It had been two days, the first day we relaxed our jet lag, then the next day, Pastor John made me stay at the hotel locked in my room while they went exploring just because I punched Troy (I may have made it worse by cussing him [Pastor John] out). Today we were split into two groups, one group would go see Bethlehem, the other group (my group) was doing team building to "let it out". I had ditched them and was aimlessly wandering around hoping I would get lost so I wouldn't have to go back to that hellhole I call my hometown.
I was about to inspect some yelling coming from nearby when I heard my name. I turned to face Troy.
Literally. He was about an inch away from me.
"Now, Troy, give her some space, you're still recovering." Pastor John lectured.
I snicker.
"Oh, come on,"Troy whines. "It didn't even hurt that bad."
Pastor John comes and drapes an arm around my shoulder causing me to walk towards the rest of the group as he tells me that if I ever run off again that he would suspend me for a week. Hello? Yay!
We enter an empty diner and after pushing tables together we sit down. A waiter comes shortly and takes our orders.
"Okay, kids," I roll my eyes, Pastor John was never good at this kind of stuff so this should be fun.
"The groups today were not randomly picked. You all here for a reason." he dramatically pauses, looking at each of us.
"Would anyone like to go first?"
I groaned aloud. I felt so stupid sitting here.
"How about you Isabella?"
"Oh hell no," I stand up.
"Isabella, sit down and mind your language."
"I'm not gonna sit here and listen to people share their feelings!"
"Of course not," he says, "because you are gonna share too, and plus you're not sharing feelings, I want you to tell me why you think I invited you on this trip, now lets start with Katie."
She goes on about her stealing problem and how she even stole from her little sister. Wow, rookie.
Another guy named Ryan talks about his drinking and smoking problem and how his parents are trying to get him to get saved. Wow, sounds like me.
The girl next to me talks about how she grew up in the Church then met new friends and how now she "gets around". She started crying halfway through and gave up.
Next is Troy, Pastor John was probably saving me for last. Troy didnt look like he wanted to answer, he looked extremely uncomfortable and was giving Pastor John a death glare, then suddenly, he smiled slyly saying.
"I'm always getting drunk and getting into fights."
"Troy," Pastor John says, "you know I don't tolerate lying."
"I'm not lying," he says still smiling. I cant help smiling too.
"Please tell the truth, Troy."
"How do we know your not lying John? Maybe I'm right and your wrong." Pastor John doesn't respond but moves on to another girl.
After her Pastor John looks at me expectantly.
Who does he think he is asking for the details of my life? I hated nosy people, I was never left alone. Always, 'whats wrong with her?' or 'why does she act like that?' I was done with being judged.
"Screw this," I say standing up, nobody had even touched their food. "My life is none of your damn business!"
I stomp out and he doesn't stop me.
"The Lord loves every one of you," I hear him say as I walk away, "even those who don't heed to his words."
I hear footsteps behind me and speed up. The person catches up with me. I turn expecting to see Troy but instead I see a boy about my age, he is matching my stride. Looking ahead as if we'd been best friends for years.
"Hi," he says when he catches me looking at him.
"Hi," I manage to say, I was never nervous around guys but there was something about him that just...
"Why you cry?"
What? "I'm not cry-" I feel my face, it was wet, I didn't realize I was crying.
"Nothing," I say.
"I am Ravi."
"Hi Ravi, I'm Isabella."
"Your hungry?"
"Well-"
"Good, come on." He grabs my wrist and leads me to small place I'm guessing is a fast food place. Inside there are many people my age. I guess this was the hang out. Some people acknowledge Ravi, he just nods and orders us some pizza.
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Ravi walks me back to the hotel later that afternoon. He's cute and I love the way he talks. He wants to see me again tomorrow. I smile as I walk into the room I share with Troy and one other. I couldn't believe I would have to put up with Troy for a whole month.
"Where did you go?" Troy is standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed and foot tapping with a fake stern face. I laugh.
"Out."
"We've been in this country three days and you are already going 'out'?"
I ignore him and go to the bathroom to take a shower. We had a Church service later. The service was actually Pastor John, us others from the community and hotel in a big room downstairs, why we had to come all the way to Israel, I didn't know.
After my shower I comb my hair at and put on my favorite black dress.
"Wow," Troy says when I walk out. I twirl around and pose. He comes over, holds me around the waist taking me by suprise, then grabs my hand. We clumsily walzt around the room. Our roommate walks in on us and we almost fall over from laughing.
In an hour we head downstairs for the sermon.
Halfway through I felt tears coming to my eyes and had to leave. The sermon was about how if we prayed and believed our prayers would be answered.
I found myself going to the place Ravi took me, when I got there I was suprised to see him sitting at the counter talking to an older man behind the counter. When he sees me he smiles.
"You look beautiful, Isabella."
"Thanks," I say sitting next to him.
"This is my uncle, Asad. Asad, this is Isabella." We acknowledge each other, then in Arabic he says something else. Asad smiles then after nodding at me he walks away.
"What did you tell him?" I asked. He told him that I was here for a month with my youth group. "Why'd he leave?" I ask. He shrugs then says,
"Maybe so I could do this."
He leans in and I feel his body heat as he comes closer. Is he gonna kiss me? Already? Geez, Israelins are crazy. Just as our lips are about to connect I hear my name...again. Wow. Will I be left alone today?
Troy is standing in the doorway and looks flustered.
"I've been looking for you everywhere!"
"Obviously not everywhere." I remark.
"Who's this?" he asks coming up to me and Ravi.
"This is Ravi, Ravi, this is Troy, he's my roommate." Ravi holds out his hand but Troy just looks at him. Still looking at him he says,
"We have to go, Isabella." I sigh and stand up.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Ravi." Before I knew what I was doing I kissed him on the cheek. He smiled and walked behind the counter watching me as I left. I had never kissed a guy on the cheek before. Is that sad?
"So this is where you were earlier?" Troy asks.
I nod but he probably doesnt see it in the darkness. "Yeah, isnt Ravi great?"
"Yeah," he says gruffly. Whats his problem?
A/N
Troy on the side