He Use To Be A Son Of Anarchy

Chapter Ten: The Creep in the Street

Turns out Mr Teller is all talk.

He stormed out of my apartment that morning and I hadn't seen him since. Obviously he couldn't follow through on his promises, because I was still very much alive thank you very much.

Yes, I'm crazy. Why was I upset that he didn't kill me? Or was I rather upset that he didn't say yes to my suggestion? What the hell was I thinking? A mastermind criminal points a fucking knife at me and my first thought was to ask him to be my fucking muse.

Great Val. Nice going.

I was anyway as good as dead anyway. It was probably just a matter of time. Maybe he would plant a bomb in my car or something. Then by the simple press of a button or sensor going off I would be gone. Boom. No more Valerie Brooks.

But the fact that he didn't set out to kill me immediately did irritate me. Either he trusted I would keep his past a secret and I was getting my story, or he was going to kill me eventually. And like the crazy person I am, I set out to find out what exactly Jax had planned for me.

I knocked on his apartment door and waited. Nothing. I knocked again.

He wasn't home. Or he was hiding. Maybe he even fled. But just as I was about to leave I turned right into him. He had been out for his morning jog around town. His forehead and t-shirt was soaked in sweat. He didn't seem surprised to find me outside his door.

I was just about to open my mouth and make my demands when he said, "Not here," and pushed me into my apartment.

"Don't shove me," I said in a bratty tone and he just shook his head.

"You should stop acting so brave Miss Brooks. What do you want?" he asked after shutting the door.

"My story," I said crossing my arms.

"Well, you're not going to get it here, darling. I told you. I'm no rat. I really thought you'd place a higher value on your life, though," he said and walked slowly towards me.

I dropped my arms to the side and tried to keep my brave façade. I didn't say a thing.

"I'm not giving you anything," he said turning to the door, "Even the slightest hint that I might be the truth behind it all and you and I are both dead."

He opened the door.

"So for God's sake, keep your nose in your own business. But if you are feeling suicidal, feel free to push me even further." He exited and shut the door.

I was fuming after he left. And yet, I couldn't understand how I ever thought in the first place that Jax Teller was going to help me.

***

That afternoon I stopped by the beauty shop to see if I could find Lulu. I was sulking a bit after my episode with Jax and I felt like having some company over might get me in a better mood.

I entered the shop and looked around.

Bertha was busy switching on the dryer above an old lady's hair. The shop was empty apart from the two women. Bertha eyed me nastily when she saw me and I guessed that she thought I wouldn't notice when she suddenly put on an overly fake smile.

"Valerie, right?" she asked.

"Yes," I said, "I was looking for Lulu. Is she here?"

She dropped her smile. "No, she's not. She's home. Caught a nasty stomach bug. Highly contagious. I'd stay clear of her for a couple of days."

The way she said it was too rushed, like she was trying to hide where Lulu really was.

"Anything else?" Bertha asked.

"No," was all I said and hauled ass out of there.

Did she not want me to see Lulu? Was she afraid my "city ways" would somehow taint her daughter? I didn't have much time to think about it.

Suddenly Terry May appeared before me. I was so distracted with trying to figure out what Bertha's issue with me was that I completely forgot to avoid passing his shop.

"Hi," he said.

"Hey," I said and tried to move past him.

"Do you want to come see my shop?" he asked.

My heart was racing. I certainly did not want to be alone with him in his shop. I didn't even like running into him in public.

"I'm actually in a hurry," I tried to say.

"Nonsense," he said, "It won't take long."

My breathing was starting to pick up now too. I nervously scanned the street. It was getting dark. People were either locking up for the day or already at home. No one would even hear me scream.

"No, I really need to go," I said and pushed past him.

He quickly grabbed my arm. My eyes darted from his face to where he was clutching my arm rather tightly. "You have to come see it sometime," he said and smiled sickly.

I pulled my arm from his grip and half ran home. Just outside the apartment building my foot caught on the pavement and I fell hard to the ground. My cell phone which I was holding in my hand lay scattered in pieces on the ground. I picked up the back cover and battery, took a quick look at the cracked screen and headed inside.

Once inside my apartment I locked the door and looked through the peephole to see if he didn't follow me.

The hallway was clear. There wasn't even a sound coming from any of the neighbours. Only then did I properly check the damage done to my phone. I assembled the device, but it refused to turn on. I tossed it onto the couch.

Terry May had psychopath written all over him. And yet he walked around town freely.

Was I really the only one who was creeped out by him? Everything about him screamed serial killer.

Then you had actual criminals, people like Jax Teller, who put on the charm and you never even see behind their masks. At least Terry's psychotic ways was upfront. Jax Teller could kill you with a single swift move of a blade and you'd never see it coming.