Chapter 5 – Amazing

"Feels good not to be a freshman any more, ain't it?" Jax Teller smiled broadly as he and his best friend, Harry "Opie" Winston, strolled down the main hall of their high school. Jax always walked with this laid back, easy swagger of a man who owns the world. But he was the son of SAMCRO's president, a golden boy with a surfer's body and long mane of blonde hair, sweet as candy and pretty as a girl. Opie, on the other hand, was much taller and muscled, well over six feet tall, with short-cropped chestnut-coloured hair and a serious, handsome face. The boys were as unlike in looks as they were in their personalities. Jax was a natural leader, charismatic and charming, while Opie was a silent, gentle giant. But those who knew Opie well were familiar with his beaming smile and big laugh. Still, the boys had been best friends and brothers as far back as they could remember, brought up together in the life of M.C.

The boys walked into the main office, late. First day of school was always a drag, and they were in no hurry to get back to classes and homework. Both of them were bidding their time until high school was over, so they could become part of SAMCRO and start working in the Teller-Morrow garage.

The office was almost deserted, save for a tall, red-haired girl who was filing out forms by the counter. Jax recognized her as someone connected to the club, even though he wasn't sure what the connection was, and instantly decided to be hospitable. For Opie, it was the first closer look at a mysterious girl he had admired from afar. Up close, she was even more beautiful than he imagined, and was immediately captivated her. The girl was frozen in a moment like a bee in drop of amber: mass of her auburn curls, delicate lengths of her limbs, high curves of her cheeks, almost iridescent lightness of her skin. And then she turned to him and their eyes met, and hers were as green as new grass in May. The girl literally took Opie's breath away, and he dropped his eyes to the floor, gobsmacked.

Jax was not that shy. He walked right up to her and, in his easy going way, said, "Hey. You're new to our school, right?"

"Yeah, my first day."

"Freshman?"
"Sophomore."
"So are we," smiled Jax, pleased to find something in common. "I'm Jax, this is my best bud O..."

"Harry." He said quickly, somehow not wanting this vision to know him by his childhood nickname that stuck. He managed to bring his eyes back to hers and give the girl a stiff nod, thinking his face would go up in flames right there and then.

Jax, gave him a perplexed look, but then smiled at the girl, "Welcome to Kennedy High."

"Hi, I'm Nelly." She smiled at them, friendly but a little guarded. Jax in the meantime was signing their names into the late log.

"Did they tell you how to get to your first class?" Jax asked, always one to take control, "Cause we could walk ya."

"I have to finish those first," She gestured to the forms with the pen, "But I've got a map, I'll find my way, thanks."

"We'll see you around, Nelly."

"Yeah, see you around," said the girl as she watched them walk away. Opie didn't dare to sneak back a glance, but he was sure that Nelly, like all girls, was looking at Jax.

The door closed behind the boys and Nelly let out a big sigh, feeling the blood returning to her cheeks. She was sure she caught glimpses of these boys at the clubhouse, and at once her deeply-rooted anxiety kicked in. Bikers and anything connected to them always equaled bad news. Still, that tall guy with a deep voice, the one named Harry, the way he looked at her made her heart race. And not out of fear. There was warmth and strength in his eyes, a quiet dependable solidity which felt to Nelly like shelter from the storm. By all standards his blonde friend was gorgeous and desirable, but it was Harry who crowded her thoughts as Nel tried to find her way to English class.

"I've seen that girl before, I'm sure I have," Jax wondered out loud as he and Opie made their way leisurely down the empty halls of their school, late slips in their hands.
"She's Linda' niece, Simon's old lady."

"Oh. My. God." Jax stopped and, with a backhanded tap on Opie's shoulder, stopped him as well, "Is that the girl who always sits with a book in Linda's car, the one you're always watching?"

Opie just gave him a grim look and started walking again.
"No wonder you know so much about her."

"I pay attention."

They were walking up a set of stairs to the second floor, when Jax suddenly remembered and asked, " And why Harry? No one calls you that anymore, well, except at school."

Opie sighed, equal parts resigned and annoyed. "I don't know why I said that. It was a stupid."

"How are you gonna get out of it now?"
"Who cares? It's not like I'm gonna talk to her again."
"Are you kidding me? The girl you've been pining for suddenly shows up in our school. I mean, it's fate." Jax hooted, "Seriously, Ope. If you like her, you should make it happen."

"Yeah, a girl like that with a guy like me. Pull your head out of your ass, Teller." He replied brusquely, as they arrived in class. But deep down Opie hoped that Jax was right, that maybe this was his chance. But growing up among men who expressed themselves with grunts and punches, Opie learned to keep his emotions to himself.