She sat at the kitchen table, cutting up the potatoes to boil while Gemma worked on the meat for the grill. She jumped as a scream came from her pocket and pick up her phone. She pushed ignore and sat it on the table. Her mom had been calling all day, so had Kenny. She didn't know which was worse, but for some odd reason she connected with Gemma. They had talked more about what had happened and the older woman was very comforting. She smiled as she heard the bikes pulling up to the house and sat the potato peeler down so she could say hey to her brother and dad. She knew they had to go home to pick up Donna before coming and was hoping her sister in law would like her. She remembered how much they looked in love and really wanted a love like that one day.
Gemma watched the girl walk into the front room to greet her family. She hadn't seen Opie and Piney so happy since Opie got married eight months ago. Gemma, of course, was happy that the girl was back where she needed to be and knew that they would all help her if she needed. She was a bit worried about Jax. Her son had a thing for beautiful women and Candice had certainly blossomed. Long, straight, red hair and big green eyes almost dark like emeralds and pale skin. She also noticed that her son had picked up on the fact his friends sister had a decent rack and a nice ass too. She was just hoping that he wouldn't try anything and end up in the hospital.
Candice walked in and hugged her father and brother.
"You remember Donna, CanCan."
Candice nodded, "It's good to see you again, Donna."
Donna pulled her in a hug. "You to. I wish you coulda came to the wedding, but Ope didn't know where to send you anything."
"It's alright. I found my way home and I hear you need help packing."
Donna's face lit up in a smile. "I would love the help, thank you."
Candice nodded and then the girls left the boys to help Gemma in the kitchen.
"Hey Gemma." Donna stated, taking to the salad that hadn't been made yet.
"Hey, baby." Gemma stated.
Donna sat down with Candice at the table as Gemma gave the meat to Opie, asking him to start the grill when Candice's phone went off again. "AHHHH." she screamed, throwing it against the wall and watching it crumble to the floor.
"Hey."
Candice's eyes got big when she noticed Jax in the doorway, next to the spot her phone hit.
"I'm so fucking sorry, Jax." she blushed as he nodded.
"Don't worry, Candice. Wrong number?"
She just shook her head and gathered the potatoes, handing them to Gemma. Jax watched her as she walked out and over to Piney on the patio. He turned to his mom and Donna. "What'd I say?"
Donna rolled her eyes as Gemma answered. "Her mom and some guy have been calling all day. She's just frustrated, baby."
Gemma watched as Jax tried to cover up the disappointment at the guy comment and shook her head when he walked back out. She knew he noticed and was truly hoping he wouldn't try anything.
"He's not going to try with her is he?" Donna asked, putting the salad on the table.
Gemma sighed. "Oh god, I hope not. She's kinda mixed up, I think, at the moment."
Donna walked over to the Queen of SAMCRO and whispered. "She's ok, right?"
Gemma shook her head. "Not my story."
Candice sat next to her dad and laid her head on his shoulder like she used to. He smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a hug. She just sat with her eyes closed, listening to the conversation flow around her. She was going to have to get a new phone and number while she was with Gemma tomorrow, hoping that would keep Mary and Kenny from finding her. Jax was something she was going to have to keep at a distance. She had always had some fascination with him and it seemed her body still did. She couldn't let him close.
She was too damaged for anyone anyway, what could she bring to a relationship. She was used, abused, and worthless, Kenny made sure of that. She never thought he'd do something like that in the two years they had dated. He was her first kiss, fist everything really. He was tired of waiting for sex and so he and his buddies decided to just take it from her. She had the scars on her wrists and ankles where they tied her to a bed and she tried to get loose from them. She rubbed her wrist as she thought about it and stopped when a hand grabbed it and jumped.
"Sorry."
She turned to see Jax looking at her. "It's alright."
"What happened?"
Everyone was looking at them since she was sitting with her dad and she just stared at Jax with tears in her eyes. She shook her head and got up, running for the bathroom to hide. She shut the door and slid down to the floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and tried to control the tears. She didn't want them to know, to find out she was damaged. She heard a knock and stayed silent.
"Candice."
She let out a breath, figuring out it was Gemma. She moved a bit and sat on the edge of the bathtub.
"It's open."
She watched the door open and shut behind Gemma, who locked it. "What happened?"
Tears ran down her cheeks as she looked at the floor. Gemma walked over and sat on the toilet lid, wiping the tears. "You're safe here."
She looked up. "I know. I'm sorry. Jax touched me, saw my wrists, and I panicked when he asked what happened."
"They itching?"
She nodded, "Yeah. I had a cream for them, but left the shit at my moms."
Gemma nodded and got up, looking through her cabinets. She pulled out some cream and sat back on the toilet. "I use this when my scar hurts a bit from my meds. It should calm the itch a bit."
She nodded. "Thank you. Can you tell Jax, I'm sorry?"
She smiled. "Don't worry about it. I told them you told me you don't like being touched without knowing."
Candice let out a breath of relief and then opened the cream to put on her wrists and ankles. Gemma sat with her as she finished. "Those are bad, baby. Are they still healing?"
"Yeah, they used a sailor knot or something. The rope gets harder to loosen with struggle and wetness of any kind. I struggled, trying to get free." She explained, shrugging.
Gemma pulled her in for a hug. "You are going to have to tell your family, baby. They already know something's off with you. I heard them talking."
"I can't."
"Ma, Clay said dinner's done." Jax called through the door.
"Alright, baby."
Gemma smiled at the teen in front of her. Candice blew out some air and then got up, ready to face everyone.
They walked out and found Jax waiting at the end of the hall, looking guilty. Gemma walked ahead, leaving the two. Candice stopped in front of him and smiled. "Sorry, Jax."
He shook his head. "It's quite alright. Can I ask what happened?"
She shook her head. "Not yet. I don't like talking about it."
He nodded and opened his arms, silently asking for a hug. She rolled her eyes and smiled, "Oh come here."
He gave her a hug. "I really am sorry."
She whispered, "I know. Take some time to get to know me and I'll quit being jumpy, I promise."
He pulled back. "I can do that."
"Good."
That night, Jax took his bike for a ride. He usually went to the clubhouse and found something to indulge himself in, but right now, all he saw were the marks on Candice. He knew they were from a rope, he just couldn't figure out the why. He finally pulled up to the clubhouse and sat at the picnic table outside, not wanting to be bothered just yet. She said she needed to time to know everyone again, he could do that. Hell, if he was honest with himself, he wanted that a lot. He knew Opie was right, though. He couldn't let his dick do the talking, he was still hung on Tara and drowning himself in booze and girls were the only thing to take his mind off it.
He hated her for just leaving, telling him he wasn't enough to keep her here. That she needed to get out. She didn't even ask him to go, knowing he probably wouldn't. She'd be right, of course, but she still could have asked. He had given her everything and she took it and ran, his heart included. He wondered back to the dinner and the Winston that sat next to Donna. She had a temper, he knew, if throwing her phone was any indication. He knew why she wasn't talking to her mom. Opie had told him that his sister was mad at being cut from them all these years and not knowing about her graduation was the last straw between mother and daughter. He took out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag. He heard the door open and looked over to see one of the croweaters heading outside. "Great." he thought, knowing they figured out he was there.
He watched as she walked in front of him and smiled. "Hey, Jax."
He just nodded. He never remembered their names, they weren't important enough to remember, just someplace for him to get wet when needed. She walked closer to him and asked if he needed some help releaving whatever he was thinking about. "Sure, darlin'." He smiled, throwing the finished smoke on the ground. He took her hand and led her back to his room.
Candice woke up the next morning to the sun in her face. "Great." she muttered as she sat up on the couch. Opie and Donna were in his old room and they had been using hers to store all their stuff for their new place. She was fine with it though, they were happy and didn't know she was coming. She gathered her bag and went into the bathroom to check on the clothes she had hanging in there. She had to wash what she wore and borrowed one of Opie's shirts to sleep in. Finding them still damp, Candice made her way to the kitchen for some breakfast. "Morning." Donna smiled, handing her a plate of eggs and some bacon.
"Morning. I can cook too if you wanna take turns. Mom taught me long ago." She stated, sitting at the table.
"That'd be good. Your dad and Ope can't even make toast."
The girls chuckled.
"Do you work?" Candice asked, looking at the brunette.
Donna nodded, "Yes, but I'm off today. Why?"
"Well, Gemma's taking me shopping and I was wondering if you wanted to come. Y'know so we can get to know one another."
Donna smiled, "I'd like that. You're my sister in law, 'bout time I get to."
She nodded, "Good."
They ate silently just taking in the quiet before the men got up. Opie and Piney came into the kitchen about the same time, but with wet hair from their shower. Candice got up and rinsed her plate.
"KNOCK KNOCK"
Everyone turned to see Jax Teller walking into the Winston house. He froze when he noticed Candice was in a reaper shirt that went just a bit below her ass and showed off some gorgeous legs. "Fuck." He ran a hand down his face and made himself look at Opie, noticing Donna trying not to chuckle. Candice shook her head and walked passed him, trying not to touch him, and walking back to take her shower. While in the shower, she couldn't get the look the blonde was sporting when he figured out she didn't have pants on out of her head.
It was a hunger, a hunger she was hoping he wouldn't have. She couldn't even try to think of it. Once he found out she was damaged, he wouldn't want anything to do with her anyway. She leaned her head back and let the water cascade down, getting all the shampoo out. When she finished up with her body, she turned the water off and got out. She dried off and put her now dry clothes back on, putting her toothbrush on the sink. She had a habit of brushing her teeth in the shower since she usually didn't have much time in the morning, made it easier. She walked out and sighed, knowing all the men in the house were gone. She walked into the utility room and put her towel on the washer before going to find Gemma, who she heard with Donna in the Living room.
"Hey, Gemma."
Gemma looked up and smiled. "Hey, sweetie. You ready?"
She nodded and the girls got into Gemma's car and took off for Lodi.
Jax and Juice were trying to figure out where to start with Candice's truck. They had found out that Mary had gotten it for her, but Candice didn't know where. The inside was horrible. After Juice took Jax for a drive in it, Jax was just a lost as Juice. There was too much wrong with it. The transmission was shot, the radiator was busted, some of the hoses were gone, the belts needed replacing, and a head gasket was almost totally gone. "We should just get her a new one." Jax stated, lighting a cigarette outside the bay they were working on.
"I agree, brother. I don't know if we can get all this cheap." Juice stated, standing next to him and lighting his own cigarette.
Jax sighed, running a hand down his face. He had that vision of Candice from this morning in his head all fucking day and it was not helping any. Juice watched his friend. "You alright, Jax?"
"I don't know. I'm gonna get the shit kicked out of me if I keep running into Candice half naked though. I'm not used to her being in Ope's house."
Juice chuckled. "She's hot, I get it. I'm sure that's why Opie's already telling you to back off. He would anyway, man. I think she's got something though. She was real jumpy with you yesterday."
Jax nodded in agreement. "Yeah. She told me to take time to get to know her, Juice. If I like her more after getting to know her, I'm dead. Anyway, Do you think we could trade this at the salvage place and get her a better one that wouldn't cost much to fix?"
Juice thought a moment before replying. "I think so. We'd need her to come with us though so she could pick one out."
Jax nodded as they turned, noticing Gemma's car pulling up.
"Oh, fuck me." He muttered, causing Juice to laugh.
Candice was with his mom and Donna. She had gotten out wearing a denim mini skirt and a green halter with wedge heels and her hair pulled back. They looked new and the men figured they were. Gemma waved and they nodded as she went into the office. They watched as Donna and Candice sat at the table, most likely waiting on Opie to get back with the tow. Juice headed over and Jax followed, knowing they needed to talk to her about her truck. The girls smiled as they sat and Jax sat next to Candice. "You look uncomfortable, babe."
Donna laughed as Candice rolled her eyes. "Oh I am. Your mother made me wear this. Said it would be good for me to wear a skirt."
"I like it." Juice stated, earning a slap on the head from Donna. "Ow, woman."
"Don't you woman me. Ope would have your ass for even looking, Juice."
"I know, just saying. I didn't say anything 'bout acting on it, geez." he stated, rubbing his head.
Candice rolled her eyes and took out some lotion from her bag. Jax watched as she rubbed it into her skin where he knew the scars to be.
"Anyway, Jax and I had an idea for your truck." Juice interrupted, watching Jax watch her put on lotion.
Candice looked at Jax, "What idea?"
Jax let out a breath and looked into her eyes, "Oh I'm in so much fuckin' trouble." he thought before answering. "Maybe taking it to salvage and trading for one not so costly to repair. You have a shit ton wrong with it, babe."
She sighed, "Alright, we can do that I guess."
Juice nodded, "When Ope gets back, we'll hook it up. Wanna come pick one out?"
"Yeah I can do that."
They all sat and talked about non important things for about an hour before seeing Opie pull up in the tow. They stood up, but guys going to help with the car while the girls went to say hey to him.
"What in the hell are you wearing?" Opie asked when he saw his sister.
She rolled her eyes. "You can thank your wife and Jax's mom for this. They convinced me to buy and wear it. Juice and Jax didn't seem to have a problem."
Opie looked at his brothers who looked down, not want to answer the question. Opie looked back at his sister. "What are you doing now?"
"I am going with Jax and Juice. We are taking the truck to salvage and using what little money I have left to see if we can trade it for a different one."
"So just you, Juice, and Jax?"
She nodded and he looked back at them. Juice put his hands in the air. "We wanted to let her pick out her own car, Ope. We aren't going to do anything. You can even follow if you want."
"Alright, I will and she can ride with me."
"Harry, I'm in a skirt and heels. I'm not getting on your bike in them. It'll be fine. One of the guys can ride their bike and then we wont be so cramped."
"Fine. Jax rides."
Candice looked between her brother and his friend, watching the conversation they were silently having and shrugged, not really wanting to know. "Brothers..."
After it was decided, they all got into their respective places and then drove to the salvage to find a car for her.
Here's chapter two. That's all for today, sadly. Maybe more tomorrow. Please leave a comment below. Till next time-Brianna