Summer Time Sadness
Jax pulled up across the road and couldn't help but be a little pissed at the scene in front of him.
Six and half weeks had passed since he had to break her heart up at the streams and Jax hadn't been able to forget the look in her eyes or the sound of her cries.
When the news had got out about Sam leaving, Daniel Parker had been so angry that he had barged into the Teller home and told them all to stay away from him and Haley. Gemma and Clay had been pissed and Gemma had told Jax to stay away but he couldn't. Jax felt responsible for her. No one apart from him saw how broken she was and he felt like he needed to make that right.
So ignoring all the warnings from the now warring families Jax started to turn up at the theatre most nights to check on her, and then when he found out that she got a job at the local deli, Al's, that soon became his favourite spot to have lunch.
Hayley had tried to push him away, saying she was fine, but when he confessed that he was feeling like a bit of stalker 3 weeks ago he finally saw the smile he had been missing and she gave in and sat with him. And that made him more determined to keep seeing her, he wanted to bring back the Haley from before her heart got broken. So whenever he could they would eat lunch together and her would meet her from theatre and walk her home.
So when he pulled up and saw Haley sat at one of the tables outside Al's with some guy he did not know and who looked a lot older than Haley he was a little pissed.
Striding over to the two Jax lent down and dropped a kiss on Haley head without even looking at the guy. "Hales."
"Jax."
"Who's your friend?"
Haley knew when she heard the bike pull up that it was Jax and she knew that he would get all over protective seeing her talking to Steve. And truth was she probably would never have taken him up on his offer to have join him for coffee, he had been asking the same question the last two weeks since he had been coming into Al's and she had always turned him down, but after the news that she had heard last night and the way she heard it, she decided to take a chance.
"Hi im Steve. Friends call me Stevie." Jax watched this guy who was dressed in a black polo shirt and beige khakis which screamed rich college kid, extend out his hand to him. Jax didn't take it instead he looked back at Haley and raised his brow...Stevie really? When Haley looked a little pissed Jax decided to play nice. So he took the hand that was still extended out to him and shook it.
"Jax Teller."
"Nice to meet you."
"Haven't seen you round here." Jax asked snaking out a smoke from his cut.
"No i'm from Oakland. Just back on college break."
Oakland. That made Jax stiffen. The guy was the wrong shade but whenever Jax heard Oakland he thought of Niners. Haley shouldn't be around anyone from there.
"Long way from home, they don't have sandwich shops in Oakland?"
"Yeah we do. But the waitresses aren't as pretty." Jax watched as he looked at Haley.
Haley could sense with that comment that this could quickly get of control. So she got to her feet and turned to Jax. "Your order is probably ready." She turned to Steve. "I've got to get back to work." Thankfully Steve took the hint. But as Jax threw away the cigarette and started to follow inside Steve spoke again, causing them both to stop.
"So tonight at 8?" Haley looked back at Steve she could feel Jax's eyes on her but she ignored them for now.
"Yeah sure. As I said ive got to get back to work..."
"Sure. Nice to meet you Jax."
Jax cocked his head as a response, only thing he cared about was the fact that they were meeting later, like a date. As Haley went to walk back inside he caught her arm which forced her to look at him.
"A date? Hales do you even know this guy?"
"No that's what dates are for." She tried to head inside but Jax stopped her again. She looked angry.
"Haley."
"What Jax. I'm just trying to move on. I mean Sam has."
And now it all made sense she knew. He ran his hand over his face. They had heard of the news two days ago. Gemma had wanted to go down there and kick Sams ass but Clay had put a stop to it, and to Jax also going. So Jax had tried to call his brother but had still not had a response. He thought about telling her but he didn't know if he could break her heart again.
"Hales..."
"It's fine. I mean their having a baby, marriage is the next step right." And right then Jax felt like he was back at the streams looking at a broken Haley. But it looked like this time she was trying to mend her heart by accepting dates with strangers.
"Haley." He stopped her from entering the deli for a third time.
"No Jax." This time Haley pushed him off her. "Look I think we need to stop this. Sam is your brother and right now I want nothing to do with him and I don't want to put you in a weird position."
She watched Jax look away from her. When Lizzy Martin had come into theatre and made sure that Haley was in earshot when they spoke about Sam and Chrissie. It broke her again but Haley knew that she had to do something she had to move past Sam. She knew that Jax was just trying to be the good guy but he was in the middle and that wasn't fair on him.
"My Dad was right Jax. Please just leave me alone." And with that she walked away.
Jax watched her walk away from him. It hurt to see her again hurt, given that he had finally seen the old Haley come back but he respected her wish...for now...so he walked away.
Daniel heard the knock on the door and a sudden rush on the floorboards upstairs. He smiled to himself.
The thought of his daughter dating was scary and after what happened Sam Daniel would like nothing more than to wrap his daughter up safe so that no one could hurt her again, which is why he had warned the Tellers to say away from his daughter.
She had been so sad, distant. She was far from the happy little girl that he had raised but he had started to see her come back to herself over the last few weeks and that was when she introduced him to Steve, a young college boy from Oakland.
Daniel had been reluctant to allow Haley to date him but he had showed up each time with flowers, he had been respectful to both him and Haley and had abided by his rules of keeping the dates in Charming and he had always brought her home at least 15 minutes before curfew. So far Steve Miller had been the perfect gentleman.
Haley heard the knock on the door and knew that Steve was here. This was date number 4, he seemed nice had been very good with her but there was just something missing that Haley just couldn't put her finger on it. But she needed to move on.
Looking at herself in the mirror Haley adjusted the black silk top she was wearing. She had paired it with some flared jeans and black boots. She tucked her messy curls behind her ear and that was went she caught sight of the bracelet on her wrist. Her Moms bracelet.
She ran over the heart. She really missed her Mom, especially now. She loved her Dad but she just really wanted her Mom.
Hearing her name be called Haley took one last look at herself, wiped at her eyes careful not to mess up mascara. Took a breath and grabbed her coat.
They both waved bye to her father as Steve took her hand and lead her his Jeep. As the gentleman he was he of course opened the door for her.
They had been driving for 10minutes when she realised where they were heading.
"We're leaving Charming." Steve looked over and smiled at her. And Haley smiled back knowing that she sounded a little silly.
"There's a party in Oakland." He watched her eyes widened a little. "Look come on. Promise I'll get you home by curfew." He reached across and took her hand in his. "You trust me right."
Haley looked down and their hands that were now entwined before looking up at Steve. He had been nothing but good to her. So she squeezed his hand and smiled at him.
"I trust you."
Jax and Opie were feeling pretty smug with themselves right now. Clay had given them the task to go to Oakland and meet with Niners. Okay, all deals were already arranged, and Head of Niners James had sent Leroy so they all knew that it was a chance for the younger ones to come up but either way all of them played their part and it felt really good.
Jax pulled up to the intersection. Opie on his flag. He was waiting for the light to change when it caught his eye. A red glowing light. And then he noticed that there was break in the barrier. The light turned green and Jax motioned to Opie that he was taking a different route. Opie followed and Jax made his way over to the light.
"What is it?" Opie asked as the both dismounted their bikes.
"Think someone's gone off the road." Jax spoke removing his helmet.
"Shit."
"I'll check it out."
Jax made his way down the embankment, Opie lingering behind. He could see the red light confirming that it was a car. He carefully moved around the car and that was when he saw her.
"CALL 911." Opie heard his brother cry out. He snaked out his cell and dialled the number and made he way towards Jax.
"What is it?" Opie shouted as he waited for his call to connect. He arrived at the car and saw that Jax was inside the Jeep. "Jax..."
"It's Haley."
