November 🍂🍁

   A FEW WEEKS HAD PASSED SINCE HALLOWEEN, also known as the night Emerson hung out with the elusive Jax Teller. Of course rumors swirled around the small town that Emerson June had spent the night with the new mysterious man in town, but that was far from the truth.

In fact, Emerson hadn't seen much of Jax Teller since that night. It was like he was a ghost again — only being seen at night at her parent's bar — sitting in the same corner he had claimed as his.

If Emerson had thought a small friendship could possibly be formed between them; she was definitely wrong.

A small laugh left the June woman's lips as she wiped away the flour from her forehead with the back of her hand. It was a typical Sunday night, which meant family dinner night at her parent's home. It had been a tradition since Emerson could remember, her parents loved inviting the whole family over and even close friends.

"Mom, you know I hate making the desserts. I can never make them like you." Noah complained as she began placing the cookie dough on the pan with frustration clear in her movements.

Emerson let out a laugh as she watched her daughter fight with the cookie dough. "Sweetie, they're gonna be perfect." The red haired woman assured her daughter. "Plus, if they're not everyone will be so drunk off of wine they won't care."

"Aunt Celia is already drunk." Noah stated as her blue eyes turned towards her aunt who was talking to Mark Camden, laughing at every dumb joke that came from her mouth.

Emerson shook her head as she stared at her younger sister. She still was curious as to why her sister had come home early for winter break from college, but Celia kept assuring her that nothing happened. So, if her sister wanted to drink and flirt with Mark Camden then who was she to say anything.

"It smells delicious in here." Tilda smiled, a wine glass in her hand as she walked into the kitchen. "I wish I could help you , but I don't want to burn your parent's house down."

"Again." Emerson teased, rolling her eyes at her best friend.

A scoff left Tilda's lips. "There was no fire only smoke." The brunette stated matter of factly. "That's an important part of the story, Little June."

"I'm sure it is, aunt Tilda." The younger girl laughed, washing the cookie dough residue from her hands. "Is it okay if I go join everyone in the living room?"

Emerson could tell Noah wanted to be around everyone else — she was such a social butterfly. It also helped that her boyfriend would be arriving soon and the teenager was nervous for everyone to meet him.

"Go ahead." Emerson nodded, smiling as her daughter practically skip off towards the full living room.

"So," Tilda began as she leaned against the kitchen counter. "Have you talked to mr sad, blonde, and brooding?" She smirked, taking a sip of her wine.

The red haired June woman rolled her eyes at her best friend as she stirred the pasta sauce she had been cooking for the last couple of hours.

"Tilda, I told you already I haven't spoken to him in weeks unless you count taking his drink order at the bar."

To say Emerson was a bit disappointed that she had yet to have another interaction with Jax like she had on Halloween would be a big lie. She liked the quiet man, but she wasn't going to push a friendship with him when he so clearly didn't want one or could handle one.

A groan left the brunette's lips at her best friend's words. "I know. I just want something exciting to happen to you, and I think mr broody would be exciting."

The June woman shook her head at her best friend, washing her hands before she began gathering plates for everyone. "Go get everyone into the dining room for dinner." The red hair told the brunette, not wanting to speak anymore on the topic of herself and Jax Teller.

THE DINING ROOM WAS FULL OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, a bunch of different conversations happening at once as everyone enjoyed their food.

A small smile sat on Emerson's face as she watched everyone around the rather large table enjoying themselves. It was moments like this that she truly enjoyed the smallness of her town.

A knock on the door made Emerson raise an eyebrow but she just ignored it as she watched her mom gracefully excuse herself from the table to answer the door.

It was only a few moments later when her mother came back with a smile on her face and a person following slowly behind her. Emerson could see shock form on everyone's face as her mother reentered the room. Emerson wasn't sure why everyone suddenly went quiet, but she turned around to see what everyone else was staring at and a look of shock crossed her own face.

Jax Teller stood beside her mother, rubbing the back of his neck like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

"Everyone, this is our new neighbor; Jax Teller." Evelyn announced as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Please, everyone welcome him."

Evelyn eyed Emerson with a smile on her face, whispering something into Jax's ear before making her way back to the head of the table.

Quickly everyone went back to their previous conversations after welcoming Jax into the June home. If Evelyn had invited him then there would be no questions about it — at least at this time, but Emerson knew the gossip would run through the town soon enough.

"Hi." Jax spoke with a small smile as he sat down next to Emerson. "Your mom invited me and I couldn't tell her no." He ran a hand over his hair.

"It's hard to say no to her." Emerson smiled, the only words the two spoke to each other before sitting in silence, eating their food.

  THE DINNER HAD BEGAN TO WIND DOWN, leaving Emerson with the task of doing the dishes. She didn't want doing them like most people— honestly it calmed her down.

The red haired woman hummed a song as she scrubbed away at her parent's beloved plates, a million thoughts running through her mind too. Why did her mom invite Jax to Sunday dinner? Sure, it wasn't unusual of Evelyn to invite newcomers over, but this felt different. None of the newcomers she ever invited over had been invited to a Sunday dinner.

"Um, I got the last of the plates." Jax's voice pulled Emerson from her thoughts as she quickly turned towards him.

"Thank you." She watched as Jax walked closer towards her with the stack of dirty plates in his hands.

"No problem." He shrugged placing the plates down on the counter next to Emerson. "The food was really good. Your dad told me you cooked it all."

"Yeah." She nodded, feeling the awkwardness filled the gap between them.

A small sigh left Jax's lips as he stood there awkwardly. He had so much he wanted to say, but was afraid he had already fucked things up. He knew it was wrong of him to practically ghost Emerson after Halloween, but he could start to feel things that he didn't want to about her.

It had been years since he had felt feelings for another woman and he didn't know how to explain everything to Emerson.

"Look, I'm sorry about Halloween." He started, watching as she raised a curious eyebrow as she continued to wash the dishes.

"What are you sorry about exactly, Jax?" Her tone was curious, not on the defensive like he would have thought.

Emerson was confused and curious about his apology. Was he sorry that Halloween night ever happened or was he sorry he hadn't talked to her in weeks? Maybe both.

Jax thought about his next words for a moment. He wasn't sorry that they spent the night watching horror movies and eating snacks or that they had one of the best conversations he had in a while.

Jax Teller was more sorry to himself because nothing could happen between them. All he would bring Emerson was heartache and way too much trauma. He couldn't destroy this woman's life like he had so many others.

"I guess I'm sorry I haven't talked to you in weeks. It wasn't on purpose, I was just out of town and then when I saw you I thought you would be pissed." Jax explained in a ramble as he shook his head at himself. He sounded so stupid right now.

"Jax, it's fine. You don't owe me an explanation." Emerson assured the blonde man, yet he could hear a small disappointment in her tone.

He had disappointed her already, because of course he did, he was Jax Teller and all he did was disappoint people.

"I know I don't owe you one." Jax stated as he stared at her red hair. "I just wanted to give you one." He sighed.

Emerson turned the water off, wiping her hands on the dish cloth before turning her attention onto the struggling blonde man at her side. It was obvious he was struggling with a lot. If it wasn't his sad eyes that gave it away, it was his need to explain to her, someone he didn't know well at all why he hadn't talked to her in weeks.

"Jax, it's fine." She placed a warm hand on his arm. "I'm glad you came tonight and enjoyed the food."

A small smile formed on his face at Emerson's calming touch. "Thank you. I'll see you around, Emerson." He told her before making his way out of the house.

Emerson wasn't so certain his words were true. Of course they would see each other around — it was a small town, but would he stop and have a conversation with her? Maybe or maybe he'd just continue to keep to himself like he had for the past for months.

——

AN;
This chapter is eh. I have to start updating it more.