A Test of Faith [bxb]

7. Before It Grows Too Late

Sunday came too quickly. The summer days always seemed to fly by, the monotony of school break only broken up by the Sabbath. But this Sunday in particular came way too quickly.

My family always arrived to church early. My dad had been in the bishopric for most of my life, which required early attendance on his part. As his dutiful wife, my mother dragged my siblings and me along. It used to be the coolest thing in the world; the three of us would run around the carpeted pews in the silence of the chapel like we ruled the world. But now, as the only sibling left, it was gruelingly boring.

Not to mention the fact that the Hales arrived early today, too. I had been texting Alex as I sat by myself — he hadn't left me alone since my admission on the field — when they walked in.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the family. They walked in like Egyptian gods, with lean legs and upright postures. Ezra, though, was a sight to behold.

I hadn't planned on staring. The plan was to look away after the inevitable eye contact. But Ezra was in a suit, so I had no choice. A white button-up clung to his broad shoulders, pulled in at his waist. A slim tie pointed downwards, where I focused for far too long. With how his dress pants formed to his long legs, they had to be specially tailored — perhaps by God himself. And Ezra. Despite the fluorescent lighting from the chapel, he had an indescribable glow, like he had absorbed all of the sunlight from the past week to wear on his skin.

Ezra was staring, too. I expected a teasing smirk, an acknowledgement that he caught me. But it never came. Instead, his eyes wandered my body in retaliation. My instinct begged me to be self-conscious, but I just couldn't be. There was no room for doubt in the way he looked at me.

As his family aimed for the front pew, he made his way over to me, seated in the back of the chapel.

"So, this is your building," Ezra said, hands in his back pockets as he approached. I nodded, though it wasn't a question. Ezra glanced back towards his family, who were quietly talking amongst themselves on their newly-claimed bench. "Give me a tour." Again, not a question, but I nodded enthusiastically as I stood up.

We slipped out of the chapel, where I led him down the hallway. A peaceful quiet filled the air, the only sound being our shoes against the padded carpet. Ezra followed closely behind me as we passed offices and classrooms. We came to a primary room with colored paper plastered over the door's window, obscuring the view.

The coast was clear. As Ezra shut the door behind us, I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. He leaned against the door with his arms crossed over his tie, chewing on his lip with a smile.

"We need to talk," I said.

"Y'know," he started with a smirk, "I actually did want a tour."

Just talk to him, Alex had said. But it was hard talking to Ezra when he looked like that. My gaze dropped to the floor. "I'm sorry."

He hummed in confusion. "What for?"

"For kissing you. And for trying to kiss you again. It wasn't cool, and I'm sorry."

"Oh, Luca," he said, and there was a lightness to my voice that weakened my knees. Luca. I was addicted to the way my name sounded coming out of his lips.

"No, I get it now. I don't know how it took me so long. I damned you." It took all of my strength to look at Ezra again, who was wearing an incredulous expression.

"You damned me?"

"I damned you."

"What are you, Edward Cullen?"