Who's Shadow

Church

Parker likes me? But he blackmailed me. Since when has he liked me? We spoke for the first time only a week ago.

I sat there thinking for a few minutes.

"Ah, Al, it would be nice if you said something." Parker's face was blood red. I was processing and wasn't thinking about leaving him hanging.

"Sorry, I'm just thinking. I didn't know you, ahem, liked me."

"Yeah, but can we talk about that later? And it's getting late. But, don't forget, tomorrow you and your aunt are spending the day with me and my family."

"How could I forget I was spending the day with you?" I asked. Parker stood up and held out his hand.

"Come on I need to get you home."

"Oh alright Mr. Bossy." I poked him in his cheek as he wrapped his hand around mine. We swung our arms back and forth and Parker locked the door before we left.

On the way home I could only think about how much thinking I had to do tonight.

~

It was Sunday morning and I was up at eight. I rolled out of bed and looked at my phone. One new message.

Wear something casual. ;) -Parker

OK :) -Alice

I walked over to my closet and pulled out white jeans and a loose pink floral top. Not my first choice but dress for the unexpected.

I put my hair in loose blonde curls and fixed my makeup. Brown eyeshadow, mascara, and a light dab of pink lipstick.

After brushing my teeth and taking one last look I opened my door. A lot of chattering was going on in the living room.

Aunt Penny, Claire, and a man were on our couch, Minnie was sitting on our electric fireplace, and Parker was sitting in the one person chair.

It was a strange, yet comforting sight to see our family's together getting along so well. "Hi babe, ready to go?" Aunt Penny asked me.

"Yeah, where exactly are we going?"

Minnie spoke up this time, "We were going to go to church, unless you don't want to."

"No, it would be nice to go to church again. I've not been for a long while."

Parker remarked that he was excited and we all loaded Claire's big tank car. Claire and her husband up front.  Aunt Penny and Minnie in the middle and Parker and me in the back.

Everyone was talking back and forth as Parker and I sat quietly.

"Thank you. It really does mean a lot that you're coming with me. " Parker gave me a warm smile that made my heart speed up.

"Well, I have been thinking about going back for a while now but never had the chance."

"I'll introduce you to everyone when we get there." I nodded my head and a few minutes later we were in a school parking lot.

"What are we doing here ?" I asked.

"We meet here, not the ideal place,but we're building a church down the road so we meet here for the time being."

"Got it."

We all piled out of the car. All the Billingsley's and Aunt Penny had Bibles in their hands. And I didn't. I guess Parker saw that because he put his hand on the small of my back and said, "Don't worry we can share."

"Thanks I wasn't thinking."

Parker's dad held the door open for all of us and we entered the school. We were in a yellow hallway and children were painted on the walls.