Finding Jay ⚡️

Chapter 35- Dinner

    Jay sat quietly on a stiff chair, watching the people around him chatter and laugh. The mood in the Bounty's mess hall was celebratory, and everyone looked so happy. The table was piled high with food that looked so delicious Jay wanted to stuff it all in his face. Everytime someone glanced in his direction, Jay flashed them a huge smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He had tried to participate in their conversations, but there were too many people talking at once. It was overwhelming. Jay's stomach growled, and he decided he had waited long enough.
      "So, when can we eat?" he asked, making the table laugh.
      "Always thinking about food aren't you?" Cole quipped.
      "You're one to talk," Kai scoffed, and the table laughed again as Cole smiled sheepishly. Jay resisted rolling his eyes. He didn't understand why everything was so funny to these people. Zane walked through the doorway, holding a delicious looking pizza.
       "You guys can eat now!" he declared. Nobody had to tell Jay twice. He shoveled food onto his plates and scarfed it down as quickly as he could. He even slipped some into his lap when no one was looking, in case he needed some for later. Who knew when his next meal like this would be? Everything was absolutely delicious. Jay hadn't known food could even be this flavorful. Lord Ras's camp had mostly canned foods that could be easily delivered to their remote location. And the Administration pumped nutrients straight into their agents' blood flow or in flavorless packs of dehydrated meals. 
      "Woah, slow down," Lloyd laughed as Jay reached for a fifth slice. "I know pizza's your favorite but you're going to choke."
      So pizza was apparently Jay's favorite. He couldn't remember ever eating it before, but he could see why. It was basically a slice of gooey, cheesy heaven. He tried not to let it bother him that these people seemed to know more about him than he did about himself. Jay laughed lightly and took slower bites, reminding himself that he needed to fit in.
        "So, tell us everything that happened while you were gone," Kai probed. Jay choked on his piece of pizza.
       There is no way in hell I'm telling them everything that happened. They would see how weak and messed up I am.
        "Oh you know, lots of paperwork," Jay joked.
        "How did you end up with Lord Ras?" Lloyd asked curiously. Jay tried to think if telling them the truth could end up biting him in the butt later. It seemed harmless enough, but he was sure they could somehow twist it to their advantage.
        "I met him in the woods one day," Jay replied semi-honestly.
        "So what exactly did he say we did to make you hate us so much?" Cole asked, rubbing his jaw where Jay had punched him. Jay sighed.
        What is this, an interrogation? Why are they asking so many stupid questions?
        "Basically that you turned me and a bunch of other innocent people over to the Administration," Jay confessed warily, watching their reactions for signs of guilt or recognition. Everyone just looked kind of confused.
       "Why would we do that?" Zane inquired, studying Jay's tense features.
       "Because you were jealous of my powers," Jay replied, avoiding their gazes. Kai laughed.
       "Jealous of you? Don't you mean you were jealous of my amazingly awesome fire powers?" He bragged, lighting a small flame that danced along his fingertips.
Skylor shoved him and the flame flickered out.
       "No fire in the mess hall," she scolded, and he smirked. "We don't want the Bounty to get destroyed for a ninth time." Everyone started cracking up and Jay stared at them in bewilderment. They really were an odd group of people.
       "Jordana told me something about the Administration," Nya said finally, her serious tone drawing everyone's attention. "Are you okay Jay? If you need to talk about anything that happened, just let any one of us know." Everyone was looking at him expectantly, concern etched into their features. Jay felt a wave of panic rise up in him. He didn't want to talk about the things that happened. He didn't even want to think about them.
        "Look, how about we stop talking about me and start talking about how amazing this pizza is," Jay replied, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. Cole and Nya exchanged worried glances. Zane beamed at the compliment, unaware of Jay's quiet anxiety.
       "Thank you," he replied happily. "I wanted to make all your favorite foods to celebrate you coming home!" Jay felt a warmth bloom in his chest. Zane had worked so hard just to make a meal he knew Jay would love. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for him.  He smiled at Zane, the first genuine one of the entire night
       You're just playing a role, he reminded himself, tamping down the brief flicker of affection he had felt. Don't get attached.
        "So what's Lord Ras planning?" Lloyd asked intently, returning the conversation to things Jay didn't want to talk about. He wasn't sure if he was totally prepared to turn his back on the closest thing he had to family. Even if it seemed like Jordana and Cinder had lied to him, maybe they had a good explanation for keeping certain things a secret. On the other hand, they had betrayed him. Maybe it would be good to bring their plan into the light.
        "Lord Ras was planning to bring the Forbidden Five back using three Medallions," Jay admitted after some deliberation. Everyone at the table gasped.
         "The only one he still needs is the Medallion of Darkness," Jay told them. For some reason, he felt like he could trust the ninja with this information. He never really liked the idea of stealing from those monks or fighting in the arena. Now that he had met the ninja, he couldn't understand why Lord Ras needed the Forbidden Five in the first place. He had taken three of them down by himself. He was sure Lord Ras's entire army could take them down easily. Maybe he had something more sinister in mind for the Forbidden Five.
           "We need to get that Medallion before he does," Lloyd decided. "Do you know where we can find it?"
         "Nope. Look, I think I'm going to bed," Jay said stiffly, standing up suddenly. "Thanks again for the food Zane." The team watched as Jay stalked out of the room. A silence fell, and everyone looked at each other with concern.
         "Okay Zane, run every lead you can on the Medallion of Darkness," Lloyd ordered, breaking the silence. "We need to find that thing fast."
        "Does he seem a little off to you?" Kai asked.
        "Yeah," Lloyd agreed, "He was so... serious."
        "And way quieter than normal too," Zane added. "I am concerned about him."
        "Look guys, he's been through a lot," Cole said defensively. "He'll go back to annoying old Jay soon."
           "I'm just glad he's back," Nya said quietly, staring in the direction he had gone. "Whatever he's going through we'll help him get through it."