"Hey," hissed Biko early the next morning next to my bed. "Awake yet?"
"I am now! At what time do you wake up every morning?"
"Early," he said. "Let's go visit Korianne."
"Now?" I whined and turned over.
"We'll watch the sunrise." When I didn't move he added, "I can bring my Bible and I'll show you some of my favourite verses…" I turned around to face him.
"Ok, but you're going to need to turn around. I'm not fully dressed."
He blushed and left. When we got there Biko pulled out his bible and I pulled out my new one.
"This is one of my favourite ones; 'All things work together for good for those who love the Lord' Romans 8:28."I loved this verse. It meant thatall the crap that had happened to me would work out.He read to me a few more verses and stories about Jesus.
What surprised me was that Jesus felt. He was God in human flesh with feeling. He felt righteous anger, grieved loss of friends, and rejoiced at weddings. He even hung out with the people that no one would hang out with. I guess that's what my mother did. She went all the way to Africa to tell people about Jesus, when no one else would. My mind drifted.
"He really lived didn't he?" I interrupted Biko in mid verse.
"Yeah…" he said nodding and smiling.
"What?" I asked when i found him looking at me a little while later.
"Nothing," he said and then looked away. I looked back at him and then when he saw me I turned away. He kept smiling.
"Stop," I said.
"Stop what?"
"Stop smiling at me!"
"Why? Aren't I allowed smiling?" he asked trying to make me laugh.
"Not like that," I said. He looked away at Korianna and baby Kelsey.
"You're the most beautifulgirl I've ever seen," Biko said still not looking at me.
I was taken aback. "Thank you," I said and blushed. "Was George right? Did you really brag about me at church?" I asked tentatively.
"Yes, but now you're beautiful inside; it's different than your physical beauty. I like your inside beauty more." He slipped his hand in mine.
I looked down at our intertwined hands. He was so dark and I so light. It made me think of those art gallery photos, beautiful. "It really means a lot me." No one had ever told me that I was beautiful on the inside before. This was all new to me. All I knew is that I felt different. For the first time in my life when someone said I was beautiful I didn't feel dirty or stared at. I felt pure and cherished.
I looked out to the horizon and all of the sudden a slice of sun started appearing. I moved a little closer to Biko and rested my head on his strong broad shoulder. His arm around me, we watched the sunrise together. I was totally convinced. There had to be a God to have created such a beautiful sunrise. Those things just didn't happen on their own.
He reached into his bag and pulled out another paper bag. "What's this?" I asked.
"Your purse,three thousand dollars cell phone and other stuff," he replied smiling. "We never really burnt it…"
I laughed out loud and it. "Don't worry, I won't be buying any more smokes with this money, or any other money for that matter."
"Good, because I don't think I would be able to kiss a smoker," he said looking into my eyes.
All of the sudden his cell phone rang and he sat up startled. "Hello? Hi Mrs. Anderson. Yeah were fine," he said smiling at me. It made me blush. "Ok. We're on our way."
I frowned inwardly. Mom had to ruin everything… "She's got a surprise for you, when we get home."
"A surprise?" I asked, climbing down the big tree we had been sitting in. "Like what?"
"You'll see…"
"At least give me a hint," I pleaded in the truck on the way home.
"Nope.
I couldn't think of what type of a surprise my mom would have for me, and it killed me that Biko wouldn't tell me.
"You're acting like a two year old!" he joked. "Patience is a fruit of the spirit you know."
"Fine," I said. When he drove into thedrive way,I couldn't contain my excitement and ran into the house.
The moment I stepped into the house everyone yelled 'Happy birthday Kelsey!' There was Selena, Johnson, Lucky, George and Arielle. Through the cake and presents I kept stealing a look at Arielle and Biko. She was such a flirt and it was obvious she had her eye on him. Biko gave me a wink and another one of his smiles that made me blush whenever he caught my eye. Maybe he did like me better than her.Iknowhe held my hand and told me i was beautiful, but so many other guys had cheated on me...
They all stayed for the rest of the day and then we went to Youth's Night. Steve, the youth pastor couldn't help but make the whole youth sing happy birthday to me. It didn't bother me as much as I thought it would have when I came here. I liked Church, I liked Youth's Night, I definitely liked Biko (especially when he held my hand in front of everybody), I loved my mom and I loved my new life.
"You really like her huh?" I overheard Lucky ask Biko.
"Since the first day I met her. Evenwhen she acted like a spoilt ungrateful brat," he replied turning around. I smiled when I saw him looking at me and my heart fluttered. I had been doing more smiling than I had ever done in my entire life in that month and a half.
I decided that I was really and truly happy. The next morning I woke up excitedly. My mom suggested that we go out for a late birthday breakfast, and I agreed. I left a note for Biko on the table and signed it: 'Can't wait to see you. Love, Kels'.