A/N: I don't own anything you'll find here and I don't have a beta. See chapter one for more detail.

Previously on God Made You Perfect *cheesy voice over*...

Now it's time to go to the front and have the cross put on my forehead in ashes. There are two lines and I stand up to join the one on the right. In front of me is a familiar nest of unruly copper hair. My confidence fades and I find myself thinking that purging myself of sin may be impossible. Edward Mason will be the death of me.

Chapter Two
Ash Wednesday (part 2)
JPOV

There are approximately twenty people in front of me before I'll reach the pastor; leaving me with plenty of time to think about the boy I've tried so desperately to forget about. Edward Mason and his family moved to Amoroso a few months ago from Chicago. When Edward started coming to church nobody really understood him. His parents and sister weren't religious so he always came by himself. But that's not why he's talked about wherever he goes. Edward is openly gay; and he's damn proud of it.

He knows people constantly talk about him but for some reason he doesn't care and just lets it slide. Kids at school always call him derogatory names and push him around. Even during youth group people make fun of him when our youth leader isn't listening. And yet, he doesn't back down and doesn't change who he is. In a way it's courageous. However, all my life I've been taught homosexuality is a sin and even if he's brave, Edward shouldn't be admired. Yeah, tell that to my dick.

I can't help but to think that Edward is beautiful. Not only does he have sexy, 'I just got out of bed' hair, he's got the most shocking green eyes on the planet (okay maybe not the planet but they're still stunning). His skin is pale compared to most everyone in town and it looks soft to the touch, like he uses lotion or something. His jaw is sharp and leads the eye down to his tight neck. Even from behind I can see the muscles run down his neck from behind his ears to below his t-shirt.

Shaking my head I close my eyes to stop thinking about him. It doesn't work. The image is still burning in my eyelids. Edward steps forward and I hear Pastor Peter mumble some words as he puts the ash in the shape of a cross on Edward's forehead. The returned, "Amen," is just loud enough for me to hear. As Edward turns around to head back to his seat he smiles and nods at me. Swallowing my saliva I take a step and clear My Temptation from my mind.

Pastor Peter dips his thumb into the ash paste and brings it up to my forehead. "Remember, Jasper, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return." His thumb makes the mark of the cross on my forehead and I can feel the water based paste cool as it dries. I have a sense of ease as my soul connects to the moment and to Christ. Quietly I whisper back, "Amen." His eyes shine as he smiles at me and replies, "God bless you son."

Instead of walking back to the pew I was in before, I join my parents in the second row for the rest of the service. Pastor Peter finishes marking the last two congregates and stands in front of the alter with his hands together, "Let us pray." I bow my head and listen as he continues, "Let this cross we wear on our foreheads be a reminder of the cross you bore to save our souls Lord. Let us remember your love and in return pledge our love to you. During this season of lent help us strive to serve others as you have served us. We pray that you guide us to be better people, oh God, so that we may better serve ourselves, and those in our community. In your name we pray, Amen."

The service only lasts about three more minutes and then we're dismissed for the night. Exiting the worship hall I head with my family to the narthex to say goodbye. I have youth group for an hour before I'll head home so I leave ma and pa at the door and head to the youth room. On my way I stop to take a leak.

Everyone else is already seated by the time I've washed my hands, found the paper towels (under the sink, by the way) and made it to the room. Tyler, Mike, Jessica, Alec and Jane are sitting on the big blue sofa on the back wall. Eric, Emmett and Angela are sitting in front of them so they have something to rest their backs against. Demetri, Ben, Riley, Seth, Rosalie, and Alice are taking up the beanbag chairs while Bella and Jacob are cuddling on the love seat. That leaves Edward in the recliner. Rather than sit on the floor I hop onto the short filing cabinet and lean back against the wall. Looking at everyone I think how odd it is that all of the crosses on our foreheads look a little different. Some are small, some are big, some are dark, some are crooked, and some are perfect. Why can't Pastor Peter make them look the same?

Carlisle, the part time doctor/part time youth leader/full time awesome dude, comes into the room and greats us as he sits down at his desk. Seeing me he shakes his head and sighs, "Jasper, you know better. Get off and find someplace suitable to sit please." Giving him a sigh in return I start to do as he asks before I'm interrupted.

"Hey Jasper, Edward looks a little lonely over there. Maybe you could go cuddle with him."

"Maybe you could shut it Tyler and get over it. Just because you're jealous that Edward's actually getting some and you're not doesn't mean you can make fun of him!" Alice retorts on my behalf. Everyone laughs at Alice's joke as I join Bella and Jake on the love seat. Secretly I'm hoping (and then fervently trying to convince myself that I'm not hoping) that Alice was just teasing and Edward isn't actually 'getting some.' Looking over at Edward I can see that is face is red but he's looking back at Tyler with defiance, not shame.

"Tyler, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Carlisle's voice is dangerously low and he does not look happy. "This should be a safe environment where people can be themselves without being judged. If you have a problem with that we can discuss it later but right now we have a lot of work to do. I will not tolerate rude and judgmental behavior. Don't make me tell you again."

To be continued tomorrow…

A/N:

Thanks for reading and a huge thank you to everyone that reviewed chapter one! Ash Wednesday Part 3 comes out tomorrow. The youth group will split off into pairs. Guess who Jasper gets put with?

Question: In your opinion, does (human) teenage Edward wear glasses when he reads?

-Laura