CHAPTER FOUR // STILL SITTING IN A CORNER I HAUNT

OCTOBER 🍂

"SO, who was that?" Celia questioned with a raised eyebrow and a grin on her face the moment Jax had left Emerson's house. "Actually, more importantly did I interrupt something?" The blonde questioned as she stared at her older sister, hoping for some good gossip about the very handsome man in her home.

A sigh left the older blonde's lips as she rolled her eyes at her younger sister's wandering mind.

Frank had showed up not much longer after Celia had and Jax had quickly left with the mechanic after a quick introduction to the younger June sister before leaving. While Emerson had wanted to invite the reclusive man to spend some time with her, it was better that Celia had showed up when she did. Jax Teller wasn't the sort of person to just hang out and watch movies. It would of been embarrassing for Emerson to have even asked.

"No you didn't." Emerson shook her head. "That was just the new resident of North River—Jax Teller." The older blonde explained as she eyed the duffel bag in her sisters hands.

Of course she was curious. Celia wasn't due to come home for winter break for another few weeks yet here she was in North River with a duffel bag in her hands with no explanation—yet.

"People don't just move to North River." The younger June sister pointed out. "This place is for lifers and tourists." She stated matter of factly while placing her bag down and grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.

"Sure, just help yourself." Emerson teased as she picked up Celia's bag and quickly moved it out of the way. "Some people just need a fresh start, Cee." She pointed out with a shrug.

Emerson was trying to be optimistic about why Jax Teller had picked their small town to move to, but Celia's words were true. Everyone in North River was suspicious of their new neighbor even if they were polite to him.

"Sure." The blonde shrugged, her tone uncertain.

"So, you wanna tell me why you're here? Do mom and dad know you're here yet?"

It was time for Emerson to play older sister and start asking the questions. Celia should still be a few hours away in Boston at Boston College studying for the expensive degree her parents were paying for.

"Don't worry, Emmy. I didn't do anything shocking." She assured with a roll of her eyes. "I didn't sleep with a professor of anything." She joked with a grin.

"That's reassuring." Emerson muttered.

"I plan on surprising mom and dad tonight at the bar. I wanted to come here first to see you and my beautiful and favorite niece."

Celia and Noah were so close in age that the aunt and niece had grown up more like sisters. Emerson loved the bond they had, but sometimes it was like raising two daughters instead of just one.

"She's at school getting everything ready for the senior Halloween dance." Emerson explained as she made her way back into the living room with Celia following close behind.

"They still do that?" Celia questioned as she plopped down on the couch, kicking her shoes off in the process. "Oh, snacks and horror movies." She said with excitement as she got herself comfortable on the couch, grabbing a handful of popcorn.

"Of course they still do it. Does North River ever change anything?" She questioned rhetorically while placing the blanket back over her body.

While Emerson loved her hometown, but it was definitely stuck in its ways. The Halloween dance had been going on since her parents were teenagers and even before then. It was fun, but outdated much like North River could be. Noah had joined the committee to try and change a few things about the dance, but all of her ideas had been turned down by the school.

The June woman knew not much would ever change in the small town, but maybe just maybe with the arrival of Jax Teller that was a start.

—

June's Place wasn't too crowded that Friday night which Emerson was grateful for. Of course all the locals were there and Jax, sitting at his usual table.

"I still think it's odd that Celia is home early." Tily stated as she placed a beer in front of Bruce —North River's drunk. "That's the last one for the night, Bruce." Tily warned the man with her hands on her hips and a raise of her eyebrow, daring the man to challenge her words.

"Whatever." He muttered before slinking off.

Emerson shrugged at her best friends words. "I don't know I asked her and she said nothing was wrong." The blonde said as she eyed the table that her parents, sister, and daughter all sat at laughing and having a good time. "I'm not going to push. If there's anything wrong she'll tell me."

The June sisters might have been quite a few years apart in age, but their bond was strong. Emerson was protective of her younger sister since the moment she came home from the hospital. They told each other everything—no matter if it hurt each others feelings or not. They were honest with each other and Emerson knew if something was up with Celia she'd eventually tell her when she wanted too.

A scoff left Tily's lips. "You actually make having a sister sound nice. I'm glad I'm an only child." The dark haired woman stated matter of factly.

Emerson furrowed her forehead as she stared at her best friend. "You have two sisters." She reminded.

"They don't count. I haven't talked to them in years." She stated matter of factly waving a dismissive hand. "But, you know what does matter? A certain Jackson Teller has been staring at you—again. Go talk to him." Tily nudged with a smirk on her face.

Emerson looked up from the glass she was cleaning to see Jax's blue eyes staring at her. His eyes looked so sad and haunted as he drank his alcohol alone.

"I'm not bothering him." Emerson shook her head as she gave him a small smile before returning her gaze back onto the glass in her hands.

"He's like a wounded animal, Emmy! He needs some tender loving care." Tily exclaimed. "You also need some tender loving car. If you get what I mean."

"Tily." The blonde warned as she shook her head at her best friends words.

"Let me just say this one thing and then I'll shut up." The dark haired woman promised as she looked at her blonde best friend, smiling once Emerson reluctantly nodded for her to continue.

"You haven't been out on one date since Logan, and I get it you've been raising Noah, which is a full time job, but Logan has had multiple relationships since you guys broke up and you're just doing—this. I love you, Emmy, but you need to sleep with someone."

Emerson thought over Tily's words for a moment. She wasn't offended. It was the same thing she had thought to herself plenty of times, the same thing her parents had practically told her — just not in those words. She just couldn't find it in herself to go out on any dates and start over again, asking someone what their favorite color was or all the stupid bullshit talk. It scared her to be honest that's why she found comfort in movies.

"I know, Tily." She sighed. "But, I'm not going to fuck the new guy in town just because I need to get laid. I mean, look at him." She said as they both looked towards the blonde man. "He looks so fucking sad all the time. You know how awkward that would be? Sad awkward sex? No thank you."

"Yeah." Tily nodded as she stared at Jax. "You're right. We'll find you someone else." She promised with a smile on her determined face.

"That's not what I meant." Emerson sighed as she shook her head and headed towards her family.

AN —
Sorry this took me forever to update and it's really just a filler.