Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (18 page)

“What?” I spin my head back towards him.

“Last night you told me you would come with me.”

“Didn’t you have church last night?” I remember our plans were made for later because he had church.

He smiles and nods. “That was a prayer meeting, tonight is church.”

“Oh. Okay.
” I say before he tells me he’ll see me later and heads out the door. I’m in my closet looking for something to wear, because I have to go get a new phone today when I hear shouting coming from outside. I run to my window, confirming what I suspected. Hudson and Declan in a shouting match in my driveway. I bet the neighbors love that. I barrel down the stairs and run outside. “Stop it!” I shout when I fling the door open. Both guys look my way.

“Miley.” Declan says with concern as he makes his way towards me.

“What’s he doing here?” Hudson shouts pointing at Declan.

“I don’t think you have any right to ask me that.” I shout right back at him.

“I tried to get him to leave.” Declan says as he throws an arm around my shoulder. I can see the hurt in Hudson’s eyes when he looks at the arm draped around my shoulders. I have to say it feels good.

“Miley, just listen to me.”
Hudson pleads.

“I don’t want to hear it anymore, we’re done.” I say. “Leave.”

When Hudson doesn’t move Declan steps in front of me and says, “She asked you to leave. The next thing I know I hear a crack against skin and Declan is double over.

“Hudson!” I scream as I grab Declan who is already standing straight up again. “Just leave I never want to talk to you again!” Not looking back at Hudson I hear is car spin out of my driveway. Hopefu
lly for the last time ever. “I’m so sorry about that.” I gush at Declan. “You don’t need to be caught up in all my drama.”

“That’s alright.” He laughs as he rubs his jaw,
“Now I can say I have been in a fight.”

Chapter 14

I
f it wasn’t for the sign stating it was a church I would have never known it is one. There is no big steeple, no stained glassed windows, or any pictures of sad saints. Just a regular old building that could be anything. The sign reading ‘New Life Challenge Worship Center’ telling me it is a church I always thought church names began with the word saint.

As soon as we enter the double glass doors we are greeted with a dozen hugs. I hate hugs. Being hugged by this many strangers at once reminds me of my mom’s funeral .Everyone thought that they had to hug the poor girl who lost her mom, lik
e a hug would somehow make it better that the person who was supposed to bandage my skinned knees or talk to me when I had my first broken heart was gone. The hugs didn’t bring her back-they didn’t make it better.

Declan introduces me to even more huggers as we enter into the sanctuary.  I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever been around this many happy people before. I always thought church was serious, but of course the only thing I have to associate church with is my mother’s funeral.  I hadn’t expected warm and welcoming, that is for sure. I had expected cold and judgmental.

I am glad when he sits us in the back, where I prefer to be. The music starts and I’m surprised to hear rock music. People around us begin to clap their hands. I look around in confusion what are they doing. The words to the songs on a giant screen above the band reminds me a little of karaoke.  Declan belts out the lyrics beside me, but I don’t sing along. Those words make no sense to me. How God is worthy to be praised? What does that mean anyway? I begin to feel a little squeamish when people start raising their hands in the air. I try to nonchalantly look for the nearest exit.

“You alright?”
Declan shouts in my ear above the noise.

“Not really what I expected.” I shout back tucking my hair behind my ear. He makes eye contact with me and smiles.

“It never is what people expect.” He says before looking back to the front and singing again. I would really love to take off running out of here right now, but for some reason I don’t want to leave Declan’s side like maybe he is going to protect me from anything crazy about to happen.

Finally, after
what seems like forever, they’re done singing and the preacher begins to talk and I feel like crying, though I have no idea why.

“In
Romans, taken from The Message Bible it says…” What is a Message Bible? “If you go against the grain you will get splinters, regardless of your neighborhood, what your parents taught you, or what school you attend.” It feels like the preacher is looking right at me as he walks across the large stage to our side of the room.  If only I could hide right now. “But if you embrace the way that God does things.” I release the breath I am holding in when he strolls back to the middle of the stage I don’t know what I am so nervous about. “There are wonderful payoffs again without regard to where you are from or how you are brought up.”  My heart races in my chest and I can feel a lump forming in my throat as he speaks. “God pays no attention to what others think of you or what you think of yourself, he has his own opinion and it is good.”

I am about ready to lose i
t now. I fight back the tears by biting on my bottom lip. I want to leave, but I am glued to my seat by some invisible force. The preacher proceeds to say that the gift of Jesus and his salvation are free to anyone who would like it and if anyone wants to receive him today there is an invitation to come up front.  It’s not that I
don’t
want to, all this just isn’t meant for me. This stuff is for good people and I am just not good enough.

Declan pulls me by the hand once service is over to a couple that looks to be in their twenties. The blond man smiles when he sees Declan. “Hey what’s up D.” he holds out his fist for a fist bump.

“Hey this is Miley.” Declan introduces me and places his hand on the small of my back, “Miley these are my youth pastors, Nate and
Lexi Bishop.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Lexi tells me. Lexi has long brown wavy hair and is dressed really hip. “Declan talks a lot about you.” I don’t know why a smile instantly spreads across my face just knowing this.

“We would love to see you in youth sometime.” Nate adds.

I just smile and nod. I have absolutely no intentions of coming back here again. Declan and Nate then start to talk about some other events going on and I zone out. I am conscience of his hand that is still resting on my back like it is just natural for it to be there.

I feel a light tap on my shoulder and when I turn I see teenage girls standing there.  Abby is one of the girls she introduces herself to me first, Abby is short with short brown hair and then there was Shay who looks a little like a punk rocker her hair is jet black with a pink strip in the front she is wearing neon pink rock star jeans. And a concert tee shirt of a band I have never even heard of. Abby tells me she is goes to Riverside Christian but she
is the same grade as me and Shay is only going to be a sophomore, but she goes to Cambrooke High like Declan and I. Shay is the same grade as Hudson’s sister Carly. She definitely doesn’t look like someone Carly would ever hang out with.

Abby tries to talk to me, but this feels awkward I don’t know what to say to her. “Miley!” I hear Robin’s voice gush. This gets me out of this conversation and I welcome it, except here she goes with the hugging again. My body stiffens when her arms come around me. “I am so glad you were able to make it tonight.”

I give the standard smile “It’s good seeing you again too.” I don’t know why she is always so excited to see me. She barely knows me and she acts like I am her long lost daughter or something.  She asks me what I thought of the service and I just smile and tell her it was nice. Even though I think they are a little loony here myself.

I lie in bed tossing and turning the preacher’s voice playing over and over in my head. 
God pays no attention to what others say or what you think about yourself.
Is that for real?

All of a sudden I find myself in the middle of the church, it’s empty
, but I still hear the pastor’s words over and over. It is becoming harder for me to breathe now and my heart is beating so fast I think it is going to explode any minute. Jess is standing in front of me, how did she get here?  She is laughing at me.

“DO you really think you are good enough for all of this?” she rolls her eyes as she flips her hair over her shoulder. Her words pierce through my gut like a carving knife.

The church is dissolving, into nothing I am standing in empty darkness.

Fog rises up from the ground and I can see limping figures coming towards me. Raspy words are coming from their mouths the closer they get the better I can see them and hear them. They are little black leathery creatures with bat like wings and fangs.

A green colored gas comes out of them whenever they breathe. I am choking on the gas now.

I can hear them calling me names like fat, ugly, stupid and the finally one says worthless just as he gets to me he jumps on my arm.

I try to scream but no sound comes out. I try to move. I am frozen.

The creepy creature looks up at me. “You are nothing.” He says before baring his rotten fangs into my arm.

My whole body jolts and I am in a pool of sweat in my bed.  Fear ripples inside of me. I want to run to my dad, but I am paralyzed with it. Besides he would probably think I am crazy what seventeen year old runs to their parent after having a nightmare. Maybe if I was seven.  I just lie here and try to convince myself it was only a dream, even though it was so vivid, feeling more real than reality does at times.

Chapter 15

E
ven though I am a little hurt that Jess comes before me I welcome Nova’s company when she shows up today. I have been spending so much time with Declan I miss girl time. Though I love being at Declan’s house. I’m there everyday, it isn’t lonely like it is at my house. His brothers feel like they are my own now and his parents already joke that I am the daughter they never had. 

Nova
and I just sit down in our loungers and begin to catch up when I hear the door to the house open. I turn and see Penelope walking our way in her gigantic sunhat and sunglasses that take up most of her face. Her bikini isn’t much bigger than Jess’ and my dad has a problem with mine?

“Hello Miley.” She says all prim and proper as she sits down in the vacant lounger beside me giving me her fake beauty queen smile. “I am so glad
you’re here today.” She adjusts the wide brimmed hat on her head with her perfectly manicured fingers, “I was hoping to do a little girl bonding.”

I can’t believe she is wearing makeup to lay out in. “You don’t have to keep up the act, my dad isn’t here.” I say flatly as
she sprits her legs with tanning spray. “Which makes me wonder why you are here.”

“Miley.” She tilts her head with a smug smile. “We are engaged now, what’s his is mine.”

“You are aware you have a teenage daughter then, right?” I reply just as smugly as she did. “Which by the way makes you not one.” I point to her with my newly manicured finger.

Penelope sighs as she leans back into the chair
“I really do wish we could get along. Things could be difficult if we don’t.”

I do not even believe the audacity of this woman. Is she th
reatening me? Oh, no this isn’t going to fly.

“I’
m ready to catch some rays.” Nova chimes in, there she is trying to avoid a confrontation.

“Oh, I forgot Nova, this is my soon to be step mom, Penelope.” I say sarcastically.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Nova says with a smile as she leans around me to see Penelope.

“And you too, Norah.” Penelope says as she pulls out a magazine from her straw beach bag.

“Nova.” Nova corrects her but she doesn’t seem to hear. She isn’t going to ruin my day. I turn towards Nova.

“What were we talking about before the interruption?” I ask.

“Well Jess finally found her a college guy.” Nova says.

“What about her and Hudson.” I roll my eyes as I say this.

“What about them?” Nova shrugs. “They didn’t get together. Jess is jealous of you.”

“Why’
s she jealous of me?” I ask with my hand on my chest.

“Oh high school drama.”
Penelope gushes. “How I miss those days.”

“It’s not like that was that long ago for you.” I retort.

Penelope raises her eyebrows. “Enjoy it girls, when it is over it’s a whole nother world. You won’t be a big fish in a small pond anymore.”

“I’m not a big fish.” I huff.

“Your dad told me you are a cheerleader.”

“Not anymore.”  I glare at her.

“So, Penny, it is okay if I call you Penny, right?” Nova says leaning around me to see Penelope.

“I prefer to be called Penelope, thanks.” I can see the irritation behind her forced smile.

“I was wondering where you went to college. I am having a hard time deciding.” Nova replies without flinching.

“I didn’t go to college.” Penelope laughs as she thumbs through that magazine.

Of course she didn’t go to college you don’t need a degree to marry rich.
“I need a refill.” I say shaking the ice in my cup. I am even more irritated with Penelope than I was before. The thought of that woman here sponging off my dad while I am away at college, I slam the door on my way in. I refill my drink before heading back outside.

Nova is talking Penelope’
s ear off. Penelope doesn’t look like she is enjoying it.She seems relieved when her phone goes off and she answers making her way past me into the house with a smile on her face. I glare at her as she shuts the door behind her. What is so important that she can’t talk in front of me?

I lower myself down in the lounger. Nova leans over. “She is so cool, Miley.”

“I can’t stand her.” I reply with a half laugh.

“You are kidding?” Nova gushes.

I shrug, “She is just using my dad for his money.” I take a drink before sitting it on the ground beside me. “Anyway, what’s new with you?”

“Not much.” Nova stares out at the pool. “Are you and Hudson like done for good now?”
Nova’s question is kind of random.

“Yeah.”
I reply quickly.

“No, I mean like really done.
For good. Like there is no chance for you two to get back together.”

I sit up a little and turn towards he
r. “Why? Does he want to know?” So he sent her here to spy on me. I knew he was relentless, but this is…

“He didn’t ask me about you.” She interrupts my thoughts.

I flip to over on my stomach and lay my head on my arms looking at Nova. I was irate thinking about him sending her here to spy on me, but now I feel a little disappointed that he didn’t. What is wrong with me? “Yeah, we’re over for good, why?”

She takes in a long breath. “Well um.” She doesn’t look at me. “Hudson and I have been talking.”

“So? You hang out with the same people. I don’t expect you to take sides in this breakup.”

“No, Miley I mean like
talking
.” She swirls her hand in the air like this is going to make it easier for me or something. “Like hooking up kind of talking, you know like starting a relationship. You know.” Nova clears her throat as I try to process what she is saying. “I think anyway.”  I don’t say anything. I have no intentions of taking him back, but it still kind of stings to think about him and her.  “I don’t know.” She leans back seeming to relax a little. “He said he was over you, but I wanted to make sure you were over him before it gets any more serious.”

So that was the reason for her visit today. Hudson is over me?
In just a week? I shut my eyes and try compose myself. I do need him to leave me alone, maybe Nova is the perfect thing for him.

“I don’t care.” I say with a plastic smile and a rehearsed voice. I do care, but I need to not care.

Nova lets out a sigh of relief. “Oh good I didn’t want you to be mad at me.”

“I’m not.” I smile but the tears threaten to fall. “I have to go to the bathroom.” I announce as I hurry into the house.

I hear Penelope’s shrill giggle. She is still on the phone, who is she talking to. I stand right outside the kitchen and listen is it another guy? If I can catch her cheating on my dad I can get rid of her.

“I love you too.” She says all sweetly. So she
is
cheating. I wish I had my phone on me to record her.

“Shawn.” She giggles again. My heart sinks she isn
’t cheating. She’s talking to my dad and she is, eew, flirting with him.  Defeated I make my way to the bathroom, holding in tears.

Chapter 16

O
nce Nova leaves I still can’t get the picture of her and Hudson out of my mind. I have to get out of here. Go for a run or something. I throw on my black running shorts and a gray tank top. Why was I not enough for Hudson? I run down stairs and slip into my running shoes. My dad is home and Penelope is still here. I can hear her school girl giggles coming from the kitchen.

“Dad I’m going for a run I don’t know when I’ll be back. Don’t wait for me to eat.” I shout into the kitchen, not even daring myself to go in there. I feel better as soon as my feet hit the paved sidewalk.

I run I don’t have any plans on where I am running I just run. Dad won’t miss me even if I don’t come home; and with Penelope not acting like she is leaving anytime soon I am in no hurry to get back.   The wind blows against me keeping my ponytail out of my face. I am soon lost in my run, the adrenaline calms me down. I find myself heading towards Declan’s. I wonder what he is getting into today.

When I am about a block away I begin to slow down. I don’t want to be out of breath when I reach his house. I am beginning to feel he is my only friend. Nova acts like she is my friend, but it doesn’t feel like
it right now.

I can see Declan outside washing his truck before I get near the house. He has his back turned towards me. As I get closer I can hear rap music playing, not that stuff Hudson listens to this is talking about God. Isaac sees me and smiles as I get near. I hold my finger up to my mouth signaling to him to not let Declan know I am behind him. I tip-t
oe closer, not that he would be able to hear me or anything over the loud music. He is rapping along with the music as he sponges suds onto his truck. If Declan looks at Isaac though he is going to give me away, because he is smirking and looking at me.

When I approach Declan I reach my hands out and grab is sides while yelling “Boo!”
He jumps the sponges goes soaring through the air, above my head, landing a few feet away. . Isaac and I are in stitches my eyes water I am laughing so hard.

“Ha ha, very funny.”
Declan says sarcastically as he retrieves the sponge. I am still laughing when he walks over to me. “That’s okay, I forgive you.” He says as his arms reach around me like he is going to hug me then at the last second he reaches above my head and squeezes the contents of the sponge out. The cold soapy water runs down my forehead.

“What was that for?” I ask as I shake the water off me.

“Paybacks.” He smirks and winks while holding his hands up in the air. Isaac giggles in the background I turn towards him.

“And what do you t
hink you are laughing at?” I ask he just shakes his head and chuckles as I stride towards the bucket full of water. I pick it up and fling the water at Declan, but he reflexes are too quick he jumps out of the way before much water hits him at all.

“Oh no you didn’t.” he shakes his head with a sly smile as he picks up the hose and points it towards me. Isaac runs into the house, he
’s abandoning me now?  I stay frozen my feet spread apart and my arms out. I try to figure out a way to jump him and grab the hose from him without getting wet.

“Give up?” he teases with his adorable smirk. I just shake my head with a challenging smile not taking my eyes off him. I hear the crack of the front door slamming.

“Hey Miley!” Isaac shouts. I look towards him as he throws a giant super soaker my way. He has a second one in his hands as well. Declan takes the opportunity of my distraction to soak me. I scream when the cold water splashes against my body.  I jog to the super soaker and hold it up pointing it right at him. Isaac stands right beside me his aimed at Declan as well.

“This means war.” I let out a slow laugh.
“Two against one.”

He smirks again as
he raises one eyebrow the hose still aimed at me. “I am not going to run out of ammo!” He shouts right before he sprays me again. All chaos breaks loose as Isaac runs behind him and soaks his back at the same time he chases me. The door cracks slamming shut again pulling my attention away. Garrett comes charging out with a third super soaker he aims at Declan as he jumps off the porch. Delcan’s attention goes toward Garrett giving me the opportunity to shoot Declan now. As soon as he feels the water from my gun he turns the hose back towards me. Then it suddenly stops. Isaac is belly laughing at the spigot he turned the hose off.  I give Isaac a thumbs up for helping me. I go to spray him some more and realize my water is gone as well. I throw my water gun down and take off running around the house. I can hear Declan laughing as he comes after me. He tackles me when we get to the back yard. Both of us are soaked. He straddles my stomach and lifts my arms above my head holding my wrists together in one hand. I can see the mischief in his eyes as he chuckles. He takes his free hand and begins to tickle my underarms. I laugh and flop like a fish trying to get him off of me.