The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most - An SOA Fan Fiction

Chapter 4

The detective in Denver assigned to Amelia's missing person case was satisfied by simply hearing from Chief Unser. He quickly put the case to rest after a call to Keith, Amelia's soon to be ex-husband, and filed the report away. Although it wasn't necessary professionally, he felt personally it was best to not give Keith her exact location in California, there was a reason she didn't tell him where she was going. That didn't matter though, just knowing she had returned home was all that was necessary, he'd find her.

In the same manner as Amelia had, albeit with less fear, Keith quickly packed a bag and began his journey west...

"Yeah, I heard the whole conversation and I checked the status of the report, it's been closed. She put it to bed, it's all good." Juice gave, what he hoped would be his last, update on Amelia to Tig. He'd slowly become her personal security guard and over the few days they were attached she'd gone from bitchy to simply silent. He was happy to be done with the detail.

Tig was delighted to hear it; he grinned and hugged Juice forcefully. "Great, good job, thank you."

"No problem." He paused and scratched at his chin to keep from blurting out her news but it didn't work. "She's showing some editor her work somewhere up around Woodbridge and Lodi."

"Really? She didn't tell me." Any disappointment he felt from her leaving him out was easily eclipsed by fatherly pride. He knew she hated such adult things, real jobs, bills and the like but she was doing it. Maybe, hopefully, she had really changed this time. "Go with her."

"She's not going to want me to. I think she's already nervous."

"I didn't ask what you thought, if you won't go, I will."

"I'll go." The speed with which he answered didn't shock anyone but himself. He'd been miserable every day with her, there was no reason to jump at the request. "Don't think she'll want Daddy following her on a job interview."

---

"Oh come on, really?" Amelia stopped on the front step when she saw Juice on his bike parked right out by her rental car. Frazzled, she sighed and chose not to fight it, she was already sick with nerves without engaging in some little battle she would never win. "Get in, I don't want someone accidently seeing you following me."

Juice chuckled at her overly anxious behavior and hopped off his bike. "Relax, you have to be confident or no one's going to hire you."

"Thanks," she tossed her purse in the backseat and slammed the door. "Make me even more nervous why don't you?" They both got in the car and Amelia looked at him with a tiny frown. "I need this."

"Don't tell them that. Act as if, fake it till you make it, and all that shit. No one wants a bitchy, scared little girl. Now drive."

Craning her neck, she gave him an evil little stare as she started the car. "It's hard to find good help these days. My dad send you with me?"

"Don't be so pissed, queenie, it was him or me. I was just trying to save you some embarrassment." He reached back to grab the large leather bound book from the seat behind her.

Inwardly she smiled, it was a very sweet gesture especially considering how they bickered. "Thanks." Glancing in the mirror she saw his fingers on the book and quickly put a hand on his shoulder. "Please don't. It's just my portfolio."

"I want to see it." He froze but didn't bring his arm up from the back seat. "Please may I look at your pictures?"

"Photos, if you're going to look at least call them photos." Finally, she put her hand back on the wheel right before turning onto a much busier street heading out of Charming. She kept her eyes on the road, traffic was heavy, but wanted desperately to examine his reaction. "It's boring shit." She said. "I hate it, I much prefer different subjects but this'll pay the bills, it's steady. That's more professional shit for interviews. My better work is back in Denver, I had to leave it."

Juice could hear how heartbroken she was by that. "Well, I think these are great and I think you'll knock this guy dead. Don't worry about it." His face was down as he scanned the prints again but his eyes were angled up, watching her expression as she drove. "Why'd you leave it?"

"I forgot them." She said, another lie, the corners of her mouth turning down ever so slightly. "I doubt he'll send my hard drive back and he probably torched the prints."

He knew she was lying and as much as he wanted to call her out, it would only force her into herself even more. He nodded and accepted her story, ideas flittering through his brain. "What do you like to shoot?" Shutting the book he slipped it back where he had gotten it from. "You said that was boring," he explained.

"Stuff," she shrugged. "Whatever catches my eye, I guess? I don't just shoot, I actually wanted to be a writer. I have stacks of notebooks with shitty poetry in them, sketches and shit. It always helped clear my brain."

They chatted for the ride, sarcastic and snippy but she was opening up even if it was just about music and such trivial things. Shifting the car into park she turned her body toward him with a shy smile. "Thanks, you helped with the nerves." He beamed, his wide overly excited smile made her giggle as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "I'll be back, hopefully I don't have to wait too long."

Juice watched as she jumped out and grabbed her things. Sticking his head out the window he shouted as she reached the front of the building. "Good luck, Amelia."

He waited for a while, flipping radio stations and fooling around with his phone before growing impatient. First he just opened the door, then he decided to actually get out and move around, he hated feeling so lazy. Taking small laps around the car as he chain smoked Juice wondered if she either had to wait or if the interview was really going that well. "Maybe she just made him give her the job," he joked to himself. There was such a barrier between them and it irritated Juice no end especially after all the time they'd been spending together. The tiny parts that she allowed to sparkle through on the trip up only intensified his fascination with her and it became harder todeny. She was beautiful and he had been taken with her that first night, only to have that interest quickly dashed by her harsh approach. Juice had to remember, all signs pointed to some kind of sorted history with Jax, it was the main point of concern for him.

"Hey!" He turned, hearing her voice, to see her sprinting across the lot toward him. "I got it! They hired me!" Pouncing on him, she giggled manically as she hugged him. "I can't believe it. I mean, it's only part time type stuff but still, it's a real job!" Drawing her head back, she looked at him with wide, excited eyes. "Sorry, I just got carried away."

Juice kissed her on the cheek, quick and innocent, but as he pulled away, his lips brushed hers and it sent Amelia into a rage. She shoved him back, her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at him. She took it the wrong way, the worst way and he was going to pay for that miscommunication. "I'm sorry," Juice was stepping away to put even more distance between them. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"Don't touch me again."

"I won't."

"I'm sorry I pushed you," she said as the anger drained from her, replaced by immense sadness. "Just, don't do that."

"Okay, I'm sorry." Amelia ignored him and slipped into the passenger seat, completely closed off, while Juice exhaled slowly and made his way back to the car. "Want me to drive and just take you home?" She nodded and handing him the keys forced a smile. "Congratulations." He offered.

She nodded and smiled. "Thanks. Let's keep that little freak out between us, okay?"

"Sure, it's our secret."

They sat in silence, Amelia watched the passing trees and buildings while Juice tapped out a few melodies on the wheel as he drove. Cursory glances at her throughout the trip didn't reveal much so as they pulled up at the house Juice made one last attempt. "You should come tonight, get out, loosen up. There's a wrap party at Cara Cara."

"No," Amelia was smiling now. "I think I'll let my dad prowl without his adult daughter hanging around awkwardly. Besides, porn stars aren't really the people I prefer to hang out with."

"What about bikers?"

"I'm good, thanks." She grabbed her bag from behind him and took her keys from the ignition. "Have fun, Juice."