I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them fall away.
Mildewed and smoldering. Fundamental differing.
Pure intention juxtaposed will set two lovers souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes testing our communication
The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
We cannot seem to reach an end, crippling our communication.
Her eyes followed his throat, taking in his Adam's apple, tracing the prominent lines of his jaw. Even the dim, yellow light radiating from the cocked lamp of Gemma's desk couldn't hide the purely intimidating features that made up Happy. His lips were full, but did nothing to take away from his masculinity. The natural lines of his face led to a properly proportioned nose and a set of cold, brown eyes.
Hollis immediately felt silly.
The only response she received was a slightly amused, mostly annoyed, raise of an eyebrow.
Gemma stood slowly, one hand resting on her hip, the other nursing a cigarette. Fleetingly, Hollis wondered if her feet ever got a break from the towering heels of her, of course, leather boots. A lot of leather at one party.
"You always in the habit of letting kids go to parties?"
"Ma!" Jax moved forward, resting a hand on the lower portion on Hollis' back. "Give it a break."
"You know, Gemma… I find it funny that I've had two conversations with you, not including the one in which you hung up on me, and yet you still find it appropriate and necessary to insult me." Hollis shook off Jax's hand, moving to grab Nathan. "It's really fucking funny to have someone in your position try to belittle me for a seventeen-year-old acting like a seventeen-year-old."
"Someone in my position? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" The cigarette was snubbed quickly.
"Someone who hangs around bikers, obviously." Hollis immediately wished she could somehow rewind and just swallow the words. All things considering, Jax has been nothing but nice, if not overly friendly, with her since they had met. He had neither done nor said anything that should sway her opinion into thinking he was a bad guy. And yes, while it could not be considered an actual meeting, she wasn't right to assume Happy deserved to be shot. Her heart was heavy thinking of her grandpa and how many times women of the street would pull their children closer just at him passing. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
Jax scratched awkwardly at his neck as Happy let out a grunt. "Do I know you?"
His voice was raspy, and while it shouldn't have, it caught Hollis off guard. She didn't even know him, but somehow it suited him. "No," she mumbled. "I'm afraid not."
Nathan stumbled forward, towering over Hollis and resting his arms on her shoulder. "I'm going to be sick." Jax was the first one to move, hauling Nathan outside by under his arms. Probably a little rougher than necessary, but in the need to be hasty, he let Nathan fall in the grass. As soon as Nathan's hand catch himself, he began to retch.
This entire night could burn in hell, for all Hollis cared.
Grabbing Noae's jaw, she shook him gently. "Noae, hey." Snapping her fingers in his face, she watched as he croaked and opened his eyes. "You are in so much trouble…" He groaned again, beginning to let his head fall back, and Hollis moved quickly, pulling him forward.
Hollis choked on her breath as Happy overtook her space. Grabbing at Noae roughly, he stood the young man up, causing his neck to crack and eyes to open widely. "Stand up, kid."
Even drunk, Noae did as he was told, wobbling on unsteady legs. "Where are you parked?"
Hollis stared at him for a moment, mouth slightly open and unsure of the man in front of her. He was… Scary. And as childish and judgmental as it sounded, Hollis thought for a brief, embarrassed moment that he seemed to fit the description of one who would be shot at.
"By the fence," she muttered in a small voice. He looked at her impatiently and she realized, late, that he was waiting for her to lead the way. She always managed to make a fool out of herself, she thought spitefully.
She gave Gemma one last look, taking in the older woman's unimpressed expression, before moving out of the office door. Once outside, Hollis couldn't help but give Jax an amused smile as Nathan was clinging to him, arms wrapped around his shoulders and head resting against the other man's face. Despite the entire night, she began to laugh at the entirely uncomfortable position Jax was obviously in.
"Alright, Nathan," she said while pulling her brother away and forcing herself under one of his arms to help support his weight. Looking over her brother's arm, she attempted to appear friendly as met Happy's gaze. "I'm this way. Thank you, Jax, for your help."
He followed her silently and Hollis found it off-putting that even while hauling her brothers drunken friend, the large man avoided making any sound. Her footfalls erupted gravel and she stumbled over her own sneakers occasionally, Nathan's weight exhausting her. She thanked God silently once they reached her sedan.
"We'll put them in the back," she offered politely, maneuvering one of the doors open.
Being the closest, she pushed Nathan in, forcing him to slide to other end of the bench seat where he came to rest with his head 'thunking' against the window. Though it was mean, Hollis rejoiced slightly, thinking he deserved it. Crawling out backwards, she blushed as she bumped into Happy. Quickly moving out of his way, she watched as Happy forced Noae into the car, one arm supporting him and the other resting on top of his head to push him down.
The door slammed shut and she was at a loss for words. He stared at her, her appearance more noticeable in the streetlamp light, as she twisted her hands together.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to remember if he had ever so much as seen the girl before. She was young, younger than even someone of his morals would go for. The blonde hair matched the bill, but she proved she wasn't the type to hang around "bikers", as if the word itself was dirty to say, and he felt himself growing angry at the fact she somehow knew him.
"Thank you for all your help, Mister Lowman-"
Mister Lowman?
"How do you know me?" His arms crossed, taking a step forward and forcing her to step further against her car. She was small, and he found himself looking down to make eye contact. Something she avoided.
"I don't, I just-"
"Little girl." The warning in his voice was loud enough. Hollis felt her heart skip a beat, both in fear and excited anticipation. The warning was there, unsaid but certainly not unnoticed. She wasn't sure if she felt exhilarated or humiliated.
"I have your wallet, at my home. I…" She hesitated. "I tried to get it back to you, I promise. I can swing it by tomorrow, or drop it off. I can mail it, whatever you want. It wasn't my intention to keep it or do anything to do."
Happy snarled, "I'll follow you home."
"What?" Hollis moved to follow him and he turned away. "No! I don't want you following me."
He grabbed her arm, opening the driver's side door, before unceremoniously pushing her in. "Drive." And she did.
Chapter six, everyone. Once again, I do not have an editor and sometimes it's difficult to spot/find errors in one's own work. If you guys see anything, feel free to point it out to me. I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty excited to unravel and form Happy and Hollis' relationship. It's going to be a rough one.