After the unforeseen panic attack and Juice helping her through it they had gone their own way but not before him asking her on another date. A part of her wanted to say no, mostly to avoid any unwanted issues from a passerby that could be part of the Northern Devils while the other more rebellious side coaxed her to say yes. In the end she hadn't actually given a response and instead said that she was running late for her class and would give him a response by the end of today. Juice had given her furrowed brow look of confusion before running a hand through the shaved part of his head as he smiled that heart stopping smile and agreed to her strange request. They had separated after that, Juice sauntered back to the coffee shop were Opie and Magi sat while Nora sprinted as fast as she could to her dorm where she would sit on her bed with her hands firmly planted on either side of her face as she groaned out her frustration.
"Nora?" a voice came from the other side of the closed door followed by two knocks.
Groaning even more she hadn't noticed Brad sitting in the large chair as he studied and without a doubt he'd seen her small scene of running into the building, fishing for her keys as she mumbled to herself before opening and closing the door a lot louder than she had anticipated.
"I know you're in there. Can I come in?" Brad asked again and before she could answer he'd opened the door to see her now slouched forward on her bed.
"Sure…come on in…." her muffled annoyed voice said before she sat up to look at him. He was wearing a cobalt blue hoodie that was unzipped to reveal a black Fall Out Boy shirt, dark denim jeans and a pair of black converse. His faux hawk that sat disheveled last night now sat perfectly in place, and the bags that once sat underneath his green eyes were gone. He seemed refreshed, like the Brad she'd seen last night was just a shell of the guy who stood in front of her now.
His eyes widened when he'd seen Nora's mascara streaked cheeks, and unnerved look "Jesus Nora. What happened?" he asked taking a few steps forward before leaning in front of her to get a better look.
Shaking her head dismissively she reached for a Kleenex to wipe away the tears that she hadn't even noticed were forming "Nothing happened. I'm fine." When he hadn't moved and continued to hold his worried expression she rolled her eyes and blew out a breath "Seriously Brad. I'm fine. I just had a panic attack."
Why she had thought Brad would shrug off her reasoning was beyond her and as he gave an even more concerned look before sitting beside her to wrap a comforting arm around her made her aware that he wasn't just going to let it be. "I never knew you were prone to attacks. You sure you're okay? Is there anything I can do?" He said pulling her closer into his side.
"Yeah, I've had them since I was a kid. I've actually been pretty good for the past couple of years. Sometimes these things happen without reason." She admitted half truthfully. She knew the reason and instead of admitting that it was Juice, his gang and the risk of her family finding out about her adventure with said gang she'd opted out with saying it was just a normal part of her life.
"Alright…" Brad said skeptically "If it happens again though please let us help. You shouldn't go through it alone." He pulled her closer into a side hug.
Nodding she hugged him back then pulled away to smile up at Brad who gave her a sideways smile as he wiped away her mascara streaked cheeks that she hadn't gotten when she'd wiped her face with the Kleenex. "Now, let's get to class. If we don't leave now we just might be late." He smiled and patted her shoulder before he stood with his hand extended for her to take it.
Smiling back at him, she took ahold of his hand then stood in front of him "I don't know what I would do without having a best friend like you." She gave him one last hug then reached for her bag.
"It's what I do." He shrugged "I can't have you dropping out of school which would leave me alone with Magi." He ended with a playful nudge and laugh as Nora only rolled her eyes at him.
"We definitely wouldn't want that." She exaggeratedly said while laughing loudly.
Juice
He shouldn't have asked her out after her panic attack and instead should have messaged her a few days after. But, like a fool and reading more into the way she'd looked up to him it seemed fitting to ask her out again and when she hadn't given him a response he'd known at that moment he'd fucked up. Then she'd surprised him by saying that she'd give him a response by the end of the day. Maybe it was the way she'd looked at him or the way her body molded perfectly against his but he'd actually believed her and was now waiting for her response even as he sat in Church while Jax went on about the newest plan.
"So, it's settled we meet up with Northern Devils and try to settle a truce between us and them. We need all the help we can get with the Irish and whatever it is they have planned. I'll get into contact with their President and if everything goes well we will either to go them or they can come to us." Jax said as he eyed the group of men sitting around the large oak table.
The guys agreed, and Juice though not fully there agreed along with them.
"Alright, I'll let you know when we have a date to meet up with them. Until then work on our orders that came in and remember tonight we're meeting up with the Mayans." He said before hitting the gavel against the table to indicate that the meeting was over.
When the smack hit the table Juice was already standing and walking out of Church as he made a bee line for him room. He had a bike he needed to work on but with the early morning with the added panic attack Nora had Juice was exhausted and needed a well-deserved nap, even if it were for twenty minutes. He'd successfully managed to avoid the croweaters, and his brothers questioning looks along with the few that would give him a thumb up like he'd had a night of straight sex.
When he'd entered the room he flopped onto the made bed and tried to sleep, but it never came. Only thoughts of Nora filtered through his head. He had no clue what it was about her that made his skin prickle with desire and as they hugged he didn't want to let her go. He needed to get to know this girl even more. First thing first would be to find out her last name and go from there. He could ask her the questions he had, but judging by the way she'd been so vague on her past he knew there was something that she'd been hiding.
Deciding that his nap idea was a lost cause he sat up from the bed, checked his phone for the fourth time that day and then made his way towards the shop where he'd work on the bike he'd been assigned to.
An hour had gone by and Tig now stood beside Juice as he went on about the new croweater that showed up and how he just might have to get the first taste. All Juice could do was shake his head and laugh all the while continuing to work on the bike.
"So, what happened to that chick from the other night." He asked out of the blue as he grinned down at Juice as if knowing that he'd seen her just a few hours earlier.
Tightening the last bolt, Juice looked up "Just drove her home and then saw her again today. She's pretty cool." He added like he needed to justify why he saw her again so soon.
Leaning against the bike, Tig's grin turned into a smirk as he nodded his head "Ah huh, and?"
"That's it. Opie wanted to grab coffee this morning and asked if I wanted to go. I don't know what else you want me to say, man." reaching for the rag he wiped away the access grease on his hands and then stood to admire his work. He'd managed to turn a rust bucket into a beast of a machine.
Standing next to Juice he laughed softly than hooked an arm across his shoulder. "You gonna see her again?" he playfully asked.
"Maybe, guess we'll see what happens." He admitted with a smile "Let's go get a drink before we have to leave." He said trying to move Tig's thoughts back to the real world.
Nodding Tig patted his shoulder before walking back towards the club house as Juice cleaned up his station, moved the bike to a parking stall and talked to Gemma to tell her that the bike was ready for pickup. He'd grown fond of her and knew that at the end of the day she'd stand up for all of her boys, even the prospects. He always referred Gemma as the Queen of the MC like how Beyoncé was the Queen of R & B; everyone knew not mess with her.
When walking back towards the clubhouse he felt his phone vibrate come from his pocket. Quick he pulled out his phone to view the message. He tried to hide the dumb smile that formed against his lips as he read the message.
Nora: To answer your question from earlier. Yeah, I'd like that. Just name a day and time.
Smiling that goofy smile he'd get when something went his way he quickly sent a text back 'I have some things that need to get done but I should be free this weekend.'
He'd managed to make it to the picnic table before taking a seat as he chatted with Nora. She's told him that she had midterms next week so the weekend wouldn't be good unless he'd want to go to her dorm room to help her study. He wasn't sure if that was code for sleeping together or if she was serious about studying and so when he agreed to help her he'd made a mental note to bring condoms just in case. Even if the evening didn't lead to sex he liked the idea being alone with her and hopefully not having her in full panic attack mode.
"Juice" a voice yelled for his attention. Glancing up Juice saw Tig with a draped arm across the new Croweater "Come meet Trixie" he ended with thumbs up and then beckoned for him to come into the club house.
"Coming." Juice replied before pocketing his phone, moved from the picnic table and enjoyed the day before the evening ahead of him.
