Push. //Jai Courtney Fanfiction

eight

Jai

December 31st:

"And I'm glad to finally meet you," her words rolled over me, and she ever so slowly pulled her hand away. 

My mum was right. She's stunning. 

"I love that lip color, holy shit," Amanda said to Ayla, as she turned to face her.

"Thank you! I knew that you would love it," Ayla replied sweetly.

"We're gonna have a hell of a time tonight, guys," Joel said rubbing his hands together. Jeers all around in agreement erupted in the packed SUV.

Kate and Amanda finished the cigarette they were smoking, and Ayla turned in her seat facing me, her eyes lighting up.

"It seems that you and I have a lot of catching up to do. I hope you've got a lot of time available," she laughed, almost shyly. 

"So I hear, and don't worry, I have the next three months scotch free," my eyes never leaving hers. 

"Excellent," she stated, just as Dylan placed his hands on her shoulders. 

"I hear your residency is about to start, hell yeah girl, congratulations," he said genuinely as she turned towards him. 

She placed a hand on one of his that was on her shoulder, "Thanks Dylan, I really appreciate that. And yeah, it starts this coming week, I can't wait."

"Knowing your sweet mom, I'm sure you know all about my career," Ayla said grinning towards me. 

"You're 100% right, there. She talks about you all the time. So much, I feel like we've already met," I paused, "I'm looking forward to learning more about you." 

"I think I can manage that in the next three months."

Dylan pulled something up on his phone, getting Joel's attention, and they started their own quiet conversation. 

Kate leaned towards the drivers seat, to attempt to reapply her lipstick in the rear view mirror.

"I can't believe I forgot a mirror," Kate said squinting at her reflection.

"Got it, no worries. Ooh and check out this gloss," Amanda said to her, as she went into her bag. 

"Where we're going is beautiful. It's a hotel right in the heart of the inner harbor, they have a two-decker dance floor/bar area, every drink you can imagine, it's pretty awesome. It kept us coming back for the past, what, three years?" She asked Amanda and Kate. 

"Yeah, it is the perfect place to go and party hard once a year," Kate said.

"And right around the corner is this amazing Irish Pub, which I'm sure Joel told you about, that we're going for dinner. Not even a block from the hotel, so needless to say, the party will begin in abo-out," she turned and looked out the window,"10 minutes," she finished, turning back towards me. 

"Yeah, he was telling me about this place, I drive past there yesterday, while scouting out the area. He's been raving about it, and it really is in a magnificent spot, right there next to the water. I can only imagine what it is like in the summer months," I responded.

"Ah, yes, it is absolutely the best place to be in the summer. We love it, because it's never over-packed, they play amazing music, their live talent is spectacular, the staff, everything is ideal. So we will definitely have to go in the summer, since, congratulations on moving to Maryland!" She excitedly said the last part. 

"Thanks! Yeah so far, it's only been a few days, but everything seems to be going smoothly. It's an ideal place to be, not only because of my parents and my sister, but it's close to New York, a short few hour flight to LA, I mean, it was the right decision. I had been thinking about since my parents had been talking about moving over here, so I had been planning this pretty much most of the year. I found the apartment, my dad helped me set all of that up, so yeah I know that getting here and buying a car the day after I arrived may have seemed a little extreme and fast paced, but I had I plan, and it's all working out," I shrugged. 

"Hey, I think that's amazing that you had this plan, and you just... did it. I mean, hell, that's admirable. I think in that exact same way. With school, though it seems like I've been a student forever, but I've actually gotten ahead of a lot of other midwives, because I didn't want to stop. No breaks. Get it done, so I was able to knock off almost two years worth of school, thanks to that. I mean, yeah it's been a lot of work, but I'm determined, and I'm not givin' up," she said confidently. 

"It also helps that she's a fucking genius, and school is easy for her," Kate said. 

Before Ayla could protest playfully, Kate added, "Both of these bitches are!" she said looking at me, pointed her thumb towards them. 

"Oh please, don't act like you didn't graduate first in your fucking class from Stevenson," Amanda added, clearly talking about Kate's college.

"Yeah, well, I'm so done with that. Not being a student is way better," Kate said. 

"She's a fool. She's a journalist for the Baltimore Magazine, she busted her ass to get in that spot, and kills it. She's being modest," Ayla directed towards me, clearly making her friend feel very appreciated. 

"Anyway - a year and a half to go, and then all of my attention can be devoted to this project I'm working towards," Ayla said to me. 

"You mean the birthing center?" I asked.

"Yes! It is my dream, and I've almost got it. I'm finishing up some proposition information for that now, and I am pretty confident that it will be happening, and I'm hoping that it will be in my hands. I've been working on this for about a year and half, as well. So yeah, there's that!" She said with a thumbs up. 

"You totally got it. It's yours," Dylan said to Ayla. 

"Ah, I know there are some more things that need to be done, hence the reason I'm writing this proposition--" 

"Trust me. It's going to be yours," Dylan firmly said to her with a smile. 

That's when I remembered that Dylan's father is on the board of directors for the hospital that my mum and Ayla work, if I remember correctly. My mum really does talk about her a lot.

Ayla just smiled at him, not saying a word. 

"But enough of that, we are here, and it is party time," she said, just as the SUV was pulling up to O'Lordans. 

Thank yous were sent to the driver, as everyone started getting out of the truck, ladies first. I was the last one to exit the vehicle, and noticed that Ayla was standing there, clearly waiting for me. 

I admired her standing there, her right lower leg covered in a colorful tattoo sleeve, her dress coming to her mid thighs, her small bag held to her side, her long darker blonde hair hanging over one shoulder, her hazel eyes and big, beautiful smile. 

Stunning. 

"Shall we?" She asked me. 

I smiled big in return, and gave her my arm.