Walking back to the street, neither of the girls were very aware of anything around them. The corn was no longer a threat, because of what had just happened. Micah had told them that they were pure, welcomed by He Who Walks Behind the Rows. But what exactly did that mean?
"Kase, what just happened? What are we getting ourselves into?" Esther glanced around nervously, looking for another person before asking her next question. "We're not going to have to kill anyone, are we?" She then looked at her friend, patiently waiting for the answers.
"I don't know. I'm not sure about anything anymore. Micah, well, he changed me. I don't know what I believe anymore. Maybe - maybe Micah's right. Maybe He Who Walks Behind - " Esther's head snapped in the direction of Kasey's voice. It was too dark to tell whether or not she was looking at her, but Kasey would get the point
"What do you mean? Micah may be right? You actually believe all of that? We have to do what he said?" By this time, they could see the lights from Angela's house, and knew that they were nearing home. Kasey's face was oddly illuminated in the sudden light, and Esther didn't like how it looked. "Kasey, what's going on?"
"Do you not believe it, Esther? Micah himself says that it is true, so it must be. He Who Walks Behind the Rows does not appreciate your insuboordinance or your blasphemy." As she spoke, Kasey's eyes opened wider, and her voice got quieter. "Esther I asked you a question. Answer me at once."
No knowing what to do, Esther tried again. "Kasey, what's wrong with you? Why are you talking like that?" Her friend's face broke into a smile, and she started laughing.
"I donno. It sounded fun the way Micah did it, and I thought I'd give it a try. You should have seen your face. To answer your first question, Micah talked like he believed what he was saying. Because of that, I'm starting to believe him. I'm not all for the killing part, but Esther, when he kissed my hand; it felt like I meant everything to him. What about you?"
"The same. I was the only person in the world. He made it seem like -" Esther broke off into sobs, and Kasey hurried to comfort her. "What's happening to us? Before Micah was here, everything was great. And now, well - "
"We've both fallen for the same person." The statement, spoken at the same time by both girls, was more of a mutual agreement than anything else. Neither of them said anything more as they entered Kasey's house, sat down, and ate dinner with the family. They could see in each other's eyes that the realization was going to cause much pain for everyone involved, and while they valued their friendship, by throwing Micah into the mix of things, there was a major crack in the wall.
Later that evening, as the girls prepared to go to the meeting, Kasey was left alone as Esther went home to change. Sitting in front of the mirror, brushing her long hair, she thought about something that she knew she shouldn't. "Micah." Saying his name out loud made it a little better. She rationalized. After all, she had seen him first, and until about the fiftieth time she had said his name, Esther had called him Michael. "Micah" It wasn't fair. Esther always got anything she wanted. Well, this time, she wouldn't. Kasey was determined to make this time her time. Esther wouldn't get Micah. Kasey wanted a chance, and her friend wouldn't screw that up this time. "Micah."
"You called?" Whipping around, Kasey saw Micah leaning in her doorway. "Well, Kasey, you said my name. Why?" Looking him over carefully, she saw that he looked like the Micah she had met two days before. His eyes, his beautiful eyes, were normal again, as was his voice. "Come on Kasey, I'm waiting." Uncrossing his arms, Micah closed the door behind him, and walked over to where Kasey sat. "You can tell me, I won't bite. I promise." Smiling, he knelt down so he could look into her eyes.
"How did you get in here?" Kasey's voice was trembling, and she didn't know why. Maybe it was having Micah in such close proximity; maybe it was the way he was looking at her. She didn't know. All she knew was that whatever it was, she liked it.
"Your parents let me in. I needed to tell you something. Will you listen to me?" She nodded. "After the meeting, which I assume you are going to attend is over, I need you to stay with me. Esther will leave, and we will stay. There is something - " He stopped abruptly.
"Micah?" Her question went unanswered. Micah turned his attention back to her after a few seconds, and looked directly into her eyes.
"Do no fear what is unknown to you.  Do not fear me. " Putting his hands on her shoulders, he gave her one more command. "Do not speak of this to anyone, especially Esther." Leaning in, his lips found hers and locked in a kiss that shattered what was left of Kasey's concentration. Pulling back, Micah smiled at Kasey, stood up, and walked back to the door. "I'll see you in a little while. Remember what I said." With that, the door opened and closed behind him, but Kasey's thoughts were elsewhere. Micah had just kissed her, and he didn't want Esther to know.
"Yes! Score one for me! " Jumping up, she ran to her bed where she flopped down and sighed. It had not been her first kiss by any means, but it was Micah. Micah had kissed her. Laying on the bed, she forgot about time until a few minutes later, Esther's head popped into her room.
"Hey, Kase. Ready to go?" No answer. "Kasey?" Jumping up, Kasey regarded her friend's outfit carefully. Clad in a pair of black jeans and a low-cut gray top, Esther looked like she was going to a nice restaurant, not to walk around in a cornfield.
"Fashion show?" Kasey raised an eyebrow. Esther looked down, and a blush crept up her face. Looking at the ground, she muttered an answer. "What? Esther, you're talking all quiet. I can't hear you?"
"I just wanted to look nice. Can we just go?" There was something definitely creepy about the way Kasey was acting, but as they walked down the stairs and out the door, the feeling vanished, being replaced with excitement on Kasey's part and apprehension on Esther's.
Reaching the clearing, they stood in wait as Micah made a speech, then called for the girl to come forward. Both girls were surprised to see that it was Ruth, and when Danny was caught lurking in the corn, everyone was surprised. No one knew what Danny's response was to be until he actually said that he'd join them, but the meeting broke up quickly after that. Ruth was hanging on Micah as he tried to talk to Jedediah and Mordechai, and was plainly annoying him.
"Hey, mop head. Leave him alone. He doesn't need the floor cleaned." Esther's yell carried over to where the foursome was standing, and Ruth's cheeks turned bright red as she ran away across the clearing. Micah shot Esther a look of gratitude, and then spoke.
"Ok, you two. I will see you tomorrow. I need to talk to Kasey. Esther, will you please go with Jedediah and Mordechai?" Nodding, she waved to the two, and walked silently away. "Now, Kasey, we're alone." Micah's eyes were normal, and Kasey wasn't scared of him at all. "Kasey, I need to be alone with you." Kasey's eyes grew wide, and she knew where it was leading.
"Micah - " His lips pressed against hers again, and her knees buckled. She was barely standing as he pleaded with one word.
"Please?" He looked like he was a little boy asking his mother to let him stay up for another half hour. Before Kasey could remember that he had no parents, and he was the cause of this, she felt herself nodding. He took her hand and the two made their way slowly back to the road.
Upon reaching it, Micah led her to the Bed and Breakfast. No words were exchanged, but the tension was building, and both of them knew it. Opening the door quietly, they snuck up the steps. Micah's door was all the way at the end of the hall, and when they reached it, he opened it, pushed her inside first, and followed. Sitting down on the bed, Kasey looked up at him. "Are you sure?" She nodded again, melting under his gaze. Sitting down next to her, he kissed her again. "Do you want me to explain?"
"No, Micah. I don't think this needs and explanation. This just has to happen, right? I mean - " She was cut off as he kissed her again, and for a long while, no more words were spoken, but Micah and Kasey were both content, happy, and grateful to be in each other's arms.

Pulling on his shirt, Micah looked at Kasey. "Thank you. He said that I was to be rewarded for letting Him influence me. That must've been it." Micah smiled, and kissed Kasey again. "Remember, you can't tell Esther. She'd be jealous. We don't want that, do we?" Shaking her head, Kasey looked at Micah and smiled. She hadn't thought that her first time would be so spontaneous, but she was glad that it had happened the way it did. "Come on, Kase, I'm going to walk you home."
Taking his hand again, they quietly walked down the hall, down the steps, and out the door. As they stood on the porch, Micah grabbed Kasey in a hug, and held her there for a minute. "If anything happens to me, remember me like this. Remember what just happened, and remember that I love- " His words were cut off as he looked across the street. "Esther."
"What?! You love ESTHER?" Kasey pulled back, and looked at Micah. Hatred in her eyes, she was about to yell again, but caught the direction of Micah's stare.
"No I don't love Esther. She's on your porch, watching us." Sure enough, she was. Micah and Kasey could only watch, wrapped in each other's arms as Kasey's best friend walked quickly toward them.
"Kasey, what the hell is going on?"