AN: Sorry it took me so long to update this. But I'm on a roll now, so enjoy it while you can!

emandley (Yes, there have been a few unexpected plot turns, and it's interesting even for me to see where it goes. Chapters four through seven are really shocking, even for me as the author! I enjoyed writing them, though. Ah, the reason for Rebecca's shyness...) xXxkIkOkEnxXx (Thank you so much. You have no idea how much you sticking up for me means. You're very much right, and it shows that you actually know what I'm talking about and that you really did read all of what I said and you believe it, too. I can't say thank you enough, really, adn I'm not just saying that.)

Chapter Four

Aaron felt like an idiot walking into the sanctuary long after everybody had gone home, especially because of a problem that seemed so small compared to some of the issues other people had. It wasn't as if he wanted to make his preoccupation with his 'problem' public, he just felt as if it were right to bring it to God at the church. The only person left in the entire building was the secretary, who was downstairs in the church office, probably having noticed him and wanting to give him some more privacy.

He'd grown up being taught that one could pray anywhere, but sitting here in the front row, he felt he had less distraction, other than his own thoughts.

Lord, I don't know what to do about Rebecca, or what to think. Judging by how her sister is, she's a nice person. At least she isn't annoying and coquettish like some girls, and I'm glad that I didn't have to 'befriend' any girl of that type for the Dare. But, Lord? It would be fun to at least talk to her. I would get to know her better if she would open up to me and know that I am not there to hurt her or her feelings.

Guiltily, Aaron realized that he probably was going to hurt her feelings, and that his weren't exactly the purest of motives. She was so frail; he imagined his ill intentions snapping her in two. A picture of Rebecca bursting into tears filled his mind. Like a porcelain doll, she would crumple under the truth of his real motivations.

His guilt soon turned to anger as he turned his thoughts toward prayer again. Well, what am I supposed to do, Lord? I wish things like these were clearer, a little easier to deal with. Am I supposed to go and say that I absolutely cannot accept nor do the Dare? I know inside that I may end up having to do this, but I have been waiting all of my life for this thing my siblings always talked about: the Dare! I know that's selfish, but is it wrong to wish that I hadn't been given such a difficult and unfair Dare?

As it happened, after only about five minutes in prayer, his thoughts turned to other things. In them, Rebecca had come to the church to do some dialogue with God on her own, found him there, and began to talk to him. They talked about several things, and he told her about the Dare and how she should play along with him, pretending to be friends just so he could solve it.

Oh, how that would make things so much simpler, Aaron sighed. He frowned. So much for being excited about being the Dared. I would have been so much more cheerful if it had been a different one…

And it only helped that he was a boy and was taking the risk of stealing her affections.

And having his taken.

Rebecca had just made it to the door, her hand on the knob and ready to turn it, when she heard her sister's voice. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath for patience, she turned around to face Ruth.

Instead, when she allowed herself to see again, her sister was only a few feet away from her, a look of understanding and sympathy on her face. In the place of a suspicious inquiry as to where she was going and why she was leaving the house, Rebecca simply received a warm hug and was sent on her way.

As she hopped in her car and headed for the church, she silently thanked God for Ruth. She didn't know what she would do without her sister in these hard times.

When she arrived at the building, she went around to the basement parking lot, knowing Sherrie would be there and wanting to talk to her.

Her friend greeted her with hugs, one of the never-ending hugs she always got from the people who knew. Smiling, she sat down and told her everything; savoring the great feeling she felt when she was able to tell someone all of her feelings, especially knowing that Sherrie would always keep her confidentiality.

The church was quiet and Aaron heard the car drive around to the back, even the double doors opening downstairs. He was done, and in case the owner of the noisy car was waiting to use the sanctuary for some private time with God, he'd better be polite and vacate the place.

Pushing through the doors of the building and sitting in the front seat of his car, his thoughts were on Rebecca and the thoughts he'd had of sharing a conversation with her. And to his surprise, he actually wanted to talk to her, other than just wanting to befriend her because of the Dare.