CHAPTER TWO // OCTOBER NIGHTS

OCTOBER 🍂

FALL HAD ALWAYS BEEN EMERSON'S favorite season — especially in North River. She could understand why so many people flocked to her small hometown to see the beauty of it once the cooler season came.

It wasn't just the beauty that North River had to offer, it was also the many festivals and events to do that appealed to so many people. There was everything from haunted houses to pumpkin picking, the annual autumn festival, and of course for those that were brave enough the nightly viewing of a classic horror movie in the cemetery with food and hot drinks.

Emerson loved all of it and she had passed her love of fall and all things spooky onto her daughter. That's how Emerson found herself walking the autumn festival with Tilda at her side with a cup of hot apple cider in their hands while Noah went from booth to booth with a wide smile on her face.

"So, how's Logan and that girlfriend of his doing?" Tilda questioned raising an eyebrow at her blonde best friend.

The June woman rolled her eyes while taking a sip of apple cider, the hot liquid warming her throat. It wasn't a surprise that her dark haired best friend was asking questions about her ex and Noah's father. Tilda was a nosey person ( she'd call it curious ) but either way she asked about Logan after every pick up or drop off. "I just wanna make sure I don't have to threaten him." Were her words every time.

"Fine." The blonde shrugged. "You do know Logan and I co-parent really well right? We're not teenagers anymore. We've grown together and we're mature now." Emerson stated matter of factly as she raised an eyebrow at her friend.

"Logan Benson and mature are words that don't go together." Tilda scoffed. "He's still always gonna be weasel to me." The green eyed woman stated firmly as the pair of friends wandered over towards The June's desert booth.

"Who's still a weasel?" Henry June questioned as he handed a pumpkin shaped cookie to both of them.

"Logan." Tilda answered with her mouth full of cookie.

A sigh left Emerson's lips as she watched her father nod his head at Tilda's words. It was no surprise her parents didn't like her daughter's father. They thought he was immature and pretty much abandoned Emerson when she needed him the most, and while they did have a point, Logan and Emerson were teenagers when Noah was born, neither one of them ready for a baby but Emerson took the role on better than he did. Was their ages an excuse for what he did? Absolutely not.

Years had passed though and Logan had matured and eventually stepped up and became a loving dad to Noah. Emerson wasn't going to hold a grudge anymore.

"Where's mom?" She asked quickly hoping to change the subject.

"She's around somewhere. You know how the cult gets at these things." Henry laughed as he handed a cookie to Mrs Camden.

A loud snort left Tilda's mouth at Mr June's words. Emerson's father had been calling the group of women that her mother was friends with 'the cult' since she could remember. Henry June could not stand them, but he was still warm and welcoming to them because that's just how he was.

"Mom!"

Emerson's head turned immediately at the sound of her daughter's excited voice. Her hazel watched as Noah run towards the booth with a smile on her face, apologizing to people as she ran passed them.

"Where's the fire, kiddo?" Henry chuckled as his granddaughter run into the booth narrowing slamming into her mother.

"Sorry, sorry." The red haired teenager apologized out of breath as she put a hand on her mother's shoulder.

"Jeez little June you okay?" Tilda questioned as she placed another cookie in her mouth.

"Yeah, yeah." Noah nodded. "Josh Dawson asked me out tonight! He asked me to the movies in the cemetery! Can I go please?" The teenager begged as she stared into her mother's hazel eyes.

"A date?" Emerson questioned as she scratched at her eyebrow.

Of course she knew the day was coming when Noah would start dating. Hell, she was already at the age that Emerson was at when she had her. It made her nervous for Noah to start dating, not because she didn't trust her, but because she didn't want Noah to be pressured into anything.

"Noah, as your godmother I have to tell you that J names are the absolute worst, and like Josh is at the top of that list." Tilda quickly jumped in as she noticed the nervousness on her best friend's face.

"What? Aunt Tilda everyone knows Michael is the worst boy name." Noah stated matter of factly.

"You're not wrong there kid." The dark haired woman agreed.

"So, mom can I? I promise I'll be home by twelve."

"Um," The blonde looked between her father and Tilda, both just shrugged their shoulders. Well, thanks for the help. She thought to herself with a sigh.

"Mom, it's just a date. You'll be fine." The teenager reassured as she put on her best puppy dog eyes.

"Sure. I know Josh and his parents. He's a good kid." She said trying to reassure herself more than anyone else. "Just make sure you're home by twelve."

"Thank you, thank you!" Noah threw her arms around Emerson before quickly running off to tell Josh yes and then tell all of her friends about her date tonight.

"You're so going to spy on her right?" Tilda eyed Emerson with a smile on her face.

"Is it spying if I planned on going to begin with?"

EMERSON STOOD IN THE LONG LINE AT the concession stand, waiting to order some popcorn and a drink while Halloween played in the background.

She had made sure to lay out her blanket not to close to Noah and Josh, not wanting to be seen but not to far away where she couldn't keep an eye on them.

"Hey,"

The blonde turned around at the sound of Jax Teller's voice. A look of shock crossed her face for a moment before she placed a smile on her face. It was surprising to see him here. He wasn't one to go out and enjoy the town's festivities, opting to spend his night drinking at June's Place or in the comforts of his own home.

"Hi, Jax. Nice to see you here." She smiled as she moved slowly forward in the long line.

Jax nodded. "I figured I'd try something new. I'm a sucker for horror movies especially a classic like Halloween." He explained with a small smile.

Jax knew he had gotten the reputation of being North River's recluse, only going out for drinks at night or being seen doing work around his old cabin whenever his nosey neighbors passed by. In a way he wanted to change the narrative about him, but in another way he enjoyed it.

"Oh yeah, it's a favorite of mine too. Jamie Lee Curtis is great." Emerson nodded with a smile. If Tilda were here she'd be making some stupid comment right now which made Emerson grateful that her best friend had other plans for the night.

"I'm also spying on my daughter. It's her first date." She explained causing a small chuckle to leave Jax's mouth.

Emerson was certain she had never heard a genuine laugh come from his mouth before and it shocked her a bit. The Jax Teller she had gotten a time glimpse of seeing was brooding like Tilda had said. Mostly closed off and nonchalant, but this smiling and laughing Jax Teller was a nice sight to see.

"Sounds very mama bear of you." He smiled.

"Just a bit." Emerson nodded with a small laugh before ordering a popcorn and hot chocolate. "Um, do you wanna watch the movie with me?"

The blonde bit down on her lower lip while waiting for Jax's response. Emerson June wasn't one to put herself out there and even though it was just inviting Jax to watch a movie with her surrounded by a bunch of people it still was putting herself out there — at least to her.

"Yeah." Jax nodded with a small smile as he paid for his own popcorn and drink.

A smile formed on her face as they quietly made their way back to her blanket. They sat down, smiling at each other before focusing their attention onto the movie that began playing.

Fall had always been her favorite. It meant the beginning of something new.

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AN —

Thank you all for the votes and comment! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!