You save me - I save you: Effort (Part 14)
(Juice & Reader)
warnings: mentions of drugs, passion
“Do you want a paper bag?” The cashier, a young guy with a red cap and braces, is friendly and smiles at you. “Yes, that would be lovely”, you smile back ‘cause you bet that this little dude never had a girlfriend or even a date. So you fill up your karma account and ogle at him. “32 dollars and 76 pennies please, madam.” You giggle and give him your credit card. “Thank you”, he keeps on being friendly. “Uh, madam?”, he speaks to you while you check your messages at the mobile. “Mhhh?”, you don’t even look up to him. “It’s not working.” Now you look at him again: “Oh…Uh..try this one!”, you give him another, but unfortunately the same. “Maybe the reader is not working…”, he looks at him and begins to restart it. Right now, you just want to sink in the ground. No cash in your pockets, handbag or purse. “No no, I think it’s my card – I just moved here, you know. I’m sorry.” You stumble and you not mind the tiny detail, that you’ve been back for weeks.
“Maybe there is still some cocaine? Clean it up, sweetie, then it will work!” Gemma advises the boy, who looks a little bit confused on your credit card and then back to you and Gemma.
“Take this, hun.” She places a 50 dollar bill at the cash desk. Gemma nods at the guy and looks you over. The cashier hands Gemma the change over, but she pulls it in your purse, which you still hold in your hand: “Keep the odd money. You need it, I see.” She takes one of the bags, turns around and walks out of the store. You fallow her. “Thank you, Gem. I don’t no what the hell is wrong. I’ll give it back to you, I promise.” Gemma just shakes her head, but not turns around. “Better open the trunk!” You do it, Gemma and you put the bags inside. Gem closes the trunk of your car, put a hand against it: “You come home? Or do I have to push?” You roll your eyes.
“Gem?”, you knock at the door of the office. “Come in!” She pushes her glasses on the nose and waves you in. “Here please.” You lay a 50 dollar bill at her desk. “Thank you for helping out.” “Who did you give a blowjob for it?” She’s not changing her expression. “Gemma please, I already had a shit day. I do not need your sarcastic comments.” She just gives you a cigarette and a lighter after she has light her own. “What’s up, hun? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I can see in your eyes.” Gemma, the one who knows everything.
“I’m fucking broke. Just can’t find a job.” You puff. “I can do what I want. The 30.000 I had for the restart here, are gone. I gave some to Wendy, at grandma’s house a lot had to be repaired, the rental fee for it, my car, the penalty from my deal in NY, Ally and the shit with Stahl….Not to mention the money the club gets from me for the caution.”
“Do not worry about the caution.” Gemma encourages you. “Do you know …”, she breaths out and the whole office is fulled with smoke, “what I really don’t understand? Why you always to proud to ask for help.”
“You have your own shit to do and to worry about…”
“We are like a family. I know you since the day of your birth, honey.” She places a hand at your upper arm.
“Good, then tell me what has really happened in NY.”
“Nothing.”, you lie. You know Gemma and you know, that it’s always better to deny that you are hiding something. Makes it easier for you to avoid, that someone gets to close to you.
“Nothing?!” Gem repeats and knows exactly that you have lied.
“I don’t like the memories, Gem. Because the tears would come easily, when I would talk about it. It’s a constant battle. A battle between remembering and forgetting. So never ask me again.” You get up and leave without any further word.
“When does [Y/N] finally come?” Kenny makes a boring face. Being at the garage with his dad and some of the others is always fun, but only if it does not take to long. Opie grins. “Dad?” “She is in the office. She will be right here.” “Why do you have always dates with [Y/N], but I do not?”, Tig tousles Kenny’s hair. “'Cause I’m kinda cool and you are not!” Everyone burst into loud laughter and Opie kisses Kenny at the cheek: “That’s my boy!” Kenny turns his face away: “[Y/N]”, he jumps from the old oil barrel and runs to you. “Save me! They are all boring!” “Pretty fast the little guy”, Jax looks after him and smiles. Kenny is clutching your leg and looks up to you: “I want ice cream. Let’s go eat ice cream! [Y/N]? Today in preschool…” The words just bubble out of him. You cuddle him and wave to the boys in the garage before you and Kenny go to get some ice cream.
“I don’t get it. I really don’t get it. WHY don’t you just call him?” Donna sips at her coke and rocks the swing on the playground. You rock the other swing next to her: “Uhh I don’t know. Donna reaches out for your mobile. “Donna!”, you try to grab it, but Donna hides it behind her back. “What’s your problem? I don’t get it. Really! You always push him away.” “That’s not true!”, you dispute. “Of course it is. And do not tell me anything else. You always push him away, when there exists a small chance to clarify your fling.” You nod your head and try to reach your mobile again. “Don’t deny it! Why was there no second date after the first? Why did you run after the first night together in the early morning hours? Why have you not answered his calls and messages? Why did you send him home after the BBQ? You always push him away from you. The poor little boy! [Y/N], you destroy what might be very beautiful.” You sign: “Maybe it’s just something physical?” “No, I know you. Your not one of the girls that quickly goes to bed with somebody.” Silence. Donna places a hand at your thigh. “What are you afraid of?” Silence. “[Y/N]?” “You know the club, the club life, the risks…”, you whisper, “…maybe I’m just afraid to learn that grandma is right…maybe I’m just afraid, that I love somebody more then he loves me?…maybe I’m just afraid that I maybe lose somebody, who I really love, again? That he breaks down all the walls I’ve build…” Donna smiles softly: “You will never know, if you not try…Life is short [Y/N], especially in this club, there is no time to leave important words unsaid.” She stands up to look after Kenny and places your mobile on the swing.
Friday: party time at the club house, party time for you with your girls.
Everyone is hanging around: Outside at the picnic table, in front of the entrance, at the bar, around the pole. The dust of cigarettes, cigars, weed, heat, sweat, perfume and spilled drinks is in the air. Sometimes someone stuck with his shoes to the floor ‘cause it is sticky and dirty. Some chicks dancing, the music is loud and beats out of the speakers. Laughter and whooping screams ring out. One have to go outside every half hour otherwise one would stifle inside.
“Damn, we need an air conditioner.” Jax steps out of the clubhouse to some of the others, who smokes outside. “Maybe you should just air your balls.” Tig giggles. “Blow…he should have them blow.” Bobby grins. “You have a great selection tonight, that’s for sure.” He leans over the table and looks after one of the girls. “Elvis is a horny dog tonight!” Ope lays an arm around Bobby.
“Where is [Y/N]?”, Chibs changes the topic. “How did you get from blowing over to be horny to [Y/N]?” Opie looks at him. “That doesn’t surprise me. I mean it’s close…” Sack tries to explain it, but soon gets a “Shut up” from Opie. “She’s with some friends in Stockton tonight.” “She skips one of our famous parties? Damn, the little one really has to be fed up with us!” Tig moans. “No, she is fed up with you.” Chibs laughs. “I hope she is good as gold.” Tig is concerned. “I told her she should be!” Opie tells the others and uncaps his beer.
Your girls dance, flirt and drink. They try to cheer you, they try to get you on the dance floor and they think you are seriously ill 'cause you always love to dance in this little dirty Hip Hop clubs with cool guys, who like flirting. It’s the third location tonight. First you have been at an Italian restaurant, then in a Pub and now at 2 am you are here, where people rubbing there bodies against each other to the beats.
Whats App – Chats – New Chat – Pick out a name – scroll down in the contacts – Juice – Cursor – blinking – blinking - blinking – you stare at it and try to decide what you write - Hi Juice, it’s me, [Y/N]. - This is shit. – erase – new try – Hi, how you’re doing? - It’s not getting better. - erase – Hi – erase – Well then? - erase – I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my live. We should get married and should have a few kids and live happily ever after. And no I’m not drunk. - Haha, nice try my mind. Nice try. - erase
Emily sits down beside you on the bar stool: “Still the outlaw?” You look at her and roll your eyes. “He drives me out of my mind.” “Mhh, this is very concerning. Normally YOU drive the guys out of their minds.” She looks you over the shoulder and on your phone: “You did not write anything.” “I don’t know what to write. It all sounds stupid.” She sighs: “The problems of a girl in love.” “I’m not in … “, you stop to disagree. Emily smiles bright.
Juice sits on an old palette in the garage, thinking about you. He is disappointed. He thought that you were there tonight. He looked forward to it all week. He is not figuring you out. Your behavior is strange: When you are together you are the sweetest girl like at the day you have spend together at the sea and in the club or last Sunday, when he has joined the Winston’s at their BBQ. And then suddenly you send him away, disappear and don’t look at him again.
“Hey, brother.”, Chibs sits down beside him and hands him a beer over. “What am I supposed to do with you?” Juice pressed his lips together. “Damn, this girls kills you.” Chibs moans and he’s looking for cigarettes in his pockets, but takes one of Juice’s 'cause he could not find his own. “Do you want do know what is really funny? I can not blame you. She is gorgeous.” “Maybe that’s the problem.”, Juice lowers his head and plays with his shoestrings. “Look at her, look at me”. A mocking laughter comes out of his throat. “She could have anyone she wants. Why should she pick me? A stupid, childish outlaw with nothing I can offer to her.” Chibs turns his face to his brother: “'Cause she does not want anyone. She wants somebody who falls for her and not for her body, her beautiful face or the fact that she would be an amazing trophy wife. Haven’t you realize that she does not like it when someone calls her pretty?” Juice nods and he remembers your first encounter. “If you look at here closely you can see that, every now and then, her smile falters and she becomes another person for a few seconds; a sad person, a person who is broken and damaged, and after this few seconds, she is smiling and joking around again, she almost looks like she is actually happy, but if you look at her closely”, Chibs nudges Juice, “you can see how spurious her smile really is and you can see all the wreckage behind her fake smile and her beautiful face. And that’s why she doesn’t like it, get called beautiful, 'cause non of them who say it to her, looking behind her appearance. Make an effort, Juice, she’s worth it.” “I’m afraid now.”, Juice smiles, “Since when do you know so well all this shit about women’s psyche?”
Beep, Beep… Juice still smiling and rummages his cell phone out of his pocket. [Y/N]. Her name is on the display. He gulps. Chibs puts a hand on his shoulder, stands up, pours out his cigarette and leaves. Juice opens the message: “Sacramento Kings vs. Mavericks, tomorrow, you and me?”