The best thing about Sunday was going to Church. The best thing about Church was the immense love Alanna felt being in Gods house. There was just something about the whole experience that left Alanna feeling euphoric. Whenever she saw the cross she knew that everything would be okay because there was a human being who suffered, bled and sacrificed His life for her. Nobody would ever do that for her and that's why she never missed church unless there was a very good reason to and even that was rare. Her parents were Christians and had raised her since she was small to love and believe in God. She and her sister had been going to Sunday school ever since they could walk and had graduated to Youth Service when they grew older. They always went to church together but now it was just Alanna like all other things they had been doing together.

Alanna had gotten up early that morning got ready and headed to church. She was dressed in an African print dress with a collared neckline that reached at her knees and white sneakers. She'd styled her short hair with gel to make herself look presentable and she liked it.

She got to church at eight am prepared for two hours of praise, worship, prayer and God's word. She sat in the third row and since there was nobody in that bench. Her church was big but there weren't many youths so they usually just sat on one column and even then you'd find one bench with one person or at most two. The second service which began at ten had a lot of people who filled the church completely.

Soon enough the service started and Alanna fell into it. It was only and her focus on God. Half an hour later she felt someone settle besides her but they were praying so she didn't bother to check and see who it was. After the prayers they stood to sing worship songs and the person seated next to her moved closer to her so their arms brushed together.

Alanna turned to tell them off but got tongue tied to when she came face to face with a grinning Ryan. She turned quickly to face the front her eyes wide in shock. She heard Ryan chuckle besides her and she stomped his foot and grinned in satisfaction when she heard him yelp quietly in pain. Suits him right. Sorry Lord but even some of your children need discipline, Alanna thought to herself.

She wondered why Ryan was there. They went to different churches, she was Anglican and he was Catholic. I mean faith is faith but still why would he come to her church instead of going to his. It's like she couldn't get rid of him no matter how much she tried. He was everywhere, school, at her home and now in her church. He was really going too far. Soon enough he'd start following her to the washrooms if she didn't put a stop to this.

"What was that for?" He hissed quietly.

"Shut up. We're in church." She reprimanded him and turned back to concentrate on the service.

Thankfully it was worship time so their little exchange had been covered up by the singing.

"What would God say about hurting His favorite son?" He asked again and Alanna rolled her eyes. It's like this boy didn't get the hint that she didn't want to talk.

She stomped the same foot again and he yelped louder making a few people look at them. She gave them an apologetic smile and they looked away. She turned to glare at Ryan who was hunched over in pain. That should teach him to be quiet in church unless talking to God.

"Okay fine I'm sorry. I'll not talk again." He said and she grinned in triumph.

She had been ready to stomp him again if needed to teach him a lesson.

"Good I'll deal with you after the service." She hissed at him and joined the rest in singing.

She tuned Ryan out and concentrated on the service. She had so many questions for him but she held herself back before she made a fool out of herself in front of all these people. She had grown up with almost everyone here being as they all came from the same area. Some of them even attended the same school with her but she rarely interacted with any of them. Just because someone went to church didn't mean they were nice, maybe their parents forced them to go. Alanna didn't want to risk going through what she did in school at church too. She wouldn't be able to bare it if Church wasn't safe for her anymore. There were still good people among the youth and those she was friendly with. They didn't hang out together but they always made sure to exchange pleasantries whenever they met. With the rest they just behaved like strangers to each other.

The rest of the service went on perfectly and Ryan kept his promise to behave. The youth service ended and they had to get out so that the main service could start. Alanna said hello to a few friendly faces on the way out with Ryan trailing behind her. She heard him say hello to people too. He definitely knew a few people from school and others from around.

When they got outside people were already waiting to get into the second service including her parents. She approached them to say hello because she hadn't seen them when she woke up.

"Good morning mom, dad." She greeted kissing her moms cheek and doing a special handshake with her dad that they'd been doing since she was a kid.

"Morning mama. Service ilikuwaje?" Her mom asked.

How was the service?

"Ilikuwa poa. Nataka kwenda home sasa." She replied.

It was good. I wanna head home now.

"Mimi na mamako haturudi home anytime soon so wewe jipange venye unataka." Her dad informed.

Your mom and I will not be home anytime soon so you sort yourself out for the day.

"Okay dad. Have a nice service." She replied.

"Baba Liz na Mama Liz habari yenyu." Ryan greeted behind her making her freeze.

Liz's dad, Liz's mom, how are you?

Since Elizabeth her sister was the first born, her parents were usually referred to with her name.

What the hell did he think he was doing? Digging a deeper hole for himself that's what.

"Munene how are you my boy?" Alanna's dad greeted.

"I'm doing good sir." Ryan replied with a smile that Alanna felt like slapping off his face but she held herself back.

"I hope you had a good study time yesterday." Her mother chimed in.

"Yes we did." Ryan replied with a charming smile on his face.

"Well you kids have fun. Try and make sure she doesn't say spend all day in the house kiddo." Her mother instructed.

Alanna stared at her mother shocked while Ryan grinned as if he'd won a prize.

"Yes ma'am." He replied smiling.

"Alanna here. Make sure to spend it on anything other than shopping for more stuff to put in the fridge."He dad instructed handing her two thousand shillings.

Without another word her parents walked into the church leaving an angry Alanna and a happy Ryan. Her parents expected that just because they were friends with his parents that friendship automatically applied to them too. It didn't work that way. Ryan was too annoying and he had no respect for her boundaries.

"Stop grinning like that and I don't care what my parents said I'm going home." Alanna said walking away and exiting the church compound.

To her disappointment Ryan was following her like a lost puppy. Didn't he get the hint that she didn't want to be around him.

"I have specific instructions from your parents not to allow to spend all day at home so you and I are going to spend the day together."He declared.

Alanna stopped and turned to face him.

She needed answers to questions that were plaguing her concerning Ryan.

"Why did you come to my church today and don't even bother lying or giving me a smart assed answer."Alanna demanded getting frustrated with this whole situation.

Ryan scratched the backing his head nervously.

"I wanted to see you." He replied softly and she knew he wasn't lying.

This boy would be the end of her.

"Why do you always want to be around me Ryan? What's so special about my presence that you just have to be near me all the time?" She asked finally asking the question that had been bugging her all her life.

For as long as she could remember Ryan had always been there in one way or another. She usually just ignored him but recently she was seeing too much of him everywhere and it was getting to her. She wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. She knew Ryan wasn't a bad person, he was actually one of the nicest people she knew. She just wondered why he liked spending all his time around someone who wouldn't give him any time of day.

Ryan shifted around switching his weight from one leg to another showing how uncomfortable this situation was for him. It wasn't all cupcakes and rainbows for Alanna either. She just wanted answers.

"Honestly I don't know the answer to that question." He replied and Alanna scoffed in disbelief.

"What do you know then?" She asked with an arched eyebrow.

"I know that I like you. We used to be really close as kids and when everyone started being a jackass and bullying you I just felt the need to be there for you and protect you." He said maintaining eye contact to show just how serious he was.

His revelation caught Alanna by surprise. She thought he hung around her just to be annoying not because he actually cared. He was right though, they had been really close as kids but when she didn't loose her baby weight and just kept getting chubbier people started bullying her so she cut everyone off. She only ever associated with her close family members and a few family friends. Ryans parents were in that mix but Alanna thought he was too annoying so she pushed him away too. So all along he was just trying to be a good friend and look out for her. How could she have missed that?

"Thank you for being honest." She told him meaning every word.

"You're welcome. Can we go eat now I'm hungry?" He whined quickly changing the topic and she was grateful for that.

"Sure." She replied with a chuckle.

She decided to just go with the flow. It wouldn't hurt stepping out of her comfort zone.

Ryan grinned triumphantly before they started walking there together looking for an open cafe. The church was located close to the town center so it wasn't that hard finding somewhere good enough. Alanna was grateful they didn't have to walk for long because she didn't know how to hold a proper conversation. It was just awkward for her.

They found a cute little café that was open. They got in and sat across each other on a table next to an open window. The menus were already set out so they both grabbed one each to look through in what to order.

A few minutes later the waitress came to take their order.

"I will have the ugali with chicken stew and a no sugar coke please." Ryan ordered.

"And I will have the chips (fries) with the wet fry beef and some kachumbari and a cold sprite." Alanna ordered and the waitress nodded leaving them to get their orders.

"Its a little too early for ugali isn't it?" Alanna teased as she she playes with the edge of the table cloth.

Ryan laughed softly "Yeah but I sort of skipped breakfast and I'm sure this will count for lunch as well so I have to fill up nicely. And besides I'm a growing boy, I need my nourishment." He explained and it was Alannas turn to laugh.

After that the conversation picked up and they started talking about family and future plans. It was a little weird for Alanna but Ryan saved the day with his witty comments and wicked sense of humor. Alanna could clearly see why so many people wanted to be his friend. He was a genuinely nice person who cared about others.

The food arrived and they dug in with Ryan trying to steal Alanna's food but after she stabbed him twice with a fork he gave up with a pout. She would have felt sorry for him but she was hungry too.

They stayed at the café the whole morning which blended into the afternoon ordering stuff every now and then to make sure they wouldn't be kicked out. The café wasn't that busy because the tables were never completely filled but it would be rude to just sit and use the space for free. That wouldn't be nice.

"Okay one more time please." Ryan begged and Alanna laughed.

"Ryan we've done these three times already with you losing big time. You'll get a headache." Alanna warned .

Incase you're wondering what they were doing here's the scoop. They were having Ice cream and Alanna had told Ryan that she was not capable of getting a brain freeze. He declared he didn't get those too and they'd set out to prove each other wrong. Three tries later Alanna was winning and Ryans teeth were close to cracking and his head falling off.

"Please." Ryan begged.

"Okay fine but you asked for it." Alanna replied.

"In three, two, one. Go!" Ryan counted down before they scooped up large helpings of ice cream and shoved them into their mouths.

Two seconds in Ryan clutched his head in pain having gotten a brain freeze while Alanna enjoyed her ice cream without being affected at all.

"I win." Alanna declared with a triumphant smile.

Ryan just groaned and slumped back in his seat with a defeated sigh.

"Don't beat yourself up. I guess having your head stuck in the fridge too many times has it perks." Alanna consoled.

"I guess you're right. We should get going by the way. I promised my nephew to help him with his science project this evening. Unless you'd like to join." Ryan suggested and Alanna brushed him off with a wave of her hand.

"There's only so much of you I can take." She replied getting up.

"Ouch but it's okay we have been here for almost five hours." Ryan informed her getting up too.

She stared at him in shock. Had they really been here that long? Maybe it's true what they say, time flies when you're having fun. Alanna used the money her dad her given her to settle the bill before they walked out side by side and headed home. They took their ice cream with them since it was in little disposable plastic cups.

It was half an hour walk towards Alanna's place from the café and Ryan walked her home. They lived only twenty minutes away from each other seeing as Ryan lived very close to the school. Hanging out with Ryan hadn't been so bad after all. He really was a fun and amazing person to be around.

They arrived at her place too soon and it was now time to say goodbye. They turned to face each other and it was awkward for a few seconds before Alanna decided to speak up first.

"Thanks for today. Don't let it get into your head but I had fun." Alanna informed him and he grinned widely.

"Me too. So do I get a hug?" Ryan asked stretching his arms wide.

Alanna shook her head blushing a little at the thought of hugging Ryan. She couldn't do it.

"How about a fist bump?" She suggested stretching out her fisted hand.

"Okay we'll work our way up to a hug." Ryan agreed before bumping his fist against hers.

"See you tomorrow." Alanna said.

"Tomorrow it is. Bye lovely." He replied winking at her before turning on his heel and walking out of her compound.

Alanna opened her front door and let herself in with a grin playing on her lips.

She had finally allowed someone in and had made a good friend. Maybe the world didn't completely suck after all.
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Hey guys so I had a really hard time translating the greeting of Ryan to Alanna's parents without using direct translation, I think I failed but I hope you guys still understood what I meant.

In our tradition parents are usually greeted by being referred to as the parent of the first born for example my name is Lisa so my dad or mom will be referred to as Mama Lisa or Baba Lisa. You can also use the name of any child to refer to a parent but it usually sticks to the first born or the child that's known the most.

I hope I'm making sense. I just wanted to clarify that. Feel free to ask me any questions. I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.. See you in the next one. Stay safe and...

As always. I Love You 3000.