This Is Our Sweet Blasphemy

Hear You Pray

I checked the time, 7:28. I should be heading to the cafeteria. I put my hair up to a messy ponytail and took one more look at my unpacked but not organized yet clothes and headed out the door, keeping the key Andrew gave me in the pocket of my uniform. I really disliked uniforms, they didn’t let you express yourself, and everyone was the same, back home I just dressed any way I wanted to. Though I was happy we had a key, I liked my privacy, my parents always came in my room whenever they wanted to and they’d complain when I left it locked.

I followed the instructions the priest gave me and walked alone. I guessed that all the others would already be there, being the goody-two-shoes they are, and I was right. I didn’t feel like being social, or even being near any human being for that matter. So when I opened the doors I didn’t look at anyone, I felt their eyes on me, and I was tempted to call them out, but since it’s my first day I don’t think the teachers would enjoy that. So I just looked at where we should be getting our food, thank God it’s that ‘get it yourself’ kind so I didn’t need to befriend any cafeteria ladies. I went over there and chose my food, mostly healthy choices. I was adding mashed potatoes to my plate when I heard the door open, my food was more important than whoever was walking through those doors so I continued what I was doing. Somebody was choosing their food beside me; I looked up, my curiosity getting the best of me. The priest was putting some chicken onto his plate. He caught me staring at him but before he could say anything I said “I thought punctuality was an important thing around here, Andrew.”

“Says the newbie who is equally late.” He snapped back.

I felt insulted, and a little hurt by the way he said that, I’ve been a new student for most of my life, I’m always changing classes and schools, mostly because the classes are far too easy for me so teachers always talked to my parents saying that I should go in an advanced class in another school or whatever. I’ve always been changing and I never stayed in a school for more than 2 years. I was always the newbie.

I left him there and went back to chose a table where nobody was sitting at.

There were plenty of girls laughing, talking, and smiling. After a while I heard a perky voice say “Hello Father Biersack!” Father Biersack? He’s 23 years old for Christ’s sake. I looked up to search for the source of the voice and saw Andrew with his tray of food walking my way. I heard other girls say “Father, come sit with us!” Am I really the only one who calls him Andrew? The priest just put on a smile that, I could see from here, was forced. “No girls, I’m going to eat with Victoria today.” I raised my eyebrows at him, why did he want to eat with me? The girls looked at me, shooting me glares like daggers. He sat down in front of me. And I was sure that people were staring now.

I ignored his presence though, he needed to understand that I was not like his average preppy catholic girls, and that if he said something to me which I didn’t like, I wouldn’t pretend it was all okay just because he’s the cute priest with a good heart.

“Was it something I said?” he asked with a polite tone and looking at me with his beautiful blue eyes and tilting his head to the side just a little bit. He looked all innocent, which made it really hard for me to stay mad at him.

“Shut up.” I mumbled quietly, not looking at him, I was looking everywhere but directly at him. I could see him from the corner of my eyes though, he kept looking at me.

I was about to pick up my fork when Andrew stood and everyone stopped chatting. “For this evening,” he announced “I would like our new pupil to say the prayers.” He looked at me and smiled the sweetest smile, if it weren’t for the circumstances I guess my ovaries would have melted. Instead, I gave him a look which said ‘I’m-going-to-kill-you-in-your-sleep’ and stood. I had no idea what to say, so I thought back when I was with my parents, they didn’t let me eat until I got the prayer right.

“Come Lord Jesus, Be our guest, And let these gifts to us be blest. Amen.” I sat down quickly and left everyone with a surprised look. They all repeated ‘Amen’ and Andrew sat.

“Fucker.” I muttered under my breath, but I guessed Andrew heard it all the same because he was handing me a paper. I took it and read: 1 hour of detention.

I’m telling you: don’t do this three-strike rule shit with me.

I crumpled up the paper and glared and Andrew some more “Where do I even go for detention?”

“Since you only start taking classes Monday, and you don’t know where your classes are anyways, you can go help me clean up the church.” He smiled. I just rolled my eyes.

“Can I at least listen to music while cleaning?” Maybe if I had music time would go by faster and it would be a lot more fun, I was needed my daily dose of Green Day, plus, I was a bit curious in what Andy listened to.

I mean Andrew. Not Andy, Andy is a nickname, nicknames are for close friends, and Andrew is not my friend. Andrew.

“Depends on what you listen to.” He answered, putting a piece of chicken in his mouth. “If it’s-”
He was cut off by a loud clap and the sound of chairs falling.