Christian Camp | ✓

Dodge Ball

- Ginny -

Ginny hadn't been able to stop smiling all evening since Gavin had returned her seemingly pulverised cross to her during dinner. She couldn't comprehend how he had worked such a miracle on it - it barely looked like it had even broken at all. It must have taken intricate work for him to get it looking so perfect - something that her cabin friends hadn't seemed to ignore.

"Matt said he'd spent all afternoon fixing it." Ruth announced from across the cabin, as everyone prepared themselves for camp games. "Apparently he didn't leave that desk for hours."

"Ooh! Someone's got a crush on Ginny!" Brooke sang out. "I can see it now: Hollywood Hottie and Christian Gavin Walker spotted on the streets with his dazzling new girlfriend Ginny Sykes... Oh my gosh, all his girl fans are going to hate you..."

"Ginny and Gavin sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-"

"Ok, guys, I get it." Ginny intercepted, despite the grin that was threatening to overwhelm her lips. "Gav's just a nice guy. He doesn't like me like that - and vice versa." She added pointedly, ignoring the way her heart seemed to vehemently disagree as she spoke.

"Oh, yeah right!" Maisie snorted. "You're both about as loved up as Ruth and Matthew! Speaking of which..." She whipped around to Ruth sharply. "Since when did you speak with Matthew? And call him Matt?"

Ruth shrugged her shoulders, looking sheepish.

"We just got talking during that volleyball game. Turns out it's not as intimidating talking to him as I thought."

"Ha!" Maisie shouted gleefully. "How many times have I told you that! Praise God!"

"Oh shush! You'll bring camp leader over if you keep yelling." Ruth reprimanded, promptly thwacking her friend with a pillow. Ginny grinned as their other camp mates suddenly converged on Maisie with their own pillows, giggling like little children. Thank God for allowing her such a group of fun friends at camp.

"Yeah, Maisie!"

"Keep your voice down, Maisie!"

"Okay, everyone! I hope you're all ready for a big game tonight!" Tom called out through his megaphone over the dying chatter of everybody gathered around him in the dusking light. He gestured to the extensive row of balls set out in a line at his feet. Dodge balls.

"You all know how dodge ball works, right?"

There was an eager murmur of replies in response, tailed immediately by a few loud cheers.

"I'll take that as a yes. But for those of you who don't - the aim of the game is to hit your opponents with the balls. Shots taken above the neck won't be counted and the person will be disqualified. The winning team is the team who hits the most amount of people. Okay?"

Another excited murmur. Ginny grinned at Libby, who was standing beside her in her Team John shirt with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Dodge ball had always been Libby's favourite game in P.E.

"First teams up are... John vs Luke!"

"Oh, I'm so going to win this!" Libby announced, rubbing her hands together as the two opposing teams faced each other. "They're going down!"

"Well, I'll watch their demise from the crowd." Ginny said, glancing down at her bandaged ankle. Libby's grin only widened.

"Any excuse to talk to your future husband..." She trilled, glancing pointedly over Ginny's shoulder at where Gavin was standing.

"You should be grateful I've got a sprained foot." Ginny warned, shooting her sister a mock glare through her suddenly flushed cheeks. She turned and tentatively made her way to the crowd of onlookers who were the other two teams. She ensured her gaze was fixed firmly on anything but Gavin, yet, somehow, he had seen her and was at her shoulder in seconds.

"Hey. How's your foot?"

"Not bad actually. Tom said I should be fine in a few days anyway - by God's grace." She paused and turned her attention to the camp leader, as his voice rang out around the field.

"Ok, take your positions! Three... Two... One!"

Ginny watched as the two teams charged towards each other at top speed, a heavy barrage of dodge balls hurtling through the air like wayward rain.

"So... Did I do a good job on your necklace? I did the best I could, but the guys kept interrupting me and asking me what I was doing." Gavin's voice sounded hesitantly in her ear. Ginny grinned at him.

"Are you kidding? It's better than it was originally! Thank you so much, Gav."

She knew her cheeks were flaming as she spoke, but her words seemed to have the desired affect because Gavin ducked his head, a pleased smile tugging at his lips. In fact, seeing him looking so flustered had her momentarily disarmed, and her mind scrambled to come up with something else to say.

"Um, anyway... how long do you have here now? Is it one more week?"

She regretted her change of subject the moment the genuine smile faded from Gavin's lips.

"Oh, yeah. Just seven more days and then it's back to the grind. I love my job, don't get me wrong - it's just..." He broke off with a sigh. Ginny watched his actions with a surge of sympathetic understanding.

"You want to spend more time worshipping God."

Gavin nodded.

"I mean, you can worship God anywhere. But I do understand. It must be hard with such a strict schedule."

"Yeah, sometimes. What about you?" His blue eyes were now fixed on her curiously. "Did modelling make it difficult for you?"

Ginny's heart gave a strange flop in her chest. She'd completely forgotten about her past modelling experiences.

"Everyone was so focused on appearances and how good certain clothes or accessories looked. Sometimes it was great - but I really want everything I do to show God's love to people. And I need to grow my relationship with Jesus first before I can do that."

Gavin nodded with a small smile.

"I get that. D'you think you'll ever go back to modelling?"

Ginny shifted uncomfortably from her injured foot to the other.

"Um, I don't know. It's not really my scene anymore."

They lapsed into a momentary silence, in which Ginny thought she had severely blown any chances with him, before Gavin spoke up.

"You know, the industry needs someone like you, someone who's not afraid to proclaim their faith. Jesus said to preach the gospel to all creation. I think modelling would be a pretty great place to start, as long as you don't let yourself be used. Besides," He shot her a furtive smile. "You've already got your foot on the ladder. You might as well keep climbing."

"Hm." Ginny chewed on her bottom lip, processing his words. Maybe he had a point. She had been viewing modelling as entirely negative. But maybe through her modelling she could advocate for Jesus and the good news.

"You're quite wise, you know that?" She grinned. "With both words and fixing skills, apparently."

Gavin shrugged, his lips curving into a wide smile.

"What can I say? God is good."

A loud cry suddenly tore through the air, slicing into their conversation.

"YES!!! Team John wins!"

Ginny laughed at her sister's triumphant outcry, failing to notice how Gavin's eyes were pinned directly on her.

"He is." Ginny nodded, her heart swelling in her chest. "He most certainly is." 

Hey, guys!! 

I know it's been a while since I updated, and for that I am sorry! I hit a bit of writer's block, but God suddenly seemed to write through me - so here's the work of His hand! ❤

All glory be to God!!!! 

Have a blessed day and don't forget to thank God for everything!!