The elders retreated across the sidewalk and down the driveway. Once they were out of earshot, Hannah hissed, “Mom, that was horrible and rude! How could you? Do you even realize you insulted my best friend?”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Hannah? Are you telling me Destiny’s a Mormon or something?”
“Yeah, Mom. That’s what I’m telling you. Where have you been?”
“Not where I should have been, which is right beside you at all times. Instead, I’ve been in that prison of an office working night and day to give you the life you have.”
“No, Mom. You don’t do that for me. You do it for yourself. You’ve put work first for as long as I can remember, and Dad’s no better. Destiny’s over here all the time, and she’s never even met him.”
Evan touched Hannah on the arm. “Hey, maybe you should calm down a little.”
She looked at Evan and then looked to me. “I’m sorry.”
She had nothing to apologize for.
Mrs. Miller looked at me, her eyes flashing with fury. “You’ve been lying to me, and I don’t appreciate it.”
She shook a finger at Isaac. “Does your dad know you’re dating her?
Isaac stared back at her with a challenge in his eyes but didn’t answer her.
“I didn’t think so. Just wait until I talk to him. It won’t be pretty.”
Isaac looked her straight in the eye. “Go right ahead. I have nothing to hide. Destiny, grab your stuff. I’m taking you home.”
My dad was supposed to pick me up on his way home from work, but he wasn’t due for another hour. Hot tears burned in my eyes as I went to the couch, scooped up my backpack, and slid my geometry book back inside it. I couldn’t decide which hurt worse: Mrs. Miller’s prejudice or Isaac’s refusal to take the Book of Mormon from the missionaries.
Isaac put his hand on the small of my back as we left through the Millers’ elegant foyer. As we crossed to his truck, he said, “Well, that was no fun.”
“You think?” I’d hoped Hannah’s mom would be more tolerant than Dr. Robinson. Guess I was wrong.
“Did you know she’d react like that?” I clicked on my seat belt.
“I had a small suspicion, but I thought since she was a lot more lax about stuff than my dad, she’d be cool about it. With the way she banished Hannah from public school, I should’ve known.”
“She banished Hannah from public school? She told me she switched to Bethel for the music program.”
He pulled out of the driveway and continued down the street. “Oh… I thought you already knew, or I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“What did she do at Acorn Creek?”
“I probably shouldn’t be telling you this…”
“You don’t have to.”
“It’s too late now. If I don’t tell you, you’ll just assume it’s something much worse.”
I nodded. “Good point.”
“Hannah made friends with the wrong crowd. Rumors started going around about her at school and the next thing she knew, no one wanted to be her friend. Except for this one guy. His name was Colin. He encouraged her rebellious streak. It led to an issue where she butted heads with the assistant principal in this massive power struggle. She and Colin started a strike, and as a result, half the school ended up on the football field during school hours for a massive dance party.”
“She started that? Preston told me about it last year. He said he was glad he didn’t go out there because a bunch of kids ended up getting suspended from it.”
“That’s why I’m surprised you didn’t know it involved Hannah since you knew people from that school.”
“They never said anything, but Hannah tried to go for Preston and he rejected her. Do you think that was why?”
“No, I think Preston already had it bad for you. Anyway, wouldn’t he be the type to only date Mormons? I know Michael’s like that.”
I was speechless for a moment. Isaac was more perceptive than I gave him credit for. “You probably don’t think I’m a very good Mormon.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I’m dating you.”
Isaac’s mouth formed a hard line. “I don’t care if you’re a good Mormon. I like you for you.”
It was sweet of him to say so, but guilt still sunk into the bottom of my gut.
“You have nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t understand the whole I-only-date-Mormons thing.”
“It comes down to this,” I explained with a heavy heart. “We believe we can’t reach the highest level in heaven unless we’re married in the temple. Then when kids are born, they’re automatically sealed to their parents, and the entire family can be together for all eternity. Families are a huge thing for us. When my parents first talked to the missionaries seven years ago, that was what changed things for them. So now, they’re always saying ‘You marry who you date.’”
“So that’s why your parents are so upset about you dating me?”
“Yes. And now your dad will find out, and I imagine it will be much worse for you than it was for me.”
“When I think about him telling me I can’t have you, it only makes me want you so much more. You’re Destiny Clark, the most beautiful, most forbidden girl at Bethel Baptist Academy. Who could resist that?”
Was that how he saw me? “Okay, I’ll admit to being the most forbidden girl at school, but I think you need to get your eyes checked. I’m hardly the most beautiful.”
“Have you looked in the mirror? You’re hot. You sing. You cook. You don’t mind getting dirty if it means you’re having fun. I don’t know what else a guy could ask for.”
How about someone who wouldn’t get him thrown out of the house?
9
Isaac
I inched my truck up the Clark’s tree-lined driveway. Although I’d put up a confident front to Destiny, my chest ached with dread. I would do everything possible to keep us together. Dad had to understand. I’d make him.
When I wound the bend in the long drive and the house came into view, it was deserted outside. She disconnected her seat belt and gathered her backpack from the floor. She opened the door, ready to go, but I reached out and patted her arm. “Hey. Wait.” She spun back to me with bright blue eyes. I would do everything I could to keep her by my side. Would she be strong enough to stay with me?
“I promise we’ll pull through this,” I told her. “No matter what happens with my dad, I’ll stand by you.”
Destiny reached a hand to my face. “That means so much.”
She was so beautiful, inside and out. I bent my head and kissed her.
All too soon, she pulled away. “I’d better go inside before someone sees me.”
As much as I didn’t want her to go, I nodded. I watched until she disappeared from view. Shifting my truck into drive, I left her house, dreading every mile that brought me closer to home.
I pushed open the front door and stepped inside. Other than the ticking of the grandfather clock in the foyer, the house was quiet. I crept up the stairs to my room unnoticed. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I pulled out my phone to text Destiny to make sure everything was okay. She replied, letting me know Hannah’s mom had called, and her parents were furious that she’d been sneaking around again. We texted back and forth for the next five minutes. If Aunt Bethany had called the Clarks, she’d probably already called Dad, too, right?
My bedroom door opened. Dad came in, wearing a red polo with the Bethel Bears mascot embroidered on the left breast. “I just got off the phone with your Aunt Bethany. We had a long conversation about you. Please tell me you’re not dating that Mormon. I told her she was mistaken, that my son would never do such a thing.”
I met his gaze. “She’s not mistaken.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“Dad, she’s an amazing girl. You just need to take the time to get to know her better.”
“She’s got you brainwashed. She’s enticed you so strongly, she’s convinced you t
o use your Aunt Bethany’s house to meet with Mormon missionaries.”
“That was only today, and it was a coincidence.”
“Okay, so it was only once. Does it matter? Bethany came home, and Hannah was holding a Book of Mormon. I can’t even imagine how horrible that must have been for her.”
“I didn’t like it much either,” I admitted. It was one thing for me to go check out Destiny’s church to impress her parents, but a different thing altogether for Hannah to study that stuff. I knew what I was getting into. My faith was firm. Hannah’s was still so shaky.
“But you stood there and allowed it! You’ve been so blinded by this girl it’s affecting your ability to make good decisions.”
“She’s not blinding me. I know what I’m doing.”
“No, Isaac, you don’t. Didn’t I just warn you to be careful around her only two months ago? This is why! Do you understand how convincing they can be? Look what happened to Ben Clark. He was one of our best members. A deacon even. If they could get to him, they can get to you, and he didn’t have a girl to convince him to join. She may have the face of an angel, but they have indoctrinated her right along with the rest of her family. She’s in Satan’s clutches.”
Was she? At one time I’d believed that, but after going to Destiny’s church, I just didn’t feel the same way about it anymore.
“Satan is the Great Deceiver,” Dad continued. “There’s nothing he’d like better than to see you lose your salvation. He’ll use every tactic he can to drag you down to Hell, no matter how innocent it may seem at first.”
“Don’t you think I’m stronger than that? I’ve studied the Bible daily as long as I can remember. I know it backward and forward. I have a personal relationship with God. He walks with me every day. Nothing Destiny could say would drive me to lose that.” Not that she would. She’d always been respectful of my beliefs.
“I’m glad to hear that. But you need to break it off with her. Keep it kind but make it clear that it’s over.”
“No.”
He stared at me, his jaw agape. “Listen to me.” His face shifted from incredulity to dominance. Once, that expression might have scared me, but now it only encouraged me to cling harder to my position. “I forbid you to see her again.”
I looked at his red face and said calmly, “Even you can’t do that. I go to school with her. We have Les Mis rehearsals coming up.” I shrugged. “You’re just going to have to get used to the idea that we’re together, and there’s nothing you can do to stop us.”
“You will not disrespect me!” he bellowed. “There’s plenty I can do to keep you away from her.” He stepped closer to me and thrust out his hand, palm up. “Break up with her, or hand over the keys to your truck.”
I winced. Not my baby… Oh well. Destiny was beyond worth it. I shrugged and scooped the keys from my bedside table. “They’re all yours.” I tossed them across the room. He caught the key ring with two hands and scowled.
“Now give me your phone.”
I sighed and fished my brand-new iPhone from the fold of the blankets on the bed. I’d waited weeks for the new iPhone to come out and had just gotten it two weeks ago.
“Until you break up with her, your life will be like prison. You can go to school, work, church and football. Beyond that, you’re to be at home either doing homework or helping your mother clean.”
“Whatever,” I muttered.
“Yes, sir!”
Ugh. “Yes, sir.”
The next morning, Mom drove me to school with Josh like I was a kid again. She almost made me ride with Dad, but he arrived way too early.
When I climbed out of the car, I saw Destiny crossing the parking lot with Michael. Destiny looked over at me. “Where’s your truck?”
“My dad grounded me last night. He took my keys and my phone.”
“Because of me?” Destiny asked.
I nodded.
“So that’s why you never sent me my goodnight text last night.”
“Or the good morning one,” I said with regret. “See? I wasn’t neglecting you.”
“Isaac, I’m so sorry,” she said. “This all happened because of me.”
“Are you kidding? Like I’d pick that stuff over you. He can ground me all he wants. He can’t force me to break up with you.”
“At least you don’t have to hide our relationship from him anymore.”
“It was better when I did. Josh thinks it’s hilarious that I’m in so much trouble. And now my mom’s starting up about the dangers of Mormons.”
I shouldn’t have said the last part. Destiny looked even more troubled now.
I pulled her close until our foreheads touched. “I’m so glad I have you. I don’t want you to feel like I would ever choose my phone or my truck over you.” Her eyes twinkled. “What would I do without your smile?” I took her hand and interlaced my fingers with hers. We walked toward the building.
When we got inside, Aspen and Green were passing out these yellow fliers near her locker. She had a badge I didn’t recognize pinned to her red uniform shirt. Why was she organizing school events without talking to me first?
An Asian girl with a braid walked past, allowing me a better peek at the badges Aspen was distributing. Save Isaac. What the heck?
A freshman with a crew cut and glasses passed me.
“Hey, can I see that?”
He gave me a deer-in-the-headlights face but handed me the yellow paper. At the top was a cross.
Save Isaac Prayer Group.
What: Come join us in prayer for Isaac Robinson to help him stay strong in God as he’s being deceived by the Mormons.
Why: To show our support for our dear friend and leader as he goes through this confusing time in his life.
When: Every day during lunch.
Where: The student lounge.
Every prayer helps. If we all join in prayer, we can make a difference.
“This is ridiculous,” Destiny said.
I wadded the paper and pushed my way through the crowd, still holding Destiny’s hand. As we approached, the group parted. Aspen’s eyes met mine and hardened. She looked away and smiled at the surrounding crowd.
Raw fury burned inside me. “What the heck do you think you’re doing?” I asked.
She smiled and handed another paper out. “Just because we aren’t together anymore doesn’t mean I’m not worried about you, Isaac.”
“You have no right.”
She smiled sweetly. “I have every right. I’m the chaplain. It’s my job to help the students grow stronger in their walk with God.”
“My ‘walk with God’ is going just fine. Stay out of my business and my life.” I ripped the papers from her hands and scattered them across the hall.
She stepped back, startled, and Green said, “Robinson, you’re out of line.”
“You’re going to talk to me about being ‘out of line’?”
He met my gaze coolly.
“Should I tell everyone what good Christians you and Aspen really are?”
He looked at me with sympathy. “You really are much further gone than we’d thought, but don’t worry.” He slammed a yellow paper to my chest. “We’ll all be praying for you.”
I looked down at his fingers splayed across my shirt and then from his smug face to his arm around Aspen. The hypocrisy was too much to take.
I curled my hand into a fist and knocked Green in the jaw. Hard. His body slammed into the lockers behind him.
Destiny called out my name and held my arm back as Aspen screamed and rushed toward Green. “Baby, are you okay?”
Although blood trickled from his mouth, he looked up at me with triumph. “It’s okay, Aspen. He’s in a dark place. He needs to let God’s light back into his life.”
“Y’all disgust me,” I spat. “Destiny…” I turned toward her serious blue eyes. “Help me get away from here before I beat him senseless.”
She nodded and squeezed my hand as we left the gawking crowd behind us.
10
Destiny
I glanced at the clock in geometry class for the hundredth time that hour. There was only thirty minutes left of last period, and then I could see Isaac for a few minutes before he had to go to football practice. If Mom would let me, I’d just stay on the bleachers and watch him and Michael play while I did my homework. I’d gotten away with it a few times, but now that she knew the real reason behind my sudden interest in football, she’d banned me from it. “Mrs. Smith?” a voice called through the intercom.
“Yes?”
“Could you please send Destiny Clark down to Dr. Robinson’s office?” With dread, I gathered my book and papers and shoved them into my backpack.
My heart pounded as I walked down the hall. Until lately, I’d been the perfect example of a goody-two-shoes rule-follower. I’d never dreamed I’d be called into Dr. Robinson’s office.
When I knocked on the door, Dr. Robinson opened it. Isaac sat in one of the blue plastic chairs facing the desk, a grim expression on his face. My eyes wandered around the room and fell on a large wooden cross above a framed Bible verse that said, For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Romans 3:23 NIV.
He circled the desk. “Have a seat.” His voice was silk smooth.
I sat in the empty chair.
“Are we in trouble for something?” I asked.
“Not at all. I just felt we needed to open a better channel of communication between the three of us.”
Yeah right.
I laced my fingers and placed my hands in my lap to appear calm, but I trembled inside.
“This relationship is unhealthy for both of you. The Bible is clear on unequally yoked couples.”
“So you called us in here to tell us to break up?” Isaac fumed. He stood and ran his fingers through his hair. “This is ridiculous.”
“Sit down. I wasn’t finished.”
Reluctantly, Isaac lowered into the chair.
“Since neither of you are being cooperative, I’ve advised Mr. Byrd to release Destiny from her duties in the musical.”
A Bolder Version of Me (The Destiny Clark Saga Book 3) Page 6