Iris floated through her classes quickly, mainly because she had all the work done for weeks in advance. She worked hard to maintain her grades and was very proud of them. One thing that she knew she was going to do is graduate, and after she graduated she would go to college and do it as well as she did in high school there. Coming out of her thoughts circle in her head she noticed Jax leaning against Tara's locker with Opie and their usual group of friends. Jax looked her way and nodded his head in acknowledgement . She raised her hands slightly and gave a small way as she hurried to the car waiting patiently in front of her. As she gets into the large black SUV, she catches a glance of Jax looking at her with a confused look on his face.

Turning to the driver of the car she smiled and politely greeted him. "Hey Juan how are you today? Are you ready to get this GED over with or what?"

The tall burly Mexican turned and gave her an award winning smile and said, "of course Chica, my dad's been busting my ass to get this done for months. Thanks again for helping me out… I understand my father's paying you well for this?" Looking back to the windshield he sped off quickly to the public library.

Sighing a little bit she replied, "one I don't want you to think I'm doing this just for the money. I genuinely hope and pray that you actually get your GED and you can group on with your life. Yes your father is paying me but it's the only way that I can get by. I hope you don't think you're just a paycheck to me."

Laughing a bit with the warm glint in his eye he retorted, "nah chica, I know you better than that. When you graduate you better go on to college and make yourself a teacher. You got a gift you know."

"You really think so? You're the best!"

Jax watched Iris jumped into the black SUV and he had a sinking feeling he had seen that car before.I'm not thinking that's a friend of the MC. Turning back to Tara,he slung his arm over her and walked back to the end of the parking where his bike was parked.

As he handed her the helmet he couldn't help but think back on the fleeting thought he had as iris walked away…. That even though she was like night and day to Tara's curvy figure…Iris wasn't actually bad to look at….

The next day

Jack's just got back from lunch and saw Iris sitting at a cafeteria table by herself eating an apple and reading the motorcycle manual she got from the garage the other day. He noticed she was alone again and couldn't help but wonder why she wouldn't have friends. Turning to Tara he got her attention and asked, "hey Babe what's the deal with Iris? How come she don't like hanging out with any of the girls from school or anybody for that matter?"

Tara glanced over and shrugged her shoulders looking back at her friends with a smile, "I don't know…. She's always been a loner. I don't think I've ever seen her with friends."

Opie looked at Iris and then back to Jack's with a questioning look in his eyes, "hey man I forgot to ask did you guys decide on the project, Tara and I are going to do cost-efficient needles in the medical field."

Jax's eyes lit up as he thought about the prospective project they were going to work on, "yeah actually it's pretty cool…. Were going to try and put in more horsepower into a bike engine and make it less harsh on the environment. Was actually all irises idea."

Opie looked like he was about to have a heart attack. He smacked her in the shoulder and pointed it Jax saying, "see I told you we could do something mechanical. That sounds like a killer idea, you're lucky."

Jack snorted and push off the locker as they headed down to the remainder of their classes.

Setting her bag down in the foyer Iris carried the groceries into the kitchen and heard a familiar belch coming from the living room. Poking her head around the corner her father was placed in his normal position….. drunk and in front of the TV. She had used all of the money she had come from Juan's father to grab a small amount of groceries so that she had food for the week and dinner for at least tonight and tomorrow.

As the spaghetti was about done her father came lumbering in from the living room. As he grabbed a beer out of the fridge he looked up and smeared in her direction while saying, "hey you little shed your making spaghetti? It better be good this time you will be cleaning it up off of the floor. I'm tired of eating crappy food. You learn your place here are your out! I can take care myself I just let you do it so you can earn your keep. Remember that!"

Holding back her tears Iris tried to remember the last time that her father ate a meal sober… it had to of been her freshman year, right before he lost his job at the fire department. He was a great dad, always making time for her even in his busy schedule. Her mom had died when she was six years old, so her dad picked up the slack. Sure, a lot of times she spent her days and evenings alone when her father had to stay at the station, but…. At least the times that they spent together they were happy.

The day her father lost his job he changed dramatically. He brought home a case of beer and sat down on the couch with tears in his eyes and said, "I'm sorry baby but I lost my job. Things are only tough round here but I know we can make it."…. he had done very drunk that night and it seemed like he had never sobered up again. Nowadays he did small side jobs during the day, and that mostly paid for his beer and evenings, leaving the house payment, utilities, and food budget to Iris.

Most days her father just yelled and then passed out even before eating dinner. She always went to bed and somehow the next morning, she would wake up and his plate would be cleaned off and in the sink. She assumed he ate some time during the night, but was never sure. He had taken up a habit of screaming on a nightly basis, and for some reason he was getting more and more verbally didn't think that he was actually hit her…. But a few times it felt like it was coming close to happening.

Dishing up to plate the spaghetti, Irish settlers in front of her father and stepped back into the kitchen to eat hers. Making quick work of the dishes and cleaning up the rest the kitchen, Iris went upstairs and finished her homework for falling into a fitful sleep.

Classes flew by and before Iris knew it, she was making her way to T – M garage. When she got there she noticed that there wasn't any cars being worked on at the moment, and that jax and a few of the mechanics were sitting around laughing and carrying on. Seeing her approach jax jumped off the stool and jogged up to her with a smirk on his face, "hey there, you ready to go to the back and find a bike engine?"

With a smile on her face she said, "that's what we're here for. Let's get started." Making quick work of finding a bike engine they decided on one of the newer models. Picking it up Iris studied it intensely before saying, "how much would it be for this one? I have $50 and I could pay the remainder before the project is over, is that okay with you?"

Jax looked at her like she's grown two heads before replying, "Who said you have to pay anything? It's my project to its no charge, courtesy of Teller – Murrow garage."

Shaking her head she gives in and they walked back up to the front. Jax quickly clocks out at the garrage and notices that Tara has pulled in. "Hey darlin' and then a go talk to Tara quick went on to make your way into the clubhouse, and we can start on the project in a minute?"

"All right. I find myself spot and get started." Picking up the engine she quickly made her way into the clubhouse. She gets into the clubhouse she notices all the seats are full of club members except a spot next to a man with black eyes and tattoos on most of his body. Working up the courage she walked as confidently as she could towards the couch and sat down next to him.

After a few moments she notices that she feels like somebody's watching her looking up she notices most of the club has their eyes on her. Glancing to her left she notices her couch partner is staring intently at the magazine and bike engine. Feeling like she should introduce herself she turns to him and extends her hand while smiling warmly and says, "hello I'm Iris and am pleased to make your acquaintance."

Glaring down other hand for a moment, black eyes looks like he's deciding whether to spit at her hand or take it. By now jax has come into the clubhouse and him along with the rest of the club members are holding their breath waiting to see what will happen. Finally, the man reaches out and grasps her hand firmly while biting out, "I'm happy." And turns to look at the rest of the guys and he barks out, "what the hell is everyone looking at! Mind your own damn business."

Iris said to herself for a minute before going back to work. After quizzing herself in her head she realizes that she can now name all the parts of the engine by heart. Jumping up she excitedly hugs Happy. She can hear the collective intake of breath and who she thinks is Chibs monitor' oh shite'….

While still attached to them she looks down and sees a surprised look on his face. She mutters I'm sorry and sits back down smoothly now invisible lines in her pants. Happy coughs uncomfortably before tentatively speaking, "so…. What's that stuff you're working on." Iris's eyes brighten at the question and she goes into an explanation about their project. When she's done explaining Happy looks up at her and says, "so you hug me because you figured out bike parts? What's so hug worthy of that."

"Learning is about my most favorite thing to do, I'm sorry I got lost in the moment and took it with me. But, I mean…. You have to like something right? When I learned something new I get this adrenaline rush….. it's like flying. Is there anything that you do that you like just like that?"

Jax was standing at the bar when he heard what she had asked the Tacoma killer. Whipping his head around he put a hand on Chibs and said, "this ain't got a be good."

Once again all eyes were on the odd pair waiting for happy to reply. Thinking hard before he said it his next statement, he eventually looked over with a gleam in his eye and a means smirk and said, "the only thing that gives me that kind of rush… is killing. You know like that real gritty kind, the kind where you're not quite sure if you ever come back from that high."

As if he just said he liked cotton candy and bunnies she calmly replied, "then I suggest you do it as much as possible, but only people who deserve it. I mean, you wouldn't want to do it to somebody like a charity official or something like if they've killed or done some wrong like that, then I think you should at least enjoy what you're doing."

After her comment, she leisurely went back to our project leaving a stunned club and smirking happy behind her thoughts.

Jax couldn't believe the words that were coming out that girl's mouth.what the hell? That's the last thing I expected her to say. Honestly, I expected or run away screaming but obviously THAT isn't what's going on.walking over to the pair he handed Iris a glass of water and sat down next to her to finish their work for the day.

Looking over at his science partner he couldn't help but feel a flicker of attraction. Her mouth was in a pouty face as she concentrated hard on the magazine and back to the bike engine. She kind of has a cute mouth. Wait what? You're with Tara Teller, get it together. Focus. Leaning in he motioned for Iris to get him up to speed so that they could work efficiently.

Gemma clicked her way out of the clubhouse with one thing on her mind. After that nonchalant display with happy she was determined to figure out what this new girl was all about. Quickly.

Hello everyone I hope you liked this and review if you would like.