Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 51-Meg

Meg

Jai steps into my family's home looking around.  I notice him side by side with my dad as I take my coat off and hang it up.  They really are about the same size.  My dad isn't as muscular as him but still the same size.  I take Jai's coat and hang it up, too, as I see Mikey walk through the kitchen.  I've always thought he resembles a young Andrew Garfield. I think he's more handsome, though. He grabs something before heading to the door. 
"Mikey, your sister's home.  Aren't you going to at least say hi?" my mom asks him. 
"Oh, hey Meg.  How was Jamaica?" he says pulling a whole bagel out of his mouth.  He hugs me and before I can even answer he's at the door. 
"Where are you going at this hour, young man?" my mom asks.
"Study group at the library," he answers shoving the bagel back in. 
"At ten o'clock at night?" my mom replies disbelievingly. 
"If it's at school, the library is open all night.  He just can't check anything out," I tell her. 
"Oh, well... drive carefully," she says surprised.  "And don't stay out too late!" she adds. 
He steps out the door. 
"Um... that was Mikey," I tell Jai.  "My little brother.  At least he stopped for a minute," I explain shrugging. 
"I forgot my keys," Mikey tells us in a rush coming back in and reaching for them on the hook by the door.  He stops short.  "Why the heck is Jai Courtney in our living room?" he asks gaping at him. 
"Nice to meet you," Jai says reaching out and shaking his hand. 
My brother blinks and looks to me questioningly. 
"We met in Jamaica," I shrug attempting to explain what I'm still having difficulty believing myself. 
"What time is your meeting?" my dad interrupts asking my brother. 
Mikey looks to his watch.  "In ten minutes," he replies.  "I'll talk to you tomorrow," he says pointing at me accusingly before running out the door. 
"It's going to take him ten minutes just to clean off his car," I mutter.  "Then, thirty to get to school if he speeds."
"Drive carefully!  It's icy outside and you're going to be late anyway," my mom says lecturing him as she follows him outside. 
"Um... let's get you settled upstairs," I mumble to Jai heading up the stairs with my suitcase.  I open my door and set it down before walking him to Arthur's old room at the end of the hallway. 
"That's my room, this is Mikey's.  Don't go in there.  You'll probably trip over his junk on the floor.  He's not very tidy and my mom and I have given up on trying to keep his room clean," I say pushing some clothes and junk inside with my foot that trickled out and shutting the door. Jai chuckles.  "You're at the end here.  It was my oldest brother's room.  It's more of a guest room now."  I flip on the light for him.  It looks like something out of a magazine—grey walls, black queen bed frame and furniture, turquoise and ivory filigree pattered comforter.  There's a modern medallion-like mirror on the wall just above the headboard.  I take his guitar case and set it down against the interior wall where it won't get too cold.  "It's kind of chilly in here.  Let me get you another blanket," I say stepping out.  I open the linen closet and pull out my favorite spare blanket.  It's really soft and warm. I helped my mom to make it.  I walk in and give him the blanket. 
"This is nice.  Is it handmade?" he asks me examining the blanket. 
"My mom and I made that one together when I was in high school," I tell him.  His eyes meet mine and he appears moved that I'm letting him use it.  My dad brings his other suitcase in and Jai thanks him.  My dad tells him to make himself at home.  I can tell Jai is touched by that, too. 
"Goodnight, Daddy," I say hugging him.  "Thanks for getting us."
"I'm just glad you're home," he replies.  "Goodnight, sweetheart.  Goodnight, Jai," my dad says nodding to him. 
Jai thanks him and wishes him goodnight also. 
"Um... the restroom is over here," I tell him.  He follows me out.  "I'm sorry if Mikey left it a mess.  He's not very... clean.  Usually I pick up after him."
I step in relieved.  It looks like my mom cleaned. 
"If it's a mess when you come in, feel free to use my parents' downstairs.  There's a half-bath down there, too.  I'm afraid my brother is going to embarrass me," I admit. 
"I had a messy sister, too.  No worries," he grins. 
I smile back. 
"The linen closet is here.  Help yourself to anything—towels, toothpaste... whatever," I tell him showing him the closet in the hallway. 
"Can I see your room?" he asks me. 
I blush and turn away.  "Sure," I reply.  I walk back down the hallway and flip my light switch on.  I move my suitcase to the side.  He steps in and looks at my room.  I have a white twin bed frame and furniture.  My comforter is white with medallion-like hot pink roses covering it.  I have light wooden floors and a room-sized hot pink shaggy rug.  The walls are chalkboard charcoal grey and have writing up there from some of my friends in high school.  I have two windows with long white curtains on either side of my bed—a nightstand and lamp on each side.  It's like a teenager's room and I'm a little embarrassed.  I was never the decorating type.  My mom chose the decor years ago. 
"Do you like pink?" he asks grinning. 
I shrug.  "My mom picked this out when I was in high school," I tell him. 
"So... what's your favorite color?" he asks. 
"Blue," I reply. 
"There's no blue in here," he teases grinning. 
"Yeah," I agree.  "What's yours?"
"Black," he tells me. 
I laugh.  "That's very Dauntless of you," I tease.  He chuckles and smiles at me. 
"Thanks for letting me stay," he says softly. 
"It's no problem," I reply in the same tone. 
"Are you tired?" he asks. 
"Yeah, a bit," I admit. 
"Me, too," he says stepping closer to me.  He reaches out and hugs me.  "Goodnight, love."
"Goodnight," I reply quietly as he steps away. 
My mom is at the door.  He thanks her and says goodnight to her as well. 
She steps in my room and shuts the door.  "So... are you going to tell me what's going on?" she asks softly. 
"We're just friends," I say to her. 
"That's what Gale told me, too," she nods.  "He seems really nice," she comments. 
"He is," I reply. 
"He's much older than you, isn't he?" she asks and I nod.  "You know your father is older than me," she points out. 
"I know," I tell her looking away from her. 
"I like him," she says.  "From what I hear he treats you well."
"We're just friends, mom," I insist. 
"Just keep an open mind.  Gale said it sounded like he just wanted to spend more time with you," she tells me. 
I frown. 
"Spencer was not who we thought he was.  He deceived us," she whispers and I nod.  "We can talk tomorrow about what happened if you want.  There's more than you know."
"I don't know if I can handle any more," I admit. 
"It can wait until you're ready," she tells me.  She hugs me saying goodnight and kisses the top of my head before she leaves.  I sigh shakily before I step to the bathroom and brush my teeth.  I go back to my room and get dressed for bed.  I drift off quickly in the familiar, comfortable space of my childhood.