| 𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 | 𝙰.𝚁𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚕 | 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚍

4 | A PREACHER

     ROSEY HAD NO where to turn. No one. Well, she did but she didn't want to turn to them, they had already done so much for her, she didn't want to make food and money any tighter for them. She ended up finding somewhere safe to sleep for that night, at the church after everyone had gone, it was uncomfortable but she was out before school started.

Arvin found her walking down the road to school the next day, he quickly realized that she was wearing the same clothes as she was wearing the day before, something he knew that Rosey never did. Of course this worried the boy, his best friend was acting strange but he was sure that Lenora would find out what had happened to her at some point.

Well that's what happened, while Arvin was out with his grandmother getting food to make for the new preacher, Lenora was asking none stop about the Rosey's black eye and the fact she was wearing a dress two days in a row.

"Come on Rosey, you know you can tell me and Arvin anythin'." Lenora sighed as they stood beside Rosey's locker.

The girl sighed. "I know but I just can't you'll take pity on me and I ain't wanting no pity."

"You're like my sister, Rosey. Please tell me."

Rosey gave into the girl's puppy eyes and let out a deeper sigh. "My Uncle kicked me out."

Lenora gasped softly. "You can stay with us, I'm sure Uncle Earskell and Grandmama wouldn't mind, they wouldn't mind at all."

"Lenora, I couldn't. I know how much your family's struggling, I don't wanna put no more pressure on them and make them look after another person. It's fine, I've been staying at the church."

"Arvin ain't gonna be happy about that."

Rosey shut her locker and turned to Lenora. "Well Arvin ain't gonna find out, right?"

"Right." Lenora sighed. "Did your uncle give you the black eye?"

"Yeah. He's a no good son of a bitch, stole my damn house." Rosey mumbled angrily under her breath at the thought of her uncle.

Lenora placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "How's about you stay tonight at least, please?" She gave the older girl her puppy eyes once more and once again, Rosey gave in.

"Fine, but just tonight."

The two girls carried on with their day at school and when they were picked up, Lenora told Arvin that Rosey was staying the night but nothing else. Arvin saw Rosey's black eye but said nothing until they arrive at the Russell home. Lenora and Ma went off to make the food for the preacher they would be meeting a few hours later, as well as practicing how they would say hello to him while Arvin grabbed Rosey's arm and pulled her into the bathroom.

"What happened?" He asked, pushing the hair from her face.

Rosey pulled her head away and allowed her hair to fall back over her bruised eye. "It's nothin' Arvin."

"It was that son of a bitch." He growled, suddenly becoming very angry. "I'll fuckin' kill him."

"Arvin." Rosey grabbed his face to make him look at her, which actually helped him calm down. "Ain't nothing you can do and you know that."

He pulled her hands off his face but played with them. "Is that why you're spending the night?"

She hummed in response and watched him play with her hand until she pulled one away and pull his shirt down slightly. Arvin looked at her in curiosity but smiled softly when he realized she was looking for her daddy's necklace, which he still had on. She smiled too and looked up at him, thinking that maybe it was better for him to know she had been kicked out, but she still didn't want to burden this family.

"Wanna go stargazing tonight?" Arvin suddenly asked.

Rosey began to think of the numerous times she and Arvin had gone stargazing with her father and his uncle, it was one of her favorite things to do with her father.

She smiled and nodded. "I'd love too, Arvin."

When it was time to leave, Arvin drove with Rosey in the passenger seat and Lenora and Ma in the back. It wasn't long until they arrive and the teenage girl began to feel bad as she had been told to bring banana bread but due to unfortunate circumstances, she was unable to bake it. She sighed and everyone got out of the car as they parked at the crowded church, it didn't surprise Rosey to not see her uncle, he was probably with some woman or drinking.

She watched as Ma and Lenora walked inside, she then glanced back at Arvin and took his cap from his head before throwing it into the car. Arvin pouted in response.

"You know you're not meant to wear it in church." She smiled a little and began to walk inside, knowing that Arvin was following behind her.

The four waited in line to meet the preacher and when they finally did, Rosey looked at the man. He didn't look back, only at the food Ma had made. "Hello there."

"Pleased to meet you, Reverend." Ma smiled. "Emma Russell."

"Nice to meet you too. What you got there?" He dipped his finger into the sauce and lifted it to his lips. "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness."

"Hope you like them, Reverend." Ma mumbled, going to place them on the table with everyone else's food while Lenora introduced herself and Rosey.

"Hi, Reverend, I'm Lenora Laferty and this is Lily-Rose Wren."

The preacher smiled at Lenora, glancing over her body before moving onto Rosey, who he had heard about and her banana cake. "Hello, Miss Wren, I've heard about you. You make wonderful cake, is that right?"

"Yes, Reverend. But due to some unfortunate circumstances, I haven't been able to bring one." Rosey gave him an apologetic smile.

The Reverend licked his lips and just like how he did to Lenora, he looked Rosey up and down. "It's alright, maybe I could try it another time."

She nodded and moved slightly closer to Arvin under the older man's uncomfortable gaze. Arvin took notice of this and put his arm around her shoulder, walking away with her and Lenora to meet with other people and wait until the food was served.