Chapter Eleven

Bella

We headed to the park where an enormous tent had been set up after a breakfast of burgers courtesy of Paulie. There were more people around than I had expected, although not many I recognized, I guessed this kind of thing wasn't a big pull for teenagers and began to wonder if it had been such a good idea after all..

Ash nudged me bringing my attention back to her.

"Eyes right, now look at that, doesn't it make you feel good to be alive?"

I turned in the direction she indicated to see three guys standing with pamphlets in their hands, smiling and greeting people as they entered the marquee.

"The one with the dark curly hair is mine, choose yours."

I stared at her confused.

"Go on, you should always eye up the talent and decide which guy you fancy then make a move on him. That's the way to get a boy interested in you. So, do you want the one with the suit on or the guy with the blonde hair?"

She glanced at me and rolled her eyes.

" Don't tell me, I can guess."

I knew she was referring to Jasper.

She grabbed my arm, " Come on."

She almost dragged me over to the group of guys and smiled at her choice flirting outrageously while I hung back a little self-conscious and embarrassed. One of the guys, the one with blonde hair had caught my eye. He was tall and slim and had a slightly crooked smile. He reminded me of someone, but before I could follow that thought through I sensed his interest in me.

He studied me for a moment, then smiled shyly and came over to speak to me.

"Hello, is this your first time at a meeting? You look a little awkward."

Feeling flustered I nodded wishing I was more confident, like Ash.

"Yes, I guess I am."

"There's no need, we don't bite. Please allow me to find you a good seat. I'm Luke by the way. The pastor who will be leading the meeting is my father."

I wasn't quite sure how to reply to that so settled for a smile and, "Hi Luke, I'm Bella. Thank you."

If only I could think of witty things to say instead of feeling tongue-tied and embarrassed.

Luke took my arm and guided me inside to a seat about five rows back, close enough to see and hear clearly, but thankfully not so close I would feel self-conscious.

I thanked him, looking around for Ash, who plopped down beside me moments later grinning.

"You didn't waste much time Bella, what's he like? How old is he? How long will they be in town?"

"I have no idea. All I know is that his name is Luke and his father is the pastor."

"Wow, straight to the top and there I was thinking you were a novice."

We sat quietly as the pastor appeared and listened to his sermon which was nothing like I expected. There was no fire and brimstone, no warning that we were all headed to hell, in fact he made a lot of sense. He seemed to understand that life was hard for some young people, that what we needed was an ear and a shoulder to cry on. Someone to help with the problems, give advice, and most of all show you that you are worthy of love and understanding. How too many rejections can ruin your confidence, that the mission here was to help you restore that, teach you about their way of living, with peace and love and everyone valued as equal. It sounded like the perfect kind of life and appealed to me in my present frame of mind just as it did to Ash.

After the sermon which didn't drag on and was quite funny at times, we wandered outside for the free barbecue only to find Luke and Ashley's guy Timothy waiting for us. We felt like special guests as they escorted us to meet Luke's dad in person and stayed with us as we ate at one of the long trestle tables. The food was plain but really tasty and when I said so Luke grinned.

"Thank you, Bella. I cooked most of it with my sister Mary, that's her over there."

He pointed to a slim dark-haired girl who stood holding a tray ready to clear any dirty plates and flatware.

"A man who can cook, now that's a novelty."

Luke turned to Ash quite serious now.

"Everyone helps with every chore in our community, there are no gender stereotypes. The women tend the gardens and glasshouses mend the vehicles and build the dwellings alongside the men. The only thing that the females have a monopoly on is childbearing and if my dad could find a way for men to take on that chore too, believe me, he would."

"So, the guys cook and clean? Do the laundry? That kind of thing?"

"Yes, we all do whatever is necessary and we all value and love each other. It's a very peaceful and loving community. You won't hear arguments and squabbles and no one cusses. There is no violence towards each other or outsiders."

I sighed.

"It sounds wonderful. No men yelling or hitting women, that would be a novelty."

Ash laughed.

"Yeah, amen to that sister. Can we join?"

Both guys regarded her for a moment before Timothy spoke.

"Please don't joke about such things. We welcome new recruits to our way of life, but it isn't easy. There is no television or electricity. We like to live as those in the bible did, a simple way without the distractions of the modern world. Would that really appeal to you, Ashley?"

It appealed to me, a simple life and being valued but I was too young.

"What age do you accept newcomers?"

Timothy smiled at Ash.

"Any age, so long as they understand what they want and of course you need a sponsor, one of the community to vouch for you and help you understand our ways."

"And how do you get someone to sponsor you?"

"A member of the community would need to get to know you, see if you were the kind of person who might fit in, that kind of thing."

Ash took Timothy's arm with a smile.

"So, get to know me."

As she dragged him away, I glanced embarrassed at Luke.

"I'm sorry, Luke. Ash tends to be a little impetuous and very forward."

"And you?"

I shrugged.

"I'm just your ordinary girl looking to be loved."

I don't know what made me say it and as soon as the words were out of my mouth I could have bitten off my tongue but it was far too late for that. Yet he just smiled and held out his hand.

"Would you like to take a walk? You can show me a little of your town."

I grimaced.

"There's not much to show really, but we could take a walk along the river, that's pretty this time of year."

I loved the river, pop had built us canoes and we spent hours exploring the area and having picnics on the bank surrounded by wildflowers and birds. Of course, those memories were tarnished now, but nevertheless, I couldn't discard them. I told Luke all about this, but he seemed to know that pop and mom weren't my real family and when I asked him how he said it was the way I spoke about them.

"Oh, I don't know, you just seem so down and hurt. As if someone has hurt you deeply. Tell me about your real family, Bella."

There wasn't much to tell, I knew very little and most of my memories were early ones and not very happy. I told him about my mom's boyfriends and how she'd abandoned me to start a new life with one of them. He wanted to know how I felt about that and if I ever feared that my adoptive parents felt negatively towards me.

"It often happens as children grow up. People want young kids, they can mold in their own ways, but when those little ones become teenagers with all the problems of adolescence, they sometimes wonder if it was all a big mistake."

I didn't feel like going into details, not just yet so I changed the subject and he didn't pursue it.

By the time we got back to the park I had found myself drawn to him, he was so sensitive, so friendly, and I felt he was genuinely interested in me.

"There's something bothering you, Bella. I can tell. Maybe we could meet up tomorrow after school and talk some more?"

I was taken aback, this gorgeous guy wanted to see me again? Then I remembered all the other times I had thought someone really cared about me only to find out how wrong I had been. Bella, take it easy I warned myself, but I still agreed to meet him the following day. I wanted this to be true so much after everything else that had happened.

When I suddenly realized how late it was I had to make my apologies and leave without seeing Ashley again. She and Timothy were nowhere to be seen, but Luke promised to tell her that I'd had to leave.

"She'll understand if she's a friend. Drive carefully and I'll see you tomorrow after school. Goodbye Bella, it was lovely meeting you."

Mom was waiting to hear all about my sleepover at Ashley's, but I kept the details to a minimum, she wouldn't have approved of the fact that we were alone most of the night and if she'd discovered that Ashley's mom brought home some guy from the bar where she worked to sleep with I'd never be allowed to see Ash again which wasn't fair. I felt sorry for my friend, after all, I knew only too well what living in a situation like that was like.

So, I concentrated on the revival meeting and barbecue afterward, although I omitted to tell her about Timothy and Luke. Something warned me that she would tell pop and then I'd be subjected to the third degree and it wasn't like that. I just said the sermon was pretty entertaining, not boring like some church services and that we'd met up with some friends afterward and enjoyed the barbecue.

"A church revival? That doesn't sound like much fun for two teenage girls."

"We went for the free barbecue and then played softball with some friends from school."

She nodded in understanding.

"Free food, I should have known. I take it Ashley's mom didn't have much in?"

I shrugged and left her to make of that what she would.

I didn't expect to see Luke again, despite what he'd said, but there he was waiting for me just inside the park gates as he'd promised straight after school. We went for a walk and I was thrilled when as I told him I'd have to go before my mom and pop started calling to find out where I was he asked me if I'd like to join his family for a picnic the following evening.

"I'll pick you up from your house if you like."

I shook my head, oh no, that wouldn't fly, my parents would be sure to want to grill him.

"It's OK. I'll meet you at the park like today. What time does it start?"

Again he didn't push it and I liked him even more for that.

"Will you be free by six? We don't usually have late nights so you'll be home by nine, I don't think that would upset your parents would it?"

"No, curfew on school nights is ten so that's fine."

He had seemed genuinely interested in my life and what he said was my problem. I guess I said a little more than I should have. I mean when he asked what was troubling me, I'd told him about the incident at my party, although I wasn't stupid enough to tell him my reasons for doing what I did, or that it had been my fault. Let him think Jasper was to blame just like my parents did

"I'm so sorry, Bella. We see it all too often, unfortunately. Young girls at an age when they should feel safe in their own homes only to find terrible things happening. Where were your parents? Please don't tell me they condone this behavior?"

I shook my head thinking of pop's reaction, he had been furious with Jasper and smiled inwardly.

"No, we were alone in the garden at the time and when he found out my pop sent him away."

Luke nodded his agreement with pops' actions, but I could see he was still troubled.

"You can always come to me if you are troubled about anything, Bella. I would defend your honor."

I smiled shyly, no one had ever said anything like that to me before, it sounded so mature.

"Thank you, Luke. But you'll be leaving soon."

"We'll talk some more tomorrow, but you should go before your parents come looking for you. I don't want them to be angry with you."

I should have said they were never really angry with me, but I didn't. I liked the idea of Luke as my protector and I wasn't going to spoil that.

As I drove home I couldn't stop thinking about Luke, how he'd asked before taking my hand as we walked through the woods in the park and as we parted he kissed my hand before releasing it and thanked me for my company. Now that was a real gentleman, not that I had expected him to try jumping me, but you just didn't know with guys these days and I spoke from personal experience there.