A bit of a filler chapter but things will pick up in the next two. The next two chapters sets up the stage to what will happen.
Please review and respond. Thanks loves!
Chapter 3
"No, you bitch! Madonna is way fucking better than Nirvana! She started a fucking musical revolution."
Tara laughed, clutching at Katie's shoulder to keep her balance in the stool.
"You have no fucking idea what you are talking about, Katie," she slurred as she reached for the bottle of whiskey. "Fucking shit is empty," she muttered. "DANNY! BRING ANOTHER ONE!" She yelled as Katie laughed. Danny scowled and walked away, ignoring Tara's request.
"You know what your fucking problem is Knowles? You live in this fucking town, where grudge and flannel is the cool thing. Why do people think wearing flannel is a wise fashion choice is beyond me," she pointed at Tara's oversized flannel shirt, who she stole from Jax. "Come to New York. I could show you fucking culture. We could go shopping at the Village and go see Drag Queens with better legs than you and me, perform. We could eat greasy pizza at 2 am and go clubbing until the sunrises. Come to New York with me, Tara." Katie pleaded.
Tara shook her head, "I can't, Kitty Kat. What is there for me to do, over in New York? Besides you, I have no one there. What would I do with my time? Work as a waitress at Applebees?"
Katie shook her head, "Tara, you could reapply to some colleges and universities. The city is full of them. With your grades, you could get anywhere, full ride scholarship and whatever you don't get in scholarships, you could get in student loans. I have a walkup apartment in Spanish Harlem, but you are more than welcomed to my couch until you get a job somewhere. Most colleges and universities offer their students jobs. Get one working in a library or something. We save up for a couple of months and get a two bedroom somewhere. It's a bit late, but you could start in the fall semester of next year if you apply now. Fuck it, I'll cover the application costs and you could repay me whenever you get the cash."
Tara opened her mouth to protest which Katie quickly stopped by placing her index finger in her cousin's lips.
"Shhh. Don't give me an answer now. Just think about it. Okay?" Katie pleaded.
Tara took a moment and then slowly nodded her head earning her a genuine smile from Katie.
Tara looked at her cousin's flushed face. "You know, Katie, I haven't had such a good time, in a long time."
"Aww, baby T!" Katie tried to stand straight from the stool but managed to lean sideways instead. "Fuck, I am drunk."
Tara giggled as she also stood.
"Come give me a hug, baby T."
Tara gladly walked into her cousin's arms, both of them swaying slightly as they embraced. She inhaled her cousin's sweet smell and shut her eyes, letting the memories of their childhood take over. The summers spent in San Diego, far away from Charming and Derek Knowles. All the sunbathing and barbecues. The time Katie broke her arm when she fell off a tree, trying to out-climb Tara. The laughters and hugs and smiles shared by the young girls and their respective mothers. Tara remembered her mother braiding her hair into pigtails each night before blaring classic Bob Dylan and Neil Young songs, both of them singing while spending mother and daughter quality time. She remembered her mother singing her to sleep each night, with the same song, the tune soon becoming her favorite song of all time. Tara shut her eyes tightly to prevent the tears from rolling down her face.
"You are making a mistake staying here, baby T," whispered Katie.
Tara broke the embrace and crossed her arms in front of her. "I love him, Kitty Kat. He is all I have."
Katie gave her a sad smile. "I know, honey. I know." Katie rubbed Tara's arms until she felt the tension leave her body.
When the jukebox started playing the pop classic, Katie squealed and jumped up and down. Tara rolled her eyes as a small smile spread across her lips.
"See, I told you Madonna is soooo much better. Come on, lets dance and forget about all this sappy sad shit!"
Tara laughed as her cousin pulled her to the middle of the bar, where a few regulars looked on as Katie sang to Like A Virgin.
Fuck it, thought Tara, as she belted out and joined Katie in her singing and dancing.
Tara grabbed Katie's hand and twirled her around. Katie laughed and twirled Tara in return. She then dipped her, much to Tara's delight. She squealed as her head almost touched the ground. She felt the room spin as Katie helped her stand upright, never losing the movements of her hips. The jukebox switched to some other pop music and Tara closed her eyes and swayed her hips to the music. She heard Katie's laughter and she smiled, choosing to remember this night for what it was-two cousins reconnecting and having a good time, no outside bullshit dampening their mood.
She felt his hands on her hips even before she opened her eyes. She smiled as his natural musk created a sensory overload on her body. n She opened her eyes and turned in his arms. He had his trademark smirk, his white t-shit clinging to his chest and arms and the black kutte an everlasting reminder were his true loyalties lie.
She heard Katie's small gasp but chose to ignore it as she pressed her body to her boyfriends', her arms finding their way to his neck and shoulders. She continued dancing against him even though he just basically stood there looking amused as she sang and danced. She felt Katie behind her, moving around and Tara twirled to face her and Tara swayed their hips together as Jax kept his hands on her waist.
She noted Opie sitting in the bar, looking on as he talked to Danny, a cigarette dangling from his lips. What a sight they must be. The two drunk girls and the biker dancing in an old bar in the middle of nowhere to old pop music.
Tara and Katie belted the last words of the song. The few patrons that were watching applauded their performance to which Katie bowed earning more cheers and applause. Tara laughed as Jax pulled her to the side, where Opie stood, leaning against the bar, his legs crossed in front.
"You got quite the moves there, Knowles," Opie teased smashing his cigarette in a near by ashtray.
"Told you my girl had moves," Jax winked, earning him a glared from her.
"A bit TMI," slurred Katie as she made her way over. "You must be the boyfriend," Katie extended one of her hands in front of her. "Katherine O'Brien."
"Jax Teller," Jax shook her hand. "This is my best friend, Opie."
"Opie?" Katie rose one of her eyebrows. "Interesting. A fan of the Andy Griffith Show?"
Opie shrugged his shoulders. "Pops and Ma were."
Tara leaned against Jax's shoulder, feeling the effects of the alcohol. She shut her eyes and moaned. Jax wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "How about we get you two home? I'll drive the Cutlass."
Tara shook her head. "No, no. We are having too much fun, right Kitty Kat?"
"That's right baby T," smiled Katie as she leaned and gave Tara a peck in the mouth. Katie looked to where Danny was standing behind the bar. "How about more rounds, Danny boy?"
"I think we could all agree that ya'll had too much to drink. I am cutting you off. How about you lads take the ladies, home."
"Yea, come on." Opie pushed himself away from the bar and grabbed Katie's suitcase.
Katie rolled her eyes. She pulled a couple of twenties from her back pocket of her jeans and threw them at Danny. "Fucking bullshit," she muttered before grabbing her suitcase from Opie's hand and walking out of the bar.
Tara gave Danny an apologetic look as Jax muttered a thanks while giving Danny extra bills. "Come on babe," he said as he gently picked her up fireman style.
Tara shut her eyes and leaned her head against his chest.
Jax walked them out of the bar, Opie following closely behind. When she felt the cool air night hit her face, she opened her eyes to see her cousin leaning against the Cutlass, her suitcase by her feet and a cigarette dangling from one of her hands.
"Jax, put me down," Tara pleaded. Reluctantly, he did so and Tara made her way to Katie. Sensing that the girls needed some time, Jax and Opie stood by the door of the bar, were they both lit up and start talking in hushed tones as Tara leaned against the Cutlass, waiting for her cousin to finish her cigarette.
"So, what else is there to do in this shithole," asked Katie in between puffs.
Tara looked at her cousin's discontent expression. "We could go grab something to eat at Hannah's." She looked at where her boyfriend was standing, his eyes never leaving her face. "Or, we could always go to the clubhouse."
"The clubhouse?" Katie turned her face to look at her.
Tara nodded. "Its where Jax's club meet and take care of SAMCRO business."
"What the hell is SAMCRO?"
"Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original."
Katie nodded as she took a drag from her cigarette.
Jax and Opie made their way to where the girls were standing. "So, what's the plan?" asked Opie.
Katie threw her cigarette on the ground and stubbed it out with her black stiletto. "Let's see how the other half lives. Takes us to the clubhouse, boys."
