Amora and Malachi still hadn't gotten along too well since her arrival last month,they had gotten a bit better on communication by coming to a compromise of almost none at all. But Amora still had her moments of wanting to talk with Malachi and it was like flipping a coin. Never knowing what you're gonna get but you know it's a 50/50 chance,although the outcome was always unknown Malachi never laid a finger on Amora since her arrival. On this lovely Sunday everyone was in the cornfield hearing Issac's daily prayer of He who walks behind the rows,Malachi was standing next to Issac while Amora sat next to him. She would look around and look up at Malachi often as she felt the wind blow through her hair, "It feels so peaceful out here." Amora thought as she sat down,she hadn't even been listening to Issac very well as she was stuck in her own world of thoughts. "Praise God! Praise the Lord!" She was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard everyone chant and seeing them stand up ready to leave. On Sundays,Issac was nice enough to let everyone have the day off and rest instead of working. Usually Amora would go off and do her own thing with Rachel and the other girls but today she felt different. She seen Malachi walking towards the house and ran up to him, "Hi Malachi,what's up?" He looked down at her,he was almost a foot taller and it made Amora's neck hurt sometimes just by looking up at him. "I'm going back to my house,I thought you were going to go be with the girls today?" Malachi questioned,he sounded more intrigued than bothered but Amora still would play around. "Oh so you don't want me around? Ok that's fine,I see how it is. I'm just kidding,I actually don't want to be with Rachel right now. I was thinking maybe that we could sit outside on the porch swing and talk. The weather is nice and cool,it's the perfect way to relax." Malachi thought as he walked but Amora couldn't tell what he was thinking,she realized they were a few yards away from the house when she looked in front of her. "Ok." Malachi said as they walked up the steps,they both sat down and swung a little and watched the corn rows as the wind pushes them slightly. "Your birthday is tomorrow right? Are you excited?" Amora asked,still staring out at the rows. "Not really,birthdays aren't to fun,if anything I'm more anxious. Tomorrow is the age I have to be married,He who walks behind the rows will pick a girl here for me to marry and bear children with. I will get to spend 3 years with my child or children and then when I'm 19 I'll be sent to He who walks behind the rows." Amora suddenly remembered that he was correct,Issac had told her about all of this when she arrived. "To be honest I'm worried about being married to someone here,I don't really know anyone besides you. Then being sacrificed scares the shit out of me,how are all of you ok with this?" Amora looked at Malachi and he looked back, "It's just the way we decided to live,Issac told you all of this last month and if you weren't comfortable with it I could've killed you and not have to deal with you." Amora felt offended at Malachi's comment,she felt the wind blow a bit stronger. "If you don't want me to be here just tell me and I'll leave. I chose to stay here because I literally have no where else to go, Issac and this whole cult were the only people to have ever accepted me. Except you." Malachi stood up and walked to the door but stopped before entering. "I don't understand why my approval of you is that important to you. You shouldn't be that surprised of my thoughts about you,I didn't ask for you to come here and enter my life!" Amora was about to shout back before hey seen Issac walking towards the steps. "That's enough you two,Sunday's are for peace not shouting at each other. Malachi,your birthday is tomorrow,remember that at noon we will all meet in the cornfield. We will wish you a happy birthday and announce your future spouse,He who walks behind the rows has spoken to me. I think you will be...delighted to know your future spouse tomorrow. Until then I think it's time you two spent some time apart,do not see each other until it is time for bed. Have a good day." Issac walked away,leaving the pair on the porch in silence while they both stared at each other. "I'll be out with Rachel and the other girls." Amora said and walked down the steps,as she walked away Malachi stared at her and didn't go inside until he could no longer see her.
Nightfall
It was 11 at night and Amora still wasn't back yet, and Malachi was beginning to feel this pit in his stomach that he couldn't explain to himself. The time apart helped him release some tension off his shoulders and he kept thinking about their conversation. It was nice until he made that comment,at the time he hadn't really thought about it before saying it. To be honest he didn't even think Amora would be offended,he figured it was basic knowledge to her at this point in time. Finally he heard girls laughing outside and looked to see Amora with Rachel and 2 other girls. He walked outside but didn't walk off the porch, "Amora,come inside." The girls all looked up and Amora walked forward, "Come on,Malachi don't be mad at her. We were just having fun and I didn't realize what time it was,sorry for having her out so late. Goodnight you two,and happy birthday Malachi!" Rachel said as her and the other girls started to walk back home. Once Amora walked back inside she turned to Malachi, "Why are you worried about me? You were shouting at me earlier." Malachi closed the door and sat down on his dads old recliner, "It's late and it's gotten colder outside,you didn't even have a jacket on. And um... I'm sorry about earlier also, I should've thought about what I was gonna say before actually saying it." Amora couldn't say anything at first,Malachi was actually apologizing for the argument earlier. Since she had been there,Malachi never apologized for snapping at her or anything. "Well...thank you Malachi,that's very nice of you to say. We should probably go to sleep now before it gets any later,I'm pretty tired and we have to be ready by noon." Amora went to her room to change into some warm pajamas when she heard a knock on the door. "Yes?" She called out, "Goodnight Amora." She walked to the door and opened it to see Malachi standing there in just some sweatpants and no shirt. She saw his chest first since he was so tall,she didn't even want to look away but she had to so he wouldn't feel awkward. She looked up at him trying to avoid looking down, "Goodnight Malachi." She said and Malachi walked back down the hall to his room. She closed her door and turned off the light to head for sleep.