"Absolutely not"

"Come on Nat"

"It aint happening"

Cass groans from the passenger seat of Luke. They have been on the road for less than a half an hour and Cass wants to try driving. She has NEVER driven stick before. Nat looks over to find Cass with her arms crossed with an adorable pout. Nat could almost laugh at how much she looks like a child who didn't get there way. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she sees Jax following behind her. A small smile tugging at her lips. He met up with them less than an half an hour after she sent the text to him. Hearing another loud huff, she looks over to find Cass acting overly dramatic. Rolling her eyes she slows down parking on the side of the road. Jax parking behind her before getting out. Cass glances over to her friend with a grin. She knows she won as Nat curses under her breath. Cass claps her hands together while Nat jumps out of the truck. Jax walking up to her. 

"Everything okay?"

"Probably not..." Nat says looking as Cass scoots over to the driver seat before sticking her tongue out at Nat. Jackson can't help but chuckle at her cheekiness. He has never seen her act like this. He can't recall a time where she wasn't... well proper. "Shoot me now"

Jackson snorts at Nat who slouches in defeat. This earns him a punch to the shoulder. Nat begins walking around the back end of her truck as Jackson stays in step with her. Right before she turns to go around her bed, he tugs her arm back pecking her lips. She stands there slightly shocked before he gently taps her butt to have her begin moving. She walks completely in a daze to the passenger seat while Jax can't help but smirk at her. 

"What first?" Cass asks excited from the drive seat. 

"Huh" Cass rolls her eyes but repeats herself regardless. Nat shakes her snapping out of it. "Put your foot on the pedal next to the brake. It's called a clutch."

"Okay... got it"

"Now turn the key on" Cass does so and the truck rolls to life. "Good, now while the truck is in neutral, push on the brake"

"Wait is it in neutral?" Nat leans over checking the spots and showing Cass who nods in return. 

"Yes, now... push on the brake and then put it in first gear." 

Cass does so while watching her feet. "Wait, what about the clutch?"

"Slowly ease off of the clutch while pressing on the accelerator." Cass does so but the truck dies and they lurch forward slightly. "It's alright Cass... try again."

After 3 more failed attempts she gets it going but doesn't get the concept of shifting gears. Nat tries to stay patient but worries for the safety of her truck. After the fifth attempt, Cass gets it.

"I DID IT!"

Nat looks to her face to see how happy she is. Cass was like this in college as well. When she got something, like really got it... the self pride was the best thing. Cass looked like a champion. 

"Yes you did... now slowly pull over." Cass furrows her brows but slowly pulls over the deserted high way regardless. 

"Why did I pull over?"

"Cause Luke is my baby and I'm driving."

Cass' jaw slacks but regardless Nat shoos her hands telling her to get out of the driver seat. Still completely dumbfounded, she gets out and finds Jackson getting out as well. This time walking up to her. 

"You okay Cassie?" She stands there with her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water but no words coming out. They both turn to look in the window to find Nat happily in the driver seat with a victory grin on her lips before sticking her tongue out like Cass previously did. He rolls his eyes realizing what has happened. "Want to drive my car for a while?"

Cass smiles brightly at him before sticking her tongue back out at Nat. She flips her hair over her shoulder before walking off to get in his Audi. Jackson walks around the truck to climb in the passenger seat. Nat raising a brow at him. 

"What are you-"

"You two would have been arguing within 5 minutes if I didn't"

Nat doesn't further comment knowing he's right. She looks into the rearview mirror to find Cass playing with his mirrors and his radio earning a snort from Nat. Jax looks to her confused. 

"Your car is going to blaring pop music in 5..4..3..2.." She says counting down with her fingers. Jax turns around and all of sudden hears Taylor Swift blasting out of his car. He curses under his breath while Natalia just laughs loudly at his expense while he leans his head back on the old seat. "Don't worry big guy... we can fix it."

Her hand comes over patting his thigh. Jax takes the opportunity to take her fingers into his own interlacing them. A moment passes as they both look to their locked fingers before a honk breaks it. Nat tries pulling her hand but Jax just shakes his head letting her know that he won't be releasing it. She blushes but doesn't pull away any further as she starts back up her truck and pulls back out on the road. Cass following suit behind them. The radio begins playing a familiar tone. 

There goes my heart beating
'Cause you are the reason
I'm losing my sleep
Please come back now

Nat can't help but whip her head over hearing Jax sing to the song. His voice wasn't half bad. He turns to her as the next part comes on. 

And there goes my mind racing
And you are the reason
That I'm still breathing
I'm hopeless now

Jackson rubs his thumb back and forth on her palm hearing her voice. Her voice was rich and possessed a smooth lilt to it. She was talented as well. They both continue singing the song and Jackson is thoroughly impressed at her range. 

I'd climb every mountain
And swim every ocean
Just to be with you
And fix what I've broken
'Cause I need you to see
That you are the reason

When the song finishes, he brings their hands up to his lips giving it a gentle kiss. Nat smiles simply while checking the car behind them to find Cass still bobbing along to something on the radio. She turns to Jax at a red light and pecks his lips leaving him frozen for a moment. She couldn't help but laugh at his facial expression making him smile as well. The light turns green and she swore she heard him mutter 'vixen' under his breath. 

Cass passes them about an hour later and leads them to a small diner. Pulling in together, Jackson has to stop from groaning seeing Cass still blasting out to Rihanna. Her sunglasses still in place as she sings along to the song. Nat walks over leaning into the driver side window. Jax tilts his head watching her rear side as the music comes to a stop followed by a loud 'HEY'. Coming back out of the window, Nat looks down at Cass. 

"Come on Rihanna"

"You could have let me finish" She grumbles out climbing out crossing her arms. Nat tilts her head while Jax walks over to them. 

"Yea... and people could have realized who you were." Cass sighs and nods realizing she's right. 

"Ladies" Jackson says holding his hand out towards the door. Cass walks in front while Nat surprises Jax and wraps her arm around his as they step in. 

Walking to a booth, luckily know one notices Cassie... or atleast yet. Jackson slides in the booth beside Natalia while Cass sits across from them. Her eyes twinkling as her friend gets comfortable with her agent. They actually look really cute together, Cass can't deny that. A slight pain passes through her realizing she still doesn't have that. 

"Welcome to Luke's, what can I get you to drink?"

Cass can't help but fall over laughing at the name of the diner. Jax can't help but chuckle as well while Nat just rolls her eyes but also smiles ordering waters for her and Cass then a sweet tea for Jax. He turns to her with a raised brow. 

"You said you prefer tea over water at our date."

Jax smirks at her. She has a good memory. He can't help but lean over kissing the side of her head. Cass grins at Nat who narrows her eyes in return. She doesn't comment further but Nat knows this is not the end of her hearing this. The waitress comes back and takes their orders. 

"Alright, so what's the plan today?"

Cass says turning her attention to Nat. "Well I was thinking we could stop off and maybe go to one of the beaches for a bit before we crash at a hotel for the night."

"Sounds fun but how bout one more stop" Cass says raising one finger. Nat can already tell what's on her mind. 

"No"

"But you didn't-"

"No Cass" Jackson sits back watching the conversation unfold... or at least the parts he could understand. "I am not going clubbing."

"It's not clubbing. We would be going to one... and this one is not big. We would have to dress up anyway. It's a Diva's Bar."

Nat tilts her head in confusion. What the hell is a Diva's Bar?? Cass smiles knowing she has no clue what she is talking about. Jax leans over whispering in her ear. 

"It's a drag queen club sweetheart"

Nat's eyes go wide while Cass laughs again at her expression. Jax can't help but chuckle as well while his hand comes down to her leg giving her thigh a gentle squeeze. Nat doesn't know if she is fluster due to her friend or by the hand lying on her leg. 

"Absolutely not!"

Cass sobers up wiping the tears away from laughing to hard. "We will be in feather boas and wigs.. no one will know."

Nat turns to Jax, "And you are okay with this??"

Jax looks at her petrified state for a moment before glancing over to Cass who is nodding her head at him. He sighs hoping he doesn't regret this. "It might be fun?"

Nat throws up her hands before gently pushing him to get up. Jackson looks confused but gets up regardless. Cass and him watching as she walks to the restrooms. He slides into the booth while Cass giggles gently and takes a sip of her water. 

"Did you know Natalia could sing?"

Cass smiles and nods at him. "Yeah, she use to sing with me on karaoke nights... How did you know that?"

"We were singing in the truck." His eyes leave the bathroom door to turn to Cass. The blonde sitting there with a gentle smile on her lips as she looks down. "What?"

Cassie shrugs but answers softly. "Nat hasn't sang since her dad died."

Jackson feels the air escape his lungs at the news. His heart accelerating at the news. He glances back at the restroom door but she still hasn't come out yet. 

"Thank you Jackson," He turns to Cassie with a raised brow confused on why she is thanking him. "You don't even realize it do you?" 

"Don't realize-"

"You are making her smile..."

Before he can further question her, the waitress walks over with their plates followed by Nat coming back out. She stands on the side of the table with both hands pressed on the table top. Her eyes set on Cass. 

"Deal is if at any time I feel the need to leave... we do."

"Deal!" Cass says happily. 

Nat nods once as Jax stands to allow her back in to the booth. She sits down and instantly a familiar touch of her leg has her blood pumping faster. She glances down but doesn't attempt to remove it. Looking at Cass, she wiggles her eyebrows. Nat throws a fry at her making the blonde giggle but not comment. 

They leave some time later getting back on the road before finding a hotel right off a beach. They decide to get a suite with two rooms. Nat and Cass taking one while Jax takes the other. Everyone changing into their swimsuits. Cass wearing a white swimsuit with her dark sunglasses while Nat wears a orange swimsuit and dark sunglasses. Jackson can honestly say he has never been more tempted than watching her walk down the beach. Her long dark legs on display while the soft breeze whips her hair around. 

They arrive to find a private canopy set up for their suite. A bucket of chilled bubbly inside. Cass opens it up making glasses for each of them before flopping down on the seat. Nat sits down basking in the sun just as Cass whips out her phone looking at Nat. 

"Smile"

Jackson had to bite his lip from groaning at the vixen sitting in front of him. They drink their glasses before Cass runs off into the ocean dragging Nat along with her. Nat splashed around while Jackson walked down unbuttoning his shirt before letting it fall into the sand. Her eyes dancing over the contours of his body. 

"Easy Nat... your drooling"

She splashes her friend while Jackson drops his flip flops and runs in diving as he gets close. He comes over to stand behind Nat before coiling his arm around her bringing her into his chest. Cass laughs while Nat just bites her lip and flips her off. She lies her head back on his shoulder while he brings both arms to keep her secure to him as his nose runs down her neck. She smiles and sighs in content relaxing against his hold. 

The afternoon spent much like that just enjoying themselves on the water. Only one person stopped asking for a photo with Cassie. The moment it happened, they packed up knowing more would follow if they remained. Making it back to their room to get ready for the plans of the evening. Nat already worried about it but she made a deal...