Church Boy ♱ nh

Chapter 10

Niall combed his fingers through his hair, trying to mold it back into shape as Tobias jogged up behind him. "Niall!" Tobias shouted, placing his hands on Niall's shoulders. Niall shrieked and jumped, turning to face a giggling Tobias Wopecki.

Breathing heavily, Niall muttered, "Geez, Toby, way to welcome me back..."

Tobias laughed and pulled Niall into a brotherly hug, patting his back. "I missed you!" Tobias said, "Father Rooney's back from his mission trip. And everyone's been asking about you."

Niall simply shrugged, "I'm alright. If anyone else asks, I'm alright."

Tobias raised an eyebrow, "You sure? You look a little lost."

Niall stared blankly at Tobias for a moment before shaking his head and mumbling, "N-no, I'm fine."

Tobias grinned and nudged Niall's arm with his elbow. "Soooo... is that Winter girl coming today?" He wiggled his eyebrows. Niall's face flushed a reddish color and his words caught in his throat. Tobias' face immediately fell. "Uh-oh..." He muttered, watching as Niall's body tensed.

"No," Niall said, "No, she's, uh... she's not coming today." He left it at that, telling Tobias that he still had a few things to do yet before mass began in twenty minutes.

Niall made his way toward the office in the church, where the treasurer and the secretary spent most of their time when mass wasn't in session. He knocked on the door before inviting himself in, greeted with a huge grin from the church secretary. "Niall!" She beamed, "Oh, how good it is to see you! We were all so worried about you, child." Niall simply smiled in response. He couldn't so much as open his mouth to even get a single word out before a group of four young girls came running into the office.

"Niall!" One of them cheered, hugging Niall's leg. With her cheek pressed against the back of his thigh, she whispered, "I missed you, Nialler." Niall chuckled and tousled her light brown hair.

"I missed you, too, Symphony," He smiled and she grinned up at him. Symphony was four years old and her family had been active in the church since even before she was born. She was raised in that church, and so she knew Niall fairly well.

"I missed you too!" Another young girl exclaimed, hugging Niall's other leg. Niall didn't know her so well but she was good friends with Symphony, and he'd definitely seen her around before.

"Did you bring something back for us?" A little red-haired girl asked, with her finger in her mouth. She stared up at Niall with large and innocent eyes.

Niall frowned and knelt down to her level. "Sorry, Kathryn. There really wasn't much for me to bring back." He rubbed her shoulder.

Kathryn didn't seem upset. Instead, she launched herself into Niall's embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. She whispered against him, "But you brought you back, and that's the best. My momma told me that Jesus was taking you to Heaven. I was scared, Niall. I thought people only go to Heaven when they are dead."

Niall felt a lump in his throat. He nodded and forced a tiny grin onto his face. "You're right," He said, "And I'm very much alive, so I promise I won't be in Heaven any time soon, okay? I'm here to stay." Kathryn gave Niall one more big hug before pulling away.

And the last girl was about nine years old. She was wearing a cute little yellow dress with white flats and her hair was tied in milkmaid braids on either side of her head. Her face was dotted with freckles and she had bright green eyes that stared up at Niall. A smirk tugged at her pink lips and she said, "Welcome back, Niall."

Niall chuckled. This girl's name was April and she was a newer member of the church. She was torn between Niall and Tobias—constantly debating which boy she liked better. Right now, she thought Niall was a hero.