If I Die Tomorrow (Sons of Anarachy)

Thirteen

After the night of the dinner things changed. I became busy. Gemma was constantly inviting me out or over to Teller-Moro when I wasn't working and of course I went. How could I not?

I absolutely adored Gemma. She was like the mother I wished my own to be and a friend to me. I spent so much time with her I really considered her to be family. She treated me the same and I couldn't help but be happy with the way things were turning out. Even though I was going against my agreement with Dustin and Collins.

It became normal, almost natural feeling for me to walk right into the Samcro compound. I found myself not even checking if my cousins were around before I did. I'd gotten to the point where I honestly didn't care anymore. Let them kick me out.

Jax had become a constant in my life as well. I'd climbed onto the back of his bike more times than I could count and I loved it. It was safe to say I considered Jax my best friend. A friend that I was massively attracted to but I kept that under wraps. Way under.

Jax escorted me to and from work almost every shift, even if I was already at the compound. He'd also randomly show up during work when it was slow, which was almost always since it's night shift. I was constantly informing him I did have a means of transportation now since he refused to let me give his truck back. His response was a shrug and a smile.

What I didn't understand was why Jax woke up super early just to make sure I made it home safe. It was easily one of the sweetest and chivalrous things any man has ever done but he needed sleep. After the first few times I began to wonder if maybe he was protecting me from another attack.

Some of this club mates had started to tease Jax about his behaviors towards me. Any time I heard them say something he'd wave it off with a smile or cuss back at them. I, on the other hand, turned fifty shades of pink every time. Especially when their comments were vulgar.

Juice and I were still on weird grounds. Awkward is a better word. He'd resorted back to the nervousness around me only worse. It was like that night we shared never happened. I wanted to fix it but didn't know how to go about it. Almost any time I approached him he'd find some excuse to leave.

*~*~*~*

It was late, roughly one in the morning. I generally don't have customers around that hour and I took the opportunity to get some air. The store had been abnormally stuffy all night and it had been raining up until now.

Slipping out the front door, I looked up at the night sky. Only a few stars were visible due to the street lights of Charming. I needed a night away from this podunk town so I could actually see the stars. You never realize how much you miss them until you live someplace that blocks them out.

"Rough night?" A voice asked me from the shadows and I jumped. Looking down the street Juice had appeared.

Juice had both hands in his pockets as he slowly approached. He wore a black hoodie under his cut and a pair of jeans. He easily blended in with the darkness. Briefly I wondered what he was doing out so late but my shock of him approaching me overrode my curiosity.

"No just getting some air. How about you?" He shrugged and stood next to me, leaning up against the building.

I studied him as he lit a cigarette and took a drag, blowing the smoke straight into the air. He looked calm, a little tired maybe and I smelt no trace of alcohol on him. I had no idea where this conversation could lead or what he was feeling. I didn't want to make things awkward by blurting out my question but that's all I could think about.

Staying quiet, I waited for his response. He'd been looking up towards the sky when I saw him smirk. I continued to wait while more questions clouded my head.