River, Sun, Freedom

Chapter 13: she's one of them now

Chapter 13; she’s one of the them now

                “That was incredible Jo, the way you shocked them all into silence!” Laurie was grinning from ear to ear as she bit into her bread.

                They were sitting in the meadow eating the evening the meal, reminding Jodi much of how she had when she’d first arrived at Uluru. Back then though, she had been surrounded by the local residents as they introduced themselves to her. Now however, she and the soldiers had formed their own group separate from the rest. Only Sheila had joined the locals, but Jodi couldn’t stop her eyes from trailing over the area around the campfire, where a two figures sat with their back to her, one with black hair, the exact same shade as hers, and the other had hair the colour of wet earth during sunset, brown with the slightest hint of red.  Jake. Nate.

                Jake was so much taller now; no longer was he stick-thin and walking around with the ever-present glint of hunger in his eyes that came to growing children who used a lot of energy, despite having not much food. They had taken care of him, just as Nate has promised. He, despite being the son of her father, had been accepted again. Jodi had been deathly afraid Nate would change his mind and throw Jake out  like he had her, but the two seemed to have gotten close, if the Jake’s earlier word had been anything to go by.

                You, me and Nate, together, just like it used to be – he’d said it with so much confidence, as though the betrayal that her heart still felt had been healed the moment she’d held out her arms to receive his embrace. But unfortunately, although she’d forgiven Jake, the sting of her cheek when he’d slapped her two years earlier still sounded in the dead of night as she dreamed. That sting, accompanied by Nate’s glare had been what was stopping her from running into the crowd and allowing their smiles and kindness fool her once again in that sense of easily-shattered security they had offered her before.

                “are you even listening to me?” yelled Laurie, as she waved a hand before her face, trying to get her attention.  Jodi stated at the sudden interruption of her thought. She blushed and faced Laurie with an apologetic expression that never failed to dispel the older woman’s hurt feelings.

                “sorry, I was just thinking.” She said sheepishly.

                “about what?” asked Cory. He snatched the last piece of bread from the basket in the centre of the tight circle their group had formed.

                “about our welcome. Or more accurately, mine”

                “yeah, who would’ve guessed they would’ve used your brother to entice you back.” He nodded.

                Jodi sucked in a sharp breath. “you think he was lying when he said he was sorry.”

                Cory, realising she was upset, spluttered a little, but Damien quickly smoothed over the tension. “No he seemed genuine. He would’ve been a damn good actor to fake that, and frankly, he doesn’t seem the type.”

                Laurie chuckled. “I hardly thought you noticed, considering you never reacted when the kid yelled at you.”

                Damien looked thoughtful. “I couldn’t be mad at him.” He met Jodi’s eyes. “he looks just like Jodi.”

                Jodi felt her stomach flutter, and she licked her lips nervously. He doesn’t like you like that. She scolded herself. He’s just being a friend. Stop making a fool of yourself.