Bumper Cars [EDITING]

° twenty four °

- Henley POV -

I was applying at the high school for a job today. I had been planning on it for a while, but I was never completely sure if I'd be staying, but once I held Abel for the first time, I just knew... There was no way I could leave him, ever.

I went in for the interview and it went pretty well. I was almost sure they'd ask questions about my MC connections, but they didn't. I was pretty sure that I got the job, I just had to wait for my background check to go through.

°°°

Jax was actually home before dinner was done today, which really surprised me.

We were sitting and eating.

"So, how'd the interview go ?", he asked.

"I didn't tell you... How'd you know ?", I replied.

"I've got connections."

"Yeah, your connections start and end with your mother, huh ?"

He laughed.

"Yeah. She told me about it. Wanted to see how I felt."

"How do you feel ?"

"I'm happy for you. I know you've missed working."

"How does your mother feel ?"

"Not that it matters... You know how she is. Thinks the further you get away from the club, the more outside voices in your head."

"I love Gemma like she's my own mom, but she's seriously twisted, sometimes."

We both laughed.

It was a nice day in general.

°°°

I was getting stuff for my office at the school. I got the job. I'll start in the beginning of the new semester. I was trying to decide between staplers, when my phone rang.

"It's Jax, baby... Can you come to the clubhouse ?", he said as soon as I picked up the phone.

"Uh, sure... Is everything okay ?", I asked.

"Yeah. I'll fill you in when you get here", he said, hanging up.

I hurried up and checked out. Then I rushed to the clubhouse.

°°°

When I got there, I went straight to Jax's room, assuming he'd be there.

I was right.

"What's going on Jackson ?", I asked him.

"Have you talked to Opie or Donna ?", he asked me.

"No. Last time I talked to Donna she was telling me she was thinking about taking a break from Ope and heading to her mom's", I said, truthfully.

"Can you call her mom ?", he asked me.

I was very confused, but I called Mrs. Lernor, Donna's mom. She said that Donna was there for a few days, but left a few days ago.

"She left her mom's a few days ago", I told Jax as soon as I hung up the phone.

He made a face that scared me.

"What the hell is going on, Jackson ?", I asked him.

"I think that ATF is setting Ope up to look like a rat. And I think Clay is falling for it...", he said, quietly.

That terrified me. Rats die. End of discussion.

"Opie would never ever rat on the club. The club is life. He was willing to lose his marriage for this club", I said, quickly.

"I know that, but you know how Clay is..."

I couldn't breathe. The thought of something happening to Opie terrified me to no end. I needed some air. And a smoke.

"I'm gonna go get some air, babe", I said quietly as I left the room.

°°°

I was on my 3rd cigarette when I saw one of the last people I ever thought I'd see.

Opie's mom, Mary.

When Mary left and took Opie... She left me with my dad. I've never fully forgiven her for that. Not only did she take me from my brother, but she basically said 'Fuck You, you're not my kid. Stay here.'

"Mary ?", I asked as she walked up to me and Gemma.

"What'd my son do now ?", she asked.

"What are you talking about ?"

"I just got a call from the Stockton Department of Justice to pick up the kids. If I'm schlepping my fat ass 70 miles. I wanna know why."

I couldn't breathe. I went and sat at Gemma's desk, while she talked to Mary.

A few minutes later she walked in...

"Ope would never rat, Gem", I said.

"I know that... It's probably just a misunderstanding, baby", Gemma said, in a voice that said she didn't even believe what she was saying.

"He wouldn't rat", I said again, mostly to myself.

°°°

I was at the hospital later that night when I got a phone call. It was Donna.

"Oh, my God. Donna where the hell have you been ?", I asked her before she could even speak.

"It doesn't matter... I'm gonna try to accept this life", she said. I could tell she'd been crying.

"Is everything okay, D ?", I asked her.

"I don't wanna leave and take the kids. I don't wanna be Mary. I've gotta stay and try with Opie. Even if that means accepting the club", she said.

"I think that's amazing, Donna", I said, surprised that I ever heard that come out of her mouth.

"I just had to tell you. Everything's good, Hen", she said, hanging up the phone.

I smiled internally.

No more half-in, half-out.

It's safer for my brother that way.