What is Love?

Chapter 13: Love Always Hopes

Since I enjoyed my first time going to the Bible study with the twins, I decided to go again. Drew couldn't come, saying that he was busy.

"The truth is, Drew's getting a bit uncomfortable." Gabe told me on the way to the McDonald's house.

"Really?"

"Yeah. He said that he doesn't want to think that our relationship is bad. And he's not the only one. We've been invested in each other for four years."

"It must be really difficult for you both."

"You've no idea." He looked down at his hands.

I gingerly patted his cheek and he looked up at me with a smile.

"Thanks, Jay. You're such a sweetheart."

We left his car and started walking to the house as he said, "Maybe you'll finally experience romance. I saw the way you looked at Zoey."

I lightly hit his shoulder while he exploded in laughter.

"Haha, you got jokes, bro."

"Oh, so you did take an interest in her."

"No, I didn't. I think she's a nice, devoted individual. That's all."

"Whatever you said, man."

I shook my head with a smile, knowing he was just making fun of me. I thought Zoey was nice. She had a lot of wisdom when it came to the Scriptures. Her words are sincere and moving.

"We're glad to see you again!" Mrs. McDonald's gave me a hug.

"Thank you, Mrs. McDonald." I replied with a smile.

"You're welcome, darling."

We went to the same living room as last time and everyone was in their respective seats as last week.

"What happened to Drew?" Peyton asked.

I waited for Gabe to answer, but he didn't say anything. So, I nudged him a bit with my elbow.

"He's busy." His tone was clipped and dry like sand.

"Okay."

I made a mental note to talk to him about his attitude towards Peyton. He seems to dislike him for some reason.

"I'm willing to share my testimony." Zoey's voice was quiet as she looked down at her interlaced fingers.

"Don't force yourself." Cindy patted her hand.

Zoey nodded while smoothing her black skirt.

"My family's very conservative. We're from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and we've been attending the church for generations in my family. I never had anything against my upbringing or the church. But when I was 16, I realized that I've never shown any interest in guys. I've never had a crush on any guy. It was my older sister, Mary, who pointed it out. We tell each other everything. At the time, she was in love with a guy from our neighborhood."

She took a big breath before continuing. "She told me that she'd never hear me talk about boys. I told her we were only teenagers, and that when I meet the man God wants me to marry, then I'll fall in love. But for weeks after, I thought about what she said.

I didn't even find handsome men attractive. Instead, I would always be drawn to women. It was a terrible realization for me."

A short pause, then, "I had this huge crush on my friend. I was homeschooled and she was one of my best friends. I hid my feelings because of what the Bible had to say about it. Even now, my sister, Mary, is the only one in my family who knows about it.