Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 76-Meg

Meg

I step out of the locker room and actually see Jai sitting on the bench waiting for me.  He has his ankles crossed and he's engrossed in something on his phone.  I sit beside him. 
"Oh, you're ready," he says surprised sitting up straight. 
"Yeah," I grin. 
"You look nice.  Are you wearing makeup?" he asks looking closer at me. 
"Does chapstick count?" I giggle. 
"No way," he insists.  He even touches my lips and I close my eyes in response.  I open them when he removes his fingers and pull out my tube to show him.  "Huh," he says surprised. 
"It's cherry flavored," I laugh. 
"You do smell nice," he says rising. 
"Thanks," I reply. 
He pulls me up next and we walk out the back door.  We put our bags in the trunk and climb into his SUV. 
"Where do you want to go for lunch?" he asks. 
"Wherever you want," I shrug.  "What are you in the mood for?"
"What's around here?" he asks. 
I get out my phone and do a search.  "There are a few places near the theater, several around here, and a few on the way," I tell him.  We scoot a little closer together in the front seat and look at my phone.  "Pizza, chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, Italian, Mexican, pseudo Japanese..." I list off. 
"Not authentic, huh?" he laughs. 
"Not at all," I shake my head.  "It's very Americanized.  I'm sure the other ethnicities are too.  I had Chinese food in Japan and it was more like stir fried Japanese food."
"I think every country kind of adapts other foods closer to their own tastes," he says. 
"You're probably right.  I've only been to two other countries," I admit. 
"Japan and Jamaica?" he questions.  I nod.  "But you live like an hour away from Canada."
"I've never been," I admit.  "I've seen it from Detroit."
"Maybe I'll take you traveling sometime," he whispers moving a stray hair out of my face. 
I smile in response, although I don't expect him to keep that suggestion.  I don't want him to feel like he has to go out of his way for me. 
"So what are you in the mood for?" I ask.  He stares at me for a moment.  I smile and nudge him. 
"Right, tucker," he snaps out of it.  "I haven't had wings in a while."
"There's a local place that serves pretty good ones.  It's kind of on the way," I suggest. 
"Alright," he agrees. 
I give him the directions but we take the expressway because it's faster.  We arrive quickly. 
"Is this a pub?" he questions. 
I nod.  "It's a sports bar and a local chain."
He opens the door for me and we step in.  The hostess immediately recognizes him.  I smile and step aside letting them have their moment with him.  He seems to enjoy the fans.  I'm glad he looks so happy.  I've never seen the expression on his face earlier as he spoke about his friend.  I take several pictures for the two girls working up front.  He signs a few autographs and has them seat us at the bar.  We order our meals and some of the staff comes out to meet him.  He takes pictures, signs autographs, and even is asked to sign their wall behind the bar.  He laughs and obliges them.  Then we get to sit down and chat.  Only a couple people coming and going ask for a picture or autograph.  It's mostly just us talking.  His smile is so real and I love how he treats his fans.  He's not bothered by it.  It's just another extension of who he is.  Our food arrives and he looks to me in question. 
"These are chicken wings, right?" he asks me. 
"Yeah," I nod.  "They're huge, aren't they?"
"They're enormous.  What size chook did these come from?" he laughs. 
"A scary one," I chuckle back. 
"I've got to take a picture of one of these," he says getting his phone out.  He holds it to get the proportion in there. 
I take a bite of one of mine.  They're perfect—probably the best I've ever had here.  I try a fry and they're so good.  I haven't eaten here in a while.  Spencer wasn't a fan.  He usually liked the fancier restaurants in town that had dress codes.  That's why I have such nice clothes for church actually—it's because he always wanted to go to the best places. 
I watch as Jai tries his wings.  "These are good," he nods.  "What kind did you get again?" he asks. 
"Teriyaki.  I usually order that or barbecue," I say motioning to his.  "My brothers like the heat and get the spicer ones."
"Can I try one?" he asks. 
"Sure," I say scooting my plate closer to him. 
"Those are good, too," he says.  He offers me one of his and I take a flat. 
"Did you try the fries?" I ask.  "They're beer battered."
"I thought you weren't a drinker," he teases taking one. 
"The alcohol is cooked out," I say. 
I see him take another fry and I put the plate between us.  I grab a couple of the fried vegetables I got.  I look back to him and he's smiling at me. 
"What?" I question. 
"It's just that... most ladies I've known wouldn't come to a place like this or eat fried food," he tells me. 
"Salad eaters?" I tease. 
"Pretty much," he nods. 
I shrug.  "I'm not like most people, I guess," I say eating another of my favorite fries. 
"No... you're not," he says softly. 
We continue our meals.  He finishes his massive pile of wings and I eat about half of mine.  I get a box to go.  We wipe our hands with several wet naps and the staff actually asks if they could get a group picture with him and post it on their Facebook page.  I smile at that and he agrees.  I offer to take the picture for them and someone asks if I'm his girlfriend.  I look to him in surprise. 
"You can put down that she's my BFF," he says. 
"Are you from around here?" a waitress asks. 
"Yeah, I used to work at the Y," I tell her. 
"So will you be around here more?" a guy inquires.  I think he works in the back. 
"I hope so," Jai replies. 
The group of them cheer in response to that.  I take several pictures and then the manager, I think, wants me in one.  I laugh in surprise and join the group.  Jai wraps his arms around me from behind and I smile for the picture.  They walk us to his SUV and wave to us as we leave.  I look to Jai and he's smiling at me. 
"Thanks for humoring them," he says. 
"It's fine.  Is it always like this for you?" I ask. 
"Sometimes," he says.  I direct him to the shopping center and he nods saying he's familiar.  "I'm just... not used to someone being with me that understands."
"I don't mind, really," I tell him.  "They seriously make you so happy.  I'm glad I was there to be a part of it."
He laughs and glances at me.  "I've never met anyone like you before, Megan," he tells me seriously. 
"I've never met anyone like you before either," I reply meaningfully. 
He continues to drive and we park by the theater.  It turns out that we just missed a showing so we get tickets for the next one.  We decide to walk around the shopping center while we wait.  He takes me to one of the nicer stores.  We walk through it and he leads me to the prom dress section. 
"Thinking of taking me to prom?" I tease. 
"I'm just curious as to what you'd pick for the screening," he shrugs nonchalantly. 
"Ah, that's why we're here," I say figuring it out.  "I honestly think most things on the racks nowadays and a bit too risqué for me.  Either that or they look like something a grandma would wear.  My mom made my prom dress—well actually I told her what I wanted, she designed it and cut the pieces but I stitched it together.  She did the alterations, though." I tell him. 
"So you're not going to look," he questions almost pouting. 
I laugh at the face and he smiles.  "Alright.  I'll humor you," I agree. 
I walk through the prom section first and they're mostly all incredibly short or low cut.  I pick up one and laugh in surprise.  It's hot pink, short, and looks like it's made of fluffy feathers.
"Would I fit in, Jai?" I ask holding it up to me. 
He chuckles at that.  "Well... you'd definitely stand out."
"Yeahnah," I reply putting it back.  I move on and actually see some long dresses.  I pick one up and think it's a bit low in the bust but the rest is modest.  I hold it up to myself and see a slit high up on the thigh.  "Nope," I say putting it back. 
"What was wrong with that one?" he asks.  I hold it back up to myself and show him the high slit. 
"Not your style?" he asks. 
"I prefer my panties to be private, not for public viewing," I say.  
He chuckles at that. 
I see a few that remind me of that green Jennifer Lopez dress that she wore and now it's a trend.  "Yikes," I whisper.  I move onto the older women's fashion and there's just nothing modest for someone my age. 
"Yeah, sorry, Jai.  I just don't see anything that's my style," I shrug.  "It was the same for prom."
"What are you looking for?" he asks curiously. 
"Something pretty and modest.  The pretty ones are indecent in my opinion and the modest ones are too modest," I explain. 
"I see your point," he nods.  "Is this typical?"
"Since Jennifer Lopez wore one like this, there has been almost no decency in dress clothes to be honest... unless you're a sixty year old and don't mind this," I tell him motioning to the two.  "It's like women are nothing but objects and look," I point out a teenager grabbing one to try on.  "She's probably not even sixteen.  That's a little young to be showing off all of that, not that I ever would."
"You're right.  That's kind of nasty," he agrees. 
We move onto another store.  I see similar types available.  We decide to just walk the center and window shop.  He holds my hand as we stroll around.  A few people notice him but not as many as I would've thought.  He takes pictures with them and then joins me once more holding my hand again.  We arrive at the theater a little early and he offers me concessions.  We decide to share a popcorn and I get a frozen cherry drink.  We walk into our theater and I ask where he likes to sit. 
"Back?" he questions. 
I smile and sit in my preferred location—back row, center. 
"I like this spot, too," he comments. 
I smile and think that we actually do have a bit in common.  He sits beside me and puts his arm around the back of my chair.  We share the popcorn and chat while we wait for the movie to start.  The lights dim and I rest my head on his shoulder while we enjoy the movie together.