Book 1 Chapter 9

Rebecca

The next couple of days had been calm. Rebecca stayed at Opie's house, helping him and the kids out. It was new to her. Becca was so used to taking care of herself that the switch to being responsible for three more was odd. However, she couldn't wipe the smile off her face when she thought about the kids or Opie.

Becca and Opie had set out a routine of sorts throughout the day. Rebecca would get up, get the kids ready for school, and start breakfast. It was something they had just fallen into naturally and stuck. The day after Rebecca came, she took the kids to the store. They needed food and a few supplies, and the kids got something special each. It was fun being with them, Kenny was hilarious, and while Ellie was quiet, Becca knew she needed a friend more than anything. That night Opie tried to give her money back for the things she bought, which she refused. Opie got frustrated until Rebecca pulled out what looked like an old fishbowl. Opie had been confused because he never even knew they had a fish before. Rebecca told Opie to put whatever he felt like in the bowl. If Rebecca felt like she needed money or ran out, she would get what she needed from the bowl.

It was an equal compromise, and they had both agreed to the terms. Rebecca liked it that way. She wasn't much of a fighter. Rebecca lived in a home with a father who would verbally abuse everyone until he started physically abusing them. Yelling and arguing were not something Rebecca wanted, call it a trauma response, but she mainly walked away when someone was yelling at her.

Rebecca's day was going well but boringly slow. Ms. Mills came in today with another complaint about her partial. At the same time, Mr. Wade brought in the two most out of control teenagers to get cleanings. Rebecca could do nothing but roll her eyes at the pair and secretly hoped that Kenny was not that bad when he got older. That thought made Rebecca pause. She had noticed she started to think about the kids as they grew. It was stupid. She knew that there was a fat chance she would even be around when they got to be teenagers. She and Opie were just friends. It was something she had been trying to remind herself of. He was still morning the loss of a wife, and Becca was a hot mess at best. Rebecca couldn't deny the butterflies she got when she would drive to his home or watch him come through the door.

Rebecca's phone went off that afternoon while sitting in her office charting. She was pleasantly surprised when Gemma's name popped up on the caller ID.

"Hey, Becca," the older woman's voice was kind over the phone. Rebecca had become close to Gemma and Tara. Tara and Becca had a lot in common and texted quite often. Being a health care professional wasn't an easy job, and it got stressful when you had people who felt the need to yell at you or throw bodily fluids. "We are having a party at the clubhouse tonight. You should come."

"Like a birthday party?" Rebecca felt like smacking herself when the first thing the thought came out of her mouth. Gemma laughed, but Rebecca doubted bikers had birthday parties anymore.

"No," Gemma finally said, "Like a party, music, drinks. We have a boxing ring so that you might see a fight."

"Oh!" Rebecca hadn't been to a party in a while. Of course, those were more of a business than fun. "I think I have the kids tonight. Ope said he was doing stuff tonight for the club."

"Piney's going to watch them. Opie's already called. He would have called you, but all the guys had left already." The explanation made sense to Rebecca. Even if she felt a little hurt, she didn't get the call. Maybe she was getting close to being on her period. That's the only explanation Becca could make for feeling like that.

"Yeah, sure, I'll come. What time?"

"7, and dress like you're not a Sunday school teacher." With that, Gemma hung up the phone. Crinkling her nose Rebecca looked down at her phone. A Sunday school teacher? She whispered to herself as she looked over at her light pink scrubs and then back up. Opening her phone back up, she called Tara.

"Hey T, are you going to this party tonight?" Rebecca asked after the polite hello.

"Yeah, I probably will. Gemma called and asked me earlier," Tara answered with a sign, "I don't usually like going to these things cause it's littered with croweaters and porn sluts." Rebecca was now more confused when Gemma called her a church teacher.

"Ew, they eat them? Is that like a religious thing?" Rebecca was a little concerned about the people in Charming. She knew that California got a reputation for being eccentric, but crow eating was a little overboard.

Tara laughed, forgetting that these were not standard terms for people who were not close to the club, "No, it's a term given to the women who sleep with almost any and every member of SAMCRO to be able to be called a girlfriend." Tara explained that if Rebecca was going to stay around, and she assumed she would with how she noticed Opie acting, Becca would need to break down the club. "When patched members get a long-term girlfriend or a wife, they are called old ladies. It's not a disrespectful thing, more like a term of endearment. But Gemma said it's a respect thing."

Rebecca could hear the sarcasm in Tara's voice when she spoke of Gemma but didn't comment. The two seemed to have a love-hate relationship with the pair. It was almost like a mother and a teenage daughter who had lost her way. Rebecca was getting what Tara was trying to explain. It was like a hierarchy. "Okay, I think I understand it now."

"Yea, so women who are called old ladies are given a specific crow tattoo. It tells everyone you are theirs and off-limits. I know it's old-fashioned, but that's how it works."

While she should be applauded and concerned at the idea that they were essentially laying claim like it was the 1700s, she wasn't. It was sweet and hot, not that Rebecca would tell anyone. "So they are sleeping their way to a tattoo." Rebecca felt like that was a hard pill to swallow if you slept with any of them just to gain a boyfriend. "I don't have no clothes that would be biker party go to, wanna go shopping?"

Rebecca met Tara at the local shops that afternoon. She didn't know what she was looking for or her result. Rebecca knew Opie would be there, surrounded by 'crow eaters' trying any way to sleep with him. Becca still didn't know how to feel about that. She shouldn't care. They were just friends. Close friend, who spends every night after they put his kids to bed sitting on the couch laughing and talking.

"So, how is everything going over at Opie's house?" Tara's voice called as she looked over the rack of jeans.

"It's been going good. The kids are good. I have to go back home soon, I've already been there for three days, and I've run out of clothes." Rebecca laughed as she pulled out a pair of leather pants. They were cute and had the tye in the front, but Rebecca wasn't about to walk around squeaking all day, so she put them back. "I hate that he's been having a hard time."

Rebecca looked over and noticed Tara smiling at her, "you like him." Rebecca's eyes widened a bit as she tried to shake her head.

"We're just friends. Besides, he's just lost his wife and is in a vulnerable place," Rebecca's words came out faster than she had planned as she shook her head. This caused Tara to laugh as she leaned up against the rack.

"Becks, come on now," the smirk Tara had had Becca signing and rolling her eyes. "Opie has always been a romantic type of guy. I knew both him and Jax from school. But, while Opie is romantic, he's guarded and will not let just anyone in his life. Girl, you are living in his house with his kids."

"That's," Rebecca started but got cut off by Tara's comment of 'don't even.'
"It is not because of what happened before or the club to keep you safe. I lay down money that Opie likes you too."

Rebecca groaned, glancing down at the shirts and then back up, "how do you even tell with these guys. I swear, sometimes I feel like they are all speaking in code with their body. You're supposed to understand intentions by gestures than words."

"Yeah, that's the sucky part, but try not to read too much into the communication part. Gemma explained that words can get muddy and change between people, communicating through actions." Tara turns to roll her eyes, "they keep their secrets this way. That's why Gemma's hair is so big."

The laugh that came from Rebecca's mouth was loud and surprising. Tara, in turn, laughed along with her until they looked up and noticed the dirty look the sales associates gave them.

"Tell you what, I bet you 10 dollars that the first guy that comes to talk to you or hit on you that either Opie or another club member will step in," Tara smirked as her eyes lit up as she went to grab something from a rack holding it up to Becca. It was a simple gray cami crop top and a leather jacket, "and I'm sure this will seal the deal."

Rebecca stared at it before nodding, "fine. I'll wear what you pick out but," walking down the rack a bit, she pulled out a black tee crop top and a red and black plaid shirt. "You wear what I've picked for you."

Both girls decided to get dressed at Tara's house. Piney had picked the kids up from school, which eased some of Rebecca's guilt for going to the party. Putting on the outfit Tara had chosen for her, she had paired the shirt and jacket with a simple pair of ripped light-colored jeans and boots. She had curled her black hair in soft waves and put on a fair amount of makeup that didn't make her look like she was overselling it. Let the outfit do the talking. Becca kept repeating the words Nanna had told the girls when they were growing up.

Tara looked hot. Becca fixed her hair and allowed Tara to work on her makeup. It wasn't long before 8:30, and they had to head out—they road together, leaving her car sitting at Tara's. Rebecca had hoped that maybe Opie would take her to get it tomorrow.

Pulling up to the clubhouse, Rebecca noticed that the whole place seemed full swing. The number of women with only nipple pasties on was surprising to Becca as she and Tara made their way through the lot. SONs were everywhere. While some were outside smoking, many were in the clubhouse.

Rebecca and Tara found an empty table close to the bar where they could sit and people watch. Becca got up and went to get them two beers. A kid that she had learned was called Half-sac, and some woman Becca hadn't met before were operating the bar. The kid was friendly from what Becca had talked to him over the week. Holding up two fingers when she got half-sac's attention, he slid the open beers over. Once back over to Tara, she could see the look of disgust on the woman's face.

"There is so much porn pussy here it's disgusting," Becca tried to stifle a giggle as she looked around at the half-dressed girls trying to curl up with any man with a kutte on.

"Well, if you go on a murder spree, I got your back." The girls smiled before conversing over the difference between sluts and porn stars.
"Well, hello, ladies."

Rebecca looked up mid-laugh at the male voice approaching their table. In front of their table stood two men. They didn't have kutte's on and didn't look like they belonged at a biker party. Becca moved her eyes towards Tara, who seemed equally confused. The boys looked like they couldn't be more than 23 or 24, skinny, lanky. The one speaking had blonde hair that looked like it was prematurely balding.

"Um, hello," Tara said, unsure what to say as her eyes darted around them.

"What are two fine women like yourselves doing all alone," the friend asked. He had jet black hair, but it was greasy so that it might be brown instead. Rebecca swallowed as her creep radar went off at the way the two men looked at her and Tara.

"Oh, you know, enjoying the party. Like everyone else," Becca said, pulling her beer closer to her so that way she could keep an eye on the bottom rim.
"Yeah, we heard about these parties from a lady at the strip club. Said all the best and professional girls come here." Rebecca wanted to throw up as the balding man winked at her. She was confused and offended that he had indirectly called her and Tara whores.

"What do you say we buy you ladies a drink and maybe get comfortable."

"No," came a response from both girls. It was a quick and harsh response that both girls had hoped meant that the creepy guys would leave.

"Aw, come on, girls, you can't say no,"

When a bottle was placed on the table beside Tara, the man stopped speaking. Rebecca saw Jax standing there with an amused and pissed look. When Becca felt a hand on the back of her chair, she looked to see Opie had moved to stand behind her. Rebecca had not noticed when Jax and Opie had come into the clubhouse but was thankful for the distraction.

"Can't say no to what?" Jax asked, raising an eyebrow as he cocked his head to the side.

The men looked like a deer caught in headlights as they looked at what now was several members of the club looking at their table. "Um, just offered these women a drink and come company." Grease's head stated when he found his voice.

"Oh really," Jax smirked and shrugged, "well, that one's mine, and I don't take too kindly to some asshat trying to hook up with my woman."

Grease's head seemed defeated, but baldy tried to build up some steam and looked over at Rebecca, "so baby, are you claimed?"

Rebecca curled away, her nose wrinkling like she smelt something foul. An arm went across her front as Opie stood tall, almost in front of her, "Yes, touch her, and I'll shoot you in the face." Opie's voice was so hard and severe that Rebecca let a little chuckle out that she tried to hide with her hand. Rebecca lifted her hand and placed it on the small of Opies' back under his kutte, feeling the cotton of his black shirt on her fingertips.

"Okay, okay," the spokesperson for the pair said as they slowly began to back away from the table. "We were mistaken and will be leaving."

Tara burst out laughing as she looked over at Rebecca, "What was that laugh."

"I couldn't help it. It was so serious and tense I panicked." Becca said, laughing herself. She didn't stop when she felt an arm wrap around her shoulder, but she could smell Opie's cologne.

The rest of the night turned out to be a ball, Rebecca drank a little too much, but she wasn't drunk. She played a round of pool her and Opie vs. Jax and Tara. They watched Tig get in the ring and try to fight Juice. They both ended up a bloody mess that Rebecca was sure she would have to fix teeth after. However, the best part of the night was when Opie would wrap his arm around her shoulders as they stood close to one another. The touches were simple, a hand on her back or the slip of fingers across one another when they would hand the pool cue over. Rebecca kept catching Tara's knowing looks throughout the night. Rebecca owed Tara the 10.