Secrets

Chapter 5 ✧

My feet hit the gravel path surrounding the church as I exit the car, murmuring a goodbye to Theo as I close the car door. I walk to the function room feeling more nervous than ever to see Megan, I just hope she comes and still likes. It's been too long since I've had a friend let alone someone to talk to. As I turn around the corner I see Megan waiting outside the function room where our youth group sessions are held. Her worried expression turns into a big smile when she sees me turn the corner and immediately engulfs me into a hug.

"I'm so happy you're here!" Megan mumbles into my hair as she embraces me. "Thought you weren't going to come for a second there and that I was going to have to brace the session alone."

"No chance of that. My parents make me come every time, I never miss it..." I explain trying to make her feel better and more secure in having to come to youth group.

"Well thankyou god for blessing Juliana with controlling parents!" Megan says holding her pressed palms together up to the sky. "Wow my parents would be proud, I've already got the praying thing down packed," and I shake my head at her attempt at praying.

We enter the room together taking two seats next to each other in the circle formed by chairs. "So how's your boyfriend?" Megan whispers to me from her chair as we wait to start.

"My what?" I snap, giving her a strange look as her choice of wording has caught me off guard.

"Easton! Don't act like you don't know who I'm talking about," she teases and I feel my cheeks go red from embarrassment. "Sooo?" she queries

"Nothing, I haven't seem him in two days, not since Sunday," I explain in a monotone voice, not looking at Megan out of fear of seeming like I'm anything but okay with everything in regards to Easton. "I just hope he shows up to tutoring," I half whine to myself but Megan picks up on it.

"What? You tutor him?" she questions confused.

"For French," and I look Megan's way to see her mouth wide open in shock. "He needs help and I need to get into college," I manage to spit out before we are interrupted.

"Hello everyone, I'm Michael your youth group leader. Can I just say how great it is to see so many new and familiar faces!" Michael says looking around the circle with a big grin looking quite enthused. Michael is our pastor's youngest son, he took over the sessions last year from his brother when he got a full time job. "For those who haven't attended one of our youth group sessions held at Saint Pauls Church what we typically do during our time together is have in depth conversations about faith related topics. For todays session I thought that we would discuss premarital intercourse." From the corner of my eye I can see a smirk planted across Megan making me involuntarily smile. "Can someone tell me the church's stance on premarital intercourse?" Michael questions the group.

"Intercourse holds no place outside of marriage and to do so is a sin," someone amongst the group chimes.

"That is correct. It is stated and enforced throughout the bible that abstinence is key."

"Why?" Megan blurts out and my eyes go wide at her question. I look to her, smirk still spread across her face and I know that she isn't going to let this slide.

"Pardon me?" Michael questions unsure he heard correctly, no one really goes against what Michael says, being our pastor's son and all.

"Why is sex viewed as such a bad thing?"

"No, intercourse isn't viewed as a bad thing. In fact the bible says how marriage should be honoured with bed. Its how we create life and that can't be a bad thing. It's premarital that the church don't endorse nor support," Michael says with a reassuring smile.