Praying For A Sinner { O.C x A.R}

10

It has been a week since I found out about my moms relationship with the preacher and I was still not coming to terms with them being together. Today, he was moving in with us to help my mom as she was very stressed and needed extra help to take care of me. I screamed into my pillow dramatically, not wanting him to move in with us. Arvin and Lenora have been trying to lighten me up about everything, I appreciated them doing that but it didn't work.

Miserable was an understatement all week I thought about how he embarrassed Emma in front of those churchgoers and what a jerk he was. How could my mom fall in love with somebody like that? My thoughts were running wild and I screamed into my pillow once again. Lenora invited me to watch fireworks with her and her family tonight so that is at least something to look forward too.

My mom suddenly opened the door to my room. "The preacher will be here in any moment!" My mom ecstatically said as she sat on the side of my bed.  I groaned at the sound of his name. My mom sighed and put her hand into mine. "I know you're not very fond of him but please do try to accept him." She said as she rubbed my hand. "Ugh, whatever but just for you." I sighed sitting up. "Thank you so much Jade, you don't know how much this means to me." She said as she hugged me tightly. I couldn't help but smile at how happy she was even if she wasn't with the right person.

knock! knock! Somebody was at the door and as my mom opened the door it revealed the preacher holding a suitcase full of stuff. He stepped into the house with a huge grin on his face. "Hi there Jade." He walked up to me placing a hand on my shoulder. I nodded as he went to put his suitcase down somewhere. "God is taking good care of y'all with this great house ye have." He said as he looked at his surroundings. My mom went up to him and hugged him and I scoffed at the scene going back to my room.

*Time Skip*

It was dinner and we were all sitting at the table about to start eating but of course since Mr. Teagardin was a man of God he wanted us to pray before we ate. I wasn't very religious so I didn't pray often neither did my mom this is probably why she got with him so she can get closer to God. "Dear Lord, please bless this meal for me and my new family." He spoke loud and clear southern accent clear as day. "Amen" he said as he let go of our hands and started to dig in. I realised that it was time for me to go watch the fireworks with Arvin and Lenora. "I've lost my appetite." I said as I got off the table and looked at my half eaten dish. "You haven't finished your meal and you ain't full." He said as he looked at my plate in disappointment. "That is true but I'm going to go watch the fireworks with my friends." I said looking at my mom since she allowed me to watch the fireworks with them. He suddenly placed his napkin on the table louder than he should have and walked over to me. "YOU CAN EAT AND THEN GO WATCH THE FOREWORKS." He yelled in my face. "Mom said I could watch them with my friends and now I am running late and last time I recalled you aren't my real dad." I snapped back. "You listen here I may not be yer  real dad hell I ain't even married to yer mother but I came to help your mom with her stress and I'd appreciate it if you treated me and yer mom with respect now finish up yer food and then you can watch the fireworks wit your friends!" He snapped I looked him in the eyes and didn't say anything. Tears started to form in my eyes as I sat back down rushing to finish my food. I finished my food and jumped out of the chair grabbing my purse and running outside.

I saw Lenora and Arvin standing outside as the fireworks just finished. 'shit' I thought to myself as I walked up to them. "Where were you?" Lenora questioned as she looked at me she wasn't mad but she was disappointed since she really wanted to watch the fireworks with me. "I was having dinner with my mom and the preacher." Tears started to form in my eyes and my voice was shaky. "What happened?" Lenora asked as she realised my voice and put a arm around me. "I was going to come to watch the fireworks with you guys, I didn't finish with my food and he started giving me a sort of lecture and told me to finish my food, and then I can watch the fireworks with you guys and now its all done. I'm so sorry!" I said as I put my hands on my face crying. "Shhhhh, it's okay he seems like a jerk." Lenora said comforting me I smiled wiping away my tears. I waved at Arvin and he waved back. "The fireworks are done now what should we do?" I said as I was rather disappointed at the fact I couldn't watch the fireworks with my friends. "Not to worry, I got just the thing!" Lenora jumped running inside. "Hey." I said walking beside Arvin. "Hey, you okay?" Arvin said wiping the rest of my tears off my face with his thumb. I couldn't help but get butterflies at this small interaction it was sweet. "Yeah, I guess." I said as I looked up at the night sky. "The stars are beautiful tonight aren't they?" I said as I was still looking at the sky. "Yeah, they are." Arvin replied looking at me admiring my features. Suddenly, Lenora came out with fireworks in hand. "We are gonna make our own fireworks! Arvin bought these a couple months back but we never used them this is the right time!" She said as she place them on the ground lighting them up. I was smiling like a child as the fireworks lit up the sky. "Thanks Lenora for this." I said giving her a tight hug. "No hug for me? I am the one who bought the fireworks." Arvin said as he leaned against the car. I hugged him maybe even tighter than Lenora not realising how long we were hugging for Lenora smirked as she looked at us both in each others arms.

Word Count: 1133 words