Without warning, Addison leaped into Jax's arms. He laughed, picking her up off the ground.

"You're really here." He placed her back down, holding both of her hands.

Addison looked into his beautiful brown eyes that beamed of excitement and happiness.

"You haven't changed a bit." He was so in awe of her.

Dumbstruck by how much he'd changed, all Addison could say was, "But you have." She gulped, taking in his strong build and arm tattoo. His hair was longer, and the beard was new too.

The last time she had seen him, he had been in the process of growing his hair out, had no tattoos, and was on the slender side out life.

His muscular arms showed that he had grown to be a bit of a gym junkie. Not that Addison was complaining.

Jax smirked shyly, looking away.

"Don't worry," she squeezed his hand, causing him to look at her. "It's a good thing."

Jax pulled her into another hug. "Still as gorgeous as ever."

As he hugged her, he noticed her sisters. They stood with their arms crossed over their chests and hands placed on their hips, giving him death stares.

Gulping, he slowly pulled out of the hug.

"How are ya, Sunshine?" He reached out and pushed her hair behind her ears.

Addison blushed at the nickname. He's called her that since the day they met.

"I'm good."

"You look great." Jax grabbed her hand and spun her around. "California must be treatin' ya well."

"It's alright," she shrugged. "I prefer Saxondale."

"I hear that." He nodded.

The two grew silent, gazing into each other's eyes. There was so much they wanted to share with each other.

"How ya doin', Jax?" Grace drew his attention to them.

Addison looked back at her sisters with a frown, which deepened as she got pulled back by Grace.

"Wha-"

"Shh." Jolene wouldn't let her speak.

They looked back at Jax, who was visibly nervous and uncomfortable. He cleared his throat, running his fingers through his hair.

"I'm sorry about your grandfather. I planned on going to the funeral, but some things got messed up for karaoke night, so I couldn't make it."

Addison's eyebrows furrowed. "Wait a minute, this is your bar?"

"Yeah," he smiled proudly. "I'm surprised you didn't know, Sunshine."

Addison tried to hide it, but you could tell that her heart had melted right then and there.

Once again, she found herself a dumbstruck, blushing mess. That is until a question nagged at her brain.

She looked back at her sisters. "You guys didn't tell me Jax owned the bar."

"We wanted you to be surprised." Grace gave Jax a fake smile.

The whole time Hailey was visibly upset but quiet. Unlike her other sisters, she wasn't the confrontational type. She'd rather avoid the problem if she could.

"Surprise," Jolene said sarcastically.

"You know what," Mary Jane snapped, pretending she'd gotten a brilliant idea. "Since you're here tonight, Jax, you and Addy should go talk. I'm sure you have a lot to tell her."

Jax gulped, his gaze had been on the ring on Addison's finger the whole time.

"I have a lot to tell you, too," she grasped his hand. "Can we talk?"

Before Jax could answer, he was practically bum-rushed by four guys who roughed him up, like most guys do when they greet each other.

Their presence caused Addison to let his hand go and step back towards her sisters.

"Hey, man," said one of the guys. He had blonde hair that he was obviously growing out. "Are you gonna introduce us to one of the best singers in the world?"

''Oh God, please stop." Addison rubbed her arms, uncomfortable with the attention now that she was in front of Jax.

"Yeah, sure. Guys, this is Addison Barrett. Addison, these are a few of my friends."

He pointed to each of them. "This is Eddie."

"Eli."

"Mark."

"And Jeremy."

Addison shook all their hands. "It's nice to meet you guys."

"The pleasure is all ours," said Jeremy. "It's nice to have someone out there representin' Saxondale."

"Yeah, girl," added Eddie. "You've got some lungs on you."

Addison laughed at that. "Thanks." She pointed to her sisters. "These are my sisters. That's Mary Jane, Hailey, Grace, and Jolene."

"Like the Dolly Parton song," Mark pointed out.

"Please, don't talk about it." Jolene rolled her eyes.

"We tease her with that song all the time," Addison chuckled before pointing over at Sage. "That's also our sister over there." Sage was still drinking and flirting.

Eli frowned a bit, and the girls noticed.

In unison, they said, "We're adopted."

"Ohhhhhhh!" Replied the boys, except for Jax, who already knew this. He'd been staring at Addison the whole time, as well.

"That makes sense," nodded Eli.

"Well, now that we've gotten acquainted," said Jeremy. "How bout we play some games? You girls up for a good game of pool or darts?"

"Only if you're ready to get your ass kicked." Mary Jane said, her competitive nature showing almost instantly.

"Ohhhh, looks like we've got some competitiveness in the house tonight," teased Mark.

"You boys have no idea what you just signed up for," retorted Jolene.

"Let's do this then," Eddie patted Jax's shoulder, pulling him out of his trance. "You up for it, bud?"

Addison raised her eyebrows at him, hopeful.

"Yeah," he nodded, giving her a smile. "Let's do it."

^^^^^^^^^^

The four ended up splitting up.

Jolene, Grace, and Mary Jane played darts with Eli, Mark, and Eddie, while Jax, Jeremy, Addison, and Hailey were across the room, playing pool.

Jax was grateful he paired with Hailey - the sweetest of the bunch. He could already feel the other three - Jolene, Grace, and Mary Jane - staring daggers at him from across the room. He was lucky they weren't actually playing the game with him.

Hailey exchanged glances with him a few times, but unlike her sisters, her's weren't threatening to kill him. Her stares were more of an 'I hope you do the right thing.'

Which wasn't exactly comforting either, but it was better than being glared at.

Of course, Hailey and Addison were kicking their butts. However, Jax and Jeremy were good sports about it.

Plus, Jax already knew how good the girls were when it came to games, so he wasn't surprised. He had been through this before.

"So," Jeremy started a conversation as he took his turn.

Jax stood adjacent to him, while Hailey and Addison were on the opposite side standing with their cues.

"How do you and Jax know each other?"

"We -" Jax and Addison started talking at the same time. "I -"

Chuckling, Jax said, "You tell him."

Jeremy sucked his teeth, getting nothing none of the balls in, and Hailey takes her turn.

"Jax and I met in middle school actually," Addison answered. "I was in the seventh grade, and he was in the eighth."

"Is that right?" Jeremy was intrigued.

"Yep," Jax smiled. "It was my first day of eighth grade, the first period started a good thirty minutes ago, and I'm walkin' down the empty hallways to the bathroom. As I'm coming up to the corner, I hear this voice singin'-"

"I'm lost," Addison began to sing. "I'm lost, and class has already started. Not a good way to start the seventh grade. Lord, please show me the way, so I don't miss my first class."

Hailey laughed, pocketing three striped balls on her turn. "Sounds like you. You've been makin' up songs since you could learn how to talk."

She goes again as Jax says, "My first thought was, her voice is amazin'. I turn the corner, we bump into each other, and well, the rest is history." He smiled at a blushing Addison.

"That's cool," Jeremy looked between the two with a curious frown.

Hailey tapped the top of her cue, looking between the two with concern in her eyes. "Your turn," she tells Jax.

"So, now that you're home." Jeremy started thinking back to when Addison had told him about her career and coming home for her grandfather's funeral. "You gonna go back to California any time soon?"

Jax messed his shot up at the question. He was so curious about her answer, his focus steered away from the game instantly.

He stood up straight, looking at Addison intently.

Even Hailey was looking at her younger sister because she hadn't even confirmed it with the family yet.

Addison shrugged. "I haven't really decided yet."

"Yeah, cause of your music and all, right?"

"Yeah, but not just that, my grandfather just died. I want to be here with my family and maybe even catch up with some friends - reconnect," she gazed into Jax's eyes.

"It's your turn, Addy," Hailey patted her on the back.

"It is?" Addison broke her gaze with Jax, who looked pretty content with her answer.

While Addison took her turn, Jolene, Mary Jane, and Grace watched from the other side of the room. They had beat the boys twice already, so they were off getting them some more beers.

"I don't think he's going to tell her," Mary Jane said bluntly. "I want to believe it but . . . "

"He'll break her heart, and he knows it," Jolene pushed her hair behind her ears.

"That's why he should tell her." Grace crossed her arms over her chest. "The longer he waits, the more pissed she'll be."

"You know what, I say we just talk to him." Mary Jane looked at the two.

"I'm down," Grace turned to go over but got pulled back by Jolene.

"And embarrass him, so he has to tell her now? I think not. Then, Addison'll go crazy and start a scene. As long as they aren't alone, he won't tell her. So you know what, we'll tell her tomorrow mornin'."

"As long as she knows, I'm in." Grace was game.

Grace was the type of person who'd rather spill the beans. She didn't have time for the hiding and the secrets. She'd rather just exploit the pain, so they could deal, heal, and move on.

Keeping things in delayed the process and added more fuel to the flame. Sadly, with that, she didn't know how to be compassionate - God bless her heart.

"Another round for the winners," said Eli arriving with Mark and Eddie. "Here you go." Each of them gave the girls a beer.

"Thank you." The sisters clinked their bottles together.

"You guys weren't kiddin'," said Mark. "You're good."

"Well, we've been practically playing pool and darts since birth," replied Jolene. "Our mom and dad used to play against each other all the time - and they are competitive. It was inevitable becoming a pro."

"Nice," nodded Eddie.

"But you guys put up a good game. So you should be proud too." Mary Jane put her bottle out to them, and her sisters did the same. "To all of us."

The boys clinked their bottles with the girls, and they all drank some together.

Mary Jane gives her bottle to Grace. "I have to use the bathroom, I'll be back."

Excusing herself, she managed to get through a bunch of sweaty bodies to reach the restroom.

To Mary Jane's astonishment, she walked in on an older man trying to force himself onto a girl.

"Hey!" She yelled at him.

With his grip around the whimpering girl's wrists, he looked back at Mary Jane. "Stay out of this bitch."

The girl suddenly bit his hand, hard, causing him to stumble back with a yelp.

"You little -" He went to slap her but was shoved back by Mary Jane, who stood protectively in front of the crying girl.

"Get the hell out of here before I call the cops." She threatened him.

She could smell the alcohol on his breath from where she was standing, telling her he probably wouldn't even remember this in the morning.

"Stupid bitch." He walked out after contemplating attacking the two.

"Oh my god," the girl started sobbing. "Oh my god."

"Hey, are you okay?" Mary Jane held her arms out to console the girl who abruptly pushed passed her.

"I have to go."

"Wait." Mary Jane grabbed her jacket instead of her arm, and a card fell to the floor.

When the girl heard it, she whipped around - fast.

She tried to grab it first, but Mary Jane was faster.

It was an ID, a fake ID.

The ID said she was twenty-five, but there was no way the girl was twenty-five. Her youthful brown skin said otherwise.

"How old are you?" Mary Jane asked her.

"Can't you read?" She tried to take the ID away from Mary Jane, who pulled back.

"Please don't tell me you're a minor." Mary Jane asked, despite already knowing the answer deep down.

The girl started crying all over again. "My friends left me here, and if I call my dad, he's going to flip out. We just moved here, and I barely know anyone, let alone my own way home."

"It's okay, it's okay." Mary Jane pulled her into a consoling hug. "I'll take you home. Everything's going to be okay, alright?" She pulled her out of the hug, holding her by the arms. "I'm Mary Jane."

The girl sniffled, pushing her long brown dreads behind her ear. "Ciara."

"Nice to meet you, Ciara." Mary Jane gave her a sweet smile. She grabbed her hand. "Let's get you out of here."

And as if the night couldn't get any worse, as soon as they exited the bathroom, they heard screaming, followed by a lot of cursing.

"Who the hell do you think you are, you prick!"

"Aw hell," Mary Jane knew that raspy voice anywhere.

After pushing through the crowd of people, she could see her sisters pulling Sage and Isabelle away from the guys they were flirting with before.

The guys were yelling right back at them, calling them crazy, as Jax and some of his friends tried to get them to calm down.

Her sisters managed to pull Isabelle and Sage outside the bar. When she didn't see her coat at the table, she knew that one of them had it.

"Come on." She pulled Ciara toward the exit of the bar.

Stepping outside, they were met with the disastrous sight of a wasted Sage and Isabella. They were laughing, proud of the scene that they had just pulled.

"That'll teach those dicks to mess with us!" Isabelle high-fived Sage, who replied, "Fuck yeah!"

"Oh my god," Grace was mortified.

"Okay, so they can't drive," Jolene pointed out.

"I can help." Jax joined the girl's outside with his jacket.

"Thanks, but no thanks," replied Grace.

"He can help," Addison argued.

"We don't need his help, Addy," Grace shot back.

"Why the hell have you guys been actin' so shady towards, Jax?" Addison asked. "And don't treat me like I'm crazy because I've noticed your behavior all night."

"Why don't you ask, Jax?"

"We don't have time for this," said Jolene, who took her coat from a quiet Hailey. "Look, Grace and I will drive Isabelle's car and take her home."

"How are we goin' to get back?" Grace asked. "We didn't drive."

"Take my car," Addison took her car keys out of her pocket and tossed them to Jolene, who caught them. "We can ride with Mary Jane."

"No, can do." Mary Jane pointed to Ciara, who had been watching the chaotic mess. "I have to take her home."

While they discussed their plans, Sage and Isabelle laughed and danced around like children in the background, throwing around cuss words like they were nothing.

"I'll take you, Sage and Hailey home," Jax offered. "Well, if you want me to."

Grace scoffed, and Addison glared at her. "Problem solved."

Everyone else took their jackets from Hailey.

"Alright, we'll see you guys later," Jolene gave Addison's keys to Grace and went over to Isabelle. "Alright, Izzy, tell everyone goodbye."

"No!" Isabelle whined. "I don't want to go home."

"It's time to go home, say bye."

Grace rolled her eyes, walking towards Addison's truck.

"Bye ya'll!' Isabelle waved, getting pulled away.

"Bye!" Sage waved, being pulled in the opposite direction by Addison and Hailey.

"I love you!" Isabelle yelled.

"I love you too!" Sage laughed.

"Alright, let's go." Hailey patted her on the back.

"This way," Jax led them away.

Mary Jane shook her head with a sigh. "Sorry about that. Family stuff." She gestured in the direction of her car. "I'm over here."

^^^^^^^^^^

Ciara rode the whole way to her house in silence. All she did was stare forwards, silently letting tears fall down her cheeks.

Mary Jane felt bad for her. Not only was she young, but she was also ditched by her friends in a not so child-friendly place. On top of that, a grown man almost took advantage of her in his drunken state.

The poor girl was probably traumatized.

It wasn't until they pulled up to her house that she finally spoke. "I'm sixteen," she said.

Mary Jane's eyebrows rose. "Sunshine Roadhouse is definitely not a place for a sixteen-year-old girl."

Ciara rolled her eyes, wiping away a stray tear.

"Why'd you do it?" Mary Jane questioned. "Hm? Was it worth it?"

"Don't talk to me like you know me, okay!" Ciara snapped. "I did it because I wanted to. It's no one else's fault but mine."

It was evident that her actions went way past just being an immature kid making dumb decisions.

"Alright, fine, I'm sorry," Mary Jane apologized. "I don't know you. But I can sense that you're not the type of girl to sneak out of your house in mini skirts and use fake IDs to flirt with grown-ass men who can't control their liquor."

Ciara didn't respond, keeping her gaze outside the window.

"Look, whatever's goin' on in your life that's causin' you to flip out, trust me, I don't think it's worth you risking your safety. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Ciara looked over at her, her brown eyes, sad and red. "How would I find you?"

"You can find me at the Barrett Ranch. Or just say the word Barrett and people will point you the way. Not to toot my own horn, but my family's pretty popular around town."

"That was definetly a horn toot."

"It was," Mary Jane admitted.

Ciara laughed, showing off her pretty smile.

Mary Jane rubbed her arm. "Go get some rest and stay out of bars."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Ugh, don't call me ma'am. Call me, MJ."

"Alright, well, thank you, MJ."

"No problem."

Mary Jane watched the sixteen-year-old get out of the car. It wasn't until she disappeared into her house that Mary Jane finally pulled off down the street.