Between Us

Chapter 2 : Desperate Measures

The next morning, silence hung heavy over the breakfast table as Mia chattered away, oblivious to the tension between me and our mother. She giggled and talked animatedly about her latest adventures, but I couldn't bring myself to join in. Instead, I picked at my food, my thoughts consumed by the events of the previous night.

My mother's gestures were cold and distant, her attempts at conversation strained and forced. She placed a cup of coffee beside my plate with a curt motion, her eyes avoiding mine as she settled in beside Mia.

I glanced at the cup, then back at my mother, but she was already engrossed in Mia's lively chatter. With a resigned sigh, I took a sip of the bitter brew, the warmth of the liquid doing little to ease the chill in the air.

Mia's voice broke through my reverie, her words pulling me back to the present. "Eng, look! I made this for you!" she exclaimed, holding up a drawing she had made.

I forced a smile, my mind still elsewhere. "That's great, Mia," I replied absentmindedly.

I pushed my half-empty plate into the sink and grabbed my jacket, determined to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the kitchen. But before I could make my escape, my mother's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, her tone cold and disapproving.

I turned to face her, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. "I'm meeting up with Jax," I replied, my voice tinged with frustration.

Her expression hardened, and she shook her head in disapproval. "You need to stop hanging around with Jax," she said firmly. "He's a bad influence on you. You should be out there looking for a real job instead of getting mixed up in his schemes."

I couldn't help but bristle at her words, a surge of defiance rising within me. "I've got it under control, Mom," I replied, my voice firm.

But my mother's expression remained unyielding, her disapproval casting a shadow over our conversation. "You're so much better than this. You have so much potential. I just don't want to see you throw it all away."

I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt tug at my heart. "I know, Mom," I murmured, unable to meet her gaze. "I'll figure something out, I promise."

After our tense exchange, I leaned in and planted a quick kiss on my mother's forehead, a silent gesture of reassurance before slipping out of the house. Making my way to the driveway, I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia as I laid eyes on my old car, a beat-up relic from a bygone era. It may not have been much to look at, but it was a gift from my father, and I treasured it more than anything.

Firing up the engine, I hit the road, the familiar rumble of the car's motor soothing my frayed nerves. The scenery whizzed by in a blur as I made my way to our rendezvous point.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I spotted Jax leaning against the storefront, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His grin widened as he caught sight of me, and I couldn't help but return the smile as I climbed out of the car and joined him.

"Hey, gorgeous," he greeted, flicking his cigarette butt onto the pavement. "Ready to make some magic happen?"

I chuckled, rolling my eyes at his swagger. "You know it," I replied, falling into step beside him as we headed inside to unload our loot. The familiar smell of incense and dusty books enveloped me, and I felt a rush of adrenaline at the thought of our next big score.

As we entered the shop, we were greeted by our familiar buyer. He was a regular in our little underworld, always willing to take a look at whatever we had to offer.

"Hey, Tony!" Jax called out, flashing a cocky grin. "Got some goodies for you today."

Tony looked up from behind the counter, his eyes lighting up with interest as he spotted us. "Well, well, well, if it ain't my favorite troublemakers," he chuckled, motioning for us to come closer. "What do you two have for me this time?"