Adore

6

The ride to the tall white brick building is one of silent. Anais can feel the tension as classical music fills her ears. She hopes the ride will never end, that she'll never have to step out and face the truth. Sadly, time works in strange ways and seems to the opposite.
The bitter air of outside fills her senses as she closes the door. Anais's eyes wander over to the front steps if the church looking for a certain auburn haired boy. Luckily, he's no where in sight. Her Mother offers her a small smile, one Anais has gotten ever sunday before this as they begin to walk up the steps. With everyone closer to the large oak doors she can feel her heart speed up. Her hands feel clammy, her throat dry. Anais can feel her legs shake unsteadily with every step, she should turn around now. Go back to the car and beg her parents to bring her home, swear she's ill and can't go. But it's too late.
Anais looks around the church for familiar faces, hoping for a warning before Oliver appears.
"Oh, Oliver dear" Her mother says out in a hushed joyful tone. Anais's head snapped back to make eye contact with Oliver. He stands there in all his perfect glory. Hands in the pockets on his dress pants. Hair gelled down, not greasy looking, he always used the right amount. Oliver wasn't unattractive, but he wasn't the most beautiful person in the world. However, on Sundays Oliver was a different kind of beauty. Anais remembers a time when he was her favourite part of church, a thing her father wouldn't be happy to know about. Anais still did enjoy seeing the his handsome self, but now things were tainted. Once she saw the evil it was hard to appreciate those puppy down eyes, but not impossible.
"Mr and Mrs. Cadine" Oliver offers them a smile before moving his eyes to Anais.
"Good morning Anais, you look very pretty today" His mother joins in as she moves closer to the group, a certain twinkle in her eye as she reaches out to shake Anais's fathers hand. Colette, her mother, eyes the woman in knowing before she's pulled into a hug. The tension in the small group raises as the two woman separate and it's followed by awkward laughter.
"We better get seated" Colette remarks, her eyes gone cold as she fixes her own navy blue dress.
"Don't forget to tell them the big news" Oliver mouthes to Anais.
"I wouldn't" She mouthes back.
The two families separate and begin to make their ways to different pews.
The service doesn't last long and the feeling of wanting to faint doesn't seem to want to go away. To make in worst Anais's mother keeps sending her looks of question from the other side of her father. Her mother knows something is up. Maybe it's because of how pale Anais's face is, or the shake in her hands when she offered them the sign of peace. Maybe it's how she sat all closed off, hands wrapped in the bottom of her dress pulling it or her watering eyes. Anais was a mess and could feel every tic of second passing on her watch, everyone shook her body a little bit more then the last.
Automatically Anais stood up when her father did and began to slide out of the pews at the end of Church.
Anais jumped when she felt a hand on her lower back only to turn around and see Oliver had managed to slide back over to her and her family. He offered her a smile that she didn't return.
"Any plans after all this" Oliver asked her mother, dropping his unwelcome hand. Anais shook her head no before twiddling with her hands. She wondered why he was all over her family. What made this sunday so special? Then Anais remembered, she was suppose to tell her parents before he did.
"Did you tell them the big news?" Then all the attitude was on the two teens. Her parents looked at the two questionably. Anais had to come up with something fast.
"What big news?" Her mother said slowly, her eyes focused now on Anais's stomach. Anais had to do something, things were spiraling fast. Anais was panicked, ranking her brain for a way out, Oliver on the hand looked calm as could be. His hands tucked into his pockets and a cute smile on his face as he looked down at her.
"I thought we could tell them together over lunch"
"Oh yes, good idea" Oliver said with emotion, taking his hands out of his pockets and motioning to the group he added "If I could get an invite that is". Oliver had a way with words, even rude statements would fly over head and make him seem wise and charming.
"Of course, especially with this 'big news'" Her father said with a chuckle as he rubbed his wife's back.
"Does 2 work for you dear?" Her mother asked Oliver.
"That's perfect, plenty of time to go and freshen up" With that Oliver nodded a goodbye and slipped back to his mother without any more words. Anais parents eyed her curiously as they made their way back to the car, only offering them a nervous smile when she opened the door.