Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 80-Meg

Meg

Jai holds my gloved hand as we walk the zoo.  It's freezing here and I'm sipping a cup of hot chocolate.  He has a cup of coffee.  We're passing the area of ice sculptures as they're being carved and chiseled.  Jai insists on taking a picture of me in front of them.  With the chainsaw going behind me, it almost looks like it's snowing... but it's actually a sunny day.  I smile for him with my styrofoam cocoa cup in hand.  I can see his expression at the picture—he looks pleased. 
"Would you like me to take one of you two together?" an older woman asks.  "It's Valentine's Day, after all."
"I'd love that," Jai tells her and surrenders his phone.  He poses with me and then kisses my cheek.  I laugh in surprise.  She gives him it back and tells him we make a beautiful couple.  He doesn't correct her but thanks her for the pictures. 
He takes my hand again and we stand in front of an almost completed sculpture.  It's an angel with its wings spread out.  I watch as the woman carves the details in. 
"Can you sculpt?" Jai whispers in my ear.  He's standing behind me huddled for warmth.  I feel his face now resting against mine. 
"I've sculpted a bit," I nod.  "Never with ice, though.  I have one on a shelf in my room.  Another is in the living room.  The rest are in the basement."
"I'd like to see them," he tells me.  I agree to show him sometime. 
We walk and look at each sculpture and I realize I'm shivering.  "Fire pit or should we see if one of those buildings are open?" Jai asks me motioning to our choices.
"The aquarium should be open," I say leading him over there. 
We step inside and it's so warm in here—so comfortable compared to outside.  I discard my empty cup in the garbage can.  Jai does the same and we remove our hats and gloves. 
"I'm freezing," he complains and hugs me. 
"You think I'm warmer?" I laugh. 
"You are," he insists. 
"My cheeks are frozen," I say touching them. 
He puts both of his hands on them.  His eyes meet mine and he smiles.  "You are colder than me," he admits.  "I've got all this insulation to keep me warm," he says moving my hands to his cheeks.  His eyes close at the contact. 
"Your cheeks are still cold," I insist. 
"Not anymore," he whispers.  He looks down at me and is about to say something when I hear a girl scream.  We look around in surprise.  And then she comes closer and fan girls around Jai—jumping up and down along with fanning herself unable to talk.  He humors her with his typical routine and we walk away while she's still in shock. 
"Walk faster," Jai teases.  "The screamers are usually the weirder ones."
I laugh at that and we pick up the pace.  We slow down when the coast is clear and actually enjoy the aquarium.  We walk around quite a bit.  Jai seems rather interested in the local lake and river exhibits.  I do find the sturgeon fascinating but the rest I've caught fishing with my dad and brothers.  I prefer the more tropical ones but I think he might be more familiar with them.  I'm just not sure what his area is like.  I notice a great white shark sculpture hanging from the ceiling. 
"I've seen one of those," he says. 
"You're kidding right?" I respond a little freaked out. 
"It didn't eat anyone or anything," he tells me. 
"Is that supposed to comfort me?" I question. 
He laughs in response.  I shove him playfully. 
"Do you know what Aussie's call kids at the beach?" he questions. 
"What?" I ask. 
"Shark biscuits," he tells me. 
"That is not funny," I say trying not to laugh. 
"Then why are you laughing?" he teases. 
I smile at him and keep walking.  I see an Alaskan King Crab and can't help but tell him.  "I went to an aquarium in Japan.  Guess what everyone kept saying?" I ask him. 
"What?" he grins.
"Oishii.  It's means delicious," I chuckle. 
He laughs at that.  "Do they actually go to the aquarium to pick out tucker?" he asks me disbelievingly. 
"I don't know but I wouldn't mind this guy right here with some melted butter and lemon," I say motioning to the crab.
He chuckles harder. 
We go into a curtained off area and view the flashlight fish.  He holds me closely.  "I don't want to lose you," he whispers. 
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" I say. 
He hums a response close to my ear. I feel the caress of his beard against my cheek. I sigh and grasp his hand leading him out.  I open the curtain cautiously and he follows linking our fingers together.  I walk over to the octopus nearby.  He's out moving around.
"He's so cute.  I almost feel bad for eating his friends," I say. 
"You think you'd stop eating them," he teases. 
"That's one thing I never understood about vegetarians.  In Japan, even the Buddhists would eat animals if they were already dead and prepared for them.  Here people shun that.  They understood that that animal is gone and it's better not to let it go to waste or insult people.  I've asked a few people I've known why they chose to become vegetarians.  I thought it was a valid question—that they would be passionate about it enough to explain their reasoning why.  They always got offended," I say. 
"Everyone is so touchy anymore," he replies softly. 
"Yeah," I agree. 
He clasps my hand more firmly and we continue on.  We walk through the entire aquarium before I ask him where he wants to go next. 
"Are there any more exhibits open like this?" he inquires. 
"The penguins are probably outside.  The polar bears, seals, Arctic wolves... that might be it outdoors.  Most of the indoor ones will probably be smelly," I tell him. 
"No smelly exhibits," he laughs. 
"Summer is better.  You get to feed the giraffes," I say. 
"I've never done that before," he tells me grinning. 
"Come on.  Let's go out while the sun's still up.  This is a rarity here," I say. 
"You get no sunshine?" he asks disbelievingly. 
"Honestly?  Probably less than Seattle," I tell him truthfully. It's probably why there's a lot of cranky people in the area.
He makes a sound of disgust.  "Are you serious?" he questions. 
I nod. 
"Yeah, let's enjoy the sunshine," he says in agreement. 
We see the penguins out playing and watch them a bit.  Then we walk a ways and I recall the aviary is open.  I pull him along to the birds.  "Come on," I encourage him.  "I want to see if the road runner escaped again."
He chuckles at that.  "Too fast to keep in a cage?" he questions as we walk inside. 
"I don't know but every time I see this exhibit, he's always on the walkway," I giggle.  "He's pretty adorable."
We walk through the exhibit hand in hand.  We do, in fact, see the road runner where he usually is.  We have to shut the door quickly because he's trying to follow us to the next room.
"I thought you were joking," he chuckles. 
"Now you know I was being serious.  I think he wants me to take him home," I tease. 
"Who wouldn't?  Your house is pretty great," he replies earnestly. 
I smile at him and we move on together.  This exhibit is a bit different—rather than being in a confined area, we're walking through the middle of their space.  Some birds in the open area fly around us.  He laughs in disbelief and looks to me.  "Your city is surprising," he tells me. 
I smile at him and we spend a bit more time with the birds before we bundle up again and cross the bridge to the Arctic area.  We stop at the seals watching them swim in laps in their water.  Then we move on to the polar bears.  They're out and swimming.  I've never seen them in the water before.  They'd always just pace or sleep.  Jai looks to me and wants a picture.  We try to take one but the bear actually photo bombs us.  It's hilarious peeking around Jai.  We turn around and visit with the bear a bit until it climbs out for a nap.  Last are the wolves.  They're out.  A couple of them are running around but mostly they're just laying about sleeping.  We decide to head home.  Jai opens my door for me again and then climbs in. 
"So... this restaurant tonight, what's the attire?" he questions. 
"Wear whatever you want," I encourage him. 
"Is it fancy?" he questions. 
"It's a buffet," I tell him. 
"Really?" he questions surprised. 
"Think themed Amish home cooking or historical theme park," I say. 
"What are you wearing?" he questions. 
"Probably jeans and a sweater," I say motioning to what I have on. 
He nods, "Jeans and a jumper it is."
I grin at him as he drives off. 
"What?" he questions. 
"In American English, a jumper is a type of women's dress," I tell him.  
"No way," he insists. 
I do a search and hand him my phone at the stoplight.  "Hmm," he says in surprise.  "It really does say jumper, doesn't it?"
I nod as he hands me back my phone. 
"Why is American English so difficult?" he teases. 
"My language professor always said that about English," I tell him. 
"It can be.  I'm a native and I'm still struggling at times to communicate," he jokes. 
"Me, too," I chuckle. 
We arrive home and he decides what he has on already will suffice since I'm not changing.  We snuggle up together in my parents' living room in front of the fire.  I toss a blanket over us since I can't seem to warm up.  We wait a while for my parents to tell us when they're ready to leave. 
"Is there a menu online?" he asks me putting an arm around my shoulder. 
"Yeah," I say looking it up on my phone.  I show him what options there are.  "Oh, they're serving all you can eat prime rib and Arctic char."
"Are you going to get that?" he asks me. 
"No, I'll probably get the buffet with the fried chicken," I say. 
"Is it good?" he questions. 
"It's the best chicken," I tell him confidently. 
He smiles in response and touches my cheek.  "You're still cold," he says covering both of my cheeks with his hands.  I smile at him and he releases me when I warm up a little. 
We head out with my parents but Mikey isn't coming. 
"Why not?" I ask my mom. 
She shrugs and tells me he said something about being a fifth wheel. 
"It's fine.  We'll bring him home a plate," my dad says. 
We climb in back of my dad's SUV for the long ride there.  Jai sits closer to me and holds my hand.  We watch the forested areas and farmland as we drive the country roads out of town.  We pass rural homes, sporadic churches, and a one block village.  We arrive and Jai does seem a little surprised.  You can see some of the exhibit from the street. "Too bad it's not open," he comments. 
"But we get to ride through it," my dad tells us. 
"Really, Daddy?" I question excitedly.  I called in and couldn't get a slot since they were booked. 
"I made two reservations," he says. 
"Thank you," Jai tells him. 
"No worries," my dad smiles.  I grin at his attempt to make Jai feel comfortable—more welcome. 
We climb out and enter the restaurant.  We're seated immediately since we're here right as they open for dinner.  I order the buffet while my dad and Jai get the prime rib.  My mom gets the char.  We all rise and I have to coax Jai to join me.  "They'll bring you your protein.  The rest of your meal is over here," I tell him. 
"You mean I get the chicken, too?" he laughs. 
"If all you want is meat, nobody is going to stop you," I tease. 
He chuckles at that. 
I get a small cup of their soup and a salad.  I sit down and Jai comes back with a whole plate of food.  They deliver his prime rib as my parents sit back down.  He tries it. 
"Okay, I wasn't expecting much for a buffet but this is fantastic," he whispers to me.  I know it's all good.  It's all scratch-made home cooking. 
"You could get another if you want," I tell him. 
"That's just unbelievable.  The portions are surprising," he says.  I smile and nod.  They do give a substantial cut—probably enough to satisfy a man his size with one plate. 
I finish my small dishes and go back to get some of that fried chicken and mashed potatoes.  I have them give me the green beans and I get their bread pudding with whipped cream.  I sit back down and Jai notices my dessert. 
"What's that?" he asks.  
"Bread pudding," I say. 
"I might have to get some," he comments but I don't know how he can eat everything he has.  I just have a little plate. 
We talk quite a bit with my parents and they seem to enjoy Jai's company.  We finish our meal and Jai appeared to be pleased with it.  We enter the park and my father shows his membership card and pays for us.  Jai seems touched that they covered everything.  We walk through the park to the stables.  I see Jai stop and admire their little town right outside of the entrance.  It is nice.
"Maybe we can visit when they open," I tell him. 
He smiles at me and takes my hand.  There are two carriages ready for guests and we get on the second while my father helps my mom into theirs.  We're given a fur blanket for our laps.  Jai pulls me closer to him and he's so much warmer than I'd expect.  The attendant offers to take a picture of us and Jai pulls out his phone.  I smile and he takes the shot.  Before I know it, we're off in the carriage.  The horse's hooves hitting the pavement is audible.  Once we get into a more open area, I realize it's snowing as the sun sets.  Jai pulls me even closer to him and rests his head against mine.  I feel his fingers shift and notice that he's holding my hand.  I sigh at how nice this is as we're taken on the most relaxing trip of my life back in time.  The beauty of this moment is unsurpassed.