The Good, The Bad, and The Country

Jason's Visit

"It's time I told you what's got me so shaken," I said quietly as I gripped the chair tightly to help keep me standing.

"Okay," Foster said.

"Everyone else, too, probably," I said as I nervously wrung my hands together.

"Alright, let's go into the living room, then," Foster said softly.

I nodded and shakily walked towards the living room with everyone else following after depositing the dirty dishes in the sink.

Foster sat me in the armchair as he sat in the wooden chair next to me after pulling it closer. Everyone else sat in the other seats in the living room.

"Talk when you're ready," Foster said with a small smile, reaching over to give my hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

I nodded, breathing in and then out shakily a few times before speaking.

"It happened when I was walking back from Ford's on my first day here. Maybe even before I left, too. J-Jason kept hitting on me and wouldn't take no for an answer. When I was walking back to the Inn, I heard someone call my name but I ignored it. But then Jason ran in front of me and blocked my path. He wouldn't let me pass and he was way too close to me for comfort. He then started going on about how I was his and that-" I choked up a bit as I felt my fear slowly creeping up my spine.

"That he wasn't going to give up on me. I told him to leave me alone and he said 'Not until I have you.' He even made sure I knew that he knew where I was at, like he was going to come after me," I finally managed to squeak out, no longer able to contain the flood of tears that were falling down my cheeks.

Foster immediately took me in his arms, hugging me tightly.

"Please don't cry. Especially because of him. Like I told you that night at Ford's, I'm here for you and always will be. And earlier, in the kitchen, what did I tell you, Darlin'?" He asked as he spoke to me.

"T-That y-you're going to p-protect me," I stuttered out through my tears.

"And I will. I always will," he said as he squeezed me into his chest tightly. I could feel every single one of his hard planes of muscles through his shirt.

"I'm so sorry, Eloise. We should've known," Mrs. Graham said, looking at me in disbelief and worry.

"We knew something had happened but we didn't say anything," Mr. Graham continued sadly.

"You can't blame yourselves. I probably wouldn't have said anything was wrong in the first place. I didn't want to be a burden on anyone," I said as I averted my eyes.

"No, you're not," Mrs. Graham said quickly.

"You never will be," Mr. Graham said with a smile directed at me.

"You're family now, ever since you got here," Mrs. Hunt chimed in.

"We protect our family, but you've got even more protection than anyone else because you've got Foster," Mr. Hunt said, and I immediately blushed at his words and remembered that I was in Foster's lap, snuggled up against his chest.

I tried to pull away from him, but Foster's arms remained locked around me as he held me in place.

I just gave in as I rested my head against his chest, feeling the most relaxed than I have in two weeks.

That was until the front door opened and in pranced Jason, his eyes locking onto me immediately as his eyes scanned me hungrily.

I began to shake even though I was trying to not show weakness in front of him, not wanting him to know just how big of an effect he had on me.

Then, he glared when he noticed me snuggled up to Foster's chest, clutching onto him tightly.

"C'mon, Darlin'. You said you wanted me to check your toilet in your room?" Foster asked and I just nodded, going along with what he was saying knowing he was saying it so I wouldn't have to be near him.

We stood up and began heading towards the stairs when Jason sidestepped in front of me. I barely contained my squeak of fear, but my entire body tensed.

"I've been looking for you. Wanted to take you out on a date," Jason said as he continued to eye me up.

"No thanks," I said, unable to hide the nerves that were in my voice.

"Come on, since I'm here now, let's go," Jason said, reaching out to grab my hand making me flinch as Foster placed himself in front of me protectively.

"She told you no, and has been telling you no. So, how about leaving her alone?" Foster asked with barely concealed rage.

Jason looked at the two of us and growled under his breath, probably thinking no one would hear, but both Foster and I did.

"Never. She will be mine even if it's not willingly."

"Foster..." I whimpered as I clutched his arm tightly.

Foster wrapped his arm around me as he hurried us both upstairs and into my room where he locked the door behind the two of us.

I watched as he clenched his fists and knitted his brows as he fought to control his anger.

"I almost beat the hell outta him!" He growled as he grabbed his hair, tugging it roughly.

"I wish you would've. I doubt it would've fixed anything, but at least he'd have a black eye or busted lip," I sighed, truly wishing he would have knocked him around, at least a little.

At that, Foster let out a chuckle.

"You're pretty funny," he said as he grinned at me.

"And you're funny looking," I shot back as I gave him a small smile that he returned.

"I'm glad you're smiling and not so jumpy," Foster said gently.

"That's all your doing. You make me feel calm," I said as I looked up at him from under my lashes. He smiled softly at me before looking to the side, sighing, and looking back at me.

"Can we talk? About the kiss?" He suddenly asked, making me go stiff as I began to worry about what he wanted to talk about.

One thing I knew for certain, and that was that I hoped that what he had to say wasn't bad.

But then again, I couldn't help but wonder if it would be better for it to be bad so that whatever this was, would end before either of us got in too deep and got hurt. Most likely me.