Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 90-Jai

***Author's Note: Here's a double chapter for today.  Read the previous one if you missed out.  It's probably the most significant chapter so far.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!***

Jai

I walk away from her in utter disbelief. I try not to think about it as I stride down the stairs. Her parents are sitting together talking and watching pay tv. Mikey is there.
"Hi, Jai. Leaving so soon?" Hannah asks.
"Yeah," I reply reaching for my coat. "Thanks for everything," I tell them.
"No problem," Nick smiles. "See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye," I reply because I can't stomach the pleasantries right now.
Mikey is staring at me. He sees my expression.
I step out the door and get in the 4WD. I shut my door and sit here for a moment in a daze before starting the ignition. I see Mikey step out and walk over getting in the passenger's side.
"What happened?" he asks.
"She rejected me," I admit.
"Did you pay attention in church?" he asks.
I wince, "You warned me, didn't you?"
He nods. "I asked her after I first saw you here what was going on. She told me nothing, that you were just friends. I asked if anything would ever happen. She said as long as you're an unbeliever, nothing would come of it," he divulges.
"I guess I should've paid more attention and I wouldn't have looked like a fool," I say.
"She doesn't think you're a fool. I guarantee she prays for you constantly. Just like I do," he responds.
"She told me she loves me but she can't be with me," I tell him.
"I can see it. She was never like that with Spencer," he says.
"What do I do now?" I ask.
"That's entirely up to you," he tells me.
"What do you mean?" I question.
"Do you want her?" he inquires.
"More than anything," I admit.
"Then prove it," he replies.
"How?" I ask.
"Open your eyes and see," he says.
"See what?" I question confused.
He sighs. "The last sermon at church, what did you hear?" he asks.
I think about it and recall that I spent the whole time watching her. I purse my lips. "Yeah, I think I was distracted by her."
"What do you think of the church then?" he questions.
"I think they're a decent bunch of people," I shrug.
"Like a social club?" he asks. I nod. "We all have one thing in common. We believe in Jesus. So beyond that, we're kind of social. But if that one thing wasn't the binding between us, nothing else would matter."
"How can you say that?" I question. "They do a lot of good things."
"Have you ever heard the phrase faith without works is dead?" he asks me.
"Yeah, they said that heaps in Jamaica," I nod.
"I believe that works without faith is just as dead," he tells me. I ask him to elaborate. "If you don't believe in God and do good works as a service—not in thanks for what God's done—it's worthless. We can't make ourselves righteous by being good sometimes and being bad at others. The only way to Heaven is through God. I've done some terrible things in life. If Jesus wasn't sitting in as my defense on judgement day, I wouldn't stand a chance."
"I'm sorry mate, I'm not following you," I tell him.
"We believe that we all sin and do wrong things. We also believe that those who sin will die. We all will die. But if we believe in Jesus, that he's the son of God, the one who died for our sins as a sacrifice—to take our place—that we'll go to Heaven when we die," he says.
"John 3:16," I state.
"You have been paying attention," he smiles.
"Not really," I admit.
"What do you believe then?" he asks.
"I don't know," I divulge. "I'd never really thought much about it before or cared."
"What about now?" he questions.
"I guess my indecision is biting me in the bum," I reply.
"I guess so. What are you going to do about it?" he asks.
"I don't know. I feel like I'd do anything for her but nothing is good enough. I've never been rejected before. This is a first for me," I say.
"What did she tell you? That she doesn't want you or was it something else?" he asks.
"She says she wants me to believe," I say almost humorously. 
"Then you better get to church and pay attention this time.  Or pick up a Bible and read it.  Wait..." he says.  "I'll be right back.  Don't leave."
"Alright," I reply.  I watch as he goes inside.  He comes back a moment later with something in his hand.  He climbs in the passenger seat again. 
"Here.  You can have mine," he says giving me a blue book just like Meg's. 
"Was this a Christmas present?" I ask in disbelief. 
"How'd you know?" he questions. 
"Meg told me about hers," I say softly.  "You want me to have this?" I ask confused... but touched. 
"I do," he nods.  "I'd recommend starting out with the New Testament.  The old might confuse you at first.  John is my favorite of the gospels.  It's a good place to start.  You could read Genesis, too, but the rest of the Old Testament might be too much for an unbeliever.  When people believe, they start to understand it more."
"Thanks, mate," I tell him. 
"Keep in touch.  If you have any questions or just need a friend, call or text.  I don't mind," he says seriously. 
"Alright," I nod. 
He hugs me.  "See you later, brother," he says.  I frown in that he does care for me. 
"See ya," I reply. 
He climbs out and waves as I leave.