The Key To Your Heart | Teen Fiction

Eight|| Prodigal Daughter

Wherever you are, Whatever you did

It's a page in your book, this isn't the end

Your Father will meet you with arms open wide

This is where your heart belongs

("Prodigal" by Sidewalk Prophets)

The Key To Your Heart ✴ Chapter Eight 

"We're making plans," Zay told me -- most of his face hidden in the shadows from the fading sun. But even with his dark hood pulled over his head, and the sun creating eery shadows, the look on his face still gave me an uneasy feeling.

"What kind of plans?" I questioned.

"I can't let you in on all the details right now. Not just yet. But, you know that money we've been trying to get? We found a way to get it."

"Wait...I'm confused. What money?"

He looked slightly irritated like he had somewhere to be. But he continued anyway -- giving me a vague explanation. " The money to pay our debt."

I was quiet for a minute before finally recalling what money he was referring to. I frowned. "You mean your debt? We had nothing to do with that money you borrowed" 

"No." I could hardly see his face from under his hood. "I mean our debt. We... are all one, Jayden. If I'm in debt, we're all in debt. Because if one of us gets in trouble, we all will. You know this. We need to stick together."

We were all one. It was supposed to be a good thing. I had people who would stick up for me.

"Yeah, I know..." I sighed.

After a moment, I spoke again. "So... what's the plan?"

"I told you, I can't let you in on the whole plan yet. You'll know in due time."

I frowned, considering the possibilities. "We're not going to steal money again are we?"

He was quiet.

"Zay." I looked him dead in the eyes. As if, somehow I had some kind of control over him. 

"What?" He acted oblivious, although I knew he wasn't.

"Answer me."

He still didn't answer. 

I sighed. "C'mon can't you just earn the money this time?"

Finally, he looked at me. "Jayden, I don't think you understand how important this is. This is future. All of our futures. Just trust me on this. I've got it all under control."

I was hesitant. "Okay...I'll trust you." But I still wasn't so sure. 

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I kept thinking bout what Ryder said.

I knew he was only warning me for my own good. I knew that. But I didn't want to accept it. I'd been following Zay and his group around for a while now and they'd taken me in and even though the things they did may have been considered "bad", they told I was good at it. No one was ever proud of me, no one ever told me I did a good job... except for them. And no one accepted me like they did. I needed them.

What I didn't need was a warning. I'd been fine so far. Zay or Quinn wouldn't let me down and neither would the rest of them.

I told my mom I was going out. And I was. Just not where she may have thought I was going. She most likely didn't think I was going to the pizza parlor. And she most definitely didn't think that I'd be meeting up with a boy.

He wasn't just a boy. He was Ryder. But my mom didn't need to know that. She didn't need to know anything I did. All she needed to know was that I was going out.

It wasn't long before I was at the pizza parlor and I found myself doing something I never thought I'd do. I found myself telling Ryder my story. Not my secrets...not everything...not the details...just a basic synopsis. Like how my dad left me...

"He told me he loved me and to never forget that Jesus does too. And then he left. I didn't even get to say goodbye."

Like how I sorta stopped praying after awhile...

"I felt like God wasn't listening to me anymore."

Like how my mom was abusive...

"She'd hit me if I didn't do everything she said. She'd hit me for no reason sometimes. I'd always go and hide in my room and cry."

Like how I started doing things with Zay and Quinn...

"I started hanging around Zay and Quinn and--"

I stopped there. He didn't need to know any more about that area of my life.

Ryder listened to everything I had to say. He didn't interrupt, he didn't judge. He just listened.  He listed and he actually cared. That wasn't something that I was used to. 

After he was sure that I had finished, he spoke up. "Jayden," He said, taking a sip from his soda. "We've only known each other what? Two weeks now? So, you have no reason to trust me. But I'm honored that you've trusted me enough to tell me these things. I also know that you have no reason to believe anything that I say. But, please, at least hear me."

I was quiet, interested to know what he's say next. 

"You're not alone in this, okay?"

I let the words sink in. Not alone. Well then, who was beside me? Other than Zay and Quinn...

But I knew Ryder wasn't talking about Zay or Quinn.

"You went to Sunday School as a child, right?" He asked.

"Yeah..."

"Do you remember the story of the prodigal son?"

I hesitated, searching my memory for any recollection of the story. There was a vague memory. "You mean the story of the dude that left his dad because he didn't want to work anymore?"

Ryder laughed a little bit. "Something like that. And do you remember what happened at the end of the story when he came back to his dad?"

"No..."

"His dad welcomed him back. He wasn't angry, he didn't turn the son away, he welcomed him with open arms."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying...there's always another chance. No matter what you've done, no matter where you've been. Jesus will always welcome you back."

"What if I'm not saying that I want to come back? What if I'm still angry, still confused. What if I'm not ready?"

"Then He'll be waiting for you."

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(A/N) I KNOW, IT'S BEEN FOREVER SINCE I'VE UPDATED. I'M SORRY. I'VE BEEN SUPER BUSY AND WORKING ON THE NOVEL THAT I'M WRITING THAT I'M GOING TO BE PUBLISHING (*SCREAMS*) PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND VOTE AND ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS. LOVE YOU GUYS.