Day 14 / Week 2

"Jackson! If I am late for school one more time because of you I'm going to kick your ass!" Tara yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

"Ha! I'd like to see you try!"

Gemma could hear the two teenagers arguing from the kitchen. She shook her hear, having two teens in the house was harder than she had planned it to be. "Jackson, just hurry the hell up!" She called.

Jax came down the stairs. "Calm down will ya? We arent going to be late. You just like being a million minutes early." He passed by Tara and walked into the kitchen.

"Oh I'm sorry I don't like sauntering in two minutes after every class has started."

"Enough you two. Tara, you're not going to be late. Jackson, hurry the hell up or you will be late." Gemma said, handing them each some money for lunch.

SOASOASOASOASOA

"Wow Tara, you just made it." Donna said as Tara sat next to her in their biology class.

"I know. I don't know what the hell takes Jackson so long in the morning to get ready."

"He's a guy."

"I was at school forty-five minutes ago." Tara turned to see David Hale sitting beside her.

"ummm, that's great David" Tara said awkwardly.

David tried to talk to Tara some more but class had begun.

SOASOASOASOA

By third period Jax and Opie had decided to skip classes and were sitting on the bleachers watching the girls gym period. "Your sister sure loves school." Jax said, taking a drag of his cigarette. The entire town knew about the club, which meant that Jax and Opie could do pretty much whatever they wanted, even at school. "She comes home, studies, has dinner, and studies some more. It's crazy."

"She's smart. She wants to be a doctor." Opie said, proud that his half-sister was striving for so much more than anyone he had ever known.

"I know but now I got Gemma raggin on me to study more, and stop skipping all of my classes and shit. It sucks."

Opie turned to Jax, "You don't like Tara?" He asked.

"No, its not that. Tara is great. I just have to be more academic is all."

"Poor Jax. A little learning might be good for you."

"Yea yea. Enough talking about school. I think Cindy down there isnt wearing a bra and the coach is making them run."

SOASOASOASOASOASOA

"Hey Tara!"

Tara looked over to the voice. She was standing by her locker gathering up her things to head home. "Oh, hi David."

"Hey, listen, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to study together sometime… or something" He stuttered.

"Oh. You know I kind of study best on my own" David Hale's face fell a little. Tara felt kinda bad for letting him down. "But if we have a project or something I'll be your partner." She said, trying to make him feel better.

"Great! Thanks Tara."

"No problem David."

Tara closed up her locker and headed outside of the school to where Jax was waiting for her. "Now who's the one running late."

"Shut up Jackson." She muttered.

SOASOASOASOASOA

"Jackson, how come you aren't studying?" Gemma asked that afternoon. Tara had spread her books along the large dining room table as it was the room with the best lighting.

"Guess its all up here." He said, tapping his head. "I'm heading to the clubhouse"

Gemma shook her head, sitting down next to Tara with some tea for them both. "How is school going Tara?"

"Great. I told a few of the teachers that I wasn't feeling challenged enough so they gave me some extra credit from the senior classes to do. They said if I completed it all I might be able to have some free time in senior year so that I can take some of the college courses in Lodi."

Gemma was taken aback. This fourteen year old girl was better put together than she was even at twenty years old. "You know sweetie you should slow down a little. Have some fun. You're just a kid."

"I just really want to get into medical school." She said. "Charming High school doesn't have the advanced classes I was taking in Seattle so I need to prove to the University's that I've been challenging myself. I mean, money won't be a problem, my mom made sure of that but I still need good grades to get in."

Gemma smiled. "Yea, Charming isnt a town full of academics."

"I can tell." Tara said. "I just want my mom to be proud of me."

"Oh baby." Gemma moved closer to Tara, noticing the tears in her eyes. "Your mother is so proud of you. And she would be no matter what you do."

Tara leaned in to hug Gemma. "Thank you."

"And hey, if it's any consolation, I'm proud of you too, and so is Opie. And even your dad, it's just going to take some time." She held Tara close. She had always wanted a daughter and having Tara around was starting to feel like she really did. "You still need to have a little fun Tara. Why don't you see what Opie and Jax are up to?"

"Maybe tomorrow. I have an essay I should start tonight."

Gemma shook her head and laughed. "Just promise me you'll do something other than school this week?"

"Sure."

"Thanks doc." Tara smiled.

Jax hadn't meant to listen in on his mom and Tara's conversation but he couldn't help it. Was he wasting his life? Should he be more like Tara and actually crack open a text book? The thought only lasted a moment as he headed out the door to go and meet Opie.

END CHAPTER

Just a filler chapter as I want to move this story along a little bit. Hope you liked it.