Shiitake

Senna's POV

"Two FaceTime calls in two days?" he asks, his eyes never leaving the screen in front of us.

I grunt out a "yes," as I work my the button's on my controller, running my player past Jax's team to eventually score a goal. In a true FIFA goal celebration, I throw the controller down on the couch and fall to my knees in the small space between the sofa and the TV. Pulling my shirt over my face I raise my arms above my head and cheer silently so not to wake Beckett or the twins who are sleeping the bunks in the next room. While blindfolded by my shirt Jax playfully punches my exposed stomach effectively ending my celebration.

"Sore loser," I mutter as I pull my shirt off my face.

He leans back on the couch, his arms crossed behind his head. "Yeah right, I gifted you that goal."

"Sure you did," I scoff as I stand, grabbing a hold of the TV cabinet as we hit what I assume to be a pothole causing the whole bus to shake.

"So, Harri, huh?" Jax asks not so casually.

I sit down on the edge of the couch that takes up most of the space in Gus's back lounge and face Jax. Playing absently with the controller I avoid making direct eye contact with him. "Yeah."

I had spoken to Jax yesterday about my first FaceTime call with Harri and made sure to give him a fist pump for his suggestion of covering the camera with tape. He laughed at me when I admitted that I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, but stopped short of telling me I was an idiot. Although he did use an app on his phone to make the sound of a whip cracking, so I guess he thinks she has me whipped. Even though we've only been speaking for a few weeks, I can't help but think he might right. Maybe not now, but certainly for the first time in my life, I can say that I am starting to understand Beckett's behaviour around Joanna and Tessa.

"What do you guys even talk about?" he asks placing his controller by his side indicating that the game is over.

"Normal shi— shiitake," I say channeling Harri.

I watch as he runs his hand through his hair, brushing the brown strands across his forehead and out of his eyes. "Normal what?" he asks confused.

"Shiitake," I state simply.

He laughs out loud, "and just what the eff is a shiitake?"

Working hard, I keep my face straight devoid of emotion and answer,  "a mushroom, Jax."

He continues to laugh, "I know that, Smartarse! Why not just say shit?"

"Because maybe I want to cut back on my swearing," I lie. Again I try and keep my face straight. I know how much it kills him when he can't work out if I am being serious or if I am joking.

"Or maybe you're just whipped," he replies taking his phone out of his pocket and using the whip crack app to emphasize his point. While I laugh, I don't find it quite as funny as Jax who falls off the couch in hysterics, assisted by Gus who jolts as the wheels hit yet another pothole. He hits the knee on the TV cabinet on his way down.  Standing he grimaces as he rubs the injury.

"Serves you right for laughing, you dic—dumpling," I tease, gesturing at his knee.

He sits back on the sofa, sweeping his fringe back and covering with a snapback that was sitting abandoned on the arm of the couch. "Okay okay. Now answer the question what kind of... shiitake do you guys talk about?"

I smile at his quick adoption of the word shiitake. "I don't know. Normal shiitake like school, the weather, family and dad jokes."

"Oh god, Sen. Please tell me you've haven't been telling her any of your terrible jokes?"

I throw my hands in the air. "Hey! Hey! I resent that. My jokes are not terrible. They're hilarious."

"The only thing hilarious about them is how bad they are," he maintains while comically face palming himself.

I sit forward, pulling the cushion out from behind my back and throw it at him. "Shut up, Dic... Dijon Mustard. My jokes are gold."

"Wow, maybe you two are made for each other since she's still talking to you despite your repulsive jokes," he says catching the cushion, placing it behind his neck.

"Maybe she just has good taste in jokes, unlike you!"

He cocks his brow, as he does so the edge of his lip rises in sync. "Unlikely."

"I don't know, Jax. Honestly, we just talk about normal things. Just without all this..." I say waving my hand in the air, gesturing to Gus and the tour life.

"Well, this..." he copies my gesture swinging his arm mockingly, "...is kinda a big deal, Sen. It is basically your life. I know you're enjoying the anonymity but if you really are starting to fall for this chick you have to start thinking about telling her the truth."

"Do I?" I ask, already knowing the answer that is coming.

I feel his blue eyes staring at me intently. "Yes, Sen. Unless you don't plan on ever meeting her..."

"Well, funny that you mention that. I was thinking when we go home in a few weeks I might try and see her."

"And then what?" he asks.

I shrug but don't answer nervously tucking a curl behind my ear.

"So you're planning on just popping up like SURPRISE!?!"

As he yells this, he starjumps up from his seat like a jack in the box his hands and fingers wiggling backward and forwards in what could best be described as jazz hands type movement. "And then you'll be like hey it's me, SJ. You might notice I look a lot like Senna Jager, lead singer for Gate Thirty Four. Well about that..." he trails off, sitting back on the couch proud of his performance.

"Shh! Keep your voice down, Bette Midler. The boys will hear you." I instruct, motioning to the bunks immediately up from back lounge where we are sitting. "But yeah that was kinda the plan. I mean it's not like I can wear a mask, and pretty sure she'd see straight through me if I wore a fake mustache."

"And you're sure you don't want to take me up on my offer to do your make up?" he questions cheekily with a smirk.

"Yes, Jax. I'm sure. Besides photoshoots and press events, the only time I plan on wearing makeup is Halloween."

"Speaking of, that's coming up in a few weeks. What are you going as?" he asks changing the suject.

"Dunno, maybe The Mad Hatter?"

His brows cross in confusion. "Like from Alice in Wonderland?"

"Yeah, that's the one," I confirm, omitting Harri's plan to dress as the Queen of Hearts.

I watch as his eyes roll. "So, that's random...."

If only he knew, I think as I watch him fluff up the couch cushions. "What about a Team Sax couple costume?" he suggests.

"What were you thinking? Pinky and the Brain? Spongebob and Patrick? Kurt and Courtney? Barbie and Ken? Kylie and Kendal?" I reply jokingly.

"Not quite, Sen. Something cooler." His eyes widen. "I've got it! What about the Ninja Turtles or the Power Rangers?"

"Uh... Jax. I think there are more than two Ninja Turtles and I know there are more than two Power Rangers."

"Details smeatails," he responds dismissing my comment.

I roll my eyes at him with the intention of continuing the conversation however the exchange ends abruptly as both Luca and Rafa enter the room. Judging by their messy hair they have both just woken up. Neither of them has even bothered to put on a shirt, then again, none of us dress too formally on Gus. As they take a seat on the couch between Jax and I they mirror each other others movements, even rubbing their tired eyes in sync. They either don't notice or don't acknowledge it, as the room falls quiet.

"Hey," they chime in unison breaking the silence a moment later.

"Hey," Jax and I reply not quite as in sync.

"So my sister and her friends are in town tonight. Feel like hitting a club after the show?" Luca asks wearily.

Jax and I look at each other and both nod in agreement. It's been a few weeks since we've been out. Despite being underage we usually don't have an issue getting in places and the twins' sister is little older so it probably won't be an issue tonight,  plus we always have a good time with Carmen and her friends.

"Are Candy, Mandy, and Brandy coming," Jax asks, with a distinctly mischevious sparkle in his blue eyes.

"Yeah, Candice, Amanda and Brandi will be coming," Rafa replies not so subtly correcting the nicknames that Jax gave the girls the last time we went out.

"Good times, good times," he says with a nod as if recalling how messy the last outing was. "Just remind Candy if she has to vom that she does it before she gets on the bus. Gus stunk for days after the last time."

"God, that was the worst," Rafa says dry reaching as we all cringe with the memory.

"Well maybe if you don't insist on doing shots we won't have that problem," Luca chimes in, directing his comment to Jax who feigns innocence.

"I don't know what you're talking about, it was Senna's idea."

"Shut the front gate!" I exclaim calling Jax out on his blatant lie. "It was not. If I recall correctly, I believe you were the one who insisted on playing Never have I Ever with tequila."

He smirks, with a chuckle. "yeah, like I said. Good times, Good times."

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Hey everyone,

So I don't' usually leave an author's note but I love hearing your thoughts!

Do like where the story is going? What do you want to see more of? What do you want to see less of? Is everyone still Team Jax (I know I am, can't help but love his cheekiness)?

- Trudz xx

Ps: Don't forget you're all awesome. Each and every one of you!