I rushed off of the seat. I grabbed my bags and began to rush to the door. I saw that Tony was a bit confused. "You're not my type, Tony."

"Why not?" he stood and walked toward me.

"I'm sorry. You're just not." Before I left he handed me a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas. I smiled, then left.

The next day, DC told me that she taped rotten bacon in Annette's locker. "What? I had to listen to the whole Bible on her freaking iPod."

"I didn't ask you to get saved, but thanks!"

"It's okay. Last year, I got saved just to go to the San Francisco trip." I laughed as I shook my head. We were walking down the hallway, when this rank smell hit our noses.

"Oh my god, that's horrible." I covered my nose.

Annette walked up to us, covering her nose, as she talked. "Hey guys. So, D, how's life with the Lord?"

"Actually, I decided to devote my life with Satan. But thanks for opening up my options." We walked away with Annette confused and stunned.

Billie and I went to Church the Saturday night before Christmas. The preacher was reading the story of the birth of baby Jesus.

I know this is really wrong, but have you ever wondered if Mary made the whole thing up? I mean, it's a good one, you'd have to admit; no one would really be able to use virgin birth as an excuse again.

I don't think she made it up. But I could understand why a girl would.

Valentine's Day was here and love was… in thought.

Annette was picking at chocolates, and Jes tried to get one, but she got smacked on the hand. "Quit being so stingy."

"What, they're mine."

"You got them, yourself, Annette. It doesn't count as a Valentine."

She gave Jes a nasty look.

I pulled out a card; a Valentine's Day card addressed to Tony.

DC laughed as she saw the card in my hands, "You still haven't gave that to him?" she shook her head at me.

"I haven't decided if I should give it to him, yet."

"Well, you better decide quickly." Justin nodded his head toward Tony entering the cafeteria.

Before I got a chance to get up, Annette was in front of him, handing him a card. "It was a stupid idea, anyway. I have to go. Later, guys." I walked out, hoping neither Annette nor Tony would notice me.

I opened my locker to get a book, and saw a card fall to the floor. I picked it up. It was a Valentine's Day card, from Tony! I stood there reading it over and over again, until the bell rang. And when I got home, I read it again, at least 10 more times.

Tony was on the couch, lost in thought; not really paying attention to anything else. His father entered the living room. He saw there was a big card on the coffee table, "What's this? Oh, Annette Vercher… So, what's up with her? She's a bit tense, but her heart is in the right place."

"Yeah." Tony said, not really paying attention.

"And, uh, what about Mari Kelly?" he seemed not so much thrilled.

Tony sighs, "She thinks I'm a freak or a looser, or something."

"Well, she's going through a lot this year. A relationship is probably the last thing she needs, right now."

"Right," Tony laughed, in disbelief. "And you're the relationship expert around here." Pastor Mike looked at his son. "You and Mom don't even talk anymore."

"Well, she has her missionary duties for the Lord, and I have the school and the students."

"You can't put everything on God's will, Dad. And beside, Mom told me everything. Why don't you get a divorce like she wants to?"

"Divorce isn't a part of God's plan."

"And being miserable is?" Tony got up and walked away, annoyed by his father.

I looked in Billie's room, finding her sitting in her closet, eating Oreos. "I thought you had that meeting with Pastor Mike."

"It got cancelled."

"Again?" I sat down to join her moping. "Did you want to talk about it?"

"No. I think this one's between me and Jesus." She looked at me, "Did you want to talk?" I shook my head. She began to think out loud, "I keep trying to remind myself that when Jesus closes a door, he opens a window."

"Yeah, for us to jump out of." I mumbled.

She heard and was about to say something, but the house phone rang. The caller was Pastor Mike. Billie went out, but said that she was concerned with what I said.

Pastor Mike was babbling about how some people can't really tell Christian rock and regular rock, and that's the point; people get saved at the same time they rock out.

Billie was getting kind of bored. "Mike, I don't care."

He looks at her, eyebrow raised a bit, "You don't care?"

"I missed you; I've missed our meetings." She smiles, "I feel good when I'm with you. And I think you feel good, too."

"Yes, I've missed you."

"So? Mike, we haven't done anything to be ashamed about."

"What are we doing, Billie?" Mike questions, "I'm about 15 years older than you, and…"

"Age is only a number." Billie answers, "I wasn't even 12 yet, when my parents died. I had to practically raise Mari by myself. I think I grew up enough to be happy. Don't you think we deserve to be happy?"

"This is how people turn away from Jesus… All the Bible study I've done; all the preaching I've taught to the kids. And all I can think about is kissing you. I want to kiss you." He confessed.

She leaned toward him, "Then kiss me."

By Easter, it seemed Jesus had answered Billie's prayers.