Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 84-Meg

Meg

Earlier that night...

Gale keeps hounding me quietly at dinner about what's going on between Jai and me. I tell her we're just friends—really close friends. She insists that it's got to be something more. I shrug it off and tell her he just has a lot of vacation time. I do admit that I think I've never been closer to anyone like this though and she grins in response.
We all have fun joking and laughing at the meal. I see Bianca and go up to hug her. She hugs me back and thanks us for coming. I tell her I miss her. She replies that she'll try to make it to a Wednesday service soon if she can get off. I get my shrimp chimichangas and it's probably the best I've ever had. I'll have to remember to tell my parents to come here sometime.
Afterward, Jai and I drive up separately to the bowling alley. I sigh in relief when they have my size shoes available. This place is fairly small and even at the bigger one, I have to wear men's bowling shoes because they don't have many in my size when I've gone out with Artie and the girls. We get our lane and lace up our shoes. I select a sparkly, swirly blue bowling ball. Jai picks a black shiny one. It's almost iridescent. We get the lane set up and I type in everyone's name. They finally arrive and I wave to them as they're at the desk. They get their shoes and come join us.
"How did you guys get here so fast?" Gale asks almost laughing with her hands on her hips.
"If you drive at exactly 50 MPH down the highway, you won't catch a single light," I shrug. I told this to Jai and he's never caught a light there.
"You'd think we'd know that living here our whole lives," she chuckles.
"Yeah, but you guys live on the other end of town," I point out.
"I bet we travel that street more than you, though," Floyd says lacing up his shoes.
I help Gale and Valentina pick out bowling balls. Both the girls admit this is their first time. Valentina chooses a pretty pink one and Gale selects a deep purple shade with glitter inside.
"I love this color. It matches my bling," she says motioning to her sparkly purple earrings. I smile in response and tell her it suits her.
We walk back over to the lane. Valentina is first and she knocks down a few pins. She looks excited at that. Izaak is next and he does well getting the vast majority of the pins. He has a split though and only knocks one down. Floyd is next and is on par with Izaak's skill—pretty good.
"It looks like we've got some competition here," Jai whispers to me.
"Do you play much?" I ask him surprised.
He shrugs in response and said it's been a while but he says he's never played glow bowling before and this looks more interesting.
I watch as Gale throws. I frown when she gets a gutter ball. I offer to help her but she waves away my help. She throws again and it stays in the lane until just at the end before rolling into the gutter.
"Did you see that?" she smiles at Floyd. "I'm improving."
I smile at her enthusiasm.
Jai goes up and knocks most of the pins down. He throws again and there's a few left but comparable to the other guys. I grin at him in passing and throw a strike. I stare in astonishment for a moment. I've only had a handful of those in my life. Arthur was the bowler. He was actually on a team in his youth. Jai pats my back in surprise as I join him.
We continue on and everyone does similarly to the first round but Gale knocks down a couple. She's overjoyed at that. Jai bowls and gets most of them again. I'm in shock when I get another strike.
We all throw again and Gale gets all gutter balls once more. She makes a joke about it. Jai rolls a strike and I smile widely at that. I go up for my turn and roll another strike. I turn around grinning in surprise and notice Jai and Gale are gone. I sit back down and watch everyone else. They return just in time for Gale's turn.  I'm wondering what that was all about but by the look Gale gives me when Jai goes up I'm sure I'm about to find out. 
I roll another strike and I'm in a daze as Gale pulls me aside to the ladies room. 
"Did you know Jai is a movie star?" she questions. 
"Yeah," I respond in surprise that she knows that. 
"How long have you known this?" she asks me furrowing her brows. 
"When we were getting on the bus to go to the hotel, I saw him get off his plane," I shrug. 
She makes a motion for me to continue. 
"I already knew who he was," I explain. 
"How?" she questions. 
"I've seen some of his movies and I was a fan," I tell her. 
"So you knew the moment you saw him who he was?" she asks for clarification. 
I nod. 
"Why didn't you say anything?" she questions. 
"I don't know," I shrug.  "I've seen how some fans are around him.  Sometimes he doesn't mind.  Others can make him uncomfortable.  I just figured he'd tell everyone if he wanted to, you know.  Like it was his secret to tell."
She nods in understanding. 
"So what's going on then?" she asks. 
I try to explain the whole situation as best as I can. 
"So... he's not a Christian?" she questions. 
"I don't know," I say.  "I hope I'm a positive influence for him.  He's honestly the best friend I've ever had."
She nods in understanding. 
"But... you said you saw him on the beach and were going to duck away and hide.  Why didn't you?" she inquires. 
I explain about the prophesy that Sister Abigay spoke over me, how it was very specific that it was going to happen that day.  I tell her how several things happened that could have been it but I'm not sure—Jai showing up and meeting him, the worship leadership offer, and the two phone confrontations with Spencer. 
She nods in understanding.  "So you think it's a real possibility that God wants you to either plant some seed in his life or just be there for him as he's been going through the same situation as you?" she questions. 
I nod grateful that she's understanding my situation. 
"Okay.  I get it," she says. 
We walk back to the group and Gale is up.  Everyone seems to be smiling and talking much more than before and I'm glad.  I observe as Gale knocks down more pins than her previous attempts and she's overjoyed at it.  I'm so happy for her.  Jai gets a strike and I'm excited for him.  He seems pretty enthusiastic about it.  I go up and get another.  I'm honestly in disbelief that I have the potential for a perfect game.  After several more, I've grasped the attention of several people in our area.  They watch each of my turns intently and it is making me a bit nervous but I glance at Jai and he's smiling at me.  He wishes me luck and I continue on still getting strikes. 
I throw the last one and I cover my mouth in awe as all the pins fall down.  "I can't believe I did that," I tell Jai as he approaches me.  He picks me up and hugs me kissing the top of my head. 
"That was bloody amazing.  I didn't know you were a bowler," he teases me.
"I'm really not.  I've only played a little with my family growing up," I chuckle. 
"Well, all that practice paid off," he laughs in reply. 
I'm in awe at getting my picture taken.  I win a coupon and I feel like I'll have to bring Artie with me some time so we can compete now.  I laugh at the whole experience thinking that this was so fun.