CHAPTER ONE // AUGUST SLIPPED AWAY INTO A MOMENT IN TIME.

AUGUST 🌞

EMERSON JUNE liked to believe she was an perceptive person. So, when a new man by the name of Jackson Teller moved to her small Vermont hometown she liked to believe there was a deeper meaning than just needing to get away from California like he had been telling all the nosey locals who asked him.

North River wasn't the type of town that got new residents often — hardly ever actually. Sure, it was a hot spot with vacationers when summer came or during fall when the leaves were changing colors, painting the small town in gorgeous hues of reds and oranges, but people didn't just move there.

The population of North River was barely 800, which was made up of lifers — people born and raised there who never left. Emerson June was one of those lifers. She had been born and raised in the small town, not even leaving for college, but that had more to do with her already having a two year old by the time she was eighteen more than anything else.

It was no surprise that the town had been abuzz when a moving truck pulled up to Mr Connors cabin and began moving furniture into the old cabin. A few years had passed since the old high school teacher had died — a sadness the whole town felt. The cabin had sat abandoned for sale while neighbors took care of the growing lawn and kept the cabin looking nice, waiting for a new buyer for the home.

The locals of North River were very nosey people — like most small towns. When they began to notice the movement at the Connors cabin everyone in a two mile radius began to make their presence known to the newest resident. Everyone wanted to get a look at their new neighbor. Was it a small family that took over the cabin? An older couple? Perhaps a single woman for Mrs Camden's son?

It wouldn't be long before everyone found out who had moved into their small town. Evelyn June— Emerson's mother wasn't a nosey person per say, but the small group of local women that just loved to gossip had voted her mother head of their group — something Evelyn June despised, but she painted a smile on her face to keep the women happy. Evelyn had known these women all of her life after all — some even her friends since high school.

So, it was Evelyn who got voted to bring a casserole over to the cabin and introduce herself to the new North River resident. In their eyes Evelyn was the perfect person for their task. She owned the local hot spot bar with her husband, she made the best casseroles, and honestly, she had the best demeanor out of all of them.

Emerson didn't consider herself a nosey person, but the day her mother got back from visiting the new neighbor she waited in anticipation to hear what her mother had to say. Unfortunately, she had been let down. Evelyn didn't say much just revealing his name and where he had come from.

With pursed lips and disappointment clear on her face it was then that Emerson decided to make a visit to this Jackson Teller herself. She wouldn't bring him a casserole though — just her charming personality.

The gravel crunched underneath Emerson's feet as she walked up the all too familiar driveway of the small cabin. Her green eyes spied a motorcycle parked in the open garage as well as an older styled pick up truck. Emerson's eyebrows furrowed at the motorcycle, there wasn't many more weeks left of summer and the blonde doubted there would be many more days left for him to enjoy riding that.

"Can I help you?" A voice questioned, startling the blonde as her eyes were still focused on the motorcycle.

"Shit." Emerson cursed as she looked over towards the porch where the man's voice came from, a hand over her quickly beating heart. "Sorry I just came to welcome you to town." She smiled hearing a sigh leave his lips at her words as she held a hand out towards him.

"Jackson Teller." He told her as he quickly shook her hand before dropping it. "At least you're introducing yourself and not just walking by with a small group." He added with the smallest of laughs.

Emerson studied his face for a moment. He was handsome that much was obvious. Jackson had the bluest eyes she had probably ever seen, but there was a sadness behind them.

"Yeah, sorry about that. It's not everyday we have new people moving in." She apologized with a tight lipped smile. "I'm Emerson June by the way." She finally introduced herself, folding her arms across her chest as they stood their awkwardly.

"June?" Jackson questioned with a raise of his eyebrow.

"Yeah my mom is Evelyn." She nodded.

Jackson let out a hum. "She's a nice woman." He said as he studied Emerson's face for a moment before looking passed her and towards the tree line on his spacious property.

Emerson nodded feeling awkward and thinking maybe this wasn't the best of her ideas. It was obvious Jackson Teller wasn't a big talker or maybe he just didn't like people in general, whichever it was Emerson knew it was time for her to leave.

"Well, it was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy it here." She said with a polite smile.

"Thanks." Jax nodded as he took one last quick look at the blonde in front of him before turning around and walking back into the cabin.

Emerson shook her head as she made her way town the long gravel driveway. That couldn't have been anymore awkward of a first meeting. At least he seemed to type to stay home, saving her from anymore awkward encounters.

The June woman couldn't get Jackson's sad blue eyes out of her mind as she made the short walk to her home. They were so full of sadness and pain that she wondered what exactly was his story.

___________

OCTOBER  🍂

"YOUR BOYFRIEND is here."

It was a chilly October night in Vermont, and like usual Emerson was bartending at 'June's Place' the bar her parents owned. It was a hot spot among the locals and with tourists. June's Place had been a steeple in North River since even before Emerson and her younger sister were born. Not only was it a bar, but it also served some of the best home cooked comfort food made by Evelyn June — of course.

"Shut up, Tily." The blonde rolled her eyes at her best friend and fellow bartender while looking across the crowded bar where Jackson Teller or Jax as he preferred as she had come to find out sat alone by the jukebox.

"Look, I'm just saying he comes here every night and always stares at you. He's practically your boyfriend by now." The dark haired woman stated as she pushed a beer towards a waiting customer.

"Tily, a lot of people come here every night. It's pretty much the only place to go, and a lot of people stare at me." Emerson pointed out as she finished pouring a shot of whiskey, sliding it towards the  tourist giving him a smile before he walked back towards his waiting friends.

Two months had passed since Jax moved to town and while he still was a quiet man only making small conversations here and there, the one thing that was constant with the Teller man was his nightly visits to June's Place. His orders were always the same — a jack and coke "and keep them coming, please." And he always sat at the same table, the one closest to the jukebox in the very back corner of the bar.

"Oh, looks like he needs a refill." Tily smirked as she shoved the bottle of Jack into her blonde best friend's hands.

Emerson shook her head as she placed the bottle of alcohol down. "The soda is behind the bar." The blonde reasoned with her friend. "I don't think the soda gun will reach that far." She stated matter of factly while pouring a beer for another customer.

A sigh left Tily's lips as she picked up the bottle of alcohol again. "We both know he takes more jack than coke." She stated with a smile before shoving the bottle back into Emerson's hands.

The blonde shook her head, knowing Matilda was right she rolled her eyes before walking out from behind the bar and making her way towards Jax's table.

"Figured you could use a refill." Emerson spoke as she poured the dark liquid into Jax's empty glass.

Jax looked up at the sound of Emerson's voice, a smile on her face as she poured the alcohol into his glass. It had been two months since he decided to leave SAMCRO and his left behind in Charming, deciding on this small town on the East Coast to start over.

It had been one of the hardest decisions of his life, leaving all he knew behind and ultimately deciding to let Wendy and Nero give his sons a better life than he ever could, but Jax knew it was the only and best decision. If Tara were still alive she would of loved North River — the small town would have charmed her. The thought of Tara made his heart break. He missed her so fucking much.

"Thanks." Jax nodded as he picked up the glass and took a sip. "It's busy tonight." He stated as his eyes wandered around the full bar.

June's Place usually was busy, but with locals and faces Jax had come to know, not these random people who were loud and rowdy.

Emerson nodded at Jax's words as her green eyes looked around the bar. "Yeah, it's tourist season right now because of the leaves." She explained as she turned her attention back onto Jax.

Jax nodded as he watched a group of men in their twenties stare at Emerson, making crude gestures as loud laughter left their mouths. He could feel his jaw tighten as he stared at them for a moment before looking back at the blonde bartender in front of him.

"Thanks, Emerson." The Teller man thanked the blonde once again for his refill.

"No problem, Jax." She nodded, understanding the man wanted to be left alone with his drink and thoughts.

"So, how'd it go?" Tily questioned with anticipation once Emerson made it back behind the bar.

The June woman shook her head and got back to pour drinking for people, ignoring her best friend's hopes of something romantic brewing between the lonely Jax Teller and the single mother Emerson June.

_________

AN —
I really love how this chapter came out! I'm really excited for this fic! Thank you for all the votes and comment already! I really appreciate it! ❤️