Seven Minutes From Heaven [bxb]

Chapter 9 - Bullet Biter

An official text invite from Liam left me floating on cloud nine for the rest of the day, enough so that Tristan even helped me develop a plan to make it happen. Since there was no way on God's green earth that Mum would allow me to go see Liam, we agreed I'd tell her I was going to Tristan's. And I'd start off there so it wouldn't be a lie.

Sure Mum wouldn't be pleased about me skipping a church gathering, but I had every reason to believe Tristan would be seen as a perfectly acceptable alternative. Because he grew up catholic and came to church with us a couple of times, and she even met his mum, he basically became some exemplary role model Christian kid in her eyes. It was thanks to this that this plan was probably going to work.

The clock hands turned so slowly during last class that it only made me think it was responsible for making time drag on. I didn't know what Liam had planned, but the anticipation and excitement built so much that my leg kept bouncing. Even though the teacher was standing at the front of the class speaking, I could barely make out any words in the monotonous drone of voice. All I wanted was to race home and get ready, then head straight to Tristan's.

Then finally, the bell rang.

For once, I didn't wait around for others to pack up and leave the classroom first. I shot up from my seat and darted out the door before anybody else even had a chance to flinch. Tristan was bending down at a vending machine as I whizzed past him, but I quickly stumbled to a halt and turned back to him.

"Easy cowboy," Tristan said, handing me a can of coke. "I see lightning in your eyes, even Beyonce fans don't get this crazy."

"It's not everyday someone gets invited to hang out with––" I paused, glancing left and right to check no one was listening in before leaning forward to whisper, "Liam Petry's."

"That's because he isn't famous and nobody cares," Tristan said, getting out a second can for himself. "Anyway, this works out fine since I'm going to the youth group tonight anyway."

"You are?" I asked, cracking open the tab and bringing the drink to my mouth. Tristan glanced contemplatively at the Pepsi in his hand before reaching for my coke and switching them out.

"I didn't mean to get Pepsi," he said. "Let's swap." Beggars couldn't be choosers, so I shrugged and cracked open the Pepsi this time. "But yeah, some of the guys just asked me to tag along just before. Might as well give it a go."

We started walking out of the school gate together but parted ways pretty early on. I must've left way earlier than Josh since I couldn't see him up ahead like he'd normally be. It was a relief since it meant I could probably get in, shower and change, then head out before he'd have the opportunity to sour my mood. It was Friday which meant Mum finished work early, so I'd have the opportunity to let her know before I head out. I almost skipped home as all the energy and excitement burst through me. I'd be hanging out with Liam!

When I reached home, I saw Mum's car parked in the carport and her silhouette dusting the top of the window frames through the thin veiled curtains. I raced inside and headed straight for the stairs.

"Hold up, hold up, Jude!" Mum's voice ground me to a halt. I stopped midway up the steps and turned to look at her, holding onto the rail as I did so. "What's got you in such an awful hurry? You know better than to run inside."

"Sorry," I said. "I'm just excited to get ready for tonight."

"Youth group?" she casually asked, continuing to dust while she feigned disinterest in the topic. "You're interested in attending tonight, per chance?"

"I'm meeting Tristan since he's going," I said, relieved that no word of it was a lie. While I neither confirmed nor denied, I trusted Mum's assumptions would naturally fill in the gap. Considering this should be enough, I started to turn and continue up the stairs.