Chapter Three - part eight

    Sabella sat there on her bed looking at that closed door. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She had been expecting Susan or Richard, maybe even both to be at that door when the knock had come. She had been all prepared for them. She would have torn their hearts out with her words and they would have deserved it. They were trying to force religion down her throat. It was bad enough in their home. The idea that they would try to get her into a church, well that was just too far. But it hadn't been either one of them. She flopped back on her bed and closed her eyes. Of all the people possible; why did it have to be him that came to her door? She had told him the truth, Shanna was fascinated by him, but so was she. In fact, they had spent part of that first morning, before the run, talking about him. They both knew something just didn't fit with him.

    He was tall and unless she missed her guess he had more muscles than it looked like he would. He was dark headed, his hair was almost black, and he had the most beautiful eyes. He wasn't pretty handsome or rugged handsome. He was just, well something different. He was good to look at, but there was something else there too. She laughed. So, Sabella meant consecrated to God did it? How did he know that? Why didn't she?  He actually would throw himself between her and the Blake's or stand with her or behind her too... who was this guy?  She closed her eyes tighter and tried to clear her head. She had to think. She had to decide on an answer. They would ask. What would she say? Could she go to a church? Should she? Was she afraid to go? Answers, she had to find some answers and she had to do it fast. They would ask at dinner. She just knew it.

    That evening at dinner things were strained to say the least.  They had gone to a very nice Chinese restaurant; it was nothing like most Chinese places. The atmosphere was almost elegant and yet it was a very relaxing place too.  Even that wasn't enough to relieve the strain though. After saying grace they started the meal in relative silence, if somewhat of a strained silence. Richard was the one who broke the silence once everyone had been served. "Sabella, Shanna? Susan and I want to apologize if you were upset today. We hadn't really planned to say anything about church to you Sabella, since you seem to be so set against it. It is strictly up to you. We do attend every Sunday, but you aren't under any obligation to go with us." He looked at the rest of them and smiled. "None of you are. You are welcome to join us though if you want. I normally just mention it to each of you individually sometime this evening so that there is no pressure. Again, I do apologize." Susan spoke up now. "Oh please, say you can forgive me girls. I never ever meant to cause any issues. You two have so much to deal with already, I would never dream of causing you more trouble intentionally. It was just a slip of the tongue. I never even thought, oh I am always jabbering away without thinking. Please, please forgive me."

    Sabella smiled and shook her head as she spoke quickly. "It is me who should be apologizing. I just wasn't prepared and couldn't think straight when you mentioned church. I totally screwed up and I am sorry. Now if it is alright with you I think I would like to go with you. I have never been to a church service or even in a church. I think maybe I need to go, if that is alright?" Susan was clearly stunned. Richard was too, but he recovered quick enough to reply. "Certainly it is alright. And if you get too uncomfortable you are free to leave at anytime. The church we attend is only a short drive from home and you could just walk back if you wanted to leave or wait in the car. We would be thrilled to have you, to have all of you." The remainder of the dinner was still a bit tense, but much better than it had been at the start.

    Church was the center of the next day. Sabella dressed in the outfit Susan had helped pick out and she did look very good. Once at the church she did catch everyone off guard though. She latched onto James and with a smile informed him that he was to be her escort and protector. Once away from the others she whispered something more, just to him alone. "Okay hero, do your stuff and save me." She was grinning at him, but he was never certain if she was teasing or serious. The church wasn't too large, but they had a good sized youth group. After Sabella and James attended Sunday school with the youth they went to the full service with everybody. Jeremy and Shanna had also paired off during Sunday school just in a different youth class. After church all Sabella had to say was that it had been interesting and not what she had expected it to be. All in all, everything went very well, considering the way it had all started.

    Jeremy had to report in to the Academy on Monday, a few days earlier than everyone else, to check in with the track coach. That was why he had come in almost two weeks early, so he would be adjusted before they actually signed in. James had come in simply to allow extra time to get adjusted to the altitude. A week was normally enough to make a difference, but when he had been told about Jeremy arriving so early at the sponsors home he had asked if he could join him. The girls had both come just early enough to get adjusted before in processing day. They were all getting more excited and more nervous with each passing day. They were supposed to report on Thursday morning. James and Jeremy wouldn't be seeing their folks before the break. Sabella was uncertain about her mom coming and Shanna was expecting her mom, even though she had said nothing to Shanna.

    Those days passed very quickly and the big day arrived. In processing was a madhouse, an orderly madhouse, but still a madhouse. They quickly lost track of each other. They had to stay focused and deal with too much stuff to worry about anyone else. James was glad his folks hadn't come. It was hard enough just saying goodbye to the Blake's. He couldn't imagine saying goodbye again to Dad let alone Mom. Soon enough he was on the bus. He saw the Blake's waving and waved back. Then the real training began on the ride up the hill. That was the name used for the Academy, the Hill. It seemed fitting to James in many ways. It sat on a hill near the foot of the Rocky Mountains and they had a four year climb to make before they reached the top of the Hill and graduated as Air Force officers.