO. And I defiantly don't give a shit about what Tara has to fucking say about it either!"
"Then why didn't you just tell me all this when I met you!" Juice exclaimed, gesturing wildly with his hands. "About Tara, about Jax; about everything!"
"Because!" Faith raised her voice, matching the levels that Juices
"Because what?!" Juice cut her off before she could even finish her sentence.
"Because what would have I said juice? I'm not defined by what who Tara is or what she does." Faith blurted back, her blue eyes wide as she starred into him. "And I just told you why I never brought Jax up!"
She was right about that. It wouldn't be fair to hold Faith for what Tara did. In fact it seemed that Tara had left the same impression on her sister that she did on the MC. Faiths words were dripping in hate with every word spoken about Tara. That still didn't change the fact she hadn't told him about Jax. He wondered why she was avoiding him, something wasn't sitting right. "What happened with Jax?" Juice lowered his voice, soft yet still assertive. "If you two were so close why didn't you talk to him right away when you came into town?"
Faith sighed deeply as she ran her hand through her hair. Steve had been asking her the same question every single day the last few days. The older man had no idea he unknowingly known the answer all these years. That he had been the one to unintentionally cause the rift. As much as she wanted to blame Steve all those years ago she just couldn't. Jax had known better. It was why she had distanced herself. She looked up at Juice who was waiting for her answer. He already had felt like she was lying to him this whole time and even though she never really talked to anybody about what happened she did owe Juice an explanation. Maybe that would really convince him that she didn't intentionally hide the news he learned today.
"When I left Charming to go to school 5 years ago, it wasn't for graphic design." Faith stated watching as a look of confusion played across Juices face. "It was for Nursing at Oregon Health and Sciences University."
"That's a totally different field then graphic design or tattoos." Juice acknowledged as his dark eyes widened. "More in the field that Tara works in."
Faiths jaw tightened as Juice compared her to Tara. "It wasn't because of her." Faith said in the calmest voice she could. "My mom was a nurse." She paused as her throat went dry, having difficulty in sharing the next part. It was always hard to talk about her mom. "Before...before he passed away, my dad made me promise that I would follow my mom footsteps. Have a secure future you know, health insurance, the works."
She looked up to meet Juices brown eyes which were studying her so carefully. "I did what he wanted, went to Oregon and gave it a semester but I couldn't do it. I felt like I didn't belong there you know? That I wasn't meant to be a nurse." Her blue eyes didn't look away from him. "So before the 2nd semester ended, I applied at an Art school in LA. I wanted to go to San Francisco to be closer to home but I missed the deadline and couldn't get in until September." Faith paused again. "I had it all figured out you know, that I'd go down to LA until September, do as many classes as I could and then transfer over to the school in San Francisco. I didn't tell anyone I had dropped out of OHSU, not Jax, especially not Steve."
"Why not?" Juice couldn't help but ask. "I mean they cared about you why wouldn't you tell them."
"Because Steve wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut," Faith couldn't help but snort."And I didn't want Tara knowing where I was. I knew she would have something to say; tell me I was making a mistake." Faith explained with a shake of her head. "I also knew Jax would come down to make sure everything was alright...I didn't want that. I knew the club needed Jax and I could take of my own shit."
Juice didn't know what to say as he just stood there listening to her.
"But it didn't matter because Jax being Jax found out anyways when he decided to drop by OSHU only to find out that I dropped out." Faith shook her head as she remembered the frantic call she had gotten from Jax. "I was in the middle of class when he called, so I couldn't tell him everything...He jumped to conclusions and didn't give me a chance to explain. He ended up telling Steve knowing he would pass the message along to Tara." Faith's jaw tensed as she remembered the phone calls and messages Tara had left. "And like I excepted Tara got all judgmental on me."
Juice face softened as she finished her sentence. Clearly telling him all this wasn't easy for her. He noticed how her jaw clenched and tensed every time she spoke about Tara. Things between them must be really bad.
Faith' shook her head, shrugging off the memory before she looked up at Juice again. "I wasn't lying to you Juice. I really wasn't. I was just trying to avoid everything I just told you because it didn't come up. I was just trying get settled into being back home you know and suddenly Steve has a heart attack and the running into Tara;" She sighed as her hands went through her light brown locks. "Hanging out with you just took me away from it all you know."
Juice let out a long breath, the anger that he felt when he had first came over long gone. He understood now why she avoided talking about Tara, Family was something he didn't usually like talking about either, it was unfair to hold that against her. What Tara did, it wasn`t Faith`s fault. Remembering his conversation with Piney it seemed like Jax was on good terms with Faith after Tara left.
"So...we good Juice?" Faith asked nervously, wondering what was going through his mind.
He looked into her blue yes, sincerity shining reflecting in the blue orbs of her as she looked up at him. Before he could say anything his phone started ringing.
Sighing deeply, he reached into his pocket and picked up the ringing phone. "Hello?" He answered, watching a look of slight disappointment wash over her face as he did. "Really...right now? Alright... I'll be there soon."
Faith couldn't help the disappointment she felt as she watched him put his phone away in his pocket. "You have to go?"
"Yeah..." Juice answered with a sigh. "Something's I got to take care of before I go to Nevada."
"Nevada?"
Juice nodded his head. "Just going there to meet some friends."
"Oh..." Faith answered, not being able to hide the disappointment in her voice; instead quickly she forced a smile on her face. She wondered what his answer to her question was. She hoped that after laying it all out for him he'd understand. After all it took a lot to bring it all up, "Sure you don't want to eat before you do, and I've been told I make a mean pasta dish."
"As much as I want to I should really get going." Juice shot her an apologetic smile. "Rain check though?"
"Yeah for sure." Faith continued with the forced smile as she walked with him towards the door.
With his back towards her, Juice reached out for the door knob, pausing as he opened a crack before slowly turning around to face her. "Look...about what you said...I understand...It wasn't fair of me to accuse you of lying like that...So yeah...we're good Faith."
"Good." she said on a sigh. She had to admit, it felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders now that Juice knew.
"I'll see you in a few of days when I get back." Juice smiled as he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.
Faith's hand shot up to her cheek as Juice pulled away. Tingling in the spot where he'd kissed her. "Yeah...Have a safe Trip." She managed to get out as she watched him flash his trademark smirk before turning away to walk towards his bike. Faith leaned against the door frame, watching as he swung his leg over his bike. Starting his bike, he gave her head nod and a wave goodbye, before pulling out of the driveway; disappearing down the street and into the night.
Faith yawned as she starred at her computer screen in front of her; going through her digital portfolio for the hundredth time. She glanced at the time; it read 3:00 AM. Tomorrow was a big day; she should've been asleep hours ago. The empty energy drinks beside her on the nightstand sure didn't help.
"Well I shouldn't be wasteful." She justified to herself out loud, grabbing the less than half empty can closest to her and drank the last few drops."
"If you start me up
If you start me up I'll never stop
If you start me up
If you start me up I'll never stop"
Faith quickly reached out for phone as the ring tone blared from the nightstand.
"Who the hell could that be?" She wondered out loud. A smile formed across her face as she saw the name on the caller ID.
"I thought you were on your way to Nevada." She smirked as she answered the phone.
"I am." Juice informed her, one hand on the wheel the other holding the phone against his ear as he drove the truck down the line highway.
"Then what are you doing calling me at three o clock in the morning." She answered cheekily into the phone, closing her laptop and pushing it away from her before she got back into the bed and lay down.
"I honestly thought you weren't going to pick up...thought you'd be asleep." Juice answered, before glancing at Tig who was passed out in the passenger seat next to him. He didn't dare wake the man up for conversation, not after being mauled by a dog like that. He was fine with Tig sleeping all the way there.
"Yeah...I should be." She sighed as she plopped her head against the soft pillow behind her, looking up at the popcorn looking bedroom ceiling. "I'm supposed to be up at 8 but I can't sleep...to nervous slash excited about tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? What's going on tomorrow?" Juice asked curiously.
"I have orientation at that Emeryville gig I told you about a couple of days ago." Fair explained as she pulled the crumpled up comforter that was rolled up in a ball next to her over her body, feeling cold as the AC was cranked up high, the cold summer breeze bringing temperature further down; too lazy to get up and change it.
"That's quite a drive." Juice commented. "You should have been asleep hours ago...you don't want to be distracted."
"Look who's talking." Faith snorted. "Should you really be on the phone and talking at the same time?"
"Better than driving and falling asleep" Juice teased her.
"Ha-ha every funny." Faith smiled as she rolled her eyes. "Seriously though, you by yourself?"
"Nah Tigs here with me."
"And you called me because..." Faith asked sarcastically.
"He...kinda fell asleep on me."
"Kinda?" Faith asked raising an eyebrow.
Juice sighed, wondering how much he should go into about what happened earlier. "Hey you went to nursing school, maybe you can help."
"Yeah two semesters really qualifies me as an expert." Faith laughed, shaking her head. "Barely covered theory; what do you need help with?"
"How do you know if a dog bites real bad, like it might need stitches or some shit like that."
"Well I guess it depends on what kind of dog it was, like how big his teeth are..." She asked wondering why he was asking her these questions. "Did you get bit by a dog?"
"No!" Juice exclaimed quietly, not wanting to wake up the sleeping sergeant of arms next to him. "It's...it's for a friend."
"Did Tig get bit by a dog?" Faith reiterated slowly.
"No..." Juice scoffed. "It's another friend."
Faith rolled her eyes at Juices answer. "Well...tell your friend" she emphasizing the word on purpose. "That he should get it checked by an actual professional. It's not just the stitches he has to worry about, its infections, scarring, and rabies; if the dog was a stray..."
"Shit." Juice breathed out. He hadn't really thought about everything that Faith was listing off. The dog was a Doberman pincher, from what he could remember. He wondered where Unser had picked him up though. "And you told me you weren't an expert."
"Not an expert." Faith quipped. "Just a tattoo artist. When you get certified you have to know about disease prevention and infections. Working with a needle and all that."
"Well now I know who to go to about stuff like that." Juice smiled into the phone.
Faith couldn't help shake her head again, picturing his trademark smirk in her head. "Yeah well maybe you and your friends stop going out and pissing off dogs, then there won't be a next time."
"We didn't go looking for a dog to piss off." Juice scoffed, not thinking as he blurted out the next part. "I didn't know that a dog would go bat shit crazy if you gave it crank!"
"You gave a dog crank?" Faith asked slowly with wide eyes. A smile playing on her lips."As in meth crank?"
"No..." Juice defended himself.
"Really..."
Sighing he knew the jig was up. "Yeah...2 grams...I thought it would OD and pass out you know."
"And poor Tig got his ass bit." Faith sighed as he finally let out what she suspected had happened. "Juice meth's more of a stimulate...a better choice would have been sleeping pills, hell maybe even weed."
"How in the hell would you know that." Juice asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Iunno just makes more sense" Faith shrugged her shoulder.
Juice sighed deeply as he shook his head, gripping the steering wheel with his free hand. "You must think I'm such an idiot."
"Goofball yes, idiot not so much." Faith stated with a smile. "We all have our moments Juice, yours just seem to be more frequent and hilarious then others."
A huge grin fell on Juice face. She didn't think that he was an idiot. He was sure once Tig had told the story to his brothers he'd get a chorus of idiot thrown at him. "Really?"
"Really." Faith answered with a yawn.
"Finally feeling sleepy?" He commented, hearing her yawn into the phones speaker.
"Nah just a yawn." She shrugged off. "My eyes are wide awake."
"So you wouldn't mind keeping me company for like an hour or so." Juice asked her as he bit his lip. "You know for safety reasons."
"Of course...I wouldn't mind." Faith replied with a smile.
"Good...how'd Steve's surgery go?" All that talk about stitches and such reminded him that Steve's surgery was scheduled in the late evening.
"It went good." She hummed tiredly, feeling the day finally start to hit her. "I got to see him in recovery for a couple minutes before visiting hours were over."
"When's he breaking out of there?"
"They want to keep him there for a couple more days." She yawned again. "Make sure everything's working fine."
"You should really go to sleep faith." Juice advised with a smile as he heard her yawn again, sleep slowly affecting her voice.
"Yeah...I should." She replied sleepily as her eyelids got heavy. "The beds calling my name...you aren't going to fall asleep at the wheel are you?"
With the mention of her bed, he couldn't get the thought of him laying in the bed with her, all kinds of scenarios running in his head. Pushing them away he glanced at the digital clock in front of him. Only about an hour to go until they were in Indian Hills. He could totally make it there without batting an eye for too long.
"I'll be fine, not that many miles left." He reassured her, liking the fact she was worried about him. "Just close those blue eyes of yours and go to sleep."
"Well yours better not." Faith spoke softly into the phone. "Keep those eyes on the road Juicy."
"They won't," He promised with a widened smile across his face as he heard her call him that nickname she had heard through the phone. "Night Blue eyes."
"Night Juice." Faith murmured sleepily, before the line went quite. Not having the energy to put her phone away on the night table, she turned to the other side of the bed and snuggled into the comforter. It was then alone in her own thoughts as her mind was about to drift away to sleep did she realize the nickname Juice had called her. Her eyes bolted awake, staring blankly into the dark bedroom. A sleepy smile soon stretched her face. Growing up the only real nickname she had was being called a kid by Jax. Maybe it was the lack of sleep that caused him to say the nick name with such endearment; or maybe it wasn't. Her hand went to her cheek, tingling as his lips where there just a few hours ago.
Letting out a sleepy laugh, she shook her head. She was looking way too into a simple gesture or a slip of the tongue. It was just her mind trying to make sense of everything that happened that day, running into Gemma included. Faith finally closed her eyes and let sleep consume her.
A/N:
Well now you know why the chapters titled Blue Eyes ;) Let me know what you guys think of this chapter! Also if you haven't please check out the cover art for this story, I'd love your guys feedback on it! Oh and let me know if you'd like to see tumbr posts for the story :)