"It was nice seeing you today sister Khia",the senior pastor said shaking my hand.

"It was great to be here. I really enjoyed the service."

"Praise be to God. When is your beautiful self gonna join the youth choir?"

"Oh I can't sing, Pastor",I said laughing.

"Well there are other ministries you can join, for starters you can join the youth."

"Okay but I'm not necessarily a member here Pastor",I said trying to think of every excuse not to get myself so involved in this church thing.

"Santiago is so you might as well be right?",he said being so persistent.

"I'll pray on it",I laughed cause I used every Christian's cliche just now.

"Alright. I'll stop harassing you",he joked.

"What you over here telling her, Pastor?",Santiago said sneaking up behind us.

"That she needs to join."

We all laughed.

"She said she'll pray on it so I'm letting it go this time."

We both laughed.

"Yo we meeting right now",brother Darryl said to Santiago passing by.

"Ight I'm coming."

I didn't know what was going on but Santiago said, "great to see you Pastor",and took my hand and walked over to I guess the youth group that was sitting down.

Santiago and I took a seat and listened attentively. As I look across, this girl with long blonde weave in beach curls and a caramel skin tone glared at me and I couldn't figure out why. I wasn't gonna waste time trying to either.

"So as we know this time every year we have our annual youth revival and we want to start it off with a bang so this week, everyone please be in prayer and in sync with God. We all gotta be on the same page. So if you need to tell ya friends , family, girlfriends, boyfriends to give you some space then do that. This week we will keep in touch with each other to choose a topic. So everyone post your topics on the youth page. That's all for today. Thanks for your time",brother Darryl announced. Everyone got up and left including us. Santiago open the car door open for me and I got in taking off my blazer cause it was hot outside. As he drove, I asked him, "what's a revival?"

"A revival is like a church service we have every day out the week and the theme depends on the topic we pick. It's live, many people come from everywhere to support or hear a word. For example let's say the theme is Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Preachers or Evangelists come from other churches to preach a sermon on that topic."

"But wouldn't the sermons be repetitive cause it's on the same topic?"

"Nah cause the Holy Spirit Can communicate different things to different preachers."

"Oh okay. Who was that girl sitting across from us?"

"Raine. She's on the worship team. Why?"

"She was giving me dirty looks and I'm pretty sure it had something to do with you",I said changing the topic.

"Her and I had a thing for each other once."

"You had sex with her?"

"Nah I didn't let it get that far... she's the pastor's daughter."

"Wow you had me all up in her face. So what happened? Her father didn't like you?",I said crossing my arms.

"Nah never that. There were things she wanted me to do that i didn't agree with and she wasn't my type anyways. I was in love with her voice but not her."

"Anybody else I should know about that you had a 'thing' with?"

"Nah. But I will check her on lookin at you like that. Your my girl now so everyone gonna have to respect that."

I rolled my eyes and looked out the window. Couldn't wait to get home to eat. When we pulled up at my mom's house, I saw my dad out on the porch smoking a blunt talking on the phone.

"Guess im staying for dinner",Santiago said parking his car in the driveway. He reached for his gun in his glove department and loaded it. He got out the car and open my car door for me. Taking his vest off, he threw it in the back seat and loosened his tie. He held my hand and let me go in front of him.

"Hold up man",I heard my dad say on the phone.

"Sup church boy",my dad said giving him a head nod.

"Sup",Santiago said calmly.

"Hey Dad",I said walking past him and getting my keys out.

"Hey Honey. Come over and give ya old man a proper greeting."

I went over and gave him a hug with Santiago watching every move. He didn't keep his eyes off me for a second and I felt so protected.

"Is mom here?",I asked my dad.

"Yeah she's in there making food."

"Okay. Are you coming in to eat?"

"Nah Is about to head out. Got some business to take care of babygirl."

"Oh okay",I said. Pushing the door open, we entered the house and the aroma of fried oxtails and rice and beans filled the house.

"Smells amazing in here",Santiago said. I smiled at him.

"Honey is your dad still out there? I fixed him a plate before he leaves",my mom yelled and finally came out of the kitchen and saw Santiago walking towards her.

"What a pleasant surprise? How are you sweetheart?",she asked him while pulling him into a hug.

"I'm good thank you."

"I didn't know you'd be joining us today. Wow that's great. Have a seat. What can I get you? You want a glass of soda?" Anything?"

"Mom I'd like a soda",I said to her wondering why she was so overly nice to Santiago. They both laughed at me like I told some kind of joke.

"Yes ma'am. Thank you, I like that soda we had the last time we had dinner."

"Ahh kola lakay. I knew he'd like that",my mom said looking at me.

"Yeah he's kinda hooked on it. Been asking me where he can buy it at",I said smoothing his hair with my hand.

"Get him the drink honey while I set the table."

"Okay be right back babe",I said giving him a kiss on the cheek. My mom would slap me if I kissed him on the lips right in front of her. It's disrespectful.

I went to the kitchen and poured him a glass of kola with ice.

"Give this to your father",my mom said handing me a ready to go plate with food in it. After handing Santiago his drink, I went outside and gave the plate of food to my dad. I could feel him looking at my butt as I walked away from him and got nervous. I closed the door behind me.

"You Okay corazón?",Santiago asked me sipping on his drink.

"Yeah I'm good. I'm gonna go upstairs and change for a minute",I told him. He nodded and watched me walk upstairs to my room. I took my red pencil dress off and my heels. I never used to wear heels until Santiago got me wearing them to church now. I sat on my bed relieving my sore feet from the heels. I threw on a pair of shorts and a simple olive tube top. Taking my makeup off with my makeup wipe, i looked at myself in the mirror. Santiago thinks I told my mom about the thing my dad did to me but I haven't. I completely lied to him and if he finds out, he's gonna flip. My dad even still showing up at the house and being here, is definitely blowing my cover right now. But I knew now is a good time as any to tell her since my dad is on his way out & she won't over react because Santiago is here. What if she doesn't believe me? This is her ex husband we're talking about. That was my biggest fear because I needed my mom as a witness. If she's not on my side? Then there's no case or is there?