Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 22-Meg

Meg

I wake in the morning excited about going to the mountains. This is definitely going to be an intense and wonderful experience. I packed my bag last night as I spoke to my mom. She was worried about me overdoing it there. I told her I'd be fine. She insisted on telling Pastor Ben how I'm doing and I figure it's no big deal. I'm getting stronger day by day. I would've thought I'd been fully recovered by now but it's just been a slow process for me. I am recovered, it's just that strengthening myself and gaining weight back has been difficult—especially with working before. It was like I was losing weight with my last job instead of gaining it.
I admitted to my mom how Spencer has been calling me. I told her I blocked his calls. She wanted me to divulge everything, so I did. She's very concerned that he threatened to come down here. I told her I didn't really expect him to and we should be gone early this morning anyway so it's not a problem. She said she was relieved but I could still hear worry in her voice. I told her it's all in God's hands anyway. I also said I have lots of friends that'll keep me safe. She wants to get a restraining order out for him... I'm still not sure about that and I told her so.
I pull my hair back into a ponytail and hear a knock on my door. I open it up to see Jai. He has his bag in hand.
"Good morning," I smile.
"G'day," he grins. "You about ready?"
"Yeah, I think so. Let me get my bag," I say.
I grab my keys and step out locking up. We walk down to breakfast together. I can't keep the thought out of my mind about what my mom said.
"Everything alright?" he asks.
"My mother thinks I should get a restraining order out on him," I say softly.
"I agree," he tells me evenly.
"Really?" I question surprised.
"He sounds like he doesn't listen to reason and he's used to getting his way. I don't want him forcing his way upon you or taking you off somewhere against your will," he tells me concerned.
"I just... I don't think he's that bad. He's just upset. If he was really going to tear up my contract, he would've done it by now. I think he doesn't follow through with his threats," I explain.
He sighs. "Are you still planning on working for this bloke after he treated you like that?" he asks me surprised.
"No," I respond easily. "I just think he's letting off some steam with his words. I don't really think he'll do what he says—they're empty threats," I explain.
"I hope you're right," he says as we step into the dining hall.
We arrive at the cafeteria together and everyone already in here seems to be excited. The happy atmosphere is infectious causing me to smile. Jai seems cheerful, too. We get our breakfast and sit down side by side. Several people join our table. Gale is next to me.
"So, my mum wants to hear you sing," Jai says to me.
I cough in surprise. Gale leans over and whisper-yells to me, "He's talking to him mum about you!" I clear my throat. "I've got it," Gale tells him. I take a sip of my coffee and it helps to calm my throat. She walks around and sits beside him. I peek over there to see that she's giving him both churches' social media information. I sit up straight in my seat and smile at how he's interested in that. He's got his mother asking about it. My chest constricts in joy at the thought.
"You okay?" Jai asks me quietly, rubbing my back as Gale returns to her seat beside me.
"Yeah," I tell him meeting his eyes.
"You don't mind, do you?" he questions.
"No, not at all. I think I took a breath when I should've been swallowing. You caught me mid-bite," I grin. He smiles at me. I see him sending a link to someone before he pockets his phone.
Alvin and Aquila join our table, him sitting besides Jai.  "Is everyone looking forward to the camping life?" he asks. 
"I am.  I haven't been camping since I was a kid," I reply. 
"Girl Scouts?" he asks.
"No.  My older brother was the Eagle Scout.  I was never into that.  We went camping every summer when I was growing up," I say. 
"That's amazing," Aquila says surprised.  "Which brother is that?  Mikey?"
"No.  Arthur," I say.  "I don't know if he's ever visited Southside.  He's so much older than me."
She nods in understanding. 
"That's impressive.  I've heard that's difficult to obtain," Alvin says. 
"Yeah," I nod.  "I was always at band camp."
"What instruments do you play?" Aquila asks. 
"Wait," Gale says raising her hands.  "I've got this."  I just smile at her.  "Guitar, piano, xylophone... you were in choir.  Is that it?"
"I can play the violin and percussion, too," I add. 
"That, I didn't know," she says surprised. 
"Yeah, I have too many interests," I grin sipping the last of my coffee. 
"That's impressive," Jai comments quietly. 
"Thank you," I say softly. 
Jai and I finish our breakfasts and put our dishes away.  Gale comes with us.  "I'm not looking forward to cramming into that bus," she mumbles to me. 
"Give thanks in all circumstances," I nudge her teasingly. 
"Yeah, thank you Jesus we're not walking," she says.  "Oh, and it's not raining."
"See.  Not so bad," I smile. 
Pastor Ben is out at the bus helping the driver to load up some baggage.  "Did you eat yet?" I ask him. 
"Good morning," he smiles. 
"Good morning," I reply. 
"Yeah, I was up early—first in," he nods. 
"How's this going to work with the bus?" Gale asks Pastor Ben.  "That thing is pretty full already with all these big guys."
"Yeah, it has been crowded," he nods in agreement.  "Last year it was a lot of smaller ladies."
"Ah, so the group wasn't so..." Gale says looking at Jai and motioning to him. 
"If it's really that crowded, I could drive," Jai offers.  "The jeep seats four, maybe five."
"I love this idea," Gale instantly chimes in while Pastor Ben was in the process of opening his mouth. 
He closes his mouth and furrows his brows.  "We don't want to impose," he replies. 
"I don't mind.  No worries, mate," Jai says easily. 
"See," Gale says raising her voice in intonation. 
"Well... if it's really no problem," Ben says rubbing his chin grinning. 
"Is there a servo around here somewhere?" Jai asks. 
"A what?" Ben blinks confused. 
"You know, for petrol," Jai confirms. 
"I think he means a gas station," I say.
"Oh, yeah.  There's one a couple of streets over," he motions toward the mountain, the direction I haven't traveled before. 
"Do you have a map?" Jai asks. 
"Sure," Ben says.  The two of them step inside for a moment.  I can see them talking to the man at the front desk. 
"He is so sweet on you," Gale says to me. 
"What?" I question in a high pitched tone. 
"He's talking to his mother about you," she replies. 
"So," I shrug.  "I talked to my mom about the both of you.  We're just friends," I insist. 
"I don't know about that," she says shaking her head.
"We're both coming out of the same kind of bad relationship.  Oddly, he had the exact experience happen to him that I did.  He's not looking for a girlfriend.  He just wants some friends.  We're just helping each other through a hard time," I explain. 
"He told you that?" she asks. 
"He did," I nod. 
"Maybe I'm wrong," she mumbles.