Chapter 9
The rest of the show went off without a hitch. Sadie and the girls were on point singing some old classics along with some new hits. After that first performance Jax had yet to interact with the others at his table for more than a minute at a time. He knew what they were all thinking and since he hasn't even figured out why he kept coming back here, he definitely didn't want to answer any of their questions. Despite his best attempts to avoid her, Jax could feel his mother's eyes switching between him and Sadie all night. After surprisingly holding her tongue for most of the night, Gemma finally decides she wants some answers.
"Wow tattooing, singing, and dancing. She's a talented little thing, don't you think Jax?" Gemma taunts trying to get a reaction from her son.
Rolling his eyes at his mother's less than subtle question, "Yeah she's alright"
"Alright? You've been coming here every night for alright?" Gemma once again asks suspiciously
"Leave him alone Gem, we're having a good night" Clay says hoping to tame the situation while they were still in public.
After glaring at Clay, Gemma decides to ignore him and continue her questioning. "So what happens now? Do you wait around for Sadie and then head off together?"
"Jeez Ma, nothing is going on with me and Sadie can you back off." Jax responds trying to dodge his mother's questions long enough to get out of Viney's before his mom embarrasses him.
Meanwhile Backstage
"Damn girl that was a good show, you were on fire Sades!" Once of the girls Jessie had been gushing since they got off the stage.
Laughing at her enthusiasm, Sadie replies "Thanks Jess! You were pretty awesome yourself. We all were!"
"So do you think your little plan worked?" Another girl, Crystal, asked
"God I don't know. After that first song I've been too scared to look over, but I felt Gemma's eyes burning a hole in my skull" Sadie shivered at the thought of being on Queen Teller-Morrow's bad side.
"Well I think you should woman up. Get out there and finish what you started. To hell with his mother" Crystal shouted and the other girls cheered.
"Do you want to say that to Gemma Teller yourself or do you just want me to pass along your message?" Sadie asked with a cocky smile on her face after seeing Crystal go a little pale. Everyone in Charming knew Gemma's reputation.
"Yeah no that's okay we can keep that comment back here." Crystal said backing down from her woman up encouragement. "But I will say, if you ever want anything real to happen with Jax than you have to learn how to handle his mother." The other girls began to nod at Sadie in agreement.
"What makes you all think I want something real to happen with him?" Sadie asks hoping her act had fooled at least a few of them. Unfortunately that was not the case as the rest of the girls simply laughed on their way out of the dressing room.
Okay Sadie, you can do this. Just stick to the plan, mess with Jackson's head just like his did with yours…all while avoiding the knowing, plotting stares of his scary as hell mom. You got this girl, he's just another cocky guy.While for one moment naively believing what she had told herself, Sadie began to walk over to the center stage table in full costume. Stick to the plan.
Main Floor
"So did you all enjoy the show?" Sadie asked looking at everyone before her eyes finally landed and stayed on Jax's.
Unfortunately though it wasn't Jax who responded first, it was his mother. "I'm impressed. I haven't seen this type of male enthusiasm at an establishment where women are not taking their clothes off."
Not to be thrown off by Gemma, Sadie responded "I know right? Sometimes men and women just enjoy the art of the tease." Her eyes remained locked on Gemma's in hopes not hiding any weakness so she would get her chance to speak with Jax.
"Speaking of teasing, that was a very sexy little number you did in the beginning." Gemma shot right back knowing what Sadie was attempting to do. After another minute of the stare down Gemma relented out of curiosity, "Please sit down and join us."
"Sure, I'm done for the evening." However before Sadie had a chance to sit, one of Viney's regulars came staggering over. "Well hello Mr. Spears. Did you enjoy the show?" Sadie asked in her stage vixen voice.
"Why yes I did sweet thing. Why don't you come have a drink with me and I'll tell what my favorite part was." Mr. Spears stumbled through his attempt at flirting.
"Well I'm sorry you know I can't do that." Sadie responded trying to turn him down while keeping up her flirty attitude. Instead of taking the hint he seemed to be spurned on.
"Come on sweetness. You're telling me you'd rather spend time with these lowlifes rather than me?" Spears drunkenly spit out.
Trying to defuse the situation Sadie turned up the flirting "Well that's not very nice Mr. Spears. You know the only reason I can't have a drink with you is because I am underage. We wouldn't want to get Viney's shut down now would we?"
Great just what I needed another reminder of how young she really is. Jax thought trying not to react to the situation in front of him.
My son has turned into a damn cradle snatcher.Gemma thought rolling her eyes
Confusing her rejection with encouragement, Spears began to rub his hand up and down her arm. "Well I won't tell if you don't" he said learning down at her.
Jax could tell Sadie was beginning to get uncomfortable with the situation; she had tensed as soon as Mr. Spears put his hands on her. "Hey Buddy, why don't you back off the lady said no."
"Jax don't" Sadie demanded quickly
Spears decided he had decoded the reason why the pretty dancer who flirted with him from the stage wasn't taking his bait. "Oh so you brought your little boyfriend to the show. That's why you won't have a drink with me." He said grabbing her elbow tighter
"Maybe it just because you're a creepy asshole and maybe you should take your hands off her" Jax shot back standing up. Once he stood, Clay and the rest of the guys joined him.
"Seriously Jax back off this has nothing to do with you." Sadie pleaded trying to avoid a scene.
"Are you kidding me? He's grabbing you and making you uncomfortable and you're yelling at me?" Jax's voice got a little louder as he asked his question and much to Sadie's dismay attracted some unwanted attention.
"What the hell is going on here Sadie?" Viney asked in a harsh whisper.
"It's nothing really, just a misunderstanding. Right Jax?" Sadie asked pleading with Jax to play along, but with no luck.
"No misunderstanding. This guy was grabbing on Sadie making her feel uncomfortable and I was telling his to back off." Jackson responded proud of defending her.
Viney stared at Jax and the other Sons for a minute before handling the situation himself. "I apologize for the bother Mr. Spears, please have a drink on the house." Viney said, directing the man towards the bar. Once his was out of earshot, Viney turned back to Sadie, "Sorry girl you know the rules. No jealous boyfriends in the audience, your banned for the next 5 nights."
"What?! Viney this isn't my fault. He's not my boyfriend I swear. I don't even know what he's doing here. Please, you know I need the money" Sadie pleaded hoping Viney would reconsider.
"Sorry sweetheart can't make exceptions. See you in a few days." With that Viney walked off to tend to Mr. Spears at the bar.
Turning back to the table full of Sons, Sadie was fuming. "What is your problem? That was none of your business."
"Well sorry for trying to help you!" Jax shouted back offended that his rare act of chivalry had failed to impress.
"Next time don't. I don't need you messing with me or my money." With that Sadie stalked off to collect her stuff from the dressing room before heading out.
Well that went real well, Jax thought sitting back at the table and downing the rest of his drinking.
Beside him his mother was actually smiling. Oh yeah I like her.
