A short, bittersweet story of friends turned lovers, turned strangers who find their way back together and attempt to get it right. AU: Jax, Tig, Juice, Kozik and Kip are still alive, otherwise basically follows the rest of the show.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
July, 2017
One:
My seventeenth had gone according to plan. It was a great night while I was surrounded by my nearest and dearest friends in our favourite divebar that didn't ask questions or take a second glance at our fake IDs. They didn't look close to real, but the bartender was happy for the large tips that we were sending his way with every shout, so the drinks kept flowing.
I stubbed out my cigarette and threw it in one of the ashtrays on the table in front of me, leaning back on my seat to enjoy the fresh air. It was a habit that I needed to get out of, something that I only did when I'd gotten to the state between tipsy and drunk, but I'd needed it.
Peter, a friend that I'd had since I went to high school, had been trying to touch me all night and he'd been grating on my nerves. I knew that he hated me smoking and wouldn't follow me outside, so I'd used the excuse that I needed nicotine to try and get some space.
He'd been trying to take me on a date for three months and was getting more frustrated every time that I told him no, something that he wasn't used to in our world. Being the Mayor's kid got you out of a lot of situations and seemed to turn everybody's lips up, even if it was a fake smile.
"Jazzy, what's taking so long?"
Think of the Devil and he shall appear.
I opened my eyes and took in the sight of Peter, with his skin tight jeans and button down shirt that clung to his chest. He was still lean in a teenage way that happened because of his fast metabolism and Captaincy of the school's football team, but he'd been beginning to grow biceps and he liked to show that off.
His green eyes were narrowed in my direction, blonde hair gelled back with too much product, and he had his arms crossed around his chest like I'd done something wrong. Like it wasn't my birthday, and I wasn't allowed to do what I wanted.
"I was just finishing my smoke, Peter." I let out a long sigh and stood up from the picnic table. I felt utterly ridiculous in the tiara that I had on my head that he'd insisted I wear after he'd given it to me on our drive over, but I hadn't wanted to cause a scene before the night even started, so I'd put it on. "I'm coming back in now."
His lips pulled up in distaste when he eyed the cigarette I'd just finished. "You really need to quit, Jazzy. It's filthy, it makes you look cheap."
Once upon a time his words would have stung, but they flew over my head like I hadn't heard them. He'd been saying a lot about my choices in the past three months while he'd been 'grooming' me to be the perfect girl, someone that he could have by his side. Apparently the fact that I didn't want to be by his side meant little.
"I like it." I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. "It makes me calm."
He shook his head in annoyance but didn't say anything, just kept staring at me from a few feet away.
