Author's Note: Change of plans! Seems like this story is going to be longer than what I expected. I am building up the story for whats to come. It's big and sad and wonderfully beautiful. Just keep reading, my loves.
XOXO
Chapter 9
Wednesday, May 14th, 1997
Jax tapped his foot impatiently as he looked around.
He noted Mrs. Lockhart, Tara's noisy neighbor looking thru her window, a look of disapproval across her face. He would bet his top rocker that Derek will soon hear that his daughter's boyfriend spent the night. Jax ran one of his hands thru his bedridden hair and innerly cussed himself for not wearing a t-shirt outside.
He waved at her and he smiled as she scoffed away. Gotta love the folks of old Charming town.
He saw the tow-truck in the horizon. Jax stood from Tara's steps as the tow-truck approached.
"Finally!"
Opie parked the tow-truck in the drive way.
"Shut up, asshole. You lucky I did you this fucking favor," Opie flicked his cigarette to the floor as he exited the tow-truck. "Come help get the fucking car."
Both men worked silently side by side to get the old car that was hooked to the back of the tow-truck.
"When you guys leaving?" asked Op, as he wiped the sweat from his brow after they were done.
"As soon as Tara wakes up."
"Does she know?" Opie sat on the steps of Tara's house.
"Nah man, want to surprise her."
Opie nodded. "You tell Clay?"
Jax sat. "Nope." Jax pulled his cigarettes and lighter from his pocket and lit up.
"How about Gemma?"
"Nope."
Opie started laughing. "You know she is going to have a fucking cow."
"She'll get over it," Jax laughed alongside his best friend.
"Clay ain't going to be too happy with you disappearing for a couple of days."
Jax sighed as he threw the cigarette to the floor. "Honestly, I don't give a shit right now. I got to do this for Tara." Jax focused his stare to his horizon.
"What's this worry I am getting?"
Jax shook his head. "I don't know, Op. Something bad is coming our way. I could feel it, bro. It's like waiting for the other shoe to fucking drop."
"Something bad with the club or with Tara?"
"I don't know, man. I really don't know."
They both sat silent for a while.
"Is there anything you love more than the club?" asked Jax quietly.
"Are we suppose to love anything more than it? Since we were kids, man, its been all about SAMCRO."
"How about Donna, Ellie and Kenny? Don't you love them more?" Jax turned his head to look at his best friend.
"Fuck yea, they are my family but so is SAMCRO." Opie took a drag of his cigarette. "What's with all the questions?
"It's just..." Jax shook his head. "Sometimes, I wonder, what if there is more out there. What would had happened if SAMCRO weren't so engrained in our DNA? Where would we be right now? You know? From birth, its been SAMCRO this and SAMCRO that. Now, we are nearly twenty and all we live for is the club and what Clay wants for the club. What if there is more out there?"
"Sounds like something Tara would say."
Jax shrugged his shoulders. "What if she is right, bro? Are we wasting our time here? What is it all for?"
Opie looked over to Jax. "It's for our family. Those guys are our family, Jackson. We got this kutte and tat in our backs to prove it. There isn't anything that should get in the way of our family. We protect our family." Opie finished off with conviction.
His shoulders slumped. Opie patted him in the back and stood. "Shit will work its self out bro. She," Opie pointed his thumb to the front door," loves you man. Tara fucking loves you with all of her being. That much is obvious. She will ride and die for you, no matter what. If that means accepting SAMCRO, she will. Just give her time. Donna did."
Jax stood and jammed his hands in his pocket. "Aight, bro," he nodded.
Opie gave him a nod and walked back to the tow-truck. "Try not to get into too much trouble over there. I'll give the club the heads up that you are leaving for a couple of days. Shit is calm anyways so I am sure Clay will get over you skipping town, eventually." Opie grinned as he got back on the tow-truck. "Take that frown from your face, pretty boy. You are going to be getting laid for the next couple of days."
Jax chuckled. "See you, bro."
Opie started the tow-truck. "See ya. Don't forget, Tara ride or dies, just like Donna. She will be part of SAMCRO, one day." With that said, Opie pulled away and drove off.
"What if I don't want her to be part of it," whispered Jax to himself as he watched the tow-truck become a small dot in the distance.
