A/N Sooooo sorry for not updating yesterday guys! But thank you Pansycake46 for favoriting! Divergent ideas and characters belong to Veronica Roth. Just so you guys know, this chapter is going to be mostly the last chapter in Tris's point of view.
As the countdown clock hits zero, two guys climb up on stage. Unfortunately, Christina decides to lean forward, blocking my view of one of them. The guy that I can see is pretty good-looking, with curly brown hair, high cheekbones, and chocolate eyes that seem like they're perpetually smiling. He throws up his hands like a popstar and shouts, "HELLO DAUNTLESS!"
The audience can barely suppress their laughter, and I find myself laughing too. As I scan the crowd, I realize I can't see Caleb anywhere. Oh well, it's a big youth group, maybe I just don't see him.
I look up and see that Christina has finally leaned back, giving me a clear view of the other guy. There's something intriguing about him. I can tell from this distance that he has deep blue eyes, the kind of eyes I've always wanted myself. I study him, making sure he doesn't glance my way, but he seems to be oblivious to my existence. What is it about him that makes him so fascinating?
He speaks, and you can hear the smile in his voice. "Hey guys, if you don't know us, I'm Tobias, and this knucklehead over here is Ezekiel." He nudges his friend with his elbow.
"Ezekiel?" Drama-popstar guy gasps in mock horror. "I can't believe you." I can't believe it either. Ezekiel's even worse than Beatrice!
Tobias smirks. "Well anyway, we have a few things to tell you guys for the next few weeks. Zeke?" Oh, the nickname sounds so much better.
Zeke punches Tobias's arm. "Oh, so now you call me Zeke."
"Just say the announcements, Zeke."
"Fine, okay." He puts his bottom lip out for a second. "Take all the fun out of it."
"Zeke!"
"Right, right." He goes on to tell us all about a fundraiser for a "special event" coming up. I don't know anything about it, so I tune him out and continue to stare at Tobias. I don't get it. Boys usually don't affect me this way (I've always been pretty independent), and it's not even a crush that I'm feeling; it's like he's a mystery that I want to crack.
It seems like he's a bit distracted, because Zeke has to cue him in to talk about the next item on the list. He gives everyone a sheepish grin. "Sorry. Um, we have a huge youth conference coming up called Divergent. It has great speakers, amazing…" He trail off as he locks eyes with me. His gaze is unnerving, but I'm determined to win this staring contest. "Amazing…" he says, as if he's trying to start again, but then a thought comes to me. Does he think that maybe I'm amazing?
Ha. No way. What am I even thinking?
He shakes my head to clear it a little. "Great speakers, amazing worship, and can I tell you, the food is incredible." I playfully hit Zeke upside the head. "Obviously, you know which one of us is going to be pigging out the most." The rest of the youth group laughs with him, but I can tell that he's still distracted by something. Zeke and Tobias finish up with the rest of the announcements, but I tune them out. Something is weighing on my mind, but it slips just out of reach before I can touch it. I can feel that something's about to happen, but I have no idea what.
I come back to real life when Christina jabs her elbow into my arm. "Look, look!"
I glance at the stage, and the raised platform is filled with blue light, bouncing off the black walls. A girl with a buzz cut carries a shiny black bass, its polish glinting amidst the shadows. Zeke stands with an acoustic guitar, adjusting a mic in front of him. Meanwhile, a carbon copy of him (but with straight hair) sits behind the drums. I start to feel excitement building up within me. Modern music was considered selfish, sinful, and indulgent in our previous church, so I haven't ever listened to contemporary music. Not even contemporary Christian.
Zeke comes up to the mic. "Hey guys," he rasps, "Let's worship." He begins plucking a melody on his guitar. When he sings, his gravelly voice resonates throughout the room, the song's words striking something deep within me.
I need You to soften my heart, to break me apart
I need You to open my eyes, to see that You're shaping my life
All I am, I surrender
Give me faith to trust what You say
That You're good and Your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give You my life
I need You to soften my heart, to break me apart
I need You to pierce through the dark, and cleanse every part of me
All I am, I surrender
Give me faith to trust what You say
That You're good and Your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give You my life
I may be weak, but Your Spirit's strong in me
My flesh may fail, My God You never will
He steps away from the mic. The entire room is completely silent, and I am caught up in the words. I'm weak, and I don't have the qualities I should have right now. But God can make me strong. With His help, I can overcome anything.
I can be brave.
A/N The song Zeke sang is "Give Me Faith" by Elevation Worship. I urge you guys to check it out, as well as their other songs. Again, thank you for reading and please review! I haven't gotten a critical review, and I need one. Desperately. (I know, I know, I'm weird, but help me out here!) Hope you guys have an awesome day!