Chapter 4

It's a few weeks later when Opie and Jax were under the bleachers smoking a cigarette when David and Jacob Hale came along and sat on the bleachers. "Who are you bringing to the party?" Jacob asked. He was on vacation from USC and apparently felt like it was okay to stop by the school to talk to his brother. That's what the Hale name allows you in this town. Not that Jax could complain. He got away with a lot of shit because his last name was Teller.

"Not sure." David sighs nervously. "I was thinking about asking Tara."

"Knowles?" The older sibling laughs. "You can't bring her."

Jax hates the tightening in his chest. He's not sure if it comes from the fact that David is apparently interested in Tara or the condescending way Jacob Hale speaks about her.

"Why not?" David asks. "She's a friend…kinda."

Jacob laughs again. "She's not the kinda girl you take home to mom. She's the kind you hit it and quit it."

Jax's blood boils at the rude ass comment and he throws the cigarette down, stepping on it and moves to get out from the bleachers. He plans to have his fist connect with Jacob's face more than once. Opie grabs his arm and Jax throws his head back. Opie shakes his head no at him as David says, "She's not like that." He defends.

"Please." Jacob sneers. "Have you seen her? The tight jeans, shirts that show her rack? Not to mention the drunk daddy and no mommy thing. Tara will never fit into our family."

Jax rather likes the way Tara dresses and it isn't slutty at all. If Jacob wants to see that he should show up to the clubhouse. He almost laughed at the thought but he was still too angry. His fist needed to pound Jacob quick.

"She's not a slut." David defends angry. But his words of defense are lost on Jax, who pulls out of Opie's grasp and moves from under the bleachers. "You're right asshole!" Jax shouts as he storms up the bleachers to Jacob. "Tara would never fit into your holier than thou family."

"Hey!" David starts to defend his brother. "He didn't mean to sound the way he did."

"Yes he did." Jax snickers. "And what kind of shitty friend are you who can't take up for her?"

"Um…I think Teller might already be hitting that." Jacob elbows his brother just before Jax's fist hits his face. He falls flat on his ass, his head connecting with the bleacher in the back. "You asshole!" He stands unsteadily and holds his bleeding nose. "I'm gonna press charges!"

Jax laughs. "Go ahead."

"No, he's not." David pulls his brother down the bleachers. "We're leaving. And he won't talk about Tara again." He pushes his brother down the last two bleachers and stands close to Jax. "And I was about to take up for Tara before you and your fist interrupted."

"Whatever." Jax shrugs. "Next time I break more than his nose." He nods towards Jacob.

"Oh shit." Opie finally speaks. Jax and David both look at him and he nods to the school building. Sure enough here come Tara and Donna.

"Don't mention this to her." David pleads.

Jax nods his agreement. Telling her about this would only upset her and she definitely doesn't need that in her life. He scowls when he notices the girls stop and what he assumes they are asking Jacob is if he is okay. "No need to upset her."

"What the hell happen?" Tara asks, when both girls finally make their way over to the guys.

"Ah, he deserved it." David smiles and elbows Tara on his way past. "You know how he can be. Catch ya later, Tara." He nods. "Donna."

"Bye!" Donna replies politely.

"See ya!" Tara answers but is focused on Jax's hand. "You alright?"

Jax smiles. "Yeah" He shakes his hand off, "See no permanent damage."

"You should be careful." Tara tells him in concern. "You know his old man is a judge." She looks into his eyes and feels the nervous butterflies she's become accustomed to in reference to Jackson Teller. She isn't sure when it happened or how it happened but she thinks she and Jackson might be friends? Somewhere in the last few weeks, Opie, Donna, and Jax have been there. There as in near her, walking the halls, sharing looks and whispers during class, Opie even drives them to school. It feels nice. And that is a reaction Tara never expected. She liked being alone. There was no hurt when people left if you never let them in.

Jax watches her as a hundred emotions play through her eyes. He's learned that all the good emotions, happiness, excitement, playfulness keep her eyes green. The bad ones, like sadness, anger, hurt and her eyes go brown instantly. He thinks it's beautiful, hell she's beautiful. Her friendship in the last few weeks has grown to mean a lot to him. "I don't care who his old man is. Jacob Hale is a douche bag."

"True." She smirks. "But David's not so bad." She shrugs.

"You and David?" Opie asks, looking back and forth between Tara and Jax. "Are you guys like a thing?"

"Thing?" Tara breaks Jax's gaze to meet Opie's amused one. "Like together? Ew….no we're friends….sort of, I guess."

Donna giggles. "Sort of? You are either friends or your not, silly."

"I don't know." Tara sighs and shrugs, looking to Jax again.

He's reads her uncomfortable look easily. "Not any of our business." He jumps from the bleacher he was standing on. "Last day before break." He puts his arm around Tara's shoulder and leads them to Opie's truck. "What are we gonna do?"

Tara pretends not to notice the jealous looks of the girls on the campus, heading home. She doesn't get it. All the girls know how Jax Teller is. He's a big flirt. He walks with tons of different girls like this everyday. Hell, he probably sleeps with half of them. Is that why they are jealous? Because they think she's sleeping with him? "I don't know what you are going to do." Suddenly she removes his arm, "But I'm going home." She takes a deep breath. "And I think I'll walk today."

"Come on, Darling." Jax tries to steer her to the truck. "It's cold out."

Cold in Charming, California meant anything under 60 degrees. "No, it's not." Tara laughs but does note that she's wearing a thin long sleeve tee.

"Let Op drive you home." Jax pleads. Both are oblivious to the looks being shared by Donna and Opie.

"I'm going to walk…just like I normally do." She puts her hands on her hips. What was his deal? Couldn't he see she just wanted to be alone? They weren't together…hell they were barely friends. She could do whatever the hell she wanted to.

What in the hell was her problem? And why the hell would she rather walk than catch a ride with him? And more importantly, why in the hell did he care so much? This chick had him all twisted and he wasn't hitting it. What the fuck? "Wear this then." He took his hoodie off and tossed it to her.

"No, I'm fine." She caught it easily. "Really."

He takes a deep breath, suddenly angry and not sure why. "Take it, Tara."

Too shocked by his anger, she relents. "Fine." She puts it on. God, it smells just like him…sexy. Cigarettes, cologne, grease, sweat, and something undefined but all him.

"I think I'd like to walk too." Donna smiles, kisses Opie and doesn't give Tara an option as she leads the way.