I walk into my new church of my new town, Wylie, Texas. There are children running around a room that looks like a school gym. Actually I think is a school gym. Boys play basketball on one side and girls jump rope on the other.
Is this what they do before class starts here? I wonder.
I slowly walk into the gym/kids church room with my younger brother, Peyton and our best friend/cousin Dylan. We have always been a sort of trio. They quickly run off to the video games set up in the corner so I am left alone near the entrance. I tug at my yellow sweater awkwardly and tighten my red ponytail. A man with black hair walks up to me smiling.
"Hi whats your name?" He asks politely. A big white grin across his face.
"Skylar Hart. I'm new here," I say kind of shyly.
"Nice to meet you Miss Hart, I'm Pastor James. I am the kids pastor here. How old are you?" The pastor asked happily.
"I'm nine. I just finished third grade." I say shoving my nail polished hands into my back Jean pockets.
"That's great! Where will you go to school?" He asks. I would be lying if I said I didn't want him to leave me alone. I felt like I was being interrogated.
"Here actually," this church US also my new school. My mom got offered a job here so we get to come here free. Let me rephrase that we have to come here for free. I was doing perfectly fine at my old public school. I had great friends I made the cheer squad and the advanced music. I was great. But I had to come here.
"Well I'm glad your here. Do you doing anything like art or soccer?" He asks. I want to scream GO AWAY but he wouldn't anyway.
"Um.. cheer, drawing,reading, volleyball, but mainly theatre." I tell him the one thing I actually like to talk about to people.
"Really? Do you sing?" Pastor James asks me.
"A lot actually. I made it to all city choir but had to quit now that I'm moving schools." I reply sadly.
"Oh well my wife who usually leads worship isn't here today. Would you like to fill in? We are singing How Great Is Our God by Chris Tomlin. I'm sure you know that song." He says. I am suddenly filled with joy. You see I'm not typically a fearless person. I mean I am adventurous around people who I feel comfortable around but that's rare considering I never stay anywhere long enough to get to know people. But the stage is where all fear leaves me. With a microphone in hand and a spotlight in me I feel so comfortable it seems like my home up there. Suddenly this church looks way more appealing.
"Seriously?" I ask.
"Sure," he says," I will get you a Mic. Worship is first so be prepared. You don't have stage fright do you? If so remember God is with you."
"No sir," I say. I silently tell Jesus thank you and he starts to walk off.
"You'll do great," he yells over the noise as he walks away.
I start to walk to where all the girls are when I slam right into a tan boy with a basketball in his hand. His hair is dark and spiked. His eyes are a warm brown. He is the kind of guy that you can't help but notice.
He gives me a grin with his pearly white teeth.
"Excuse me, sorry. You new?" He asks me throwing the basketball to another boy far off to my left.
"Um yeah I am." I say and walk away. I know better than to get involved with a boy like him. I already see his fan club eyeing him from the other side of the room. I can't crush on anyone. Especially sense I will probably leave here in a year anyways. Better not get attached to anyone. Plus I'm too busy with my actual life to care. Unlike some of those girls over there making googley eyes at him who probably do nothing but daydream about him all day. I'd rather not.
Soon I hear a familiar voice come through this speakers, Pastor James," Alright kids find a seat! It's time for worship!" Boys chant and girls squeal excitedly. I walk to where pastor James stands near the stage.
"We have a special girl singing for us today because sadly Mrs Saige isn't here today, let's give it up for Miss Skylar Hart!" Pastor says loudly over the Mic. Kids cheer excitedly for me.
"Lets have our worship team come on up," He says. A few girls who I don't recognize come up. One gives me a dirty look. I think I stole her spotlight but I couldn't care less. Then some boys walk up. And lucky for me I get stuck with basketball boy right next to me on the stage.
"Lets get to it," pastor finally says. He hand me the Mic and the music starts. Except it isn't "How Great Is Our God" it's faster. But I recognize it luckily. It's "me without you" by TobyMac. Luckily my brother and Dylan love this song so I know it by heart. Pastor signals at me and mouths "this ok?" I give him a thumbs up and he smiles.
When the intro ends and its time to start singing the spotlight hits me and I come alive. I start the words without hesitation. I sing only stopping for quick breaths. I smile easily and I feel great. I don't miss a beat. I love this feeling. I always have. I glance at basketball boy and he is doing a dance they apparently prepared before I was here. He catches me glancing and winks. I quickly look away. I don't want to have him here at all to distract from the music but I might as well just not think about it and sing. And that's what I do. Every note makes my heart feel even better. My voice collides with the music and it feels so familiar. The song ends and all the kids cheer. I smile and pastor walks up and I hand him the Mic.
"Lets give it up for Skylar!" He says and the kids get even louder. This is what makes me happy.
I slowly exit the stage. But basketball boy walks with me.
"Nice job," he says,"Star," he smirks and walks away. And that's how I got my nickname.
After the service many kids tell me I did great. I sat by a girl named Meghan. She was really nice. If only she was going to this school I would already have a friend.
We drive to our new home. We just moved in yesterday so there are still a few boxes to unpack. I go to my room and start to unpack some of my things. I get a box out that's says CAUTION FRAGILE in red sharpie. I open it and the first thing is a glass hummingbird my Dad gave me from Colorado. I set it on my dresser. My parents are divorced so I don't see my Dad much. I started staying the night there this summer every other weekend with Peyton. Just then my youngest brother, Josh, walks in with a train in his small 2 year old hand. His favorite toy.
"Bird," he says. He grabs the hummingbird before I can stop him. He small hand drops it and t flatters on the hardwood ground.
"No!" I scream. I pick up the pieces.
The left wing has broken and the long nose has fallen off. The tail is chipped too. I set the pieces on the table.
"Get out!" I yell. I pick Josh up and take him to the room he shares with Peyton.
"And stay out!" I say. I run back to my room and shut the door. I fall onto my bed and scream Into my pillow.
I hear the doorbell ring so I get up and I am the first to get to the door because my room is right next to it. I unlock it and answer it. A family is standing there. I recognize all of them. Then I realize they are from our church. The dad is a pastor and the principal at the school. And the mom leads adult worship and will teach music. And the girl looks familiar too. Although about two years older than me she said I did good on stage today. She seems nice. I forget her name. And the little boy is about Peyton and Dylan's age. He is in the kids class. Wait but why are they here? And then I notice half of a body behind them. It doesn't take me ling to recognize him. It's basketball boy. I open the screen door.
"Hello!" The mom says happily," We live next door and wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood. Wait I have met you before! You go to the church!" She finds out.
"Mom! We have company!" I yell,"Yes, we do. We will also be going to your school." I tell her,"Come in," I say. HIM!! Of all people who could live next door it had to be him!!!
The girl walks up to me. She looks like the rest of her family. Tan with dark eyes and hair. Except she has glasses," Hi I'm Rachel." She says kindly.
"Skylar," I say.
"What grade are you going into?" I ask her.
"5th what about you?" She asks.
"3rd," I reply.
"Cool," she says. I already like her. Just not her brother.
She walks to meet my mom and guess who greets me next....
"Hey Star," he says.
"My name is Skylar." I reply.
"I know. But that's not what I'm calling you," he says.
"I'm Daniel," he says.
"Nope," I reply. Two can play at this game.
"What? Yes huh!" He says.
"Nope I'm gonna call you...." I have to think of something to go with him. He is wearing a football jersey which has CAPTAIN written in big black letters at the top above the number 4.
"Your new name for me is Captain," I say.
"I like it," he smirks and starts to walk away.
I go back to my room and grab a book from from a box. I flip it open to calm my nerves.
Don't you DARE fall for him Skylar Jane Hart! I tell myself. But one can only try so hard not to love someone before giving in.
