Medo

Four in the morning and the streets were still as deserted as they had been three hours ago. Rain cringed at the realization of it as she adjusted her torn fishnet only to place the beginnings of a new rip in them. Her silhouetted heels clicked against the pavement and her skirt hiked with every step to the subway tunnels. It had been a long night even for the popular girls let alone the less experienced ones like her who entertained only to keep food on the table and a roof over their desperate heads. Moaning when a hunger pain shot up her side reminding her of the last meal she ate Rain eased herself onto one of the spray painted benches and counted her earnings. Sixty bucks and a rubber band, how she got the rubber band she could never guess, but none-the-less there it all was in the palm of her hand. She slipped it back into her barely there shirt and stood shakily as the train screeched to a halt. Walking with as much dignity as a prostitute could muster Rain entered the metal death trap and winked at an older man shooting her dirty looks with a new found humor.

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Amber had never been late for anything her entire life and she certainly wouldn’t break that habit today. She walked with as much power as her ankle skirt would allow her and skipped steps as she practically ran in the basement of her childhood church. Pastor William was waiting with patience uncommon for this fast paced generation and he smiled warmly at Amber as she greeted him with an apology. She had barely made it and felt herself tense at the close call briefly before the Pastors laid back nature calmed her.

“I’m sorry Pastor, were you waiting long?” She asked as she took a seat that he moved to offer her.

“Not at all Amber,” He laughed and waved his hand dismissively at the nearby clock. “You’re right on time.”

Smiling as she felt herself completely relax Amber moved her well broken in bible to her lap and opened it to Mathew 9. She had asked the aging man of God to tutor and meet with her for private services as to prepare her for becoming a Pastor herself at twelve and even after seven years he has been nothing but loyal to his word meeting her every Friday night.

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves,” The Pastor read practiced and looked up when Amber continued testing her memory with eyes closed peacefully.

“"This fellow is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...."

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That was the third time in the game ‘Perfect and Popular’ Page had spiked the ball right into ‘Not So Perfect and Even Less Popular’ Samantha’s head in this so called game of volleyball. They weren’t even allowed to use the whole gym as the basketball team had been booked to practice the same night as their ‘oh so important’ volleyball game. It was ridiculous trying to back up to hit the softened ball only to get back flipped by a rouge jock to busy showing off for the popular girls to pay attention to what they were doing. Rolling her eyes at the stupidity of it Samantha jumped up at the passing circle of white and hit it dead on and watched as it dodged past the other team’s unskillful hands. That hit had won them the game but did anyone cheer for her efforts no, they were to busy paying attention to Sarah who had tragically broken a nail. Samantha was really beginning to fear for the future of humanity.

“Good game Sam.” Came a voice that always made Samantha think of honey which caused her to smile as she turned to greet its owner.

“Hey Rain! I didn’t think you were coming.” She said generally happy to see her older cousin and greeted her with a hug which was returned lovingly.

“Well I only caught the second half but I was hoping you might come with me to Denny’s for dinner. Amber’s going to be there I mean if it’s ok with your parents…” She trailed off with an air of lackened confidence but seemed to beam when Samantha offered her a grin and acceptance. Slipping away quickly to the lockers and taking a quick shower and change of clothes Samantha hurried herself not wanting to keep Rain waiting since they had been so close since childhood and now her visits were getting rare. Samantha pulled her thick locks into a messy ponytail and checked her reflection once more before grabbing her bag and walking to meet Rain where she sat toying with the strings flaring from her denim skirt.