Chapter 3: The Truth Stirs

They sat down in a booth at Bridget's. She received some interesting looks from kids that obviously went to her school. He didn't ask about them though, he could tell she was different but he didn't really want to explore that right now. Now he just wanted to get to know her and hopefully get her to like him. His mom had told him that her family was big into the church, which was a relief. He didn't think he could stand it if she wasn't. Though it would be his luck for God to allow him to torture himself with a beauty he couldn't have.
"So when does school start around here?" he asked her in an attempt to start a conversation as the waitress laid their menus in front of them.
"Umm, look those over and I'll be back in a sec," the girl said looking strangely at Jade.
"In about two and a half weeks. What class are you going to be in?" she replied looking a bit distractedly at a girl across the restaurant.
"I'm going to be a junior, you?"
"I'm a senior. How old are you?" she asked looking back at him surprised by his answer.
"I'm sixteen, you?" he asked carefully. He'd always been told not to ask a girl her age, but he somehow didn't think it counted at this age.
"Seventeen."
"So what church do you go to?"
"Um, Shady Falls Baptist Church."
"Great! That's the one my parents are looking at. Is it good?"
"Well, I'm rather fond of it," she replied as the waitress placed her food in front of her. "They don't," she started. "Umm, never mind."
"They don't what?" he encouraged.
"They don't judge people. No matter how different people are, they always feel welcome. Especially in the youth group, I've never felt out of place."
"Do you have a reason to? I mean, you seem pretty normal to me," he said looking into her eyes searching, afraid of what might be locked inside.
"Well, we all have secrets don't we?" she said smiling and looking behind his head, distracted once again. She saw someone, someone who could hurt her with this information. She was the one girl who would stop at nothing to steal her boyfriend.
"Are you okay? You seem a little distracted," he said trying to rescue her attention and refocus it on him.
"Oh, yeah," she said looking at him and smiling. "You know, my mother is at home right now praying that you sweep me off my feet, that you would be the one to rescue me."
"Rescue you?" he asked putting his hand on top of hers.
"Yes, rescue me. She hates my friends; she thinks they will be my downfall. She doesn't understand me, that's all that it is," she said taking her hand out from under his. "I have a boyfriend. We've been together almost three years."
"Oh, well. I'm sorry. I didn't know," he said with a crestfallen look.
"No, don't be sorry. I came didn't I? It's not really serious; I just thought you should know."
"Well, thank you for being honest I suppose," he said smiling. He still had a chance, she'd made that clear. Perhaps God wasn't taunting him with an unattainable beauty.
"Umm, are you ready to order yet?" the waitress asked tentatively.

"Yes, I think so," he said looking at Jadlin for confirmation.
"Yes," she said. "I'll have a chicken basket with a vanilla shake."
"And you?" the waitress asked looking at Donovan.
"Umm, the same," he said smiling.
"Okay, it'll be ready in a bit," she said walking off.
"Why'd you do that?" she asked laughing.
"Well, you're a veteran. I figured you'd know what to order," he said smiling.
"Yes, I suppose so," she replied laughing. She hadn't laughed so much in a long, long time.
"So where should we go after this?" he asked.
"I think Electric Blue sounds nice, if you're into dancing."
"Hmm, do your parents let you dance?" he asked.
"Yes, why?" she asked surprised.
"Well, so many southern Baptist families stick to the old traditions," he said smiling.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that," she said smiling. "No, we don't stick to that particular one."
"Great. Oh look, it's our food."

A/N: Hope you're enjoying it so far! I don't have the next chapter written yet, but I promise I will post soon. If you like it please tell me, it's always encouraging to hear praise. If you hate it, great! Please tell me why. It will help me in my writing in the future! Well thanks for taking time to read this story, hope it was well worth it!