Chapter Two
The minute Justin found out that Allie was back in town, his emotions fell into turmoil. The words and actions of their last meeting two years ago danced in front of his eyes, and he couldn't stop thinking about her. About the kiss that had almost happened. About her reasoning and about how they'd never spoken to each other directly since then.
Allie had gone to Europe to stay with a friend she'd met on her previous mission's trip the summer after her resolve, and Justin had only seen her in church a few times after she'd come home.
And then there was Laurie, the new girl who moved into town a few weeks into September the year before. When she'd come to visit the church she'd been welcomed vigorously by the congregation's single men, probably due to her rather tight skirt the first Sunday in the church. After receiving the attentions of all of the men, she hadn't missed a week.
Justin knew for a fact that Allie would probably meet some cool Christian guy at college who was perfect for her and forget all about him. He'd forced himself to put his feelings for her in the closet, willing them to go away permanently. To prove to himself that they were gone he'd asked out the pretty and popular Laurie, tight skirts and all. And Justin had enjoyed every single night with her, constantly having to push thoughts of Allie to the back of his head just to carry on a conversation with her. As long as his brain stayed clear and focused on his date, he'd always made a good impression. She said yes to every date he invited her on, all the more encouraging to him.
And before Justin knew it, they were considered an item, especially at church.
Laurie was a nice girl, a Christian but without a strong relationship with God. He knew that she'd only come to their church to meet guys in the first place, but whatever it took to get his mind off of Allie…
But now she was back.
"Hello?" Allie answered the phone on the first ring. She'd been sitting home all day since church eating Oreos and milk and watching TV, completely bored.
"Hey, is this Allie?" asked the voice on the other end of the line, one she immediately recognized as Kristen, the high school youth group leader.
"Hey, Kristen!" Allie nearly shouted into the phone. "I haven't talked to you in… forever. How are you?"
"Awesome and still doing youth group. How about you? Got a date tonight?"
"Other than the one I've got with the TV? No. Why do you ask?" Allie wanted to know.
"Well, I wanted to let you know that you're invited to come with the youth group to go bowling. You're still considered one of them, you know," Kristen told her.
"Of course. In my heart I'll always be in high school," sighed Allie dramatically. "So we're going bowling tonight? Oh man, I haven't done that in years… I'll lose. But I'll go with you and eat nachos and watch everybody else kick my butt. It will be fun."
"Church building tonight at eight. Cosmic bowling starts at eight-thirty, and we get unlimited for ten bucks a person for the rest of the night until they close, which I believe is at eleven. Is it a go?"
"Of course. See you then!"
