Mary sent a look back at Celeste before starting the clap off for the routine. For the obvious reasons, they had decided for now to keep their relationship on the lowdown, but that didn't stop her heart leaping from every time she saw her. She could do this routine in her sleep, in any case. It was a standard routine at Mt. Caramel, which was a bit odd, considering the song was both from a kid's movie, and religious. But that was this assembly was all about; the celebration of cultures and religions. As the powerful voices of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston began to wail out the sweet melody, she got ready to be hoisted up by Leanne and Skyler. At least she would be able to hold Celeste's hand, even if it was for a few seconds. And then, the speakers cut out, and though she couldn't see it, she realized in horror was must be behind them. She heard Celeste's voice murmur, 'I love you', and as it echoed around the room, she was set down by the two, who she instantly grabbed. Turning around, she watched her and Celeste kiss, and then the screen cut out, and the room was silent.
She took first Leanne's head, then Skyler's, and cracked them together, rather hard than it was safe to. "Chingate tus madres, cabrones. Ellos encuentras los cuerpos en unos piezas millones!" It would have probably passed past this, but Hope and Lise had grabbed her, and were pulling her away. She noticed Celeste's pale face in the crowd, registered how upset the rest of the club looked, the smug faces of Leanne and Skyler; thought she felt satified to notice a trickle of blood trailing down one's face. The gym erupted as soon as she had left, and even the Doctor took a while to regain control. "What are we going to do?" Echo leaned over to whisper to Russell. "She was supposed to sing our song with me! I can't do it alone!" Natty sighed. "It's one of my favourite songs. I can sing it. Elle knows it too." Ell gave her a look. "I stole your iPod the other day. Didn't I tell you? It was one of the most listened to songs. We'll do it." She stood. "The show must go on, and it's our turn to shine. Up you get, all of you. Let's make them forget what just happened." Patrick shot a look of concern to Celeste. "Are you going to be okay?" She bit her lower lip, nodding. "It's probably better that the school knows. It won't change much, right?" Her look was near desperate. He shrugged. "It's hard to see with these things. Will you be able to sing with those two without murdering them?" He motioned to Skyler, who was sobbing dramatically, and to Leanne, who was busy trying to convince Shawn to comfort her. He was looking at her in disgust. "No! You just ruined her and Celeste's life." "But if they're in love," she whinned, "It shouldn't matter." "It was their story to tell, not yours. You shouldn't have done that." The principal approached at that point. "Leanne. Skyler. I need to speak with you two in my office." They stood, and followed him, though Leanne was slow on letting go of Shawn's hand, and Skyler, as she brushed past Celeste, both stomped on her foot, and murmured. "They can't prove anything. Your life is over, Celeste."
There was a light polite coughing, and Natty swung up onto the make shift stage, motioning at the others to follow. "Hello, everybody. I'm Natty, if ya know me, or if ya don't. We're your local glee club, and we will be singing Jesusland, originially by Ben Folds; because whilst not all of us are Christian, this song holds a good tale for all. Now, if you would get me my keyboard." Louis lugged it onto the stage, and set it up. "Thank you." She sat down, and began to play, her voice soon joining the piano chords.
"Take a walk, out the door you go, and never stop." She knew this song by heart. She wasn't religious, per say, but people doing anything in the name of religion that hurt others? She was against that. It might not have been her God, but he was a God all the same. Something holy.
"Past all the stores and wig shops, quarter in a cup for every block." There were so many things that hurt in this world. So many things that most 'good Christians' would just sit back and watch. Well, Elle would not. As soon as she was old enough, she was out of this town. She would work as a missionary. Help feed children in Africa, teach about HIV/AIDS prevention; do her bit for humanity.
"And watch the buildings grow smaller as you go." They were the lucky ones. They had a house, a place to rest their head. A place they could claim their own. How many people could claim to have that privilege? Maybe if all the fighting stopped, humanity would see that it was tearing itself apart. It was too small to survive much more violence and pain. Where was the gracious God to soothe the pain?
"Down the tracks beautiful McMansions on a hill." Elle had heard once of corporate America in a song. She wondered vaguely if that's what this was talking about. If everybody lived by his word, maybe they all could have the privileges; if they all were willing to stop and fully hear his word.
"That overlook a highway with riverboat casinos." Natty could proudly say she wasn't a bleeding heart, but as tough as she was, she still felt. She looked around. She needed a shoulder to lean on. And then she realized exactly how close Patrick was; and what's more, that he had picked up playing the piano. She'd been sitting, with her hands clasped, for a while now.
"And you still have yet to see a soul." Elle was a fairly tolerant person, but the one thing she really couldn't stand was people using her precious religion as an excuse to hurt each other. The bible preached to turn the other cheek, and that is how she would live. If only others would do the same. She smiled over at Lise, her best friend, the one who could always understand. She nodded slightly, smiling. Yes, yes, she did understand.
"Jesusland…" Louis, Lise, Shawn, and Russell stepped forward, joining Elle and Natty in the chorus.
"Jesusland…" DJ, Kyle, Echo, Celeste, and Patrick too joined the chorus of voices. They remained, each with their own worries, each ultimately alone in their worries, their thoughts, their faith. It was sacred; the looks Louis tried not to send DJ were holy, the smile that ghosted itself over Echo's lips, the concerned glaces that Elle and Lise cast to Russell. It was all so incredibly sacred, so holy. They were a family then. Without drama, without issues; they were Religion. As the last refrain of the word, 'Jesusland' trailed off, they were surprised at the strength of the applause. They might not have been well liked, but that didn't stop the strength of their music. Patrick stood, and turned to Celeste. "How are you holding up?" She smiled weakly at him. "I think I'll be okay, but I'm not promising anything."
In the principal's office, things were going surprisingly well for Leanne and Skyler. They, having claimed complete innocence in the whole incident, had managed to convince the principal that Mary had issued death threats to them. They had gotten off scot free, whilst Mary had detention for the rest of the week. "You two. Listen to me. Where I come from, I would be able to murder you in your beds for what you've done. Unfortunately, they removed capital punishment from Ohio; otherwise I would sue you to the point where they would have to bring back the guillotine. You pull shit like that again, you will find my razorblades buried so deeply in your jugulars that you will be breathing through the metal of them. ¿Comprendé?" Both of them nodded, looking even paler than usual. "Oh, and don't bother coming to the table today. If I have my choice, you will no longer be Cheering nuns. Have a nice day in hell, sluts." And just like that, she was gone, the slight scent of vanilla and cherry chapstick in the air; a little reminder of what they're just done. Skyler looked completely cool about the entire thing, but Leanne wasn't so sure. "Are you certain we didn't go to far?" "Are you kidding me? She's scared, Leanne. We're starting to win." "Then why does it feel like I'm losing?" She mumbled this to herself as she entered back into the hallway, where the head of the Christian chapter of Mount Caramel High, Hope, had cornered Celeste.
"What the hell was that in there, Celeste? You know our view on homosexuality." Celeste sighed, grabbing her books from her locker. "Hope, look. I know you don't understand, but doesn't the bible preach that love is holy? Surely you can't hate the love that Mary and I share." Hope looked at her like she had just thrown up a couple of rather large slugs. "The bible also teaches us that homosexuality is wrong, Celeste. Now, there is still hope for you, should you renounce your words and let us rehabiliate you." Celeste slammed her locker. "Listen here, Hope. I don't know what bull shit religion you've been learning, but last time I checked, loving somebody wasn't one of the major sins, so the J-man died for what Mary and I do, and it's all cool." Hope looked annoyed. "You shouldn't refer to Jesus in such a manner. Now, you will have to hand in your cross at the end of the day, if you don't. I have something to discuss with the Coach. I believe she is holding tryouts for cheer captain, as Mary's actions have just compromised the squad." Celeste gritted her teeth, and pulled her hand back to slap the other, but she was already gone. In the gym, the Coach and Mary were arguing. "Look, Coach, you saw what they did to me. Just give me one more chance?"
The Coach sighed, looking Mary up and down. "You can try out with the others, but I can't promise anything, Mary. The first tryouts were slanted in any case. We are a cheer squad, not the singing Minnies'." Mary nodded. "I'll tryout now, then. Russell, Natty…" She looked around for Celeste, but she was nowhere to be seen. "You two will have to sing it alone, I guess. You know her part?" They nodded, and she set herself up for the beginning of the dance. Natty was covering the instrumentals, whilst Russell's clear voice sung out the words.
"Girl of sixteen, whole life ahead of her, slashed her wrists, bored with life." The best way to describe Mary would have been a possessed doll. She jerked her body to the beat, her chest popping with every other beat. It was slow, and it was intriguing.
"Didn't succeed, thank the Lord, for small mercies." She rolled to the floor, the spectators almost expecting to find a knife in her back. She wasn't simply dancing, she was acting. Her moves told the story as clearly as the song.
"Fighting back the tears, mother reads the note again, sixteen candles burn in her mind." She stood, her hands dragging her face up, her neck at an awkward angle, her eyes burning into the Coach. She shifted uncomfortably, as if she was sitting on a metal bench in the sun in the middle of summer.
"She takes the blame, it's always the same she goes down on her knees and prays." She smiled sweetly, twisting to her knees, raising her hands to the sky, then pressing them back, and rolling into a split. She loosened up her motions for the chorus.
"I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours, but I think that God's got a sick sense of humour, and when I die, I expect to find him laughing." She laughed, pulling herself up from the split, starting a ballet dance. You could almost see the red pointe shoes on her feet, here the devil's voice in her ear. She stopped, almost faltering, as she noticed Celeste in the back of the bleachers.
"Girl of eighteen, fell in love with everything, found new life in Jesus Christ." She pointed at Celeste, winking, and then flipped backwards, then forwards, the flames licking at her feet.
"Hit by a car, ended up on a life support machine." She was smiling now, and was about to go into another flip when the Coach called a halt. "Very nice, Mary, but you will not be getting the position." "What the hell, woman? I am the best dancer here! I cheer, I flip, I'm perfect. So tell me, why the hell don't I get the position?" "Hope is a much better candidate." "Hope?" Mary laughed. "The girl can't even flip. Are you telling me she makes a better candidate?" "Yes. She's not sexually interested in the squad, and she doesn't have a history of violence." Realization dawned on her face. "My sexuality? That's what this is all about? Well, you know what? To hell with you and your stupid cheers. I don't need pompoms to be a sexy bitch. No matter what you say, at the end of the day, I'll still be getting more than you ever will, and that's just in one week. So, fuck you, Coach, and fuck your stupid cheerleaders. Isn't that right, Celeste?" But Celeste was already running out of the gym, the sound of her sobs barely muffled by her jacket, which she had pulled over her face.
"Cici! Cici! Wait up! Cici!" Mary finally caught up with her, and grabbed her wrist. "What give, babe? You haven't spoken to me since the incident in the assembly. What did I do?" She reached to wipe away Celeste's tears, but she slapped her hand away. "Mary. I don't think I can do this. I can't…give my religion. You mean everything to me, but my eternal soul…" Mary sighed, pulling the other into a tight hug, rocking her slightly. "Oh, honey. You know the G-man doesn't mind some girl-on-girl action once in a while. What is this really about?" "The Christian Club. They're threatened to tell my parents if I don't…take back what I said about you and I. They want to rehabilitate me." "Fuck them!" "Mary. This is important to me. Can't you be supportive?" Mary sighed. "You're right, babe. I was just upset. Look, you stay here, and I'll talk to Hope, all right. We can arrange something." Celeste nodded, and Mary was off like a thunderbolt into the blue.
Hope was busy in negotiations with Leanne and Skyler when Mary grabbed her. "You bitch! Take it back!" Hope squealed. "I don't want to join your depraved acts, Mary. You have taken one of God's flock from him. I have nothing to take back." Mary smirked, and pulled out her phone, showing Hope a picture which made her go bright red, then pure white, and finally, an outraged shade of purple. "Where…where did you get that?" "Let's just say this wasn't the only nude picture I found on your boyfriend's phone. He wasn't too bad in bed, either." Hope glared. "What are you going to do with that?" "Nothing, if you don't bust us to Cici's parents. Oh, and let her back in the club, and renounce your statements on homosexuality." Hope growled, but sighed, knowing she couldn't win this one. "All right. What do I tell the others?" "Say you've looked through the bible. Shit like that or something. You're a smart girl, honey. You can think up something. Just use that cute little brain of yours." She patted Hope's head. "Now, let's go tell Celeste the good news, shall we?" She nodded, but when Mary turned around, Celeste was already there, smiling. "All right." "And, could you get me a cross too, Hope?" "What?" "Well, if her religion is so important to her, maybe I should give it a try. You know what I'm saying? So we have more to…discuss. It'll keep us out of sin. And be a laugh." Celeste giggled, and Hope nodded reluctantly. She would murder him when she got home. He wouldn't be seeing her naked for a long, long time.
They were dressed all in white, the slight silver crosses shining slightly in the half light of the darkened classroom. "Today, we welcome a new sister into the ranks of our religion." There was slight applause as Mary stepped in the room, and bowed, winking at everybody. "She will be singing a song to explain her sudden changes. She would also like to…" Hope paused slightly here, but another look from Mary gave her the strength to continue. "…dedicate this song to her a girlfriend, a long time member of our ranks, and a very devout girl, Celeste Greene." There was more slight applause, and Mary motioned at Lise and Elle, who had already promised to help her with this song.
"She is running, a hundred miles an hour, in the wrong direction." Hope looked at Mary, surprised. This was a classic Christian rock number. She had expected something simple, or something sarcastic. This song took effort. Mary clearly cared about Celeste. Hope started to wonder if she'd been a bit too harsh on the two of them. They were still all children, after all.
"She is trying, but the canyon's ever widening, in the depths of her cold heart." Mary reached her hand out to Celeste, and Celeste, smiling slightly, accepted it, blushing slightly as Mary pulled her closer, wrapping her arms around her waist.
"So she sets out on another misadventure just to find, she's another two years older, and another three steps behind." Celeste leant against her, smiling. She turned her head, to murmur in Mary's ear. "Thanks for doing this." "For you it's a pleasure, babe."
"Does anybody hear her, can anybody see…" Mary flushed, as Celeste's lips once again touched her. They could vaguely hear Hope yelling at them in the background, but it didn't matter, for they were together, and that's all they needed at this point in their life.