(Adam Wylde Above)

Carson's POV

(Monday)

Later on that day, I walked into the library for free period. I strolled down the aisles of bookshelves, looking for a book on American History for my research project due next week. I spotted the think, red book and reached up to get it, but someone beat me to it. My eyes shot from the person's arm to the person's face. It was Adam. I looked at him, trying to figure out what he was doing. He looked at me blankly as he held the book I intended on using. I looked back at him blankly, until he finally gave me a small smile, but the smile soon faded and his bottom lip started quivering. I stared at him as a stray tear ran down his cheek in a straight line, in shock because no one had never ever seen Adam crying before. It was like seeing a flying pig; it didn't exist. He bit his lip then exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself down. "I'm really sorry," he said, his voice cracking. I couldn't speak. It seemed as though Adam and I had swapped positions from earlier today in the gym. Now I was the one gaping at him and he was the one crying. "I don't know what came over me, or what persuaded me to upload that video or even take it!" he strained and raised his voice, earning a few shushes from people in the front of the library. He shook his head and covered his face with his hands. Luckily, we were standing in the back of the library where hardly anyone went, which honestly showed how loudly Adam raised his voice.

I moved closer to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at me, but couldn't look me in the eye. "We all make mistakes sometimes and we all step across that line, but nothing is sweeter than the day we find forgiveness." I said, quoting Forgiveness by Toby Mac, one of the new artists Rachel had introduced me too. He looked at me in the eye now, but stood dead still. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug. He was yet again shocked, but soon wrapped his arms around my waist and let a stream of tears flow down his cheeks and the sobs came out hard, but they weren't full of regret – they were happy, relieved tears and sobs. I rubbed his back and repeatedly said that he was forgiven and that is was okay. He kept crying until the bell rang and we both separated. I smiled at him and told him to go clean himself up. He chuckled and walked off, covering his face from public eyes. I stood still and walked backwards until my back hit the wall. I stared at the floor. What just happened? I bent down and rested my hands on my thighs. The sounds of people leaving faded and all I could focus on were the thoughts inside my head screaming, "Set free, set free, set free, set free!" A smile broke out on my lips and I couldn't help but laugh. I laughed and jumped up and down. I was free, Adam was free, the burden of guilt and shame was gone!

"Thank you God," I said softly, jogging to the front of the exit of the library. "Thank you God!" I yelled, earning myself a few shushes from people still sitting inside the library. I shot them a smile then ran out of the library. "Thank you God!" I shouted out loudly in the hallway as I ran to my locker, since it was lunch next. Everyone was looking at me weirdly, but not Emily, who spotted me from the classroom she exited. She smiled and ran up to me. I hugged her and laughed. "I forgave Adam, and everything is just great!" I said. She smiled and squeezed my shoulder. "God is amazing." she said. I nodded. "Yes, He is. Let's go, I have to find Rachel." I said, already looking around for her. Emily nodded and we walked off toward our lockers. We found Rachel talking to Eli at Rachel's locker. "Rachel! Eli!" I yelled and ran toward them. They spun around and looked at me, Eli confused as to why I was so excited to see them and Rachel greeting me with a smile. "What's with the yelling? We saw like one class ago?" Eli asked. I shook my head.  "Adam and I talked in the library," I said as I reached them. "He started crying, crying! Adam Wylde doesn't cry, but he did! He apologized and I couldn't help, but smile." I said. She squealed, jumping up and down and hugged me. Eli grinned and patted me on the back as I hugged Rachel. Emily shrugged and joined in on the hug, pulling her brother in too.

"What's the occasion?" Kyle asked as he turned the corner and saw the group hug. We broke apart and Rachel told Kyle what had happened. Kyle laughed and jumped on top of me, resulting in him sitting on top of me on the floor – in front of the whole school. The pupils laughed and so did we. "Break my neck now, won't you?" I said as I pushed him off of me. "Okay..." he teased and grabbed my neck. "Now keep still, I've only done this once before." he said. I pulled away from him and shook my head, laughing. Rachel offered me her hand. I smiled up at her and took her hand. She helped pull me up, but I didn't let go of her hand. I looked her in the eyes and said, "You've always helped me up, thanks," I said to her, making sure she caught on to the double meaning. "For everything, Clover." I finished. She looked at me strangely and tilted her head to the side. "Clover?" she repeated. I grinned, biting my bottom lip. "You're my lucky charm, Rachel." I said softly, even though the others had left us alone and went to lunch already. She smiled at me. I smiled back at her and kissed her forehead, my lips lingering over her skin. I kept smiling. "Thank you," I said. She held my face in the palms of her hands and smiled. "Forever and always," she said to me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and we walked to the cafeteria.  

We walked to our table to see that the guys had gotten our lunch already. "Thanks guys," I said and sat down, Rachel sitting down next to me. We all dug in and talked about social events coming up in youth and about the new youth pastor, Eleanor. I looked up and saw Adam and Ethan sitting together with Jessica and Rebecca. Those four seemed to stick together. Adam caught my glance and did that 'sup' nod thing. I chuckled and nodded back. I turned back to the group. "I'm glad you worked things about between you two." Eli said to me. "But what about the other three? Have you made up with them yet?" he asked. Emily nudged him and shook her head. "What, I'm just asking!" he whined. I chuckled. "Don't worry about that, Em, it's okay." I said, waving it off. "And to answer your question, Eli, the answer is no. I don't know about them yet and it was hard enough to forgive Adam." I said. Eli nodded. "Yeah, but Adam did the worst thing, so shouldn't it be a bit easier to forgive the rest, if you know what I mean?" he asked. I shrugged. "I don't know. Rebecca hurt me a lot and so did Ethan. Jessica didn't do anything, so there's nothing to forgive." I said. Eli nodded and carried on shoving food into his mouth.

"So, you've broken someone's neck before?" I asked Kyle from across the table. He blushed. "Yeah, if my doll in 3rd grade counts, because then he also plucked her eyes out and cut her hair off as well." Rachel said, trying hard to embarrass her brother. He blushed and chuckled. "I was a kid and it was creepy. I decided to protect myself from that - thing." he said.  Rachel gasped and threw her chicken wing at him. "Hey, Molly is a wonderful doll! Well, she was until you destroyed her!" she yelled. Kyle laughed and looked at her in amusement. This is hilarious. "Seems like there's a lot I don't know about you, Clover?" I asked. She smiled. "Are you going to call me that from today?" she asked me. I grinned and nodded me. "Of course," I said. She blushed and looked down. Emily and Eli shot me a glance and couldn't keep the smiles off their lips. 

"So - Eli, who are you taking to the Winter Formal?" Emily blurted out. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe one of the girls from church, like Sienna." he said. I could tell that they were trying to bring up the subject on purpose. This had already happened between the guys and I. "She's cute. I could see you two together." Emily squealed. "So - Rachel?" Eli exclaimed. Rachel looked up. "Yeah?" she asked. He smiled at her. "Who are you going with?" he asked. "Has anyone asked you yet?" he added, looking directly at me. She blushed and shook her head. "No one's asked me yet." she said. Eli nodded. "And you Carson, anyone special?" Emily asked. I smirked and looked to Rachel. "I have someone in mind." Rachel blushed and looked back to her food. Emily couldn't stop giggling and I didn't understand why. I turned around and saw Kyle standing behind me, mid-kissing the air, obviously mimicking me. I shot him a playful glare. "Practising for Amy, buddy?" I asked. He cocked an eyebrow at me. "At least I have the guts to ask the girl." he said. I smirked at him. "Bring it on."

~&~

I closed the front door behind me and flopped down on the sofa. Today had been a really long day and I was more than ready for a nap. I lay down and closed my eyes. My lips formed into a smile; I was finally at peace, I found peace and I was never going to let it go. "Kyle?" Lisa called from the kitchen. I chuckled. "Nah, it's just me." I said, crossing my arms. I heard her coming toward me. "Long day?" she asked, brushing her fingers through my hair. I smiled. "Yeah," I said. "I miss my mother playing with my hair," I said randomly. She immediately removed her hand and apologized. "No, no," I said, my eyes still closed, and reached over my head for her hand and I brought it back to my hair. "Don't stop. It feels good." I said and exhaled heavily. She smiled and carried on until I heard the door open and Samuel walked inside. "Samuel, what are you doing home early?" Lisa asked and stood up. He looked at her confused. "Don't you remember? Today is a the court case with Carson's father." he said. My heart almost stopped. I had forgotten about that. "We have to be there at four." he added and gave me an encouraging smile. "It slipped my mind." she gasped. "I'll go change. Do you want anyone specific there?" she asked at the same moment Rachel walked into the door with Kyle and Luke; they went to the park.

"I want Rachel to come." I said desperately and got to my feet. Rachel looked up shocked. "Where am I going?" she asked. Lisa looked to Rachel smiled. "Carson has to face his father in court toady and we forgot." she said. I got up and walked up to her. "Could you come?" I asked. She smiled and nodded. "I'll support you through anything, you know that." she said. I sighed in relief and nodded. "I'm going to go change clothes, I suggest you do too." I said and rushed up the stairs, not waiting for her. I was too nervous and I just wanted to get it over with. I rushed into my room and changed into my best clothes, which ended up being black jeans, a deep red shirt with a Nike shoes. I looked in the mirror and nodded. "Who you are is what you are and what you are is spectacular." I quoted my mother's words from the night before my first date with Rebecca. She was my first girlfriend and it was a terribly nerve wrecking night for me, but my mother's always helped calm me down. I took a deep breath, grabbed my phone and walked out of my room. I knocked on Rachel's door. "Coming!" she yelled and soon enough the door opened. I smiled at her. She was beautifully dressed. She was wearing a long black shirt with a white cross on it. She smiled at me. "I thought maybe you'd find some confidence when your on the witness stand." she said. I nodded. "I'll be looked at you," I said. She smiled and slipped something into my hand. "Wear it when you enter the courtroom." she said. I looked down and found a small wrist band with the name Jesus on it. I smiled and nodded. "I will."

"Rachel! Carson! We're leaving!" Lisa called from downstairs. We made out way down the stairs. Kyle was standing with Luke in his arms. "Good luck, buddy. I'd come, but this little guy can't take care of himself." he said and gave me a bro hug. "Dude chill, it's not as if I'm going to war." I said with a laugh. "Are you going to war?" Luke asked. I chuckled. "No little guy, I'm just going somewhere. I'll be back in a few hours." I said. He nodded. I said my goodbye's and the rest of us made our way to the car. I got in back with Rachel and Samuel pulled out of the driveway. This are about to change forever and I am the only one who can choose how this is going to work out, and with God's helpful guidance hopefully I'll get through this without further harm.

~&~

"That was awful, how could they accuse you of all those things? Are you okay?" Lisa asked as we arrived home, but we had been hearing about how terrible it was the whole way home already. "I won the case, that's all I care about." I said and fell onto the couch. "You're back!" Luke yelled and jumped onto the couch beside me. I smiled at him and said, "I told you I would be," he smiled at me and switched on the TV. "Oh no you don't, Luke. It's bedtime for you and Carson." Samuel said sternly. "Me? I usually only go to be at 10?" I questioned. He smiled at me. "You look as if you need the extra rest." he said and rubbed my shoulder. I shook my head. "No, I don't." I said. I think he would have believed me if I hadn't yawned in the middle of my sentence. He chuckled and shook his head. "To bed, everyone." he said and shooed us all upstairs. I slowly made my way up the stairs and thought about the court case. My father had been sentenced to 30 years in jail, which is basically his death sentence since he's already 50. If you do the Math, he'd get out at age 80 and because of all the drinking I don't know whether he'll live that long.

I opened my bedroom door and stumbled inside my room. My eyes caught sight of a card on my pillow. I walked over and picked it up.

Well done, Carson. I'm proud of you. You probably already know that and this letter has a different purpose. I needed to tell you that your mother left you something. You're mother left you a bunch of things actually, including a letter that's stapled at the back of this one. She wanted to give it you when you graduate, but obviously she can't make it now. I'm happy you went through with the court case today, I was there. I think you saw me, you were a bit distracted. I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely, Mrs Peters.

I immediately turn the letter over and saw a light blue paper, folded up and stapled to the back like she said it would be. I carefully took the staple out and unfolded it with caution. As I read the first three words, my legs went weak.

My dear Carson

I stopped reading there. I folded the letter again and decided I would only read it when I did actually graduate. I smiled and walked over to the dresser. I put my mother's letter in the first draw carefully and pushed it closed. "So, did you get the letter?" Rachel asked from the door. I spun around and smiled. "I did, I got two." I said. She squinted. "Two? Who was the second one from?" she asked. I smiled and chuckled. "It was from my mother, she wrote it for me for the day of my graduation." I said. Rachel smiled and nodded. "That's really nice, Carson. Did you read it?" she asked. I shook my head. "No, well yes – the first three words. I decided to read the rest when I actually graduate, if I graduate." I said and sat down on my bed. Rachel chuckled and sat down beside me. "You will, I will make sure you do." she said. I chuckled and looked at her. She smiled and kept my gaze. We stayed like that, until I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She blushed bright read and I chuckled. There was a knock on the door. We both turned to look at Kyle as he stood there smirking. "Interrupting something?" he asked. Rachel blushed even more, looked at me and smiled. She then quickly got up and sped walked out of the room.

"So...you and Rachel, huh?" he teased me. I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. "You ask her out yet?" he asked me. I shook my head. "No, not yet." I said nervously. He chuckled. "Yet..." he teased. I threw a pillow at him and lay down on my bed. "You definitely like her." he said and lay down beside me, since it was a double bed. I nodded. "Yes, I do." I said. Kyle looked at me. "Wow, you're feeling really open tonight. Is it because of today?" he asked. I nodded. "Yeah, I'm trying not to live my life with secrets anymore." I said. He nodded. "Okay, then you wouldn't mind telling me about this whole Rebecca thing?" he asked. I squinted at me. "Don't you know?" I asked. He shook his head. "I can't remember, just tell me." he said. I sighed. "Well, I asked her out when I was drunk, because I'm more confident when drunk. We dated for a while, until I caught her sleeping with some guy from another school." I said bitterly. Kyle hissed. "Ouch dude, that's harsh. Who told you?" he asked. I sighed. "No one, I walked in on them." I said. "Gross!" Kyle exclaimed. I chuckled. "Yeah, it wasn't pretty. It was the party before the one where my mother died." I said. Kyle sighed.

"Anyway, back to Rachel. When are you asking my dad for permission?" he asked. I sat up and looked at him. "I have to ask Samuel first?" I asked shocked. Kyle scoffed. "Of course, didn't you know that? That's how it works in this family, so you better prepare a speech. I'm busy preparing mine for Amy's father." he said. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "This just makes this a whole lot harder." I whined. Kyle chuckled. "Dude, my father adores you, don't worry." he said and nudged me. "Yeah, but he also knows about all of the dirt in my life as well, like he's going to let his perfect daughter anywhere near me." I said sarcastically. Kyle shrugged. "You never know and besides, if there's one thing I know my father believes in when it comes to dating and marriage, is that two insecure people should never be together, because they can't love each other in the way they both need it." he said. I sighed. "What's your point?" I asked and covered my eyes. "You're insecure and Rachel's not." he said simply. "Gee thanks, buddy." I said sarcastically. He chuckled. "You know what I mean." he said getting up. "Anyway, get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day." he said and walked toward my door. "Why is it a big day?" I asked. He smiled and rose his eyebrows at me. "History test." he said then left. I groaned and lay back down on my bed. 

Great, just what I need.

Note the sarcasm...

I sighed and got up to get ready for bed. I changed into a black shirt and dark grey sweatpants. I got into bed and sighed. I nearly fell asleep, but remembered that I hadn't spoken to God tonight.

"Dear Lord, thanks for helping me through the court case today. I know it was You and Rachel that helped me through those torturous moments facing my father and I thank you for that. Lord, give me strength for the days ahead and help me with Rachel and Samuel. If it's your will, please let it happen smoothly. Thanks for the Cordero family and their open arms during this whole season in my life and I pray that you'll bless them for their part in my life. In your precious name, Amen." I prayed and got up, but knelt down once more. "Oh, and please help me pass that horrid history test tomorrow. Amen."