A/N: Charming Fundraiser: Tara's POV.
Drama, drama, drama. Teenagers, man.
- Veritable Old Lady Crow
Charming's annual fundraiser was in full swing.
And it was clearly the place everyone in town wanted to spend their afternoon. Tara could close her eyes, throw a rock and it would land on someone she'd either met before or knew of. But it was a good thing Tara didn't have any actual rocks to throw at the moment.
Then again, she was pretty sure she could still do some damage with one of the many fruits she was supposed to be stacking at the booth for Monroe Market.
The public display playing out across the lot wasn't surprising to her at all. Tara wasn't seeing him through new eyes, not by a longshot. But it was times like these that reminded her that every girl she couldn't stand or that couldn't stand her somehow always ended up in Jackson Teller's lap.
Tara had spent some time in that very position two nights ago. And based on the mere sampling she'd gotten she'd be lying to herself if she said she didn't get the allure. Yet she couldn't stop herself from shaking her head at them. It really was disgusting the way they all fawned over him.
Jax's legs were spread wide as he leaned back against the bench directly across from his mother's booth. Ima sat on one leg, some other dark-haired girl Tara recognized from P.E on the other one. Jax smiled up at the camera Ima had extended in front of them as both girls pressed their lips to his cheeks.
Wendy walked up from behind them, leaning down to kiss his neck. Jax turned his head slightly, and the Lady Killer smile was on full blast as his favorite Blonde began rubbing his shoulders. In a matter of seconds Tara noticed she wasn't the only annoyed one. Ima glared up at her "friend" Wendy like she wanted to choke her. When Wendy abandoned the massage against his shoulders, she slid her hands down on either side of his chest, whispering something in his ear. Jax bit his lip, chuckling at whatever she was saying to him.
Tara had barely a second to glimpse Ima's nostrils flaring before Jax's second favorite Blonde made her appearance. Sarah's slow strut came to a halt right in the center of the gap between his thighs, where Tara was sure she felt right at home. Sarah handed Jax the extra ice cream cone in her hand before suggestively taking a lick of the one still in her hand.
Sarah Hale was bringing him frozen dessert.
Ima and her friend—who couldn't seem to keep her paws out of his unruly blonde head—were a part of his photo shoot for Vogue magazine.
And Jax's favorite flavor Wendy Case was now resuming her role as his personal masseuse.
Tara took a quick peek around him. Everywhere her eyes landed, there was a leather kutte and a look of pride or amusement on the face of the SAMCRO member wearing it. She wished she could see the humor in it.
The only thing missing from the scene in front of her were the palm leaves for the girls to fan him with, and a platter of grapes and cheese for them to feed him.
And Tara had an overwhelming desire to launch every fuckin cantaloupe in the basket beside her at all four of them bitches. It wasn't until Wendy looked up and winked at her that Tara finally found the sense to look away.
The view at the other end of the lot wasn't much better.
But at least she could find some humor in it.
David was helping Maize O'Keefe carry boxes over to her family's booth. Help, of course meant she walked alongside him, batting her eyelashes while he did all the actual work. When he sat them down on the table, Maize began rubbing his shoulders not unlike Wendy was doing to Jax. Only thing was, David seemed so oblivious that Tara found herself biting back laughter.
If you're trying to make someone jealous you have to make sure the person you're using is actually paying attention to you, Tara thought to herself. Of course that just reminded her of who Maize supposedly wanted to make jealous and she found herself sneaking a peek over at Jax again.
Sarah was gone.
And her replacement didn't bring frozen treats. Stacey Wilson, Charming High's cheerleading Captain had another means of being an attention whore. She was unzipping the side of her miniskirt, pulling it down at the front to reveal what was apparently a wad of pink lace string. Tara watched in shock as the leader of the Charming High School pom-pom squad pushed her poor excuse for panties aside at the low curve of her hip without the slightest care that she was in public. Whatever she was showing Jax earned her an appreciative grin as he looked up at her.
The skimpy underwear was pink but for some reason all Tara saw was red.
That is, until two familiar faces appeared suddenly in front of her.
"If looks could kill you'd murder all potential customers with that glare on your face," Opie commented. "Who the hell's idea was it to put you in a position that requires being nice to people?"
Bite me. "Hi, Harry."
"Hey, Tara," Donna said quietly. Being timid was so out of character for the tiny teenager that it actually made Tara forget she was angry for the moment.
"Hey, Donna," Tara answered. Then she nodded up at Opie. "I see he's off punishment...or is he just on parole until his next offense?" Tara teased.
Donna managed a small smile. "I'm actually the one on probation this time," she admitted. "I'm sorry about the other night. I kind of flipped out—"
"—it's cool," Tara interrupted. "There's a lot of irrational feelings floating around these days."
Trust me, you really have no fuckin idea…
"So I've heard," Donna commented, a wry smile forming on her lips.
There's the annoying midget I know.
Opie's sudden fit of coughing sounded a lot like laughter.
And her boyfriend with the big ass mouth.
Tara glared up at the teenage boy standing in front of her. She didn't even have to know exactly what he told her. The fact that he said anything at all was enough. "Asshole."
"I guess you can't really judge me for flipping out about Sarah," Donna continued. "Especially after the way you lost your shit with David the other night. I guess I'm not the only with territory to protect. What are you going to do about Maize O'Keefe?"
"Ummm…" Tara looked to Opie, raising an eyebrow at him but he kept his face neutral as he turned to look at his girlfriend.
"I'm gonna go see if Gemma needs help with…yeah…I'll be right back, baby." Opie leaned down to give her a quick kiss before swaggering off—probably to get the hell out of dodge before Tara's foot was lodged up his ass.
"You should just do what I did," Donna suggested as soon as Opie was out of earshot. "Just punch the bitch in the face a couple of times. It might not stop the insecurity but it'll make you feel a little better."
"What the hell are you talking about Donna?" Tara asked finally.
"You're mad at David because you think something's going on with him O-Queef," Donna explained, her eyes widening as if to say DUH. "That's why you were flirting with Jax the other night. The whole chopsticks, lady and the tramp bullshit. Ope said you came clean with David about it which I think is really great. When you're in a relationship honesty is…and I just think that….besides the fact..…..you guys are weird by the way. I thought I figured you guys out. I could have sworn you were in love with Jax but then I also thought Ope was still into that Sarah bitch and I…"
Donna's lips were steady moving. And Tara wasn't listening to a word of what she was saying. She was too busy looking over her shoulder. Only this time, it wasn't at Jax. She was staring at Sarah.
Or more specifically, the older man standing next to her. The man old enough to be her father. The man subtly sneaking a glance down Sarah's shirt every so often as she ran a hand up and down his arm as if the flap of the tent whipping in front of them in the light breeze was concealing enough for them to get away with flirting.
A familiar churning made her sick to her stomach even as her eyes narrowed in anger at the audacity of the married father of two standing several feet away from her with the girl who used to tie ribbons in Tara's hair.
"…trust me, Tara. Don't let that fool you. Believe it or not Prince Charming has feelings, too. No matter how big of an ass he is you shouldn't use him to…" Donna paused, finally noticing that the green-eyed brunette wasn't paying her the slightest bit of attention. "What's wrong? Who are you glaring at?" she questioned even as she turned around to see for herself.
Donna turned just in time to see Maize and David walking in their direction, blocking her view of the real reason Tara zoned out.
"He doesn't even look interested in her," Donna said turning back to face Tara. "Trust me. That O'Keefe bitch is no Sarah. You shouldn't worry about it." When Tara's scowl didn't change a tick, Donna sighed. "Fine. I owe you one anyway…"
Tara caught on too late. Donna was already turning back around to face them as they walked past the booth.
"HEY, MAIZE!" Donna bellowed, causing quite a few heads to turn, including David and Maize's. "Could you come here for a minute? I need to your opinion on something." Donna turned towards Tara, adding under her breath, "I'd love to know if she brought a cantaloupe or a pineapple to her plastic surgeons office to demonstrate what she wanted her new boobs to look like."
Despite the tension she felt, Tara couldn't help but giggle as Maize approached them.
David was rooted where he stood as Maize left his side, heading towards the booth she stood behind. Tara didn't have time to decipher the question in his eyes because Mrs. O'Keefe, Maize's mother and Charming High's most hated History teacher approached him, pulling him back towards the booth he'd just finished setting up.
"What do you want, Lewis?" Maize asked, folding her arms across the breasts spilling out of her halter top. "I'm kind of in the middle of something."
"I'm curious…." Donna's smile was every bit as nasty as the red-head's in front of her. "Did it ever occur to you that you might actually have a boyfriend of your own if you would stop trying to fuck everyone else's?"
Good ole Donna.
"Excuse me?"
"You're the Queen of gossip around here," Donna accused. "So I know you know David's seeing someone…I know you also know who it is…"
Maize giggled, cocking an eyebrow. "All I know is that it's always the one's that pretend to be pure and innocent that do the wildest shit…" Maize pursed her lips. "…sex in the middle of the school parking lot is—"
"—nowhere near as scandalous as being caught with someone's cock in your mouth in front of the whole student body…and your mother," Donna interjected.
Tara opened her mouth to set the gossip Queen straight about what did or didn't happen with her and David in the parking lot at school. That was when she glimpsed Sarah in full on vixen mode. Behind the flap of the tent across the lot, the six-foot tall living proof of Sarah's daddy issue's was facing towards Tara as Sarah's hands trailed dangerously low.
Tara was happy to silently glower at the two of them in disgust until they finally had the sense to disappear to whatever secluded spot would keep Sarah from shaming the Hale name and him out of jail for screwing a minor.
The councilman suddenly looked up and over towards them, his eyes instantly locking with hers. Coincidence? Tara had no way of knowing… at first. Then he winked at her, sending a burst of color flooding into Tara's cheeks as she realized he'd known all along that she'd been watching them. And worse, still, the smug expression on his face told her that for a multitude of reasons that made her nauseous he was enjoying the attention from both of his girls.
The one he'd been sleeping with and the one he'd paid to keep her mouth shut years before.
The two teenagers squaring off in front of Tara were completely oblivious. Once again the green-eyed brunette was out of the circle even when she was the topic.
"You think you're funny, bitch?" Maize snarled.
"I think I know a thing or two about putting sluts in their place," Donna snapped. "If you don't believe me ask your new pep squad BFF Sarah…in the meantime here's an exclusive for your ass. A black-eye is definitely going to clash with your cheerleading uniform so if I were you I'd watch it."
"Who the hell are you? The freedom fighter for girls who can't hold their boyfriend's attention?" Maize scoffed. "If I were you I'd be more focused on my own relationship. Or is that what this is about? You trying to get on Tara's good side so maybe she'll convince her friend not to steal your boyfriend?"
You don't know what the hell you're talking about, Tara thought. In some distant part of her mind she knew that now was the time to insert herself into the conversation taking place in front of her. But she couldn't peel her eyes away from him—away from them.
He leaned down, whispering something to Sarah as if Tara might actually be able to hear.
"…..she's only been back a week…I'll give you maybe two more before Opie Winston's back to trailing behind her like a lost puppy just like before!"
No he won't, Tara wanted to argue.
Ope loves you, not her, Tara wanted to tell Donna but Sarah turned around, her eyes widening as they locked with Tara's. The curly-haired blonde had a look on her face that Tara immediately recognized as mock-embarrassment.
"It seems like every time I hear my name come out of a girl's mouth it's always something that pisses you off." Tara almost turned at the sound of Opie's voice.
Almost.
"Hey, Ope," Tara heard Maize say. "Me and your girl were just talking about your other girl…you know the one you loved since elementary school? Sarah H—"
"—Tara?" Opie called out, cutting Maize off.
Tara fully meant to turn around to see why there was a question in Opie's voice when he said her name. But Sarah and her Councilman were finally making their moves.
Sarah walked out first.
He walked out shortly after, his eyes managing to find Tara's again as he pulled at his tie.
"Tara?" Opie's voice was a little clearer as he stood in front of her, blocking her view across the lot. Her eyes were aimed at his chest…until he turned his back to her to follow where her eyes had been before.
"Is that him?"
It wasn't what he said. It was the way he said it that had Tara's eyes snapping up to meet his. Opie's eyes flitted back and forth until whatever he read in her expression made his face harden.
Oh shit.
"Opie!" Tara reached up, grabbing only a handful of thin air because the spot where Opie's shoulder had been seconds before was vacated as he rushed off in the opposite direction.
"Where the hell is he going?"
Donna's question was barely past her lips before the three of them watched Opie's fist connect with Rick Vidal's face.
Donna slapped a hand over her gasping mouth. Tara's folded her hands into a tent at the crown of her head as her chin jutted left to right like a bobble-head doll. Maize shouted, "HOLY SHIT!"
And everyone else at the fundraiser reacted much like Tara would expect.
Sarah backed up out of the way just in time.
Vidal was already tumbling backwards from the force of the blow, but Opie saw fit to help him to the ground as he tackled him, his knees crashing down on the man chest and groin as he leaned over him, steadily pounding his face bloody.
The crowd barely had time to gather before the civilized folk of Charming, California were forced back as SAMCRO made their presence known. Tara watched as Opie's father Piney and Jax's father yanked Opie up off of the man on the ground, bleeding from his nose and mouth. Unser's arms were outstretched in front of him, palms facing the crowd as he and his deputies urged the crowd further back.
Sarah's smile couldn't have been more arrogant as she stood there, hip cocked, her arms folded across her chest as she watched Opie disappear through the slowly dispersing crowd.
Piney dragged Opie along while John Teller helped poor Rick off the ground.
"WAY TO GO, OPE!" Tara heard someone shout. She looked over just in time to see Jax smack Kyle in the back of his head.
"You're a prospect, not a cheerleader, moron."
Stacey Wilson stood by his side, giggling as he lazily threw an arm over her shoulders, kissing her cheek as if to put emphasis on the only type of cheerleader he appreciated.
Tara was ready to channel Opie.
Fortunately for Jax and Stacey, her cheer-mate Maize managed to grab her attention before she could fly over and break off a high herkie in Stacey's bony ass.
"So you think I'm the gossip Queen around here, huh Donna," Maize commented, pulling a compact from her purse. Opening it up to reveal a tiny square mirror, she began smearing a fresh coat of lipstick on her mouth to match the heaviness of her eye shadow. "It's actually true… I know all the dirt. And a while back there was a pretty interesting rumor going around about Lauren Vidal and how she got her old man to buy her new BMW annd let her spend the summer in Europe with her boyfriend…anddd…whatever the hell else that girl wants." Maize snorted. "Lauren has her father wrapped around her freshly manicured finger but I hear it's about more than her being daddy's little girl…"
"Shut the fuck up, Maize," Tara warned but the nasty smile on Maize O'Keefe's face made it clear that nothing short of Tara lodging a fist in her mouth would stop her from making Opie's love life hell—again.
"….rumor has it she found out her dad was sleeping with one of her classmates…heard he begged Lauren not to tell her mom about it…thanks to Opie I no longer have to guess which classmate it was." Maize snapped the compact mirror shut, smacking her lips together with a final pop before tossing it inside her bag. "That was yeaaars ago though." Maize shrugged her shoulders. "I guess he's still not over the fact that his ex-girlfriend two timed him with some old dude…Sarah really gets around doesn't she? And they say I'm the school slut." Maize looked over at Tara for the first time since she walked over. "You can relax, Knowles," Maize said, before nodding her head over at Donna. "Call your pit-bull off…David's just a means to an end…for now anyway."
Then Maize sauntered off leaving Tara to try….
"You ready to give me the 'he doesn't have feelings for her' speech again?"
…and fail at cleaning up the mess she left behind.
"It's not what you think, Donna," Tara started but Donna was already shaking her head.
"He said is that him…then he…what does that mean?" Donna asked. "Did you tell him Sarah was—"
"I didn't tell him anything—well not exa—not what you think…Look it's complicated…but it's not about Sarah, okay? He didn't do that for Sarah?"
At least I hope he didn't.
"Then what the hell did he do it for? Huh? Whose him? Him what?" Tara took too long to answer. Donna was already walking off. "Wait, Donna, listen—"
"—Whatever, Tara. You're full of shit just like him."
Tara was on the fourth strawberry she wasn't supposed to eating when he approached her.
"Hey, Tara."
It was difficult but somehow she managed not rolling her eyes. "Hi, Kyle."
"I didn't know you worked for the Monroe's."
"I didn't know you cared who I worked for."
"I don't actually."
Tara smiled despite herself. "Then why start the conversation with that?"
"I was just making an observation," Kyle countered, his eyes trailing down her body.
"You do that often?" Tara asked dryly, already looking around for Karen so she could take a break.
And make a break for it.
"Yeah…especially when it comes to you," Kyle answered. "I made another observation, too…I think today is the first time I've seen you in a skirt…."
Well at least someone noticed.
Tara smiled grimly to herself. Kyle had a point. Over the years she'd developed a more tomboyish sense of style: sneakers and sweatpants. In recent months she'd gradually started back wearing some of her old clothes, but it wasn't until today that she'd opted to wear an actual skirt.
She refused to attribute her sudden desire to switch up her style to either of the guys in her life—especially Jackson. She looked pretty today...for her. It had nothing to do with showing anyone what they were missing.
Not that he had a moment to notice, what with his fan club catering to him.
Kyle was drawling on as if he couldn't tell how bored and distracted the girl standing in front of him was. "...and don't get me wrong I like the shorts you're always wearing but that outfit you have on right now is—"
"—Karen!" Tara called out suddenly The redhead about to walk pass looked over at her, the smile her boyfriend Elliot had coaxed out of her drooping the second she saw her. "It's time for my break."
"…perfect I guess I came just in time," Kyle commented.
"Go ahead," Karen said, waving her off as she turned back to continue her conversation. Elliot Oswald managed to wink at Tara before his girlfriend turned back around.
"Hey, slow down!" Kyle shouted at her back.
Tara did the opposite. She'd glimpsed Opie and a short raven-haired girl that looked a lot like Donna arguing in the parking lot across the way. She had to help her friend out…even if part of her did think his reaction was at least partially because of Sarah.
It didn't hurt that defending him meant avoiding Kyle Hobart's sleazy advances toward her.
"Tara," Kyle said, grabbing a hold of her arm. Tara reluctantly pivoted around to face him, unaware of whose booth she'd just stopped in front of.
"Yes, Kyle?" Tara hoped he would spit whatever line he had out so she could shoot him down quick and easy and go on about her business.
"You should come with me to the party at the clubhouse tomorrow night," Kyle suggested, a little thrown off now that she'd pinned him with her emerald gaze.
I guess you can't all be as smooth as Prince Charming, Tara thought. Thank God for that.
"Sorry, Kyle." Tara shook her head. "I'm not really up for an Outlaw rager and besides I'm not even sixteen yet. That's more of a twenty-one and older crowd ya know?"
Kyle rolled his eyes, shrugging his beach-tanned shoulders. "Oh please. So what? It's not like you'll be the first minor in Club Reaper. Jax is always sneaking girls in there. Your friend Sarah is always around."
Tara chose to ignore how irritated his words made her, pushing the emotion aside.
Apparently she was doing a very shitty job.
"You think too much, doll face." Kyle clearly didn't pick up on the way Tara cringed at his words. He brushed her cheek with his hand. "You should learn to chill out...Sarah's right. You could use a little—"
Tara held up her hand. "—you talked to Sarah about me?" Tara blurted, Olive eyes blazing. I can't believe this bitch is trying to pimp out her own brother's girlfriend...or former girlfriend. Tara didn't know which one she was at the moment. Not that it mattered. "What are you like thirty? What's with SAMCRO and their obsession with underage girls?"
"Oi! Careful, love!"
"I'm nineteen, Darlin," Kyle responded, almost drowning out the thick Scottish accent of the man who may or may not have been addressing her.
Ughh. "And the word Darlin."
Kyle shrugged. "You got another pet name you prefer?"
"I'd prefer we put an end to this conversation before you make me lose my temper," Tara said turning to walk away.
Tara heard Kyle snap his fingers. "That's right! I keep forgetting…you're all about Prince Charming…man, I really need to figure out what Jax's secret is. Even the town drunk's daughter is ready to get on her knees for him….only him apparently."
Tara spun around so fast her hair whipped her in the face. "What'd you just say to me?"
Kyle smirked, shaking his head. "Every girl wants to be SAMCRO royalty...the young Princess to Mr. Prince Charming. But you? You don't even have what it takes to be an Old Lady…and Jax doesn't want you around for anything more than a good time anyway so the jokes on you…Darlin."
"If you think I'm even remotely interested in being another trophy on a shelf in that shitty bar you assholes call a clubhouse you're an even bigger idiot than I thought. SAMCRO is nothing but a bunch of redneck, half-wit thugs on motorcycles. And right now you're their personal bitch boy. How's that for a joke?"
"Jesus Christ."
Jax's voice rang out behind her. It was low, a snake-like hiss that seemed almost amplified given the brief moment of silence that followed her statement.
"You wanna run that by us again, you little gash?" Gemma growled. Tara's head snapped over towards the booth and row of tables that the SAMCRO matriarch stood behind.
Us.
She'd said us.
Tara took a quick look around.
Yup.
Us, was definitely correct.
She'd just dissed SAMCRO….in front of all of SAMCRO.
All except the SAMCRO President himself.
And worst of all—for Opie, and a certain on again off again friend of hers—she couldn't bring herself to give a single fuck about it.
Anger—a steadily increasing rage about a combination of things wouldn't let her.
Tara folded her arms across her chest. Rolling back on her heel, she cocked an eyebrow. "Sure thing, Gem. Which part of what I said confused you?"
"Tara," Jax said behind her. Tara didn't bother turning around to face him. Her eyes were on his mother who was already walking around the table, towards her.
"I'm done giving you chances," Gemma said, sliding the rings off her finger as she approached her. "Let's see if I can beat that stick out of your ass!"
"Gemma, she's just a kid!" Piney slid in between them. "Just let it go!"
Tara craned her neck so she could see past Piney. "Why are you so determined to get the stick out of my ass? So I can make room for biker cock like you?"
"Get the fuck out of my way, Piney!"
"Let her go, Piney. That little cunt is asking for it!" Some guy said in the crowd. Once again Tara was too locked in on the enraged woman in front of her to turn and put a face to yet another SAMCRO voice.
"I've been curious about something," Tara continued. "Is it true you Old Ladies let your men sleep around? Does what happen on a run really stay on a run? If so I guess that's why Jax doesn't get to see his dad much these days. He's always on a run from you."
"Motherf—Tara, what the hell?!" Jax turned her around.
Or he tried to rather. The second he touched her shoulder she shoved his hand off, took a moment to glare at him and spun right back around.
She took another heated glance around at all the leather-clad bikers and "Old Lady's" staring at her, some in shock, some different degrees of angry or annoyed. Her eyes finally landed on a shell-shocked, Kyle Hobart.
It was her turn to smirk now. "Do you want to know what I think, Kyle? I think you're not the only one that wishes I was old enough to be a croweater." Her eyes darted over to Gemma. She looked the woman up and down before adding, "That's a fair statement right, Gem? Your SAMCRO boys are a big fan of pussy…and I'm sure they'd appreciate one that didn't have as much mileage as yours probably does."
"FUCK."
The curse flew from Jax's mouth. But it wasn't nearly as fast as his mother when she abruptly shoved Piney aside and lunged at Tara, grabbing a fistful of her shirt with one hand, Tara's neck with the other.
"I'll teach you to run your fuckin mouth!" Gemma spat through her teeth.
"yeah, that's right, Gemma. Get her ass!" said a female voice in the crowd of SAMCRO members, Old ladies and Club hopefuls.
Jax stood there, frozen.
Everyone except Piney just stood there along with him and watched, no one daring to intervene in the Queen of SAMCRO's Outlaw justice.
"Gem, let her"—Piney started to yell, reaching for her.
"GEMMA!"
Once again, Piney was shoved sideways as Jax's father suddenly appeared.
"LET HER GO!" John Teller demanded even as he pulled her hands off of her. Tara dropped to the ground immediately, coughing as she held her own hand to her throbbing neck.
"That little bitch needs to learn some respect!" Gemma screamed.
Every direction Gemma maneuvered to try to get around JT, he was two steps ahead of her even as he tried to get her to see reason by yelling at her. "She's a teenager for Christ's sake! She's doing what teenagers do. Let her go! ...Damn it, Gemma. Walk away…just let her go."
Tara rose to her feet, finding her voice once more. Even raspy, the venom in it was unmistakable. "You better do what he says, Gemma. The whole town's here as a witness this time. I wonder if your husband can threaten all of them into silence."
Tara turned away before Gemma could bite back a response or lunge for her again. Walking off, she headed towards the back entrance to the High school, rushing past the gym into the locker room to take a look in the mirror at the damage her smart mouth and short temper had earned her this time around.
She didn't notice that Jax had followed her inside until she saw him through the mirror leaning against the end of the row of lockers behind her.
|REVIEW|