Ghost

0601

My eyes grew heavy as I tried to concentrate on the podium up at the front of the stage, the priest's voice slow and thick like syrup. 

 I wasn't very familiar with this church. It was small; the ceilings were low and flat, and walls were white and bare as well as the windows. I felt like I was in a rectangular box filled with uncomfortable, cushionless pews. I already missed our old church. With ceilings painted in angles and saints, the windows every color of the rainbow.

 But that church was on the other side of town, right next to Albernathy Catholic School.

 I dropped my feet on the knee rest and began shaking my leg, lost in thought. I jumped when I felt a hand smack my thigh. "Stop that," my mom hissed. "You're shaking the whole pew." I huffed and threw my feet back onto the scuffed floor, crossing my arms and ignoring the side glance from the old lady sitting next to me.

 To keep myself from falling asleep, I decided to look around. For as dingy as the place seemed, it was packed. Kids dressed from slacks to jeans were fidgeting and moving around uncomfortably. Older woman were fanning themselves with the pamphlets, though the air felt perfectly fine. It was quiet and yet very loud as the priest raised his hands and everyone rose out of there seat. I was tempted not to, until my mother glared at me.

 As soon as I stood and straightened my dress, my eyes caught him. His usually black spiky hair - now slicked back - wasn't that hard to miss. My mouth almost dropped open. Randy Woodry was wearing Sunday clothes. 

 My eyes quickly darted from him, hoping he didn't notice me. I mean, I guess we were kind of friends at school...for the most part. But I didn't know what we were outside of school. Were we even anything? Was I supposed to say hi or something, or would that be awkward? I didn't think I could handle small talk, which usually saying hi to people lead to small talk.

 After the final prayer and ending song, everyone rose and began filing towards the doors. Though my mom would have usually been spending the next half hour gabbing to her friends, since we were new here we just headed out. I thanked my luck for that, though I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid Randy forever.

 When I turned back, so close to leaving free-handed, I caught his gaze. He must have seen the dread in my expression because a smug grin grew on his face before his hand rose in a wave.

 Damn it.