Tidal Wave. | obx szn 1

Happy Birthday.

The Minervas attend a Catholic Church filled with rules. Dress clean. Dip your fingers in holy water and do the sign of the cross as you walk in. Kneel and do the sign of the cross again before sitting. When you sit, kneel again and pray. Then, you must sit straight with your eyes forward. Sing to the completely outdated songs and pretend to understand what Father is saying.

The Minervas— and Pope— do the typical routine. They pretend to listen to whatever Father is talking about this Sunday.

"It's too early for this." Lucca mumbles.

"I agree."

"God wants you to love someone of the opposite sex. God made you who you are for a reason. He made you the gender role you are today. Be happy with it. Being anything else is a sin." The priest says. This brings their attention.

"He did not just say what I think he said, right?" Aurora asks.

August keeps his back straight. His eyes forward. Tears slip down his cheeks.

Aurora places her hand on August's back. "Auggie, let's get out of here."

Aurora and Auggie stand. They pass their parents as the exit the pew.

After the church door closes, August bursts into tears. He sobs as Aurora pulls him close. August leans into Aurora's chest and cries. He can't stop.

A minute later, Pope and the rest of the Minervas come out of the church. They join Aurora and August in a hug. The family stands holding each other. Maybe the Minervas aren't so broken after all. This picturesque moment shows the Minervas aren't failing each other. The love they have is still there— hiding.

༄

Jane, Aurora, and Pope dropped off Harrison, August, and Lucca at the house.

"Alright, I was thinking we would go to that dress store downtown." Jane says. Aurora nods her head. Everything that happened at church this morning is still on Aurora's mind. Of course, she wants August to be supported be their family. Aurora is happy that August is getting that love. It still hurts her though. She's so outcasted by her family members for what reason? She feels like she can't express these feelings either. It sounds pretty bad to be jealous of August in this situation, so she pushes those feelings down and hides them— like always.

"Okay. We'll go pick out a nice dress, then you two can go on with your day. Are your friends going to midsummers, Aurora?"

"John B and JJ won't want to go. Pope is working. Kie is a kook, so she'll be there."

"Wait, Pope, you're working? Why? Harrison worked so hard for you to be able to go and not work."

"My Pops needs me." Pope answers. "I can't ditch him."

Jane sighs. "Okay."

Sometimes Aurora feels horrible for hating Jane so much. In this moment, Jane is being very kind. She's having a normal conversation and acting like a real mom.

"Okay, well at least Pope will still be able to see how stunning you will be, right, Aurora?"

"Mom, Pope and I aren't together. He doesn't like me like that." Aurora says.

"Oh. Okay. Well, Pope, we're still happy to have you here today." Jane says, while looking at Pope in the backseat through the rear view window.

"Thank you, Mrs. Minerva."

༄

Pope is in awe as they walk through the dress store. Hall of the Kooks.