AUTHOR'S NOTE: New story. It will be a little on the short side. I'm trying out a new writing style/technique. This story is also interesting for me as Jax's POV will not be in this at all. And this story will be an update as I feel like it as I'm still working out a small kink with it and this is mostly used as a way to give me a break from writing "The Pull" when I get stuck.

Part I: Appetite for Destruction

Chapter 1: You Ever Dance With The Devil In The Pale Moonlight?

Aubrey has never formally met Jackson Teller. She has simply grown up always knowing who he is like how it's innate knowing how to breathe. Growing up in a small town like Charming, you didn't have to really meet anyone to really know them. It was like they were some weird SciFI town where basic information was just stored in their DNA. It was like epigenetics, it was passed down genetically to know certain people and things about Charming.

And everyone knew about Jax, his mother, and his club.

It was part of the reason why she had always known who Jax Teller was. His family and club were like the boogeyman of Charming. They were the perceived devils of the town families told their kids to stay away from. And it was dangerous to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, or so she thought.

She and Jax had gone to the same schools as it wasn't like there were a lot of choices of schools to go to in Charming. You either went to the public schools or your parents shipped you off to Stockton to the private schools, Count of Aquino or Pilgrim Grove.

She and Jax were a year apart, but managed to hang out in the same crowds.

Or mostly, she found herself somehow in the web of his closest associates.

Lowell Harland was the same age as her and she ended up being his partner in a lot of things for classes. He was nice and a little awkward, but was a whiz when it came to mechanics and any problems relating to it. It was clear the boy was troubled living with a junkie for a dad and a mom trying to pay bills with whatever money she had that wasn't stolen for drugs. Despite Lowell's connection to SAMCRO it didn't stop bullies from picking on the sweet boy.

Then there was Kyle Hobart, in her opinion was a pig. He was a couple years older, but got held back once in kindergarten. She doesn't know how it is possible to fail kindergarten, but he did. They shared gym together and she made it a point to steer clear of his line of sight. He flirted with anything and everything. It always amazed her how he managed to trick a girl into being his girlfriend. The kicker of it was that they always cried when he ended up cheating up them. Aubrey never understood men like that. If they wanted to sleep around that was fine as long as you were upfront about it, but don't try to settle with one girl when you only plan to fuck her best friend behind her back. So Aubrey tried to avoid him at all cost with his cheesy pick-up lines and stupid smirk. She's surprised no one had burst his bubble that the only reason he was so appealing was because he was very close friends with Jax. After all, he mostly got Jax's sloppy seconds.

The only group in Jax's little posse she did like or go out of her way to talk to was Opie. Despite being tall and foreboding, the man was a giant Teddy Bear. He also seemed to be the only sane one.

She had gotten close to Ope after he dated her good friend Payton for a few months. She even doubled with them for a couple things when she was seeing an old boyfriend. He was always respectful to her and wasn't obnoxious like Kyle or cocky like she knows Jax can be. He was easy to talk to as well, but he was also fine with silence. She was sad that Payton had broken things off with the Sasquatch, but it seems Opie wasn't hurting too bad as he had moved on to Donna Lerner a small quiet girl that had moved from Lodi to Charming over Christmas Break last year.

Despite their inner circles mingling and her friend dating his best friend, she and Jax never really spoke or interacted outside of sharing a few blunts and an occasional drink. They always had ended up at the same parties. They were always in the same room a few feet away from one another. It wasn't as if they weren't aware of each other because she was very aware of Jax with his discreet stares at her.

And it wasn't as if she wasn't guilty of checking out Jax either.

She wasn't blind.

Jax was gorgeous with his growing blonde hair that fell to his shoulders. Aubrey thinks only he could pull off such long hair as she usually like her guys clean shaven. He wasn't shy about his body either as when they had been in the same gym class everyone got a peek at his six pack and he would proudly flex his muscles for the nearest hyperventilating girl.

But even with the body, blonde hair, and those blue eyes, the permanent smirk plastered to his face, he carried himself in a way that attracted bees to his honey pot. It was a cocky confidence, which would have been seen as obnoxious in any other man, but one Aubrey can admit she would probably find herself caught into too.

And now it seems with him dropping out of school and people whispering about how he was a Prospect for his dad's club, it was making him more mature – appealing. His cocky teenager swagger was being replaced with something more dangerous – forbidden. And people loved forbidden fruit. Anything forbidden meant it was a desirable item. Jax seemed to fit that description to a T.

She suspects this change in him, this animal magnetism, is the source of the problem with his current relationship.

Aubrey was surprised like most the one to tame Jax Teller's flirtatious ways was Tara Knowles.

Aubrey was unsure of how she felt about the Valedictorian.

She knows Tara comes from a fucked up upbringing with her mom dying in a car crash when she was 9. Then to top it off, her Dad decides to drown his sorrows with the bottle and if really drunk, he would take it out on Tara. It was a shame as Tara's dad was movie star handsome and the alcohol was slowly turning him into a post-surgery Mickey Rourke.

Aubrey and Tara had shared classes as they were in the same grade.

After all they were both honor students in AP classes and their paths crossed a lot. Tara never really had a group. She has moved from people to people. She never fully allowed herself to be a part of something. She was aloof and kept people on the edge. She presumes that aloofness could be found attractive.

She always felt Tara was nice enough, but she got the feeling Tara thought she was better than everyone. She didn't know where Tara got that attitude from, but it made it very hard to try and become friends with the girl.

She does know however once Jax had decided to save Tara from her tower like Prince Charming, Tara's personality had done a complete 180. Gone were loose shirts and comfortable sweats and in replacement were tight jeans and tanks that showcased the aspiring doctor's pale skin and moderate curves. It wasn't as if Tara was not something to be desired. She was pretty with her Snow White skin and dark hair. The upgrade in wardrobe had certainly worked in her better interest, but she didn't see what connected Jax and Tara.

They seemed to be of two complete opposite worlds – morals.

It wasn't as if she thought a lot about the two star crossed lovers, but when they continually have very public spats a person could only help but wonder what was the pull and the glue that held them together.

And Aubrey wonders what in the hell the two could find to argue about right now.

They were all out to celebrate the end of the school year, she and Tara were about to graduate in a couple weeks from Charming High. They had completed the required years of education for the torturous American school system.

They were out by the streams in a forgotten cabin by the adults, but not the teens as they throw multiple bonfires and parties throughout the year. If anybody really cared to find out it probably belonged to the Oswald family since they owned all the woodland areas. Considering the grandeur of the place she was pretty positive it was. She's surprised it has lasted this long and that no homeless people lived in squander there.

But it seems it was just a treasured place for the youth. The one thing they had in this tiny town.

Aubrey knows this will be her last party as it won't make sense for her to come back after graduation. And it's a good party with an even better turnout. She's surprised that Hale even showed up with his current girlfriend, Holly, and the future deputy is even partaking in some underage drinking. Aubrey files that away for future blackmail use. As after all the statute of limitation is seven years.

Even more, she's surprised Jax had tagged along with Tara to this rite of passage. She would think anything high school related would be in his rearview mirror. From what she heard, high school or it's functions weren't much of a priority when he was a registered student. So she doesn't see why it would be now especially as she hears his club has parties practically every day.

But everyone had watched in awe as Tara had rode in on the back of his bike, and he was sporting proudly that leather kutte that displays his club's emblem on the leather. The insignia is a foreboding symbol and it's strange seeing it up close.

Yet, something had happened between the time they had arrived until now, as she can hear Tara's high pitched shrill and Jax's low timbre telling her to calm the fuck down. She rolls her eyes as the girl could at least wait until they were in private to wash their dirty laundry.

Aubrey is away from the crowd and hidden by some trees smoking a cigarette when she hears the crunch of twigs and some leaves before a figure approaches her. He leans against the tree besides her. She's hit with the smell of leather, smoke, and something else she doesn't' recognize.

"You mind if I bum one?" Jax asks quietly as he crosses his feet in front of him.

Aubrey digs into her pockets as she takes out her full pack and lets him pick out his stick. He doesn't need to ask for a lighter as she has hers out and ignites it. She watches as the flames illuminate both of their faces in the moonlight.

She can tell he is stressed and irritated. His blue eyes looks harden from whatever he has gotten tangled up into in the last year. The flame goes out and Aubrey leans back against the tree and Jax takes a long drag of the donated cigarette and it's quiet between them. It's not awkward, but attentive. She can tell he is looking at her with the aid of the moonlight and the faint glow of the fire a few feet away.

She can hear the mosquitos humming nearby and even swats at a few while trying not to look like an idiot. The laugher from her peers drowns out some of the music playing and Aubrey thinks she has never been a fan of rock n roll. She prefers something more sensual – relaxed. But she can't resist the urge to hum along softly to "Sweet Child O' Mine".

"How come we never hooked up?" Jax asks after Slash's solo.

At first she isn't sure she heard the question or really that he was speaking to her. It was so abrupt and she was curious as to why he would want to end their silence with that. As the question hits her slightly buzzed brain she tilts her head back and laughs. She full on belly laughs. She thinks it's mostly the alcohol's fault for this laughter, but she finds this pick up line so cheesy.

"Does that really work on girls?" She asks him genuinely curious as her laughs subdues. He doesn't seem bother by it either. She thinks it's probably because she is known for her spontaneous laughter at things. She has always found the most stupid or downright morbid things funny.

He doesn't say anything, but she can see his smile in the night. She knows that it's not about the line. It's the deliverance of it that matters. She has heard shit spewed to her far worse that she sometimes would entertain. She knows the only reason it's not working now is the fact he doesn't really believe his words. His mind is somewhere else for him to make her feel like the only girl in the world.

He stands up straighter as he throws his bud on the ground as he shakes his head. Clearly the wheels are grinding as he tries to work something out within himself. "I am genuinely curious though." He adds as he stuffs his hands in his pockets. She can feel his gaze burning intensely on her and it isn't the cool breeze of the night that makes her shiver slightly.

His words make her pause. Her smile dims a little as he is serious and depending on how she answers it could not end well for her. She knows boys – men – like Jax get off on the attention from women. She suspects it's probably why Tara and Jax were fighting minutes before. Jax can't resist the attention the women give him. He likes the feeling of being wanted – the power he can hold over the seemingly innocent woman. After all, he is young and virile. It's only right for him to be sowing his oats.

He can't help himself, but to look and to see his options. It's in his nature to test Tara in the fact that she is just one girl that has his eye now. He could have plenty of others who probably wouldn't be as much of a hassle. To Aubrey it's a petty game that she has no interest in being a part of.

"It always seemed your interests lay elsewhere." She replies as she flicks her own cigarette away. Since the boy hit puberty she had seen a different girl on his arm that didn't last more than two weeks before Tara came along.

He's been entangled with Tara for three years. She didn't want to get anywhere near that shrapnel when he decided to piss off Tara. Especially during one of their numerous breaks by sleeping with some blonde bimbo she couldn't stand. She doesn't understand how Tara could possibly handle that humiliation. The same pathetic repeated behavior that seemed exhausting to deal with and they were only 18. Why would she even want to put up with it?

Jax hums as he seems to accept the answer. He leans back against his tree and does a full appraisal of her.

At 5'7'', Aubrey possesses long lithe legs that she loves to show off in skin tight jeans or currently her short shorts. She is lucky she has a nice little bubble butt to compliment her. She can admit she isn't that gifted in the chest area, but she possesses a moderately B cup that was enough for boyfriends to grab on. And she could say her light brown straight hair isn't something to be desired as she frequently gets high lights or would go a few shades darker on occasions, but it works for her and compliments her green eyes.

If it isn't too conceited she can admit she is a pretty girl. A subtle beauty that she doesn't see the need to flaunt like that girls he surrounds himself with.

"You're dating Ryan Jones?" Jax asks her as he eyes the high school letter man jacket she is wearing.

"He asked me to the party," she tells him simply.

"I thought loaning the letterman jacket was a serious thing," he says.

"Not like slapping tattoos on people to claim them." She counters.

She remembers how last summer, Tara couldn't help but flaunt the tramp stamp she had gotten for Jax. Aubrey tried her best not to judge people, but she truly believed for someone so smart that was a dumbass decision. Tara was only 17 at the time and a tattoo wasn't something to take lightly. It was something permanent. Aubrey was confused on how Jax even got Tara to consider it let alone do it. The worst thing was Jax didn't even reciprocate the gesture. So what did Tara get out of the deal except him fucking Amy Simmons two weeks later?

Jax chuckles as a smile lights up his face at the dig at his culture. "We all have our traditions."

"Well a jacket is easier to get rid of than a tattoo," she quips.

And by the wolfish grin that comes over his face, she knows he is getting a thrill off her giving him some lip. Jesus, she thinks, he is either really bored, or Tara doesn't put up much of a challenge or gives him a real bitch fit.

"How long has this been going on?" He asks and Aubrey has it on the tip of her tongue to ask why he cares, but stops herself.

"A few months," she tells him. Ryan was sweet and nice. They were just simply having a good time. He had plans to leave for college he was going to UC Davis after scoring a full scholarship for football. She plans to stay in Charming.

"Seems he should be keeping better eyes on you," Jax tells her as his eyes move down to her legs before meeting her eyes.

Aubrey rolls her eyes. "I can take care of myself. Besides shouldn't you be trying to dig your way out of the doghouse?"

She watches as he deflates at the mention of his girlfriend. She almost feels bad for it, but then again she doesn't.

"Yeah…you're right." He agrees as he pushes some hair behind his ear, "You're nothing but trouble Aubrey Pierce," he teases with a smirk.

She flashes him a coy smile that he sees right through as they both begin to laugh.

"I'm serious though…why didn't we ever hook up?" He presses again and she realizes he isn't going to stop until he gets an answer.

"Aubrey?"

Both their heads whip to the voice of Ryan as he approaches her. He doesn't seem bothered by her talking to Jax. In fact, he nods his head at Jax before an arm wraps around her shoulder bringing him into his warm body. "We're about to head out to Duncan's."

Aubrey nods her head as her arm goes around his waist.

"I'll see you around, Jax," she throws back to the blonde biker.

He nods his head as he flashes a grin showing her all his teeth.

She almost laughs as he produces a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lights one.