CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile. 5 reviews gets next chapter early.

Rummaging through the bag of clothes I brought I set out the outfit on Opie's bed before turning to the bathroom mirror to sort my hair, fighting with it trying to get some sort of order I give up after 20 minutes and just leave it hanging down my back.

Sitting on the chair Donna has dragged in I wait while she brushes her hair, "I might get my hair cut I think."

Donna's eyes snap to mine in the mirror, "Don't you dare!"

I smile, "Okay, a trim maybe. So it's above my waist instead of getting caught in the waist band of everything."

Donna nods in agreement, "That's agreeable."

Shaking my head at my short haired friend, "You know if you had hair this long you'd consider cutting it all off."

"Yeah, but your hair's been long since we met, apart from that stupid phase you went through when you were 14 and had it cut to your chin."

"I know, you told me I was a dumb ass and I'd regret it and I did before I walked out of the salon. You were right Donna, you're always right Donna. Now move your ass over." I shove her sideways so I can see in the mirror as well and start applying my makeup, because neither of us has ever worn much it only takes 10 minutes before we're back out in the bedroom getting dressed.

Sliding out of the shorts I was wearing I pull on the black mini skirt, it's zip decorations clinking slightly in the layer of lace, the semi-military meshed with steampunk style corset that I get Donna's help to fasten makes me grin widely, I hadn't had a chance to wear since leaving New York and finding this one tucked in the bottom of one of the boxes reminds me of the dozens that are still packed away waiting rediscovery. The finishing touch is the new heels just brought, the plain black shoe is boringly conservative, but the silver sequinned heel is what caught my eye.

Turning to Donna I'm surprised when she spends a few seconds looking at the outfit I've put on, "That's different."

Shaking my head I reply, "Nope, this is normal for me now. Gone are the sweatpants and ratty t-shirts I used to live in. Al and Cam, pre-Craig, destroyed almost every item of clothing I owned and replaced it all, piece by piece. Can't say I miss them." I spin in place, the chains that hang at 5 different heights down my sides sliding around before settling back where they started from.

Dona nods in approval, pulling her recently acquired boots on over the leggings she's wearing, a mid-thigh length dress working as her shirt for the night.

Pulling her to her feet I look down, "You do have worn in shoes for later if your feet get sore aye?"

Rolling her eyes at me she points to the corner, where the sneakers she's just taken off are tucked. Smacking myself in the forehead, "Duh! Ignore me. Blonde moment?"

"Hey, I represent that remark!" Al's voice calls from where she's just opened the door. Laughing at her own admission of her blonde moments as she steps through the gap. She takes in the outfit I'm wearing before nodding decisively "Much better than what you've been hauling round in."

Poking my tongue out at her, "Hey, you're at fault just as much as I was. I didn't ink myself."

Al drops to her knees to examine the now uncovered tattoo gracing my leg. Running a hand gently over it she doesn't look surprised at the small amount of scabbing that's still there, but it's only minor and it the most intensely inked areas, the deep purple at my knee is the worst of it all, but that's also due to the constant movement of the joint. She stands back up and dusts off her knees, "Won't need to re-ink after all, the tiny flaws are only noticeable when you're inches away, unless you want them fixed?"

I shrug, "Ask me next week when it's fully healed." I silently smirk at myself, that's a sure-fire way to keep her in town a while longer, even if she's sworn not to leave till after my ex issue is dealt with.

As usual her outfit is an interesting mix of pure Al; she's wearing a black sparkly singlet with camo shorts and black heels. Only she could wear it and not look like she'd gotten dressed in the dark.

Donna locks the door behind us and tucks the key into her pocket as we walk out to the main room, the guys have all spilled from their inner sanctum and are in various places around the room, Juice and Opie are at the bar which is the direction both Al and Donna head, watching the grin that spreads across Juice's face when he spots Al walking towards him I feel a rush of happiness when he stands up and swings her in a circle, her legs flying behind her and a giggle bubbling up her throat.

"They look good together." A rough voice sounds behind me and I spin around to find Clay standing there.

"Wouldn't have picked you for a matchmaker there Uncle Clay." I say, sarcasm dripping from my words.

He reaches out one of his giant hands and ruffles my hair, ignoring my irritated screech. "I'm not; the old lady however is tryin' to get all the boys hooked up with 'proper old ladies'." He sounds like he's not quite sure of what Gemma's goal is but wants her to be happy so is letting her have her way. "She told me about this house you brought. Said it's got no alarm, no gate and old as shit locks, that right?"

I nod, "Yes on all counts, locksmith'll be coming next week to change all the locks, alarm I'll get sorted when the renovations are done and the gate that's missing is in the back yard leaning against the fence." I know that Gemma's worried about me, but to go to my surrogate uncle, her husband and the mother-charter president is a low blow.

"Juice'll do the alarm for you. Gates too, Gem said there's plenty of room for some auto swinging shit." Clay states, no room for argument in his tone so I just nod in acceptance. "Good girl, now go have a drink, Jax and Hap both said you all deserve it."

"They do, they worked miracles today, if we go the rate we've started the strip out will be done by next weekend."

Clay nods and pushes me in the direction of the bar, as I reach it Miles places a tall glass in front of me. Raising an eyebrow he glances over at Jax where he's sitting with Hap in a corner booth.

Smiling at the blonde biker I mouth "Thanks" and pick up the glass. The first mouthful sets my throat on fire and the glare that I send at the snickering man in the corner could melt steel. Meeting his eyes which are dancing with laughter I slide off my barstool and walk towards him.

"That's really nice. Trying to make me unable to speak?" I snap when I'm in ear shot.

Jax's laughter rumbles out of his throat, "Nah darlin', don't you remember the taste?"

"I do, how could I forget." Shoving his feet sideways off the chair he's using as a footstool I sit down. "You created this abomination of booze when you decided to add almost every clear alcohol you could find to one glass!"

Jax is still laughing at me and I can't help my temper rising slightly, "You thought it was a great joke when you did it to. Till the after effects happened."

Jax's laughter abruptly stops and he leans over to yank the glass out of my hand. "No more then."

I snort at him, leaning back in the chair just out of reach. "Nah uh, you either made it or had Miles make it for me so I'm gonna drink it." I knock back half the drink in a few mouthfuls, the burning in my throat is lessened now, the first mouthful seems to have scorched its way down and killed every nerve ending.

The combination of vodka, white tequila, triple sec and white rum mixed with a tiny amount of soda is enough to use at fuel for any of the bikes outside, Jax made it once when we were all teenagers, having stolen small amounts of each of the clear liquor's he could get his hands on.

Happy looks over at Jax waiting for an explanation, when he doesn't say anything I raise an eyebrow at Jax before turning to Hap. "When I was about 15 I guess, Jax created this rocket fuel and proceeded to get Donna and I completely hammered on it. Which would have been fine, it not for the Taste of Charming festival the next day, we all know how Aunt Gem is about that."

Happy nods, Gemma and her whip cracking dictatorship in the days leading to the festival is legendary around Charming, and even more around the clubhouse.

"Well Donna and I had been roped in to help her with some of the food stalls, D was meant to be on cotton candy and popcorn and I was stuck with chilli. To start with neither of us got to the school till 11am, we'd only barely managed to shower and get down there, I'm sure we looked like death warmed up. Donna lasted about an hour before she passed out from the heat and smell."

Jax chuckles, the memory of the disastrous day is still humorous to him.

Shaking my head at the biker-demon I toss back what's left in my glass, "Well I didn't pass out, I vomited, thank god it wasn't into the chilli pot, but it did end up all over Gem's shoes, she'd apparently seen my face turn even greener then Donna's was and was coming to send me home."

Happy's whole body shakes with laughter and it doesn't stop when I force out through giggles, "Jax had to man the chilli booth for the rest of the day, and had to play chauffeur for Gemma when she went to replace her shoes."

Jax glares at me, "It's not that funny."

"But it was, you in a frilly apron." I jump up and head outside. The warm air smacks me in the face as I step outside, the heat from the fires burning in steel containers warming the whole area. Spotting Gemma with Clay by the ring I weave my way over, dodging half-drunk guys and half-naked women as I go.

"Hey Gem." I call as I get closer.

She turns to look at me, one eyebrow raises as she takes in my outfit and a low whistle from the ring is quickly followed by a meaty thud.

Looking up at the bodies in the ring I see Tig wiggle his eyebrows at me as the hang-around who's just been clocked right in the face struggles to stay upright.

Clay orders Chibs in to pull the battered man out, but as the unsuspecting guy lands on his feet by the ring Clay leans in close, I can barely hear what he says but the low threatening whisper just carries to my ears, "That's my niece you'd do well to remember that."

The bleeding eyebrow of the man hits his forehead and his eyes lock on mine. "Sorry ma'am." He stutters out as he backs away quickly.

Looking round I shake my head, "Fucken Ma'am!? Do I look like I'm 80!" Fixing my eyes back on Gemma where she's standing with an amused look on her face. "Right, the reason I came out here. Do you still have those photos of Jax from the Taste of Charming?"

"Which one baby?" Gemma asks thoughtfully before a half-grin appears.

"Umm, the one where he was forced into an apron to do the chilli booth." I'm half hoping that Jax has forgotten those photos exist, and that Gemma knows where they are.

"Sure do, they're in the safe at home. Can't have Jax get hold of them, they'd be history." Gemma tells me.

"Can you bring one of them in; I'd like to remind him why him mixing drinks is not a good thing."

Gemma nods and gestures towards the gates where Lyla has just stepped in and is looking around. "Your stand-in pussy is here."

"Gemma!" I am aware I sound like I'm telling her off. "Lyla has done nothing wrong to me, in fact she's helping me out a great deal by being a buffer."

"I know baby," Gemma raises her hands, "I'm just a little worried how it's gonna effect you when they vanish."

I shrug as I step past her, heading in Lyla's direction. "Who said I'm gonna let them vanish, you're the one to said to ask if I can watch."