Running Scared

If there was anyone that Jacks could be himself with, it was her, hands down. She was probably one of the only ones he trusted enough. Sometimes, he did things just to get reactions of out people and she was no exception. "Would you have wanted me to change," he asked with a grin. He was pretty sure he knew the answer to that one. Jacks frowned and shook his head. He didn't think so. In fact, he knew he wouldn't be. His own father had been horrible and the only example he had. He wouldn't put a child through what he'd been put through, he was so afraid he'd be his father's son. Jacks wouldn't hear of it. He didn't care who it was to say it, he'd kick the ass of anyone that called her a slut.

"No, but if I remember right, you liked to try." He grinned over at her in a cheeky fashion but the other men in the gang had taken advantage of his vehicular knowledge. "Yeah, I know it bothered him when I asked for permission to leave but it's done me good and I'm back." Yes, he'd gotten the cliff notes about all of that. Now it was the Beasts and the Angels. It'd been in the making when he left and he'd since then made sure to make right with his new affiliation. The tattoo of the Beast's emblem was still healing, in fact. "Just what I needed to come back to, huh," he asked dryly.

"Of course not, I love my Jackson just the way he is," she smiled up at him, running her hands through his shortly cropped hair. She'd always liked the way his hair felt beneath her fingers, it was short, but soft, like a puppy's. Hahaha, Jackson. I don't know what I'm talking about. To her, Jackson would be a great dad, she had been raised in a horrible family situation, abandoned by her father, given away by her mother, raised by a woman who was nearing 60 years old when she was five. Her only male influence had been Cloud and her twin, and what did that do? Not much except make her a bit of a tomboy. So to her, it wouldn't be a matter of genetics, it would be a matter of not making her parents mistakes with her own children.

"You know you loved teaching me how to drive," she smirked back at him, pushing on his shoulder playfully. "I used to sit on your lap like a little kid, but you know what? It helped." She was a damn good driver now. "Well...I'm glad you're back, Jacks," she told him honestly, leaning forward to cup his face and kiss his nose innocently. No reason to just throw him into her reputation right away, let him think she was still the little girl she'd used to be for awhile, the innocent one. "Yeah, but I know you, Jackson. You're itching for a fight, you love the thrill of this life, huh?" It'd sure drawn her in fast.

He indulged in the small shiver that moved down his spine. He loved it when girls played with his hair like that. There was just something about it that felt really good. It was probably a good thing that she didn't mention the whole puppy thing but it wouldn't have bothered him too much. As for genetics, he wasn't sure if it'd be nature or nurturing that really make him a bad father but he didn't want to risk it. Besides, he was a high school drop out with a GED. Who would want someone like him to be the father of their child?

"Yeah but that was because it wasn't my car," he grinned. No one drove the Chevy. Who better to teach you to drive than a wheel man, though? He was like the Transporter except he was younger, better looking and he didn't have that annoying accent. Yes, annoying. It would have been different if he'd picked one but South African accents annoyed Dodge. They were hard to place. Were they Germanic or British?! Whatever, he knew plenty of girls that found any accent hot. He poked her side when she kissed his nose and he grinned. "Yeah, but that's not the point, now is it?" He had been thinking about that, too. Jacks knew that he'd never be able to take the fight out of himself.

"I think it is," she told him seriously, her hands now resting on his knees as she looked up at him. "Why else would you come back to this life if there wasn't something about it that kept you going?" She was a sensible little thing, that was for sure. She saw every side of a story, whether it had one or not, and when it came to being real or living in a fantasy, she pretended to see the things that were actually there. "It doesn't really matter, though." She didn't want to upset him, so she changed the subject deftly. "I've got my favorite boy here, he's safe and healthy, I feel like a proud mother," she smirked, pinching his cheek patronizingly. Lexi liked to baby Jackson just a little bit sometimes, she did the same thing with Cloud and most of the boys in the gang. Their "little mama" was a good girl to go to in time of need, and when she had matured. she had really matured fast. A lot of responsibility came with being in a gang, and even though she was often the spoiled princess with them, she knew just how to work the system and beat it when she needed to.

He put his hands on top of hers and shrugged. It was but it wasn't. He would have been fine if he hadn't made the realization that fighting was the best thing he could do. Of course, it was more than that. The Beasts were the best family he had. They were the only ones that cared about him. He was just glad that she was willing to change the subject so he didn't think about it too much. "My mother," he asked in a playfully disgusted manner. He wondered if she really did feel that way about him. Not necessarily like his mother but like family like that... She really was like the mother of the gang. Her brother ran it and she was like the top chick. He didn't go to her when he had problems to talk but when something just wasn't right with him, he'd go to hang out with her just to feel better. He was just glad that she didn't say anything about him not going to school yet. Or ever. "So what are you doing in this dump?"

"Yep, yo mama," she squeezed his hands tightly within her own. She thought of Jackson as family. As one of her brothers who'd been gone for awhile and now was back to run the family business. Except, normally girls weren't attracted to their brothers. Gross. She just loved him, that was all. "Yogalates," she said matter-of-factly, gesturing backwards to the mat on the ground. "Want to join me? It makes you limber," she smirked lightly, the sexual connotations there. "I mean...it's good for your...soul." That was all she could come up with. "What about you Jackson? What have you been doing since you got in?"

Just hearing her say that brought a grin to his lips. It just didn't look right coming from her. "Yoga who?" Okay, so the girl was into some pretty weird things now. He'd hear of Yoga but not whatever the hell that was. He glanced over her shoulder to the mat and shrugged but then shook his head at her offer. "I'm limber enough, trust me," he grinned, figuring it'd gross her out enough. It was better than the comment he would have made about him being soulless. "I just got in a couple of days ago... Unless you mean here. I'm just trying to figure out if any of this junk is worth saving." He only had so much room in his apartment.

"Yogalates! It's a mixture of Yoga and Pilates, it's so cool." She laughed, shrugging. It seemed dumb, but it was a great exercise, and an even better way to stay in shape. "Are you just working now, then? Going to school or anything? Or did you already graduate? Oh! You could help me with my homework!" She seemed so excited about it for him, that she didn't even think of the possibility that he might have just dropped school altogether. For her? It wasn't a possibility. "Well, I can help you pack?" She smiled at him cheerfully, and in a move of affection and overwhelm, leaned forward and placed a peck on his lips. "It's good to have you home."

He nodded as if he knew what she was talking about. He'd never heard of Pilates. His exercising consisted of fights, fucks, and weights. "Yeah, working. I'm the chief mechanic over at the Track's." Some people would have said that as if it was something to be proud of. To him, it wasn't. His dreams revolved around owning his own shop and anything less on his GED wouldn't mean anything to him. He chuckled, trying to hide his embarrassment. "I don't think I can help you with the homework but I don't think I'm gonna be taking anything with me, either." He looked at her after the kiss, tempted to steal another one but stayed in his place. "You didn't miss me or anything, did you?"

"I really did, Jackson," if she disapproved of his not being in college, she didn't show it on her face. She just smiled at him, enjoying the closeness between them before she pulled away and patted his leg again. "Well, if you need anything, you come to me, okay?" She blew him a kiss, going back to her Yoga mat before she popped in her Yogalates tape in the pretty beat up TV in the room. "And if you want to just watch me bending over a lot, stay right there," she teased lightly, stretching her arms over her head as the tape began. "And you know my door is always open. 115, Sunnyside Apartments."

It was nice to hear that he was missed. He didn't think too many people would take note of it. Okay, he should have said cared. After all, he was the Senior leader of the Beasts. If they didn't realize that he wasn't there, something was seriously wrong with them. He laughed at her offer and shook his head. "Naj, I don't think you're brother would appreciate that all too much." Besides, he knew he'd get himself into trouble if he stuck around. "I'll keep that in mind," he remarked as he dropped down from the dresser. He'd pay her a visit some time soon. For now, it was time for him to take off. He strolled up to her, grabbing her waist while she reached above her head and kissed her cheek. "I'll catch you later or something. Be careful. It's our turf but that don't stop no body." Yeah, there it was, the same old protective Jacks. "See you around, gorgeous," he winked as he let her go and headed out of the bank.

Closed!!! <3