Wandering Romance

Where Do We Go Now?

Life had moved on and Aubrey doesn't really try to spare that much thought to Jax Teller, their first conversation at the bonfire, or more so his sly way of starting a conversation.

But it's hard not to as the town is burning like wildfire with gossip about how he is handling Tara Knowles' departure for San Diego to college. From what people had been able to pick up from that wreckage was that it was a nasty split.

Although considering how the two used to argue in public, Aubrey wasn't exactly sure what constituted as nasty, but it was bad enough that Tara had left in the protection of the night without a goodbye. Apparently, Jax had to find out she left when he stopped by her father's place. Tara's dad wasn't all that sad his daughter left without even a goodbye or warning to him. Instead, the drunken man had taken the time to gloat in Jax's face about it and how his daughter should be proud to twist him the fuck up.

That conversation had ended with a neighbor calling Charming PD to stop Jax from beating the drunken man to death.

Even after the first few weeks of Tara's departure, the so-called love of Jax's life hadn't even called Jax or wrote him a letter just to tell him she made it to school or anything.

Aubrey thinks that is a little nasty considering the history of the two.

And if gossip is true, it seems Jax is handling the breakup like every heartbroken fool by sleeping through his grief. Aubrey wishes men knew that cheap knock-offs and one-night stands were only going to make the ache worse. Jax was only going to dig a deeper hole for his grief to wallow in as she is sure he has been comparing every girl to the pale dark hair girl. She's surprised his dick hasn't probably been rubbed into a nub or even functions not that she would really care.

It's almost funny how predictable men are.

Aubrey tries to feel bad for him because in a way he loved Tara. Slapped her with a tattoo proclaiming to Charming – the world – that Tara was his, but Jax didn't realize he didn't own Tara. Tara couldn't be owned. Her cage had been broken for a long time away before he came along. He couldn't fix that broken gate to keep her in.

She wonders how he could have been this oblivious about the so-called love of his life. Or maybe he just chose to ignore it. He believed their love – bond – would be enough to keep her satisfied. Their love would've kept her in Charming and they would live some fairy tale.

But she can't find any empathy in his worldview. She finds his world to be a little sexiest. If he had loved Tara he would have been supportive of her need to leave Charming and become a surgeon. If they really loved each other, they could have tried to make it work. And if the distance proved too much, they still had time to come back to each other. Give them time to grow and experience the world. But she has other things to worry about than Jax's broken heart.

...

She doesn't see Jax again until December

She wonders how attending a wedding is helping him with his mood and grieving process as he stands next to his best friend.

He doesn't look too bad. She's taken back by his buzz cut and she laughs at the notion of him getting a post-breakup haircut. She can tell he is exhausted and possibly a little bit drunk. She guesses it's a good thing he isn't staggering on his feet. His alcohol tolerance must be through the roof. But he looks good in a blue plaid shirt and dark-washed jeans. She rolls her eyes that none of the bikers really dressed up outside of Opie, but it works for them – him.

She was surprised that she was even invited to the wedding.

She's always been friendly to Opie. They haven't spoken much since their lives were separated from high school, but he remembers her. They're able to make simple small talk. He promises to change the oil in her car and check out the squeaking noise her brakes make if he stops by the diner or they pass each other in Charming.