Chapter 12: Influences

We were back in Canada after BTS was on America's Got Talent and we were going to visit Niagara Falls today as a group. I was excited to see it and to have some down time with the boys again. I had just woken up and was met with the delicious smell of breakfast. Jin must be in the kitchen already. I sleepily shuffled out of my room towards the yummy smell in the other room. "Good morning." Jin said, cracking some eggs into a bowl. "Morning" I mumbled, flopping on the couch.

One by one, the other boys were enticed out of their rooms by the smell of Jin making breakfast. Jimin yawned and laid next to me on the couch while Jungkook looked like a zombie standing in the middle of the room. Everyone else seemed mostly awake. "Okay everyone, wake up. Breakfast is ready and we are going to Niagara Falls today!" Jin exclaimed, clapping his hands. Jimin jumped at the noise and Jungkook just slowly walked to the table as I followed behind.

After we had breakfast and we were all more awake, we piled into the company van to go to Niagara Falls. "So, I hear manager is cool with you joining us on stage near the end of the tour." Yoongi said, starting the conversation I had been avoiding. "I don't think that's a good idea.." I started, only to be cut off by Namjoon. "Fay, we really want you to perform with us. We want ARMY to see how talented you are and what a great friend you've been to us." He said, sincerely. All the boys looked at me with the same sincerity in their eyes.

I was quiet for a minute, thinking it through before I took a deep breath and with it, a leap of faith. "Okay, Joon." I said, finally. His dimpled grin showed up immediately. "It'll be great!" Hobi exclaimed, quite loudly. "Aish!" Yoongi said in annoyance over the rambunctious Hoseok. I was happy but also extremely nervous. What did I just get myself into? I thought, just as the van was pulling into the parking lot and temporary excitement took over. We were in the lot closest to the falls and I could hear it roaring the minute the van door opened.

I breathed in the misty air when I stepped out of the van and smiled. It kind of reminded me of the ocean, but not salty. Taehyung and Jimin took off to the viewing platform before their manager could say anything. We were supposed to go ride "The Maid of the Mist" boat that went right next to the falls and we needed ponchos. The manager passed out ponchos to those of us who were still near the van and I took Tae's and Chim's for them.

When I got to Taehyung, he was filming himself with the falls shouting some sort of nonsense that sounded like "Niagara Falls!" in English but wasn't quite right. I think he was going to post it on twitter for ARMY. I was laughing at him as I handed Jimin his poncho. "Tae! Take your poncho!" I yelled. "Oh, thanks." He said, back to his normal voice. I just shook my head. He took it from me and the three of us headed over to the stairs where we were meeting to go to the boat.

We walked down several flights of stairs to what looked like a dock and the boat was waiting. It was so big and it was a double-decker. We all put our ponchos on and started boarding the boat. Hobi was the last on, looking excited but scared at the same time. He was afraid of large bodies of water. "Come on, Hobi. You'll have fun." I said, stopping and grabbing his hand as I pulled him onto the boat with me. I, of course, loved anything to do with water. We were all lined up next to the rail on the top deck as the boat pulled away from the dock, Hoseok slightly hiding behind me.

I leaned against the rail, taking in the scenery as the boat made it's way closer to the falls. Hobi was hugging my back like a spider monkey, much like he does to Taehyung, Jungkook, and Jimin. "Woah." I heard in my ear as we got even closer to the famous Niagara Falls. "Are you going to come to the rail or keep hiding behind me?" I asked him, amused. "I'm okay right here." He responded, wearily. Namjoon laughed and I just smiled, shrugging my shoulders.

The boat went right next to the falls and soon we were all soaking wet. I put my hands out, feeling the water. It was basically like it was pouring rain. I sighed and Hoseok cocked his head at me like he does when he questions something. I shook my head but said, "My mom would have loved this." He hugged me tighter. Taehyung heard what I said and appeared at my side. Before I knew it, I had all seven boys squeezing me in a group hug.

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Later that night, I was in my room trying to think about what song I should sing when I performed on BTS' stage. What would impress their fans? I didn't think there would be anything to make them think I was as good as the boys. I grabbed a pillow off my bed and threw it in frustration. I wasn't paying attention to my aim and it flew out my open door.

"Um, everything okay in here?" Jin asked, peeking in my room and holding the pillow I just threw. "Sorry, Jin." I said, sighing. He gave me his best dad look and sat in my desk chair. "Alright, spill it." He said, staring at me and gently throwing the pillow back to me. "I can't pick anything good enough to sing for ARMY." I said, my voice choking up. "Fay, we will love whatever you choose and so will the fans." He said, taking my hand. A few tears escaped. "I'm not good enough..." I said, admitting my fear and looking away from him.

"Pick a song that means something to you. If you do that, it will mean someone else too. That's all we can ask for as an artist and that is definitely good enough. You are good enough." Jin lectured. I just looked at him, amazed. However, he made me finally understand. "Thank you, Jinnie." I said, smiling through my previous tears. He got up and ruffled my hair before leaving the room. I remembered all the times he and the other boys had been there to help and support me. Suddenly, I knew exactly what song I wanted to sing up on that stage.