Yeah, I know. It's been a while. But I thought since I had half of this written I'd at least finish it, then I noticed I'd even started Chapter 12 while I'd been procrastinating this chapter. So you're getting two chapters (once I've finish it tonight) and the next one is even a smutty one. Enjoy.
I didn't sleep a wink all night, and I couldn't stay in that house any longer than I did. By 4am I'd trudged my way to the clubhouse and found myself propping up the bar with my elbow, the only people around thankfully were a few hangarounds and sweetbutts. They paid little to no attention to me.
After my phone call with Happy, Tara had tried calling a few times but I screened her calls sending her straight to voicemail, I even got brave enough to do the same to Gemma. I have no doubts they'll both be on my ass about it when they come rolling through those doors at some point. Now even though I was pretty sure why they were calling I did listen to their messages...just incase it was something else, but as usual I wasn't wrong. I just didn't feel like holding up a conversations and being comforting. Don't be fooled by my awesomeness, I have just as many shortcomings as the next person. Being a total anti-social bitch is one of them if you were wondering.
The doors to the clubhouse opened letting fresh air and sunlight that was much too bright for anyone who'd spent way too many hours sitting inside. Thankfully though that was short lived but I knew that could only mean that reprieve wasn't going to last more than a passing moment.
"Are you not capable of answering your phone?" Tara started as she strutted towards me in her hospital scrubs, she sounded just as annoyed as I imagined her to be. Not to mention her nose still looked a little sore.
I tilted my head to the right just get a quick look of both her and Gemma staring down at me, hands on hips and all.
"Calm your shit will ya, I got your damn messages" I was tired and grouchy, maybe even a little drunk still.
Tara scoffed before making her reply, "No I won't calm my shit, Jax is in jail! Do you know what that means" Tara's tone of voice was rising as the more frustrated and angry she got with me.
"He committed a crime? Look I can see you're worried about him and I'm sure you have good reason to, but what the fuck do you want me to do?" I'd turned my torso at this point looking straight at the pair of them, I could see the anger burning in Tara's eyes as Gemma just looked on unimpressed.
"Be supportive!" Tara shouted, throwing her arms in the air. I just stared at her with a grimace, not everything had to be about her. I was here wasn't I? Happy had said Rosen would be stopping by...
"She is, of the god damn bar" Gemma felt the need to finally add her two cents before using the strut she'd perfected over the years and headed over to the sofa's, Tara trailing behind her.
I had to admit, she got me good there.
A short time later I found myself trying to catch a few Z's on one of the many sofa's behind where Gemma and Tara were sitting with Rosen who by all accounts was a neatly dressed lawyer. And that's all I'd gotten from the quick peak I'd snuck while he'd been filling Gemma and Tara in about the details of the club's sorry situation.
"They're jamming us, seven figure bail, no court date? Bullshit." Gemma didn't sound pleased in the slightest, there may have been a little fear under all that anger.
"Apparently they have security tapes, women and children running for their lives" Rosen was a little brave trying to reason with an angry Queen Bee. I wonder if he looked like he was sweating bullets or maybe he looked at chilled as he sounded. Too bad I was way too tired to be sitting up straight.
"You saw what happened to Otto, they got no protection!" Gemma was really starting to seem worried now, not something I'd ever seen her be.
"I know" Rosen replied trying to sound as sympathetic as he could but was interrupted by my ever pragmatic sister, "What about a bondsman?"
Rosen took and audible breath as he thought about it for a second before speaking, "500,000 a head at 10%, you'd need 300K to get the six of them out", that was expensive. I'm not sure the club could front that kinda money, not even with their dodgy dealings.
"I could put the house up" Gemma offered in hope followed by Tara...
"My dads too."
That got me shooting up from behind the sofa, Rosen seemed surprised to see me appear from nowhere but my eyes, along with Gemma's weren't leaving Tara. Although her reason for being shocked was a little different from mine, her sister wasn't offering up her house without even asking! What if they broke their bail? I'd be homeless. I wouldn't suit being homeless.
"Ok, well that's enough for Clay and maybe Jax, but that's it" Rosen seemed to be the first to recover and offered what he could to the conversation, he even seemed optimistic.
"No, Clay wont leave 'em behind" Gemma sounded a bit sad from her realisation and even shook her head a little in dismay.
"I'm sorry Gemma," Rosen gave her a soft smile "Clay needs you to call Laroy and deliver this message asap. Now I never saw or gave it to you" Rosen stood from his seat nodding to us all and taking his leave out the clubhouse door. All three of us sat in silence.
I didn't get much of a chance to talk to Tara, she left for work with barely a word. Gemma how ever questioned me on my plans for the day.
"Oh, I thought I'd hang around here a little longer." I said stretching my arms in the air and joined Gemma in getting up.
"Don't you think you've spent enough time here? The sweetbutt over there said you'd been here most of the night" Gemma had one of her perfectly waxed brows arched so high it almost came off her face, she even had her hands on her hips. She wasn't pleased, nope.
"Couldn't sleep, too much noise in my head. Figured this was as good a place as any to clear my head." I didn't really want to go into much more detail, Gemma had enough shit on her plate without me unloading my emotional drama unto her.
"Hmm. Well I'm going to get some work done, try not to be in the way." She strutted off out the clubhouse to do who know what elsewhere.
I'm not sure how she thought I could get in the way, the only member of the club here was Opie.
I spent the rest of the morning in Happy's room, or at least the room he stayed in when he was in town. After spending all night 'supporting' the bar as Gemma put it I needed to catch up on some needed sleep, albeit it didn't last more than a few hours.
My phone woke me around half one with Tess on the other end filling me in, I think she just wanted an escape from her Boyfriend who was involved in a power play with Craig. That and she thought I'd be pleased to know the guy was here to fix the window.
I asked to pass on a message for me that went a little like this…
"Tell Craig to shut the fuck up and get his ass back to work or I'll tie him up outside the hairy dog in nothing but a bright pink tutu, I've given Justin the spare key for fucking reason and it wasn't so they could argue about it like they're five year old's!"
I wasn't kidding about the tutu, I'd do it and I think Tess believed me. She promised to pass on the message before ending the call, which left me wide awake with nothing to do or distract me. So I decided to take a wander outside and into the garage...even though Gemma specifically told me not to 'be in the way'. I felt like being a little naughty for a change.
So far the only signs of life were those who weren't part of the club but worked in the garage, a few sweetbutts and Opie.
I've no doubt Gemma was lurking somewhere but I wasn't really looking to bump into her, I need to keep my hands busy and my mind distracted, so I decided to go and bother Opie in hopes it wouldn't mind a hand...even if I have no real idea what he was doing.
They do say God loves a trier right?
"Hey Op, need a hand..I have two spare" I asked ducking into the garage slot he was working in, he looked up and nodded to me in greeting before looking back down at the engine in front of him. From the cloth in his hand he looked to be cleaning some parts.
"Know anything about fixing cars?" he asked not really looking up from what he was doing.
"Eh..not really, but over the years I've definitely nailed how to break them" I said walking up the other side of the engine in front of him, he looked up with a smirk crossing his face and shook his head a little.
Back when I was young I had a few shitty cars that I managed to mangle into smaller piles of shit. My dad had been pissed and no doubt frustrated with the cost.
"Hah, I know. How many was it you totalled again?" Opie cheekily questioned, pausing his cleaning for a moment.
"You want help or not?" I laughed, not really wanting to admit how careless of a driver I had once been. Luckily no-one was ever hurt...well I had a few bruises but never more than that.
Before Opie could respond we heard a car approaching, turning I spotted Opie's mom and Ellie in the driver and passenger seats, no doubt Kenny was in the back.
As the car pulled closer Open threw his rag down and made his way out the garage slot and the car came to a stop. Mary clambered out the car and made her way over to Opie, I turned to see both Ellie and Kenny slowly climb out the other side of the car.
"Why aren't they in school?" Opie asked concerned.
"Grading day." Mary answered with a short pause, "You get my message?"
"No" Came Opie's short reply.
I felt like I was invading his personal business so I quickly snatched up the rag opie had been using and tried to make myself look busy polishing...or cleaning? Who know's I was rubbing a bit of metal with a cloth and that was good enough for me
Opie glance back at me for a moment but I kept my eyes down and paid them no attention.
From my efforts of not paying any attention to the scene before I got the gist of things being awkward and uncomfortable for Opie at home, and if I remember rightly his mother left him with his dad years before he joined the club.
Must be tough relying on a woman who abandoned you to look after your kids while you worked...and did club things, I guess.
I took some notice as Mary walked over to Ellie and Kenny telling them "you behave for your pop" and Ellie whispering ok while Mary gave her a hug. She also tells them "love you both" while giving a Kenny and kiss on the forehead, Kenny answers "love you too Grandma". She genuinely seemed to love them but for some reason I feel like that was the last they'd see of her for a while.
Mary quickly made her way back to her car without so much as a goodbye to Opie, who just so happened to be sharing an awkward and almost painful moment with his children.
I couldn't just stand there and watch that interaction any longer, I mean I wasn't the best with kids but I guess I could help a guy out right?
Tossing the rag back down, I quietly made my way to the Garage entrance, "Say, why don't Ellie and Kenny come with me for a moment while you finish up." I said to Ope with a small smile, I didn't want to tread on his toes but he was the only member here right now.
"Er, yeah thanks Roxy. Kids, you remember Roxy, right? Mind hanging out with her for a little while. I just finish up here 'kay?" Opie rested his hands on their shoulders as he spoke to them, and ushered the pair towards me.
Ellie, Kenny, and I all made our way to the garages office, I would have led us to the clubhouse but I wasn't sure if they'd be comfortable in there.
At least in the office they'd be nearer to their dad, after all I was still a stranger that painted their faces at the school fair.
Ellie and Kenny were good kids, quiet kids with a minimal amount of questions. I'm sure kids were supposed to ask endless questions, even to strangers and what not. It wasn't till I suggested we start some drawings as it was about the only thing both children and I had in common.
They were more than happy to chat amongst themselves and were even kind enough to include me in their little drawing clique, Ellie lent me a few pencils she'd brought with her and I handed out scraps of paper that didn't look too important, or I'd hoped they weren't important.
An hour later and Opie appeared in the doorway looking only marginally dirtier than the last time we'd seen him. "How're we doing in here?" he asked wiping his hands with a clean cloth.
"We are doing great, we've got dinosaurs in tutu's and even cats in sunglasses. I don't know about you two, but I'm having a whale of a time" I couldn't help but grin at my own shitty joke as I held up one of my many drawings of the past hour, I'd gladly given Ellie a few tips when she'd asked.
Both Kenny and Ellie giggled while Opie looked back at me with a grateful smile crossing his face, but that was short lived as the burner in his pocket started to chime. He excused himself back to the garage and closed the door too behind him.
At that moment Gemma decided to return to her office/daycare centre, taking her shades off as she did so. Even with her natural talent in keeping a straight face I could tell she was a little surprised to see Opie's kids sat there, she spared me a quick look before turning back to them.
"Hello…" Gemma said sweetly, it was the kind of sweetness that was reserved for children. You wouldn't catch her using it on anyone else, maybe Jax though...he'd always be here baby.
"Hi" Ellie replied sitting up from her slouching position on the couch, I didn't really look up from my newest sketch in front of me. I could feel Gemma's eyes on me so I took a risk and pretended not to notice.
"Where's Grandma?" Gemma asked the kids, they'd be more honest and probably more informed than I was and she knew it.
"She went to go find Grandpa" Kenny answered, once again shifting in his seat in front of me. Gemma turned to head into the garage Opie was in but paused, looking over at what I was doing which made me look up, her eyes were narrowed but her face was neutral.
"That better not be anything important" She gripped.
"Yeah, me too. Can't imagine anyone want this on their paperwork.."I said holding the doodle up but in a way only she could see it.
It wasn't appropriate for the younger generation's eyes, it was a top half of a woman's body with most of her clothes ripped, showing her lovely breasts and nipples. Gemma shook her head and continued on her way.
"What is it, can I see?" Kenny asked practically spinning round like superman in his seat to get a look, but I was quicker and covered it before he got a glance.
"Not unless you're as tall and hairy as your dad is" I joked, kinda.
Kenny though had gotten distracted by something else and had let the subject go, he did how ever take an interest in something else.
"What are those?" he asked pointing towards the chain hanging around my neck, "These?" I grabbed the tags and leaned forward on the desk to allow Kenny a better look, Ellie too took an interest and got up to get a closer look.
"These are my dog tags from the army, I'm a veteran kinda like your Gramps is." I answered, it was little weird talking about this. How'd you explain to children you went off to another country and killed people without actually saying that?
"But you're not that old!" Ellie exclaimed a little looking at me with wide eyes making Kenny and I both laugh.
"Hah! Thanks, I use baby oil keeps my skin looking so young. Jokes aside, I fought in a different war to your Gramps. But seeing as we're no longer fighting for our country that makes us Veterans." I said trying to explain the best way I could, and thankfully enough Gemma walking back into the room cutting out conversation short saying that she was taking the kids over to Jax's place.
I don't know what I'd do if they'd asked any more questions, I hadn't really talked about what happened over there.
I didn't have much to do after they'd left, Opie had thanked me but he had to leave on club business so I was left to my own devices. Which included a drive by visit to the shop to check on my window and scold my children...I mean staff, grocery shopping and that ever boring yet endless list of chores.
I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't worrying about Happy. That thought had been sitting at the back of my mind all day, itching to be thought along with it's sister thoughts which all revolved around Happy. The only way I found to keep them at bay was to keep myself busy, which was weird because I was supposed to moving on from Happy wasn't I? We were just friends, but me feel this concerned obviously meant I felt otherwise.
Fuck.