Continuation of First Chapter:

"What is it about, Jax?"

He ran a hand down his face and looked at me with eyes full of sorrow.

He didn't have to say anything. I knew what this was about.

He wanted this to come to an end, but he was struggling as he searched for the words to in fact say it aloud.

"You're breaking up with me", I said in a whisper.

"I... I just think we should start seeing different people. We can still be friends, Ra."

How can I be friends with him after this? My mind and body will always yearn for more because we had more than just a friendship for so long.

"I know it's not just that. It's because of the shade of my skin. It would be easier if you were dating a white girl, right?"

"That's not why," he moved his hands around my body, trying to convince me otherwise.

I stepped backwards, sliding myself out of his hands.

"I understand, Jax. These past few months have been rough on you. The comments from your friends and family, and then last week when some asshole scratchin' up your bike over us dating."

Jax tried playing it off that he didn't give a shit, saying over and over that he could just get a new paint job for it. But, when he saw that someone wrote decided to write "Nigger Lover" across his most beautiful possession, I knew that had to be one of the last or final straw.

"Ra, don't hate me."

"I don't. I don't hate you. This is for the best," I put the best smile I could on my face.

This was fucking ripping Jax apart. This was not how tonight was supposed to go. Maybe he can take back everything he just said and start again. Give her the ring and take her back to his house. Show everyone how much he means to her. But a part of him, a small part, a powerful part, wanted this to come to a close. He was going to hurt her eventually anyway. There are very attractive girls his age that were interested in him. Was Raquel really going to be enough after a while? Sean was right, they are only eighteen.

This is the age to explore.

He really was going through with this. He was hurting the sweetest girl he knew. A girl who genuinely made him happy.

But this was for the best.

Isn't it?

The young couple stood in silence for what felt like eternity.

I adjusted the bag of clothes on my shoulder, not sure what else to say after this.

What does one say after a breakup?

"I guess we will see each other around," I stated.

"Yeah, we will. "

He pulled me into a tight embrace. I felt a harsh stinging in the back of my eyes as he began to pull away.

"Do you want me to drive you home?"

"No, I'm okay. I only live three blocks away, remember?"

"You sure?"

I nodded.

"I'll see ya."

I turned around, and started to walk home. The stinging in my eyes got worse, and tears started to fall. I tried to keep it together, but the feeling you get after a breakup is right next to losing a loved one. You feel cheated, and you wonder if you could have done anything to prevent what just happened.

Present

"Ra, what the hell are you doing up there?"

Tanya's voice broke me from the painful memory. I stood to my feet and put the picture of me in another box. I picked up the one box I dropped and went down the attic stairs.

"Hey, is everything okay?," she carefully took the busted box from me, and went into my former bedroom.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It just took forever to find the pictures. There is so much junk up there. I don't know why my mom still has half that shit."

We sat down on the bed and began to thumb through the pictures. I leaned over and took her wrist, glancing at her watch.

"Damn, it's seven. I have to be at the school by eight."

Yes, I am a teacher. A fifth-grade teacher at that.

It may not seem like a flex to others, but it was to me as I truly loved what I do for a living.

"Really? I'm sure the kids will be fine with you being absent for the day."

It's great for them, but not for me. I need to make money."

"Why didn't you become a D.A. like your mom?"

"Because I love kids. "

She smiled.

"So, I'm guessing when the right guy comes along, you gonna pop out some kids?"

"Yeah, as many as my body is willing to give me. Be sure you lock up the house before you leave."

Tanya nodded.

"Will do. I'll call you later."

I went home and got ready for work.

Jax got out of bed and went to the bathroom to take a piss. When he finished, he glanced at the naked woman in his bed.

Cassie, Callie. Something like that. He was too shit faced to remember.

He usually does not bring his one night stands back to his actual home.

But he was in desperate need of a release late last night when he returned from a delayed gun run, and his place was the closest.

He rubbed his forehead with his hand. He needed aspirin, and he needed it now.

He picked up the shirt he had on the floor and put slipped on the used article of clothing. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of pajama pants.

Jax made his way to the kitchen, hearing tiny movement.

He walked into the kitchen and smiled at the sight before him.

Abel was on his tippy toes on one of the kitchen's wooden chairs, trying to reach the milk in the fridge.

"Hey, my little monster."

Abel turned around and smiled. He got off the chair, and went over to his father, hugging his waist.

"Hi, daddy. I can't get the milk."

Jax smiled and opened the fridge, putting the milk on the table.

"Abel, do you have.."

Abel showed him the box of cereal, with a bowl and spoon.

"I can reach these."

Jax poured some cereal into a bowl for his son, along with some milk.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," he bent down, kissing the top of Abel's head.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Is that lady my new mommy?"

Jax forgot Abel saw Callie, Cassie last night in the midst of his son waking up to go use the bathroom.

"No. No, son she's not."

"Good. I don't like her," Abel frowned and took another bite of his cereal.

I parked my car across the street from the teacher's parking lot. I never parked it in the teachers' lot. There were far too many cars on top of each other. I got out and Kevin, one of the band teachers stopped me from walking toward the school.

"Morning, Raquel."

"Morning."

"Is your class still doing the bake sale?"

"Yeah," I replied, a little confused as to why he wanted to know about the bake sale first thing.

"Cool."

I have a strong feeling that Kevin did have a thing for me. He was just too scared to do anything about it due to his recent divorce.

"Yeah."

We stopped at the cross walk, and we saw the Sons of Anarchy fly past us.

I shook my head in disappointment.

You would think they would yield in a school zone.

"I don't understand why the police has that gang on the street."

"Club."

"I'm sorry?"

"It's a club, not a gang."

"Oh."

We walked across the street, and passed Matthew, one of my students, sitting in front of the school.

"Morning, Matthew."

"Hi, Ms. Patterson."

"Come on, sweetie. Class is about to start."

He waited till his teacher walked past. He pulled out the KG-9, leaving his book bag and notebook at the bench.