Chapter 24
"Where's my old man's bike?" Jax demands as he enters the garage bays. He spent every spare moment of his workday looking for the Hydra Glide around the yard.
"Gemma had me tow it." Otto replies, with slight hesitation.
"Why?" He throws off his TM sleeveless work shirt. "Where to?"
"Don't know why." The older, tattooed, fit biker answers. "Take that up with her. But I towed it to the garage at your house?" It comes off as more of a question than answer as Otto hates getting involved in Teller family shit.
"I had it towed here for a reason." The teenager throws his tools haphazardly into his tool chest.
Gemma takes in the exchange from her office while smoking a cigarette. She needed to do something to pull Jax close again. Originally, she thought spending time with Tara was the best way to maintain control of the pair but now she wasn't so sure. Something changed between them and she couldn't put her finger on it. As a mother, you just know these things. Somehow while she was off honeymooning with Clay, Tara's pull on Jax grew. She's lost in thought when the office door is suddenly swung open with so much force it hits the wall.
"Why'd you tow Dad's bike back to the house?" Jax demands.
"I see how hard it is for you, baby." Gemma soothes, sitting in the chair behind her desk. She takes out another cigarette and pushes the pack towards her son in offering.
"What are you talking about?" He really didn't have the patience to play his mother's games today. "How hard what it?" He takes a cigarette in agitation and lights it up with his mother's lighter.
"Working on the bike." She begins. "You're never home anymore."
Ah, back to his relationship with Tara apparently. Gemma was full of shit. He hasn't spent any more time on that bike than necessary. "Are you listening to yourself?" At her incredulous look he continues, "You're not making any sense. I haven't been spending too much time on the bike. I'm busy with school, the garage, and Tara." He doesn't miss the way her eyes shift at the mention of his girl. "Is this about Tara? Now what the hell is your problem?"
"I don't have a problem with Tara personally." Gemma placates. "I just think you're too young to be tied down. And we both know Tara isn't old lady material." She sees her son preparing to defend the strong willed, intelligent girl so she rushes to continue. "And bringing the bike back home has nothing to do with Tara. This is about you still missing your dad. His bike being home with help with your grief. You and Opie can work on it at home. "
"Now you care about my grief?" Jax demands. "I don't know what your angle is. But you got one. You always do. How's your new old man feel about your dead old man's bike in the garage?" He tosses his cigarette on the floor and steps on it. Gemma was constantly complaining about the guys doing that and ruining her indoor/outdoor carpet. He takes some satisfaction in pissing her off no matter how petty it is. "You know what? I don't give a shit what you or Clay think.' He exits her office with a slam of the door. If his mother thought for a second that moving JT's bike back home would make him be there more, she was dead wrong. He would not play into her game.
"Shit." She runs her right hand across her forehead. That didn't go as she expected at all. Ever since Tara came into his life, Jackson seemed to see her in a new light. He no longer hung onto every word she said.
"Gem?" Brittany, a crow-eater appeared in the doorway. "Everything ok?"
"No, it's shit." The queen mutters. "Where's Jax?"
"Stormed into the clubhouse." The young blond smirks, "He's gotta get ready before Tara gets here."
Gemma is able to see the jealousy behind the smirk. Jax and Brittany hooked up last year. Like most dumbasses she wanted more out of her son but like all good crow-eaters she knew that wasn't going to happen with Jax. "We had a fight." She takes a deep breath. "He may need to relieve some tension before the ball and chain gets here."
Brittany laughs anxiously, "Nah, he's too wrapped up in that girl. Hasn't looked my way….or any other girls way in months."
"He's a man." The older woman smiles. "Trust me doll, throw it at him hard, he won't resist tonight." Time to show Tara once and for all, what this life was all about. One thing has been plainly visible to Gemma from the get-go and that was the fact that Tara was different from all the rest and she clearly wasn't cut out for this life.
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"What the hell is your problem, bro?" Opie says from atop the picnic bench with Donna between his legs. "She'll be here, damn." Jax became stupid when he was away from Tara too long, Opie decided months ago. Grumpy, antsy, and just overall a pain in the ass.
"She's late." Jax mumbles, feeling the effects of booze and joints. He hasn't seen her since this morning. After finishing their last final, he dropped her off at home and came straight to work. Clay was on his ass about needing more work at the shop to free up the guys for SAMCRO shit. Of course, after talking to his mother earlier, he wants to tell Clay to find someone else. But he knows that is unfair. His dad built this shop with Clay as a partner. JT would be pissed if Jax blew off his responsibilities. But damn, after a day like today, all he wanted was to get lost in his girl.
"Hey sugar." Brittany, a crow-eater that Jax messed with once before, way before Tara, comes around from behind, running her hand along his back and shoulders. "You look like you could use another beer."
"Sure thing darlin'" He replies with a smirk. She was trying hard, he had to admit. It kind of surprised him as Brittany and the rest of the crow-eaters had been keeping their distance since it became obvious Tara was a permanent presence in his world. Where in the hell was Tara? He wanted to get on his bike and go find her but knew that wasn't a good decision in his condition. He's back to cursing Gemma and her ridiculousness since he let it get to him and now he's wasted and lonely. He's lost in his own thoughts as Brittany straddles him and he's face to face with her cleavage in a barely there bikini top. "That my beer?" He tries to focus on the Budweiser between her breasts and not the condensation coming off of it and rolling onto her C-cup. It's a wonder she didn't drop the damn beer. He prefers a B cup these days actually.
"Sure is." Brittany giggles flirtatiously. She arches her back to practically shove said beer and tits in his face and the action has her thrusting against his groin.
"Ugh…thanks darlin'" Jax is a little slow on the uptake as he grabs his beer and notes Brittany on the ground. He laughs a bit in his inebriated state. What the hell happened? Did she fall? It all happened so fast, he couldn't really process anything as he looks down to see if the crow-eater needed help. Clearly, she did need help because Tara was on top of her…wailing the hell out her, right hook, left hook, he couldn't keep up. Wait? What the fuck? Tara was whipping a crow-eaters ass? It is then that he finally registers the voices surrounding him clearing out all remaining effects of booze and pot.
"Jax! Opie!" Donna screams. "Do something!"
"I think Tara's got this." Opie watches in fascination. It wasn't like he's never seen Jax's girl whip someone's ass. She's definitely snatched a chick or two up before. However, he never really paid much attention as he wasn't really that invested in Tara or what she did. Crow-eaters come out of the woodwork, as most people do when there is a fight. Everyone seems rendered immobile however as they just take in the scene.
"Opie!" He wonders just why he's getting smacked in this equation but he finally gives in and scoops Tara up around the waist and pulls her off Brittany.
Tara nearly clips him with a right hook in the confusion. "Take it easy, Rocky."
"Jesus Christ…." Jax checks out Tara quickly, other than some red knuckles she looks no worse for wear. He doubts Brittany even got a hit in. Speaking of, he glances down at Brittany and notes his mother helping the young girl up. "Tara…."
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Tara felt incensed. She could never recall going into such a blind rage before. Anger? Sure! But this? Never! Her blood was pumping so vigorously she could feel it in her heart and hear it in her ears. Now that Opie had removed her from the crow-eater…Bridget? Bonnie? No, Brittany. Tara has seen her around the clubhouse frequently but never really paid much attention. Gemma was helping Brittany up and Tara is vaguely aware of her renegade boyfriends voice and Gemma's look of….pride? She takes a deep breath and looks around for the first time, realizing they've drawn a crowd. It is then that she feels Jackson's fingertips along her forearm. She curses her traitorous body for its reaction to his touch. Quickly, her elbow breaks his hold on her and she pushes him with a force neither knew she possessed as she makes her way out of the garage as quickly as she came.
"Tara!" Jax yells. He wasn't sure what the hell to think or do but one thing was clear, Tara was furious. He has never seen her like this. She didn't even give that kind of ass kicking to Emily Duncan for talking shit about her father. "Tara! Wait!" He yells, now jogging to catch up to her.
"Stay away from me, Jax." She sniffles. He wonders just when the tears started because she sure as hell showed no sign of them back there.
"No, stop!" He catches up to her and pulls her left elbow with enough force to make her stop. However, it leaves him completely unprepared for the right hand slap across the face. Judging from the stunned look on her face, she's surprised herself as well. "Feel better?" Damn, no lie, he's been punched by dudes that hurt less.
"No, I don't feel better." He expected to see her sobbing from the sound of her sniffles but she's definitely furious. "And I don't have shit to say to you. So go back to your party and do whatever it is you normally do when I'm not around." She turns to leave again.
"I wasn't doing anything with Brittany!" He yells at her back.
"That's not the point!" She yells back, steady walking. Tara's not an idiot. She knew Jax wasn't touching that whore but it didn't make it right. He was hers damnit and no other girl had the right to sit astride him like he belonged to her.
"I'm confused!" His shout is hoarse. "What is the point?" Vaguely, he's aware it sounds like a plea.
"You weren't doing anything to stop her." Tara sniffles and turns around and angrily wipes her tears. "Where would it have led? To the rooftop?"
Pissed doesn't even begin to describe the effect her words have on him. "What? How can you think that?"
"How can I think that? Really?" Her humorous laugh tells him she's just as pissed. "I don't know…how would you feel if I was practically dry humping Hale?" The murderous gleam in his eye gives her the answer she expects. "Yea, that's what I thought. Hypocrite!"
Now he's livid. How dare her just walk away from him like she's dismissing him? "I wasn't dry humping her! And I wouldn't have taken it anywhere, especially not the rooftop!" And now not only is she walking away, far away and quickly, but she's ignoring him. "Goddamnit Tara! Stop!" He kicks over the metal trashcan in front of Lloyd's.
"Go away!" Comes her angry shout. "I have nothing to say to you."
"So, what the fuck is this?" He asks desperately, "What are you saying?"
The fear and desperation in his voice makes her stop but she's still too livid to process it further. "You know what? I can't even be angry with you." She finally turns to face him. "This is my fault."
"Babe." Thank-fucking-Christ, he thinks they might be getting somewhere. He walks over to her and wipes a tear on her face before cupping her cheek and bringing her gaze to his. The emotions in her wild, darkened hazel eyes feel like a kick to the chest.
"Don't touch me." Even though her voice is a low whisper, she moves her chin with effort. "You know I knew this would happen. I'm the idiot."
"Tara, I swear I didn't do anything with her." His voice is raspy from all the yelling. "I promised you I wouldn't do that….and I meant it."
"Hmmm….I know you didn't….tonight." She pulls her think jacket tight around herself. "But this…life you lead….it's not okay. I can't be around you constantly" No matter how much she wanted to. "How long before you give in eventually?'
"I didn't do anything wrong." He felt desperate, like he was losing her. "Why are you mad at me?"
"Maybe I'm crazy." Her hands are shaky as they swipe at more tears. "I feel crazy right now." She admits. "And stupid….I swore I wouldn't be like all the other girls who are stupid enough to believe they are different…that they mean something."
"You do mean something, Tara." She pulls away from his touch once again and it tears him up. "You mean everything."
"Saying things like that Jackson make it so easy to fall in love with you." She bites her lip to contain her sob. "To believe you belong to me."
There's so many things he wants to say, to ask, to tell her but he can't get his brain to cooperate with his mouth. She must mistake his silence for acquiesce as she finally turns around and picks back up her pace. By the time he finally breaths again and can admit to himself that she just said she loves him, he has lost visual on her but takes off in the direction of her house anyway.
He can hear the shouts as soon as he gets on her block. Tara and her father are definitely having a knock down, no holds barred fight. He can clearly make out his name in the mix. It's probably not the time for a face to face with her father, considering how he's avoided that for months now. So he decides to walk over to the window he uses to climb into her bedroom. He'll wait for her to finish dealing with the old man and then they can settle this. Because that is the only option. They have to settle this. He can't lose her. Surprisingly, he finds the window locked. Well she was obviously still in the pissed stage to lock him out. He thinks about punching it but doesn't want to risk getting her in trouble with the old man. At the sound of breaking glass from inside, he cringes. Pissed isn't the right word for Tara. Obviously, she's still enraged as she is now in her room, breaking up her own shit. Jax sits on the ground below her window, unsure of what to do but afraid to leave. The longer he sat there alone with his own thoughts, the more he came close to feeling as enraged and helpless as Tara.