Church and State

Chapter Four

The light turned green. I sped down the roadway and didn't care whether a cop would catch me or not. The idea of punishment by sacrifice wasn't even in my mind. I took a sharp left turn into the gas station. It was old, dingy and only had one working light in the very end of the station's store. I hated coming here.

I rolled up to the closest gas pump to the main road. The man who worked the pumps leaned against the concrete wall of the store lighting a cigarette. He lifted his head, and looked me up and down sporting his lit cigarette in his mouth. I shivered and turned around and stuck out my tongue in disgust. I grabbed the rusted handle, and inserted the gas pump into my car. I stood beside my car trying to avoid awkward eye contact with him. I turned to face the road.

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. A cop car was pulled over on the gravel bank across from me. How long had he been there? Had he seen me speed into the gas station? Shit, I didn't even think about it. I felt as if the police officer inside the car was staring at me even though I couldn't see him.

I turned toward my car; my hand impatiently holding the pump. I felt sweat building up underneath my hairline. I watched as the number of litres begin to slow. The last number ticked on the screen as I pulled out the pump and placed it back. I slid my credit card into the machine and didn't bother to take my receipt. I bent over and sat down. I started engine, and drove as calmly as I could. I relaxed my arms and slouched my back.

I stopped at the red light, tapping my fingers anxiously on the leather steering wheel. I felt his eyes present and staring me down. I gulped. I tried not to, but I couldn't help it. As soon as the light switched to green, I rolled my car forward perfectly going the speed limit as I approached the police vehicle. I glanced into the rolled down window as I drove by. He was asleep.

"Oh, thank you, God," I muttered under my breath. My heart continued to beat at a rapid pace even though I became relieved. The adrenaline was still pumping through my veins. I sighed as I continued driving at regulated speed toward the university. I turned left on the upcoming stoplight.

The sound of a siren went off in the distance. I looked in my rear-view mirror. There was nothing behind besides a regular, old beat-up van with a mother and two, bouncing children in the back seat. I smiled and focused my eyes back on the road. The noise became louder, the siren screeched so loud, it sounded as if it could have been behind me.

"Wow, that is obnoxiously lo-" I stopped mid-sentence as I peered into my side mirror. The red and blue flashing trailing my tail end. I felt as if my knees had turned to rubber and my heart was pounding through my chest. I took a shallow, slow breath and signaled; pulling over to the right side of the avenue. My foot tapped on the car mat beneath as I watched the officer step out of his car.

"I can't die today, I don't want to die today," I repeated in my head. I rolled down my window, around two thirds of the way as the officer peers in.

"You look rather nervous girl," He said with a deep, southern accent, "Did you do something you weren't supposed to?"

He lifted his eyebrow awaiting my response. Well yeah, I did do something wrong. "No officer, I just have a really big exam today," I lied. I stared at him as he twirled the end of his mustache.

"Oh dear, well good luck on your test, Doll," he nodded his head at me in sault and walked back to his car. I sighed in relief. I got away with it.

I turned on my engine once again, and pulled back onto the road. I felt so satisfied with myself, yet so unsatisfied at the same time. Not only had I sped that day, I also had lied about it. One thing against the law, another against the church, but it was better than being dead.

"I guess I have to pray for forgiveness when I get home," I said rolling my eyes. I hated whenever I had to pray. As I really did not believe in the God we worship, let alone any God; I felt dumb as I was praying to nothing in my mind. I didn't want to break another law that day so I must do it whether I wanted to or not.

I pulled into the campus parking lot. This one was large and had many parking spaces available. It was worth walking all the way across the school for. I opened the trunk of the car as it squeaked loudly. The hinges were rusty since the day we bought it.

I slumped my ridiculously, overweight backpack over my both my shoulders. The straps of my backpack dug deeper into my skin than the straps of my bra. Man, was that ever uncomfortable but I suffered through. I pressed the little button on my keys, as the car beeped two times as I walked away.

***

I entered the door to the atrium. Everyone seemed to be rather early today for class; most of the seats were taken. I stood on the top of the concrete steps searching for a seat. My eyes grazed the packed rows. It seemed as if every spot was filled. Am I seriously going to be that loser taking notes on the staircase today? Wonderful way to continue this awful day.

Just I was about to sit down on the cold, dirty step; I caught a waving hand. A very energetic waving hand. It was Darcy. She was nice enough to save me a seat beside her. I quickly stepped down to row 34 and scooted in beside her. She removed her school back which she used for hording seat 3 for me.

The presenter turned off the lights to begin his presentation. I took out my notebook and began writing.

The lights turned on and I dropped my pencil. I felt as if my fingers were going to fall off and my hands were permanently cramped. I had written 11 pages of small font notes in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Darcy looked as if she could barely move her hand.

"Well I think I might have to get this amputated now," Darcy said holding her limp wrist in her hand.

I laughed, "Yes it might just be the answer, then you'll never have to take notes again."

"Wanna go for lunch?" Darcy questioned.

"Yeah sure, let's go get some Roger's," I replied. That was Darcy and I's favourite restaurant and we've been going there since high school together.

"I'm totally down!" Darcy said as she ran into the car and slammed the door behind her.