Someone Worth Dying For

Movie Night

Celeste opened the door, and her friends filed in. Well, they were kind of like friends. She hung out with them, but she really, she was looking for Kyle. He didn't show. She apologized, and asked them to wait for a few more minutes before starting the movie, and they said they didn't minds, and started snacking on the chips and popcorn. She received a text, and it scared her half to death. She jumped, and they all laughed at her. She opened it

Hey, this is Kyle. I got your number from one of the kids at school. I'm really sorry I'm late, my car broke down, and then I got lost. I'm on my way. Maybe five minutes. I'm sorry. You can start without me. 

She quickly responded and set the phone down, then explained that she was waiting for one more person. They didn't mind. They had snacks. She was the only one waiting anxiously for the three minutes it took; the others just chilled. When the bell rang, she literally ran upstairs and opened the door.

"Kyle," she said breathlessly. "Is-are-the car. How's your car?" He smiled and pointed to the red truck parked in the front. 

"I forgot to change the oil before I left." He explained. "I'm really sorry. How are you?" He asked, and she was able to finally tell somebody about the horrible day she had. Celeste went on and on for at least five minutes, and he nodded and commented and tried to help. He was good at that. Her friends inside called her to tell her that they started the movie, and she was jarred back into reality. she smiled sheepishly, and led him downstairs. All the chairs were taken, but Kyle said he didn't mind. He sat down against a wall, and reversed his jacket so it was more like a blanket. She sat next to him under a blanket. 

Celeste watched him, not the movie, and thought about what his reaction would be if she pushed him over. She decided against it. The entire room was full of teenagers enthralled by the movie, and the only one who didn't care for it was the host. Celeste took some dip in her fingers, and smeared it on Kyle's cheek. 

"Oh," he said as he wiped it off. "That's how it's gonna be?" He wiped his hand along her arm, making it almost impossible to get it off without ruining her outfit. She pushed him, then took some more and threw it. He ducked, and it hit her friend. She laughed, a few smiled appeared, and the movie night turned into a food fight in three seconds.

People were running around and laughing and tackling everyone to the ground. Kyle and Celeste did not stop throwing things, and by the time they both ran out of ammo, each person looked as if they had slept in the refrigerator. Cleste's dad came down, and stopped cold at the teenagers who wore their snacks. He snickered a bit, then smiled and turned on the light. 

"I uh, heard banging and thought I would make sure you guys were being...proper. Have fun, guys." He turned around and headed back up the stairs. "And it better be clean before ya'll leave!" He shouted before he closed the door. 

"Well," Kyle said, trying to get chips out of his hair. " I can say this is the most fun movie night I've been to. Honestly. It was amazing." He got up and retrieved his hidden jacket. "I have to go." He started to head out the door, and Celeste stopped him. 

"Uh, you have to help clean up. As the instigator, this," she pointed tot he ruined basement walls. "This is your fault." He smiled, and nodded, then began. The rest of the "friends" looked around, shook their heads, and headed upstairs. Celeste and Kyle both tried to make them stay, but they didn't care. They thanked for the invite, and then left. Kyle shrugged and kept picking up. "Oh, you don't have to stay," Celeste explained. "I-I'll get it. You can go home." Kyle smiled and shook his head again, but continued. She looked at him, frowning, and he picked up all the garbage, and put it in a bag, then began to straighten the area.

"You should probably get a rag ad wipe down the walls." He said, with a playful tone in his voice. "I have no idea where anything is in this house." She laughed and went upstairs to fetch a rag. When she came back down, Kyle was sitting on the couch, under his jacket, and his eyes closed.  She smiled, and thought about putting the wet rag on him, but decided against it. She finished the walls, then sat on the couch, waking him up with a start. 

"Oh, it's you." He said. "You all done?" He looked around, and then took the rag, walked over to a corner, and wiped something off of the wall. "You missed a spot." He said, and she started laughing. 

"Why do you always do that?" she asked, amazed. He looked at her and frowned as he sat back down. "You always do everything perfectly. Why? It's not like it matters." He smiled, and thought for as minute. 

"One of the things Pastor says, is that if we do everything like we are doing it for God, the He will bless us and honor us. Now, I'm not trying to get special...whatever, I just want to know that I did my best, and nothing less." He shrugged. "It's just how I was raised." She turned away from him, annoyed.

"I forgot you're one of those Christians who do everything right." She said with contempt in her voice. "Doesn't it get boring and tiresome? Having to be perfect all the time?" He smiled and laughed.

"Celeste, no human is perfect. I make mistakes all the time. And even pastors do. Everyone. You shouldn't think like that. What if, one day, you want to be a Christian?" She laughed and pushed him playfully. 

"I wouldn't ever. Christians are prideful, and think they're higher than everybody. No, I couldn't join something like that. They're terrible people." Celeste immediately tried to take it back, but the damage had already been done. She saw him quickly absorb the pain, then hide it, and wondered how he did that. "I'm sorry," she said, after he was okay. "I-"

"It's alright." He said. "One thing you shouldn't have to do is check what you say around Christians. I'm sorry you've had that experience. That's...that's terrible. I'm sorry." He looked at her eyes, and she felt terrible. She tried to make it better, but he just waved her off. "Celeste, stop. It's okay." He looked at his watch, winced, and got up. "I have to leave before Mom yells at me. Hey, uh, maybe next month, you could come to my church, and see what it's like over there. Maybe get a second opinion. I say next month because we are taking a break. So..."  Celeste felt so bad, she promised she would be come. 

"Great," He said with enthusiasm. "I'll double check with Mom, but you could just hang at my house until then, and then I'll drive you home." He turned and began to walk up the stairs, and she followed him to the door. "Thanks for the invite. I had fun beating you in a food fight." She smiled and waved him away, then closed the door. Her father was standing with his arms crossed behind it. 

"You guys had better have that thing spotless. You were down there long enough." 

"Relax, Dad." She said as she rolled her eyes and headed to her door. "He's a freaking Christian. He wouldn't do anything bad." She said, with a hint of disappointment in her quiet voice. She sat down on her bed, and her father nodded, then turned away. "I'm going to church next month, okay?" She said. He stopped and turned back around. 

"I don't mind. Are you going with you're friends, or your mother and I?" She shook her head, and he looked at the front door. "Got it. Well, I don't think I have to worry about him, much. Goodnight, darling. I'll see you tomorrow." He said as he walked down the hallway. She closed her door, then climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling. 

"If there was a God," she explained to the hard, unchanging surface. "He would have saved him. Oh, what am I thinking. He doesn't like you enough to do that! You're worthless!" With that, she closed her eyes, and cried herself to sleep.