Chapter 24

The first semester of my sophomore year in high school slipped off the calendar with barely a thought. Life had fallen into a predictable rhythm: classes, part-time job, choir trips. Go, go, go. Occasionally, I’d make time to attend a girls’ basketball game or help out with freshman tutoring sessions, but my overall schedule held time for little else. This particular afternoon proved no different.

Pulling into my student-assigned parking space, I stalled my standard Toyota sedan. The seat jarred forward, the seatbelt took a death grip over my left shoulder, and I found myself plastered against the tan leather seat as the engine died. “I have really got to learn to master that clutch,” I mumbled under my breath. Glancing around the parking lot, it appeared I had been spared further embarrassment.

Unlatching my seatbelt, I attempted to open the car door. No such luck. Fidgeting with the handle, I shoved my weight against the side panel and yelled for the door to cooperate. “I don’t have time for this. Open up! You’re gonna make me late for class.” As if listening to me, the door gave way, causing me to nose dive onto the pavement. “Seriously?” I groaned. “What did I do to deserve that?” Letting out a deep sigh, I pulled myself up on the door’s armrest and straightened my torso, lifting myself out of the car. Turning to retrieve my books from the passenger seat, a strong gust of wind shoved the driver-side door into my rear end, causing me to tumble forward over the gearshift and lose my breath. Gaining my wits about me, I protested my predicament. “Can this day get any better?”

Pushing myself back to a standing position, I dragged my book bag over the center console, flung it over my shoulder, and nudged the door shut with my foot. As luck would have it, my black slacks decided to cling to my legs like a two-year-old begging for ice cream, awkwardly wrapping themselves around my ankles and refusing to loosen their hold. “Really? Static cling? Is the universe mocking me, too?” Dropping my bag to the ground, I tugged at my pant leg until the static electricity gave way. “This isn’t funny!” I blurted out to no one in particular.

Bending over to retrieve my bag, a catcall beckoned from behind me. “Yeah, whatever,” I mumbled, ignoring the derogatory attempt for attention. Hoisting the books over my shoulder, I headed for my first class of the afternoon.

A few feet from the car, another whistle echoed off the school buildings. “Seriously, get a life!” I muttered. My frustration increased as the sound got closer.

“Hope, wait up!” The familiarity of my name and feet pounding the pavement caused me to stop.

“What?” I snapped, whirling about to face the caller. Gavin’s smiling face and twinkling eyes completely caught me off guard. “Gavin? Oh, my goodness! What are you doing here? Is that really you?” I dropped my belongings–this time on purpose–reaching up to touch the dimple on his cheek. I half expected him to be a figment of my imagination.

“Hey, Babe! Yes, it’s really me. How are you doing? Didn’t you hear me calling you back there?” Breathing deeply, he waved at all the cars behind him, winded from the chase. “I had to sprint halfway across the parking lot to catch up with you. You sure are quick!”

The intimate name-calling threw me for a loop. “No…well, yes. Was that you whistling at me just now?” I struggled to fit all the pieces together.

Gavin’s face beamed, his eyes dancing. “Of course, it was me. Who else would be whistling at you? Is there some guy I don’t know about?” His dimples sunk deeper as he stared into my eyes.

“No, nothing like that,” I staved off the absurd. “I just thought you were a typical guy being a chauvinistic pig, so I ignored you.”

Gavin chuckled at the bluntness. “Ouch! I deserve that.” Tilting his head to the side, he made puppy dog eyes and opened his arms to receive me. “Do I at least get a hug?”

I grinned and shrugged. “Why not!” Walking into his embrace, a part of me melted. Something about you has always felt like home, I sighed inwardly.

Holding me at arm’s length, Gavin let another whistle slide. “Good grief, Woman! What have you been doing with yourself these past few months? I almost didn’t recognize you. Miss Hot Stuff!”

I rolled my eyes, refusing the compliment. “Yeah, I’m sure I’m quite the sight—falling out of my car and all. Just wrap me in bubble wrap and call me Grace,” I chuckled.

“I’m afraid I missed that one, but I’m sure it was quite a show,” he winked. “When’s the next viewing?”

I wrinkled my nose and nudged him in the arm. “You don’t take anything seriously, do you?”

Flirting brought a special twinkle to his eyes. “I take you seriously.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you do.” Heat warmed my cheeks as I returned his smile.

Dark. Rugged. Handsome. Gavin’s tight-fitted jeans, casual blue t-shirt, dark leather boots, and hint of stubble across his jaw transformed him into quite a distinguished-looking gentleman. “Very mature look on you,” I complimented, touching his chin for reference.

“Oh, this silly thing?” He scratched at his five o’clock shadow and laughed. “Yeah, I’ve just been too lazy to shave today. I’m down here till Monday on home leave, so figured, why bother?”

I shook my head. “Such a guy! Well, whatever the reason, it works for ya.”

Gavin hooked his thumbs on his belt loops, a serious overtone shifting his mood. “I didn’t realize how much I missed you until I saw you getting out of your car a few minutes ago.”

“Hey! I thought you said you didn’t see me arrive.” I tried keeping the spirit of the moment casual.

“I might have fudged that part just a little bit,” he teased, raising his eyebrows. “You’re just so darn cute when you get flustered, and I didn’t want you gettin’ all embarrassed over such a silly little thing. It’s just me,” he downplayed the event.

“Yeah, you—whom I haven’t heard from since you left for school almost four months ago,” I verbally jabbed. “I can tell how much you miss me. No letter. No phone call. Nada. I see how I rate.”

He stuck out his lower lip in a pretend pout. “Forgive me? I promise to do better.” His dark brown eyes pleaded for a second chance.

“Oh, stop saying things you know you don’t mean,” I joshed. “We both know it’ll be another three months or more before you even think about picking up a phone, much less a pen.”

“I don’t know if it’ll be that long….” he started to defend himself, but the first warning for afternoon classes cut him short. “Saved by the bell.” He feigned relief.

“You’re just lucky,” I answered, swinging my bag back onto my shoulder. “You know I’m right, but there’s no time to debate that now. Sadly, I have school responsibilities calling me, and I need to get to class.” I started heading toward the classroom building, walking backwards as I talked. “Was really nice getting to see you, though. Thanks for flagging me down—or whatever it is you want to call it. I hope you enjoy the rest of your semester.”

“Maybe I’ll give you a call later before I head back on Monday, if that’s all right by you.” He stared at me, waiting for my approval.

“I won’t hold my breath,” I laughed. “You forget. I know you.”

He nodded, accepting defeat. “I deserve that, too. You know me too well—but, you also forget, Christmas is coming. I’ll be back in town for the holidays. If not now, then?”

I felt a knowing smile spread across my face as I turned and headed down the sidewalk. “Look me up next time you’re in town,” I called over my shoulder. “You know where to find me.”

“Yes, I do,” he laughed, watching me walk away. “I won’t forget.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I called out even louder.

“Fair enough.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“So, let me get this straight. You’re telling me that Gavin told you to get on with your life and forget him, and then, a few months later, comes back into town and treats you like his long-lost girlfriend?” The puzzled look on Greg’s face mimicked the same bemused feelings I had experienced that afternoon my sophomore year.

I nodded with humor. “Yep, that’s what I’m sayin’. Confusing, right?” I smiled as Greg tried making sense of it.

“I’d say.” He shook his head as if dispelling the craziness. “Talk about sending mixed messages! I’m sure you didn’t know what to believe.”

I chuckled. “I. Did. Not.”

Greg smiled. “Go on.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Halfway through the summer preceding my junior year of high school, I received a phone call from Gavin’s father, Pastor Jacobs. “Hey, Hope, how are you doing?” His cheery voice held genuine interest.

“I’ve been better, but can’t really complain.” I answered. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I’m calling because I have this crazy idea—a brainchild of sorts, I guess one could say.” He jumped right in. “I’ve been mulling over all the possibilities on how to make this work, and I thought of you. I think you’d be the perfect fit. Interested in hearing more?”

I chuckled, humoring his bait. “I’m game. How do I play into this idea of yours?”

Pastor Jacobs unleashed one of his jovial belly laughs. “That’s my girl. Let me tell ya what I’m thinkin’.” He drew in a deep breath, giving himself a moment to collect his thoughts. “Recently, while spending time with God during my morning devotions, I’ve had a burden placed on my heart.”

“Oh?” Intrigued, I waited to hear more.

“Yeah. For the longest time, I’ve had a real desire to reach the young people in our church. They need something that will make Jesus real—something that’s geared just for them. Know what I mean?”

“I’m following, so far,” I affirmed.

“I’m thinking we should do a youth evangelistic series at our church, for kids, by kids, and I’d like for you to lead out. You’d be a part of all the planning, helping create a way for us to reach the young adults in our congregation, as well as those in the community.” Eagerness elevated his excitement.

“You want me to lead out?” I echoed. “That’s a lot of responsibility. I don’t know if I’m really qualified for this kind of project. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m sure there are better candidates.”

“Oh, but you’re more than capable! God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called,” Pastor Jacobs encouraged. “Besides, you wouldn’t be alone. You’d be on a team of teen leaders working with our pastoral staff at the church. The evening programs would consist of special music and a nightly skit, plus a sermonette based on the chosen Bible theme each night. The goal is to show today’s youth that they can have a real relationship with Christ, starting right now. What do ya think? Think you might be interested?”

“Well, it sounds different—in a good way,” I admitted. “When would these meetings start?”

“In about four weeks,” he answered, “and it’d run for two.”

“Two days? Like over a weekend? That doesn’t seem very long or like it’d be hard,” I noted.

“No, weeks,” he clarified. “We’d like to see this take place before the start of the new school year.”

“Wow! That’s ambitious of you,” I complimented his drive. “You really think a team of us could pull this off in such a short amount of time?”

“Oh, I know you can. Just say ‘Yes,’ and God will do the rest.” I could almost see his smile.

“Who else would be on this team?” I needed more information in order to weigh the logistics.

“We’re still working on figuring out the details, but Gavin will be home for the summer, and I wanted to have his help on this, as well. I know the two of you work well together, so I figure the other components will fall in place equally well once we start brain storming. It’s going to take some collaborating minds to pull this off.”

I chuckled to myself. Me working with Gavin, Lord? Seriously? Is this what moving on is supposed to look like?

Responding to Pastor Jacobs, I answered, “Let me pray about it and make sure it doesn’t conflict with any other summer plans I already have in the works, but I am intrigued. I also want to say, I appreciate your belief in me. That really means a lot.”

“You got it, Girl. Just let me know what you decide. I’d love having you on board.”

Pastor Jacobs’ proverbial pat on the back caused me to grin. “Absolutely. I’ll give you my answer by the end of the week.”