Holding On To Heaven (Allendale Four 2)

We walked through campus, headed toward fraternity row. Samantha seemed calmer now that she knew the truth and maybe I didn’t realize how difficult I made things by having so many secrets.

The problem was that I didn’t trust anyone—high school taught me that—but I had a feeling that if I was going to be happy, I’d have to learn to depend on people outside Amber and the Allendale Four.

The bad thing for me was that idea was absolutely terrifying.

16

My father was right, if there was one thing I’d learned in high school, it was how to make a scene and get attention. I knew the instant we walked through the door to the party and spotted Noah across the room. Noah was like Justin and Eric and half the other boys in my high school; a little nerdy, a little lost, and desperately in need of an ego boost.

Heaven to the rescue—saving one socially awkward boy at a time.

“Seriously, thanks for coming with me to this,” I said. “I don’t know anyone here.”

She shrugged. “Maybe I can corrupt one of these guys. I like a challenge.”

Yowza.

I unzipped my hoodie and hung it on the rack by the door. “So why did your dad send you here?” Samantha asked.

I shook my head. “See Noah over there?” I pointed to the guy in the number fourteen jersey, just like he’d told me he’d be. He was skinny and had a patchy beard that made him look more mature than he’d look without it. He stood with a couple of other guys.

“Yeah.” She wrinkled her nose. Samantha had made it perfectly clear she was into big, athletic guys.

“I’m supposed to make him feel special. Stand by him and laugh at his jokes. Look pretty on his arm.”

“You’re kidding.” She looked at the hint of cleavage popping out the V-neck of my jersey. “He wants you to…”

I shook my head. “Trust me, I’ve done it before. I can handle it.”

Retrieving my phone, I typed out a message.

Hey, #14, I’m here!!

I pressed send.

I waited a heartbeat and he reacted to the vibration in his pocket. He looked up, made eye contact, and smiled. I smiled back.

He walked over and pulled me into a hug. Okay, then.

“Noah?” I asked.

“That’s me. And wow, when they named you they sure had it right.” He had a slight southern drawl. I had to admit it was pretty cute.

“This is my roommate, Samantha.”

He smiled. “Glad you could come. You guys want a drink? We’ve got some Jesus Juice.”

“Uh, Jesus Juice?” I asked.

“Well, the frats all have their special cocktails. Ours doesn’t have liquor in it but it tastes pretty good.”

“Sure, that sounds great.”

“Come on, I’ll show you around.

I followed him through the living room. The Christian Center was located in an historic home—just like the frats, and surprisingly it was one of the bigger houses; historic with large columns. He led us to the back door where it was obvious the party was in full swing. I heard a shout, followed by a splash.

“You have a pool?” Samantha asked.