Chapter 11

Tara was in the spice aisle carefully reading the back of a seasoning packet to see what ingredients she needed to make a pot roast when a cart stopped directly next to hers. She doesn't pay much attention to it and first but then looks up when it fails to move. "Mrs. Teller." She smiles and nods uncomfortably.

"Tara." Gemma nods back. "What are you making?"

"Um…a pot roast." Tara gives a small smile and shows her the packet.

Gemma takes it and looks over it. "Come on. I'll show you the easiest way to cook this." And that is how Tara finds herself grocery shopping with Jax's mother. She watches in fascination as Gemma picks things out and explains what to look for in certain items. She even gives her the low down on prices and why it is so much better to shop local. Tara feels like she's in a crash course of home economics. She tries not to wonder if her mother would be doing the same thing with her now. Or maybe she already would have? And Tara could be helping her mother to prepare a family meal in the kitchen. Just like Christmas dinner when she helped Gemma in the kitchen.

"Tara?" Gemma says loudly.

It is the tone that tells her she must have missed something. "I'm sorry?" She snaps out of her thoughts. "I was just thinking. What did I miss?"

"Mashed potatoes or are you roasting them?" The queen smirks.

"Mashing them." Tara nods.

"Oh lovely." Gemma smiles and Tara notes a chill behind it. "Jax loves mashed potatoes."

"Oh, okay." Tara answers in confusion. They pay for their groceries and as they head out Gemma offers her a ride and will not except "no" for an answer. As they pull up in her driveway, Tara's heart stops when Gemma tells her. "I think this is a good approach you have going on. No sweet butt or crow eater has ever cooked for my son before."
***********

Tara is livid as she cooks dinner. What the hell is Gemma Teller's problem? One minute she was nice and helpful, seemingly taking Tara under her wing. And the next she was throwing out digs about whores? And where in the hell did the lady get off? Tara never even mentioned Jax coming over for dinner. Never even thought about it actually.

She slams the oven door shut and moves with purpose around the kitchen. And what about Jax? Was he just interested in her because she was different than his usual conquests? Once the "newness" of her wore off, would he leave her hanging? What the hell was going on with them anyway? Were they friends? Were they more than friends? Did only friends make out the way her and Jax did? She winced at the thought. She and Kyle had made out before, and she guessed he could be considered a friend. A few times, when they were both drunk and high. But it certainly never felt the way it did with Jax. And she never had cared to think about him or his sloppy kisses afterwards.

She could really use a joint right now but of course after sharing with Donna, Jax, and Opie she is out. She's going to have to increase her supply and make those suckers pitch in. It's the least they can do!
**************

"When's dinner?" Jax asks, coming into the kitchen, and ignoring the crow-eaters who are helping his mom.

"Are you eating here?" Gemma asks.

"Ugh…Don't I usually eat here for New Years?" He asks with an attitude, still smarting from their fight earlier.

"I saw your…whatever you want me to call her…at the grocery store." The queen begins. "I got the impression she was making you dinner."

"Tara?" He gives a small laugh. "Why would she make me dinner?"

"I don't know." Gemma shrugs. "She was asking questions about what you would like and things like that."
Jax watches his mother closely. He knows her. He knows she's up to something. But he has no idea what. She keeps herself busy never meeting his gaze. He vows to figure his mother out. Right after he figures out what's up with this dinner thing and Tara.
****************

"Why are you all here?" Tara demands when she opens the door and sees her three friends.

And it is at that moment, Jax knows his mother set him up somehow. But it doesn't really makes sense after their early morning fight. Why would she help him out by setting him up to spend more time with Tara?

"Thought we were invited for dinner?" Opie asks, glaring at Jax.

Jax shrugs in response, "That was my impression."

"Who gave you that impression?" Tara demands, hands on hips. "Let me guess…your crazy ass mother?"

Donna gasps. No one has ever talked about Gemma Teller out loud like that.

Jax gives a full out laugh. He loves Tara's fearlessness. "Yes, actually." He admits.

"Maybe we should leave?" Donna suggests meekly.

"No." Tara sighs. "Come on in. Dinner was done about twenty minutes ago. And since The Queen troubled me with making all things the prince likes, he should at least eat it."
*************

Tara will never admit to it but she was secretly pleased. Opie and Jax devoured her pot roast and went back for seconds. She was thankful she had already wrapped her dad up a plate or else there might not have been any leftovers. "Did you get high before you came?" She asked.

"No!" "Nah!" and "Nope!" come simultaneously from them. Then Opie finishes. "We wouldn't do that without you!"

"Yeah?" She smirks. "Well I hope you brought your own. You've smoked all mine."

"But your's is better." Donna pouts.

"And you can pitch in this weekend for more." Tara glares at Opie.

"Are you on the rag, Knowles?" He asks, ignoring his best friends glare. "'Cause your kinda pissy."

"I'm not pissy." Tara puts her hands on her hips. "And no, I don't have my period."

"Can we just smoke a peace pipe and forget this conversation?" Jax finally speaks.

"What's wrong Teller?" Tara asks. "You shouldn't have a problem talking about all things women…you know with all that experience you got."

Jax glares at her. A million cruel things pop into his head to bite back at her but they never make it from his head to his mouth. "Leave." He directs to his friends, while never taking his eyes off Tara.

"Yea, um, okay." Donna gets up and clears the table for Tara at least.

"Thanks for dinner." Opie torments with a smile. "It was delicious. The company was a little…chilly. But let's do it again sometime kids."

"Shut up Opie." Tara growls out, never falling from Jax's gaze. "I'll call you later Donna."

"Sounds good." Donna answers uncomfortably as he drags Jax out of the dining room and heads for the door.

"What in the hell is your problem?" Jax asks after he hears the door slam. "You were not mad at me when I left you this morning."

"Are you only interested in me because I'm different than the other girls you've bagged?"

"What?" He asks in confusion. She refuses to repeat her question. He heard her loud and clear and they both know it. "Yes. No. I don't know. It's not a simple answer."

"What's so hard?" She asks, some anger has left her and she collapses on the chair across from him at the dining room table. "Have you thought about the fact that maybe it's the thrill of the chase that has you interested?"

"Yes." He answers honestly. "I've thought about it. But that's not it. I like you for you, Tara."

"And if I told you I only wanted to be friends from now on?" She asks. "No more making out?"

"I'd think you were crazy." He smiles fully. "Because I know you enjoy the way I make you feel as much as I do." He wants to tell her that he's never felt this way about any other chick but it would make him sound like a pussy. He sighs. "But I would agree. Because I'd rather have you as a friend than not at all."

She gives him a full out Tara Knowles is happy, smile. For some unexplainable reason she trusts him. She gets up and walks over to where he is sitting and boldly straddles him but doesn't sit down. "I'm sorry I'm so pissy."

Jax grabs her ass, unashamedly and tugs her down to his lap. "Did my mom say something today? Get in your head?"

"Yeah." She whispers. Not that she needed to. It was clear to Jax that is what had happened. "I'm sorry. I do that a lot." She admits. "Get lost in my head." She plays with the stubble around his mouth. She loves that he has it, it makes him look older beyond fifteen.

"I've figured that out, babe." He playfully bites her finger and she grins. He runs his hand up her neck and tugs her lips to his. "Next time we talk this shit out?" She nods and he attacks her lips with his.