A/N: I am like a writing machine for this story today... Three updates within (almost) 24 hours. Shows how much of a life I have. Of course, this means you probably won't get anything else for another six months or so. Haha.

Morning services pass by fairly quickly, which is surprising considering we had to sit with my family today. Dad thinks that the 23 lashes (he doesn't know Damien gave me all 46) with Mitchie watching had a profound effect on me, and he wouldn't be wrong. Only I didn't learn what he wants me to learn; I learned that I should take what I'm given, because refusal would just make things worse. Everyone else in the community notices that I'm sitting with my parents, too. I feel all the eyes turn to us when we enter as a family. Family. What we are is a disgusting, misconstrued version of what should be a beautiful word.

After the final "Amen", Rosslyn descends swiftly upon us before we're even able to put our Bibles back in the holders on the pews. "Ah, Russo family. You will be pleased to know that the Shepherd Council has decided that Mitchie can gain official membership in Havenwood through a day of silent prayer."

Mom, Dad, and Justin look like they actually care about Mitchie's well-being. Max doesn't look like he cares about anything and I'm pretty sure my mouth is hanging open. I don't turn my head to see Mitchie's reaction, though I'm fairly certain she won't have much of one. She reacts to very little, except me. Not to sound egotistical or anything, but it's true.

"That's excellent news!" Dad exclaims, clapping Mitchie on the shoulder like she's his daughter. And even though I've tried to put lots of distance between myself and my family, I hate to admit that it hurts to see him care about her so deeply because she's "holy" when I barely get a sideways glance.

Rosslyn nods curtly. "We thought you would agree. We would also like for Alexandra to spend the day praying in silence as well."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Why?"

"To help your friend, of course. If you pray for her, perhaps God will see how much she is loved and return the power of speech to her, which is what we know she most desires." Rosslyn tries to appear shocked that I would even need to wonder such a thing. Clearly I was right in wondering because Mitchie scrunches up her face in confusion when Rosslyn says that she most desires to regain the ability to speak. Which gets me to wondering what her greatest desire is. I'll have to ask her later.

I nod my head in the most unconvinced way. "Yeah. Sure. What the heck?"

"Alexandra," Dad warns.

"I'm going with her; don't get your panties in a knot," I tell him. The adults and my brother are supremely chagrined by this declaration. Max and Mitchie don't actively react.

Since there's not technically anything wrong with that statement, Rosslyn just sighs and angrily addresses my family. "As for the rest of you, it's breakfast time."

"What!" I exclaim. "We don't even get breakfast?"

"Of course not. You are fasting to show your devotion to God," Rosslyn tells me. Brilliant. This just keeps getting better and better. I groan but allow myself to be led to the altar, just to avoid any other punishment I or Mitchie might receive.

"Bye, girls! Make us proud!" Mom calls after us as they exit the chapel. The doors close from the outside and I realize that it's going to be just me, Mitchie, and Rosslyn in here all day. And while I wouldn't mind spending all day with Mitchie, Rosslyn is a super bitch and is totally out to get me.

"Hey, Rosslyn-"

"You address me as Shepherd Rosslyn or I will not respond," she tells me sharply.

What a classic mistake. "You just did."

She purses her nose up at me, completely invades my personal bubble, and slaps me hard across the face. "You will not question anything I say, and you will not talk back. You have no idea how long I've waited to get you alone, Alexandra Russo."

OK, super creepy... "But Mitchie's here."
Rosslyn laughs. "She can't talk, in case you haven't noticed. And since it's clear no one outside really cares about you, I can do whatever I want with you." She leans in even closer, an evil sneer dancing on her lips. "And no one will ever know."

I'm actually scared now, the stinging of my cheek a reminder of what she might do. "How long is all day?"

"What?" At least she's slightly baffled now.

"I mean, do we get out at, like, lights out or evening services or what?"

My genuine curiosity makes her inclined to answer. "Neither evening nor afternoon services will be held in the High Chapel today; you girls will stay in here until after dinner. You will not eat until tomorrow morning," she adds, anticipating my next question. "Is that all?" She looks at both of us expectantly. I kind of want to piss her off some more, but I can't think of anything. "Good. You will not speak for the rest of the day, Alexandra. And you will both pray. On your knees, hands together." We do as instructed. Rosslyn walks behind us on her way to the pew and slaps me upside the head on her way. Out of the corner of my eye I see her smiling. Smiling! What a sadistic little bitch.

So. Praying silently is about as exciting as you would expect. Even Mitchie looks horribly bored. Actually, I think that she's falling asleep. If we were anywhere but the Chapel with the Shepherd from Hell, I would have let her because she just looks so damn cute. However, I also don't want her to get smacked upside the head, so I kick her lightly with one of my feet. She snaps out of it in an equally adorable fashion. I get a nice smile for my efforts, so it's totally worth it.

Twenty minutes or so later (an hour and twenty minutes in), I hear Rosslyn getting up and moving toward the altar. She can't resist the urge to flick me behind the ear as she stands in front of us on the elevated platform. It looks like she's lording over us. And totally enjoying it. "You may now explore non-traditional methods of prayer, though you still may not speak. This means you may get up, walk, dance, write, read the Bible, etc.," she tells us. I don't think she made these rules because she looks put out delivering them. Probably wants us to stay on the floor until our knees bleed.

At any rate, Mitchie and I both get up, clearly and silently deciding that it's best we explore the chapel by ourselves and not with each other. Which is fine and dandy because it gives me an amazing view of her: streamlined and outlined by the sun jaggedly flowing through the stained glass painting of Jesus was Mitchie's form, the shadows and light forming such a balance on her body that it takes my breath away for just a moment. She catches me staring and waves with the cutest smile I've ever seen. Slightly dumbfounded, I wave back. What the hell is going on with me? I put my hands in the traditional prayer form and walk around the church, thinking.

Until I get it.

Cute.

Adorable.

Pretty.

Beautiful.

All of these words I've been using to describe her, they're all words that they taught us in Courting Class (don't get me started on how ridiculously misogynistic that entire class was) are appropriate for boys to give girls as compliments on how they look. For boys to give girls... Last time I checked, I'm not a boy. Then what the hell is this?!

Never, ever have we been given an option to be with anyone but the opposite sex. Never was it even discussed that it could happen. These words, the reactions I have to her touches- they warned us that too many of these lustful thoughts could lead to breaking Cardinal Atrocity #1, the only one I haven't broken. Shit. What IS this? No one's ever mentioned this to me, to anyone at this compound. Why... what is Mitchie doing to me?

Could I... no way. I can't want to kiss her. That's... not normal, is it? Is it? Since when have I believed any of the other shit they throw my way? I mean, here, there's only one road through life, right? I know that there are other paths to take out in the real world because I our teachers always warn us about the demonic choices they make out there. So maybe, then, if there are so many choices about what paths to take, then making liking girls is OK, too? I don't know. I will never know unless I try to escape again, but I know I'm not going to do that until Mitchie's alright with it. I'm not leaving her. But I don't think I'll ask her about this, either, because maybe she'll think it's weird and I'll lose my only friend. It's just too odd to think about; can I want that from her? More importantly- can I ask that from her? Who knows what kind of trauma she's been through? Maybe even just kissing her would set that trauma off again... or maybe it would just weird her out in a way thoroughly unrelated to the trauma. Suddenly, I feel like crying because of all the things I'll never know about her due some ridiculous asshole who fucked her up- I'll never know what her life was like, if she can sing, if she's usually really talkative or if she actually is quiet, what her voice sounds like, what it's like to kiss her... WHOA. Keep those temptations in check there, Alex. Not that I think wanting to kiss someone is wrong, but, I mean, she's my best friend and she's a girl and is that even a real thing? Girls kissing girls? Can that happen? Would it make the world explode? OK, clearly I'm overreacting. Maybe it can happen. Maybe some girls even like it. Maybe I'm one of them. Thinking back on it, ever since childhood I've thought it would make sense for boys to be with boys and girls to be with girls because they would understand each other better. So maybe I've only ever wanted girls...? I have no idea; all I know is that I look at Mitchie with a certain gaze I've never wasted on any boy. I guess I'll just let it be for now. It's not like we could do anything about it anyway, so why bother? Why should I bother torturing myself a little more?

Nearly 10 hours later we get to escape from the prison. Rosslyn attempted to beat me up a couple more times, but I showed no fear so I don't think that she got quite the satisfaction out of it she was hoping for. Serves her right for trying to attack confused teenagers.

The first thing that I do when I step out of the doors is scream at the top of my lungs. Mitchie's giving me a gigantic smile. I think that's what passes for laughing when it comes to her. It's just so free and different and beautiful. I know that I can't just stand here yelling and perving on her smile, so I take off down the hill at a full run toward the forest. It's a perfect night: balmy, but not cold, warm enough for just our dresses but not so hot we'll be sweating.

I reach the edge of the woods before her and promptly collapse onto my stomach, laughing like hell. She reaches me seconds later, that smile still flitting across her lips. Then she bends over, perfectly at her waist and puts her hand out. Mischievously, I snatch it and pull her down next to me. I have never, ever seen her so happy before.

"I am so glad to get out of there!" I say much louder than necessary, and then fall into a fit of giggles as we situate ourselves against the side of a tree. She's fallen into giggles, too, but they're silently. It's so adorable. "Rosslyn is such a bitch... probably left a mark on my face. What an asshole," I grumble. But then I realize that talking about Rosslyn is upsetting her, so I quickly change the subject. "So what's it like to be a full-fledged member of Havenwood? Feel more accepted? Feel more holy?" Mitchie just shakes her head, and her smile is open-mouthed now, like there should be raucous laughter spilling from it.

Then something that Rosslyn said early in the morning occurs to me. "Hey, Mitchie?"

She grasps my hands in my lap to acknowledge that she's heard me speak. Her hands are soft.

"You know earlier... when Rosslyn said that speaking again was your greatest desire?" She nods, not sure where I'm going with this. "Well, the look on your face made it seem like there was more to it than that." Another nod. "I just want to know what it is, that's all. I've got some paper here if you need it..." I feel so awkward right now, mostly because she looks incredibly scared. Then, slowly, her face regains some confidence and she comes closer to me. What is she doing?

Before I know how to react, she's got me pushed back against the tree trunk, her lips gently touching mine. Holy shit. She's kissing me. And clearly I should be kissing back. I do so, moving myself slightly from the tree and pressing back enough to let her know I'm enjoying it. I cup her cheek with my hand because it feels so indescribably right.

It's clumsy and sloppy and kind of awkward because neither of us have ever really done it before, but I know that it's perfect.

A/N: I always love reviews, but in this chapter I'm really interested in what you guys think of Alex's realization thing. And Mitchie's the aggressive one? Bet you didn't see that coming... But I have my reasons.