Jax POV

As Frankie drove off the school property, I finally pulled the pack of cigarettes from my pocket and flipped open the top, offering one to Tara. She met my eyes with a curious look but pulled one from the pack without a word. I pulled one as well and lit it before handing her the lighter. There was a hint of a smile in her eyes as she accepted it, bringing the cigarette to her lips and drawing the flame close. I knew she was remembering the time I'd tried to be all debonair and light it for her but damn near burned her eyelashes instead. I couldn't help but smirk as she handed it back to me, exhaling a delicate cloud of smoke.

"What, I'm not pretty enough to get a cigarette, Teller?" Frankie ribbed me from the driver's seat. "It's the least you could do since I'm chauffeuring your non-driving asses around."

"You already have one!" I retorted, eyeing the lit cigarette in his hand. I laughed as I pulled another cigarette from the pack and handed it to him. "Fine, here you go, pussy."

Tara rolled her eyes as Frankie slid the unlit cigarette behind his ear for safe keeping. "Some things never change, huh?" she said with a small smile.

"Knowles, you're the one that's been away awhile. Nothing's changed here. Same 'ol bikers you know and love." I replied with a cocky smile. "But I guess a lot of shit has changed with you huh?" I asked quirking an eyebrow at her.

She sighed and looked at Frankie. "Is he always this annoying?" she asked him with a teasing tone.

Frankie laughed. "Shit, you're the one who dated him" he quipped back.

She couldn't help but laugh. "Thanks for reminding me."

"Oh come on, Knowles. It wasn't so bad. We had fun, didn't we?" I knew I wasn't doing myself any favors, but taunting Tara had always been one of my favorite things to do. It was so easy to get her riled up, too easy.

She took a deep drag of her cigarette. "Sure, if that's what you want to call it, Teller. Those tight metal handcuffs were a blast"

"Hey now, I don't want to hear about your sex life, guys!" Frankie guffawed, trying to keep the conversation from taking a dark turn.

Tara elbowed him in the side and grinned. "Oh, my bad…wouldn't want to offend those virgin ears" she teased Frankie, allowing him to keep the subject light.

She leaned over me to flick her ashes out the window. My body had a physical reaction to her close proximity; my nerves standing on end like pricks of pins and needles. She didn't seem to share my heightened reaction.

Instead, she fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat, pushing her hair back behind her ears. She was nervous, like a wild animal trapped in a cage unsure if she was headed for a reserve or for slaughter.

"Relax, Tara. I'm not gonna bite," I told her, trying to release some of the tension inching its way through the cab. "I just wanna make amends. There's no reason we can't all be friends again. Ryan and Ope love you and I know they missed having you around. Besides, we could use a little estrogen in the group again…. Keep us from doing anything too stupid." I really wasn't sure what to say to get her to feel more comfortable around me. God knows I'd certainly caused some chaos last year. I wasn't even sure it was fixable.

She turned, leveling her inquisitive stare at me. I swear those brown eyes could burn right down to my core, rummaging through my insides into the deepest corners, finding the darkest things no one should ever know.

She stared at me but I didn't dare break her gaze. Whatever she was looking for, whatever answers she needed, I wanted her to find them. I had nothing to hide from this girl. I really was sorrier than she could ever know for the way things had played out. Even if she never gave me another chance, I hoped that she could realize that. Tara had let me in when she had kept everyone else out, shared with me things she had never shared with anyone before and all I had done was betray her, betray her in a way that I'd never forgive someone for if the tables had been turned.

She shrugged. "Okay, whatever." I could see her posture relax slightly. "But no funny business, Teller" she warned me with an uncertain look in her eye. I couldn't tell if she was playing or not.

"A lover's quarrel solved. Fucking finally. Can we talk about something else now?" Frankie broke in.

"You caught up on all your soap operas?" Tara taunted, smirking at Frankie. He gave her a dirty look.

"Kidding, kidding." She looked at me and I could see she was trying not to laugh in Frankie's face. Frankie is a great guy, but he can get a little moody.

"So what's been going on at TM, then? I'm sure I missed some good drama over the summer," she questioned.

Frankie chuckled. "When isn't there drama at TM? Between all those damn crow eaters and the Queen Bee herself, there's always something interesting going on. " He paused, thinking of the juiciest piece of information but settled for the funniest instead. "Some crow eater got all high on acid and bit Tig in the ass" he offered, satisfied that that information was the most entertaining.

I had to laugh as Tara's jaw dropped.

"Bit him in the ass?" she asked in disbelief. "Do I even want to know how that happened?"

Frankie shrugged. "Don't know exactly, Tig wasn't really in the mood to talk about it." He explained in between laughs. "The other guys said they were getting kinky and the bitch must've not realized how hard she clenched down, some kind of hellish hallucination I guess …. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with a scar!"

"Shit, he's lucky he didn't get rabies knowing the chicks he's usually into" I added, taking a final drag of my cigarette. Tig was like family but his taste in women was questionable at best, terrifying at its worst.

Frankie told her a few more stories and I added a few lines in for good measure until we finally pulled onto the lot. As we drove through the gate I could hear the welcoming sound of metal on metal and the smell of gasoline and oil mixing in the air. I felt Tara take a deep breath next to me and I must've given her a strange look.

"What?" she asked a little more self-consciously than I was used to hearing her sound. "I always liked that smell" she said quietly, nudging her shoulder into me so I'd open the door.

I stopped to look at her, suddenly at a loss for words. "Yeah" was all I could manage as I pulled the lever, holding the door open for her.

Ryan and Opie jumped over the side of the bed and Ryan playfully slung his arm around Tara's shoulder as we headed for the clubhouse.

"It's good to have you back, Rocky" he told her, garnering him a hard elbow to the ribs in response.

"Better be careful, Ryan, or she'll get all Rocky up on your ass too." I warned.

Tara shot me a dirty look but this time with more amusement than the one she'd given me in front of Adam. A long time ago she'd confided in me that her history of violence twisted her up a little inside. On the one hand, she was proud of the reputation she'd gained, the respect she'd earned because of it and the fact that only the stupidest of girls would dare risk her wrath these days. On the other, she was deeply embarrassed by her lack of self-control and the attention it seemed to bring her. She was a control freak by nature and those moments when she lost herself frightened her, made her feel like she was spinning out of control. From what I could tell all these months later, she was still trying to find a way to lock it down.

Tara POV

The clubhouse was near empty save for a few hang-arounds so we made our way back to Jax' room. It had undergone a few renovations over the years; first a nursery, then a playroom, even a personal gym for awhile when Jax had been really into MMA. Now it was more of a crash pad than anything; posters of porn stars and Harleys on the walls, half eaten cereal bowls and red solo cups strewn across every surface. Fortunately, I knew without having to look that the bathroom would still be spotless. Gemma might let him be messy but she drew the line at flat out dirty.

As I made myself comfortable on one of the couches I saw Jax slyly take something from the edge of his mirror and slide it quietly in his drawer. He quickly turned around and leaned against the dresser like it was nothing but I had to wonder what it was he was trying to hide; probably a nudie of some CHS girl he knew I'd recognize if I saw it.

Harry pulled open the mini-fridge and handed us each a Shiner, twisting the top off for me.

"Such a gentleman." I chuckled, shaking my head.

His ears turned a little red. "Shhh, don't tell anyone. Wouldn't want to ruin my reputation or anything", he responded as he cleared his throat, trying to hide his embarrassment.

For as rough of an exterior as Harry had, he really was a gentle giant deep down.

Jax turned on his sound system as I dug around in my purse. A wave of nostalgia jolted through me at the sound of Limp Bizkit's Three Dollar Bill, Yalls. I'd heard this album a million times sitting in this exact same spot. I tried unsuccessfully to stop a smile from spreading across my face.

I quickly pulled the rumpled plastic baggie from my purse and held it up triumphantly.

"Anyone have a cigarillo?" I asked.

Frankie laughed loudly in surprise. "I knew there was a reason I agreed to give you a ride."

"Who the fuck carries cigarillos?" Ryan questioned with a dismayed look on his face. "What kind of pansies do we look like to you?"

"The kind of pansies who obviously don't know how to treat a lady" answered a familiar voice from the doorway.

I looked up to see John Teller leaning against the door frame watching us.

"No way, sir. Bitches love me" quirked Ryan in response.

John rolled his eyes.

"I think you just proved his point, bro" Jax laughed, shaking his head. "What's up, pops?"

"Just checking to see if you misfits actually made it to school today. It's good to see you, Tara. It's been too long. My son treating you alright?" He asked, folding his arms across his chest and throwing a stern look at Jax.

Jax cleared his throat, shifting his weight awkwardly. "We're not together, dad" he reminded John in a flat voice, shooting him a look that begged the older man not to embarrass him.

"Oh, that's right. My stubborn ass son fucked that one up didn't he?" he replied, obviously feigning a lapse in memory. He winked at me as he stepped further into the room. "That's alright, she's too smart for you anyway, Jackson. Wouldn't know what to do with her if she handed you a how-to manual, " John added playfully.

"Shit, she needs to come with a how-to manual" coughed Ryan under his breath. John smacked him good naturedly in the back of the head.

Jax shook his head glancing from me to his father. "I know, dad. I know. You don't have to tell me." He kept his voice even but he clearly did not want to be having this conversation in front of me.

I could feel the blush creeping across my face as I tried to hide behind a veil of my hair.

"Well, are one of you gonna give the lady a Cigarillo or not?" he continued ribbing the younger guys.

"Come on, John. We don't carry that kind of girly shit around with us" defended Opie. "Tara needs to learn how to roll a regular blunt already."

With that, a huff involuntarily escaped me. "I can't help it that my fingers are too small! I can't roll the regular Black and Milds dammit!" I winced at the whiney sound my voice made and the whole room erupted into laughter.

"It's okay, darling. I think Otto's old lady probably has one" John reassured me with a kind smile.

Ryan literally jumped from his seat. "I'll go ask her" he volunteered bolting for the door. John stuck out his arm, clotheslining him before he could sneak out.

John put a hand on Ryan's shoulder and gave him a look. "Don't just stare at her tits when you're talking to her this time. That's Otto's old lady. Treat her with some respect."

Ryan shrugged him off. "Of course. Respect. I got it" he smiled as he ran out of the room.

John just chuckled to himself.

"You know he can't keep his eyes off her. He saw one too many of her videos, she's his fucking wet dream" Frankie cautioned.

John just shrugged his shoulders and turned towards the door. "I know. That's why I told her next time the little fucker does it, she should smack him." He paused. "I'm gonna go watch the show. You kids behave and make sure Tara gets home safe" he said, eyeballing Jax.

"It's okay, Mr. Teller. I'm not gonna be here long. I'll head out before the sun goes down. I'll be okay" the last thing I wanted was a security escort home.

"I'm sure you will, sweetheart. But either way, these boys need to make sure they get you home. If Frankie doesn't drive you, at least one of them needs to walk you home. " He looked around the room at Jax, Opie and Frankie. "I mean it" he reaffirmed in a fatherly tone. "It's nice to see you, Tara. Keep these boys out of trouble and don't be a stranger, alright?"

"Thanks, Mr. Teller" I replied with a soft smile. It felt strange having a father like figure look out for me but it also felt kind of nice too.

He nodded his head and walked out.

There was a short silence in the room before Frankie spoke up.

"Well that wasn't awkward."

Harry laughed. "John just likes to give Jax a hard time. Tara being here was just a bonus for him."

Jax rolled his eyes and looked at me apologetically.

"Sorry about that. I know he knows better. "

This time it was my turn to laugh. "No worries, Jax. Your dad's the best. And anyone who likes to harass you is okay in my book" I added, sticking my tongue out at him.

"Ha, yeah. Thanks. You're a real sweetheart" he replied with a hint of sarcasm, attempting to veil his relief.

We heard laughter resonating from the front of the club house and a few seconds later Ryan rounded the corner, proudly holding up a cigarillo. There was a clear outline of a red handprint across his cheek.

"I got it!" he said victoriously.

Opie threw a couch cushion at him. "Just couldn't keep your eyes off of 'em, could you?"

"What?" Ryan asked innocently as he threw the cigarillo in my lap. "I can't help it. They just bounce so perfect… I can't stop picturing them…. in person they're just… well, you know." He pressed his lips together and I could almost see the images making their way through his dirty mind. "She should really take it as a compliment," he added.

Jax groaned and this time I threw a cushion at Ryan.

"You're so gross! How do you expect to get a girlfriend being such a pervert all the time?" I questioned as I split the cigarillo down the center, emptying the tobacco in the ash tray next to me.

Ryan threw the pillow back at me, narrowly missing the pile of weed I'd broken up on the table in front of me. "I never had a problem getting girls before!"

"Yeah, but not any NICE girls!"

Ryan waved his hand in dismissal. "Who needs a nice girl? I'm not trying to get married. I'm too young for an old lady. That shit's for pussy whipped bitches."

I looked around the room when no one bothered to correct him.

"You guys are a lost cause" I sighed in exasperation. "Somebody hand me a lighter."