A/N- Special shout out to DutchessTiki for reviewing and motivating me to continue with this story. You a real one, and I appreciate you!

Chapter nine: Loyal, Tough, And Smart

The next morning, I woke up right at noon, still sitting with my back against the headboard, and John Teller's manuscript still in my lap. Jax was gone, but he left a sticky note on the page I left off on that said,

'Had to run. You can use my clothes again if you want to shower. New toothbrushes are in the bathroom medicine cabinet. Not sure when I'll be back, but I hope to see you soon. Oh and by the way, you sleep with your mouth opened...

-Jax'

Chuckling at the last part of the note, I set the binder off to the side, and got up to begin my day. Starting with me stealing one of Jax's white tank tops, and a pair of his gray sweats, and going into the restroom to shower. When that was all done, I headed down the hall to the room where Jessica slept, only to see that the door was still locked. Figuring she must've still been sleep, and probably hungover, I decided to annoy her by banging on the door.

"Jesus Christ! I'm coming! Cut that shit out already!" She shouted from inside the room. I just smirked to myself, acting like I didn't hear her, and continued banging until she finally flung the door opened, glowering at me.

"Seriously?!" She tiredly rolled her eyes, walking back over to the bed, and falling face first into it.

"What?" I shrugged, following her into the room. "I was worried out there. Had to make sure my friend didn't die from alcohol poisoning in here." I added, plopping down on the foot of the bed.

"And if I did, knocking like that wasn't gonna make a difference."

"Well see, that's why I figured if I knocked loud enough, I might be able to wake the dead." I shot back, sarcastically, getting a quiet laugh out of Jess.

"You're annoying, you know that? I see why Jax likes you so much. You two are one in the same."

"Well I've had eighteen years experience working my dad's nerves, so I'm glad to see that it wasn't all in vain... Anyway, what's the plan for today? I'm up for anything as long as the day ends with us working on our English assignment."

"Let's get our nails done like we planned yesterday. Maybe go to the mall, then the movies."

"And after that, out to eat." I said, knowing she would probably hate me mentioning food in her current condition. "I'm thinking Mexican food today. Some steak tacos, and steak supreme nachos mmm."

"Ugh! Stop you're doing that on purpose!"

"Ooooh or maybe a big old greasy burger, with chili cheese fries, and a large strawberry shake." I went on, only to catch a pillow to the back of the head. This had me weak with laughter, as I watched Jess get out of the bed, storm over to the restroom and slam the door.

After she got ready, we started our day, and everything went according to plan for once. We got our nails done, went shopping, caught a movie, and on our way back to her house, we picked me some food up from her job. Jess didn't get anything because she was still feeling sick from this morning. We made it back to her mom's house late Saturday evening, and found that no one else was there, as Gemma was still at the shop, and Clay was probably off handling club business.

I ate and we finally started on our assignment, but only got halfway done, before Jess was out like a light. One thing about the Tellers, they love falling asleep on people, but I knew she wasn't feeling well, so I didn't take it too personal. I just continued working on her laptop, and ended up falling asleep at midnight, with my head down on her computer desk.

Sunday was uneventful, as it rained most of the day, so we stayed in, finishing up our work, watching Netflix movies, and collectively deciding what she should wear to school the next day. As far as Jax? I hadn't seen him since my birthday, but chalked it up to him being busy with the club, after not seeing Clay around the house either.

The time was now 6:53pm, Sunday evening, and Jess was in the shower, while I sat on her laptop, at her desk, going over our work, and revising what needed to be changed. I soon heard a knock on her bedroom door, and looked up to see Gemma standing there with a stack of neatly folded clothes in her hands.

"Oh hey, Gemma. What's up?" I smiled, sitting back.

"Nothin' sweetheart, I was just bringing you your clothes that I washed earlier." She handed them to me, and I smiled, thanking her.

"No problem. Hey look, I was just about to head to the store, so I also came to see if you wanted me to run you home while I'm out." She offered, and I was quiet for a second as I thought about the confrontation that was sure to happen between me and my parents, when I got home, then I reluctantly nodded my head yes.

"Yeah, let me just send this assignment to my email, and say bye to Jess, then I'll meet you upstairs."

"I'll be in the dining room." Gemma shot me a smile, in which I returned, before she turned and walked out.

Sighing, I finished up on Jessica's laptop. Then I got up and took off Jax's clothes, tossing them into her hamper, and changing into my own clothes. I was bent over putting my pants on, when a sudden stinging sensation on my right ass cheek caused me to jump, and turn around as Jess walked by with a towel wrapped around her body, and a smirk on her face. This girl really just smacked my ass!

"Jax doesn't deserve an ass that fat!" She muttered, walking up and opening her dresser. I glared at her as I fixed my leggings around my waist.

"Gay much?" I questioned, and Jess just shrugged.

"We're all a little gay, I think... and besides, I had to get even somehow for you almost making me puke when I had a hangover." She shot back, and I nodded, mentally plotting revenge.

"Mhm, well anyway, I finished proofreading our presentation, and sent it to my email so I'd have it ready to show the class tomorrow. Gemma's getting ready to take me home just so you know I'm leaving... I trailed off, as Jess dropped her towel, revealing her behind, that was barely covered by her black, lacey thong underwear.

Taking it as my opportunity to get her back, I snuck up behind her, brought my hand back, and smacked her cheek as hard as I could, causing her to jump, and cry out in pain.

"And now we're even!" I exclaimed, turning to run out of the room at the same time that she turned to chase me.

"You are so lucky I'm naked!" Her voice faded behind me.

"Yeah yeah yeah! See you at school!" I laughed as I skipped up the stairs.

I slowed down and pulled myself together just before I cut into the dining room, and saw Gemma sitting at the head of the table, smoking a cigarette. She saw me come in, and put it out in her ashtray, before asking if I was ready. I nodded, and we headed out.

The sound of rain hitting Gemma's windshield, and being wiped away was the only noise between us, for the first few minutes as she drove. I was just too busy thinking about being confronted when I got home. Especially with Eli being off on Sundays, I just knew he was most likely waiting front and center for me to walk in the door, so he could chew my head off.

"Worried about your folks flipping out on you for being gone all weekend?" Gemma asked, and I glanced over at her with a nervous smile.

"Is it that obvious?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Oh yeah. Almost as obvious as that hickey on your neck." She scoffed.

I felt my face fall in confusion, before pulling down the sun visor, and examining myself. My mouth fell opened, when I noticed the misshapen deep red flesh mark above my left collarbone. I wasn't sure how I went all weekend without noticing it, because it was actually pretty damn noticeable. Great! Something else for my folks to yap about.

"Jax must've given it to you when the two of you were making out on my front porch last Friday."

"Wait. You know about that? How?" I asked, feeling completely mortified, even though she didn't sound upset about it. She actually sounded more amused than anything.

"I have cameras around the outside of my house. Caught footage of you and him when I went to run back the tapes."

"And I'm getting the sense that you don't care? Even with us being so far apart in age?" I asked, only for Gemma to scoff in response.

"Please. Their dad was 36 when I met him at 19. You're both adults so age isn't what I'm concerned about when it comes to you two." She paused, like she wasn't done talking.

"But you're concerned about something... am I right?" I asked, and she shrugged, but kept her eyes forward, focusing on the wet road.

"Your dad's a cop, and my son... Well you're a bright girl, so I'm sure you've gathered that he ain't exactly a law abiding citizen. And I don't know what to make of this thing between you and him, but with you being Jessica's friend, and being around so much, you're bound to see things, and I just wanna be sure that daddy won't somehow hear about anything Jax does. That's all."

"Well I wouldn't worry too much about that, since daddy and I don't talk unless we're arguing, or he's ordering me around. And besides, I would never tell an ex con's dealings to a cop. That's too much like ratting, and I may have been raised in the suburbs, but I'm street smart enough to know that nothing good comes to a rat. You can consider my lips sealed as far as Jax and the club goes." I assured her, watching as she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, with an impressed smile.

"Loyal, tough, and smart. Three things you have to be in order to deal with a man like my son. Yeah, I can already tell I'm gonna like you." She said, reaching over and patting my thigh, and I smiled as she continued to drive.

The rain had stopped by the time we finally pulled up in front of my parent's house. I went to get out, but before I could, Gemma stopped me and reminded me to cover up the hickey. I pulled my hair down in front of my neck, hoping it would stay. I thanked Gemma for the ride, and with a sigh, I sloshed up to the house, dreading every step I took...

Uh ohhhhh!