Lincoln

My parents talk to Sadduck for a long time before we finally leave. We spent the entire day in there, and I'm exhausted; I know my parents feel the same way. So I hang out with my friends while they talk, but all any of us really want to do is go home, and when we finally get in the car, we're all relieved. I don't know what to think. Sadduck looked happy at times, and the exact opposite in other cases. I just wish Bri would freaking let this drop already.

I don't even understand what the big deal was. I mean... we basically just had sex, didn't we. I realize I was a little forceful about it... or a lot forceful about it... but it can't have this huge of an affect on her. And I don't know why she finds the need to ruin my life over it.

"I just don't believe that girl," my mom says angrily as we pull out of the parking lot. "Everything our family did for her over so many years, and yet this is how she repays us. And Samuel and Jason are on her side, too. I honestly thought they were more intelligent than that."

"Bri was always Samuel's baby," I reply bitterly. "Ever since we were little kids. And she and Jason knew each other for a long time before he was old enough to become youth pastor. Like, more than just going to church together, they knew each other. He helped out on children's ministry when she was in it and he was a teenager, and she was always his favorite and vice-versa. That's all it is... favoritism."

"You would think our own pastors would get over that crap," Dad growls from the driver's seat.

"All I can say is that girl better get what she deserves," Mom adds. "It's like she thinks getting raped is a joke. If she's going to treat it this casually and destroy her best friend's life with a lie about it, she deserves to actually have it done to her."

I angrily push aside the guilt that tries to twist at my stomach with her words.

Bri really is overreacting. We could have kept it quiet, dealt with it ourselves, stayed best friends. Instead, she decided to not only squawk, but then go completely off the deep-end. Like, what is wrong with her? How big of a loser is she going to become before she actually succeeds at killing herself and spares all of us the pain of having to deal with her?

"Well, she sent her own parents to jail, so compared to that, doing the same to her best friend is nothing," Dad says in reply to Mom's last comment, jerking the car onto the main road.

"I swear she's so screwed up anymore," I scoff. "Like, what the **** even happened to her?"

"She's probably demon-possessed or something." I know the disgusted look on Mom's face without being able to see it. "She really needs to be put in a mental institution and never let out."

"If she hadn't have gotten them arrested, her parents probably would have done that," Dad jeers. "But she took care of that nicely." As he finishes, he slams the horn passionately. "Get out of the way!" He shakes his head is disgust. "Of course they would let us out at rush hour."

"And how she dragged Toby into this, I still don't know," Mom continues. "I mean, isn't the man supposed to be a Christian role-model? How on earth did she get him on her side?"

"They met the first time she tried to freaking kill herself," I scoff.

"Wow." She shakes her head in total distaste. "Just when you think you can trust the Church."

"Tell me about it," Dad puts in angrily. "I mean, our own pastors! Do they realize how ridiculous this is? We're certainly never going back there, and I hope no one does. If they're going to behave like this, they don't deserve their congregation! If they think they're gong to get away with it, then, I'd just like to see them try!"

The light flashes from yellow to red, but we don't' stop. I doubt he even noticed it. But I don't care. I just want to get home right now.

My mother screams, and I hear the screeching of breaks. I look over and see a car almost on top of us.

POV Change Sponsored by Pioneers (Let's be pioneeeeers! And we'll build a hooooome, in the great unknooooown. I'm done now.)

Toby

I wrap an arm around Bri's shoulders as we finally finish talking to people and head to the car. She lets me, but she doesn't respond or even look up. Her head is down, and her shoulders are sagging. It's like every hour that passes, she breaks from the inside out a little bit more. And it breaks my heart.

We all climb back into the car, and Mandy twists to look at Bri, reaching back and laying a hand on her knee. "You did amazing, Sweetheart. David's optimistic. God's got this."

Bri tries to reward her with a smile, but she can barely manage the expression, and it fades as soon as it's there.

"You really were fantastic, Bri," Moses adds, offering her an encouraging smile. "We're not just saying that."

"Thanks," she whispers, and it's obvious it's all she can get out.

"Truett, hit us with some music, my 2wzman," I throw over my shoulder, and he grins.

"Yes, Sir!"

He connects his phone to the car as we pull out of the parking lot, right behind another car. A few seconds, and I hear a familiar intro beginning, complete with my own voice..

"Truett Mckeehan, that is not what I meant," I scold, but I can't help but laugh.

He rolls his eyes. "Oh come on, you play your own music sometimes."

"Occasionally," I counter.

He ignores me. "Besides, this song is lit."

"Well thank you, thank you very much."

"Mostly cuz Blanca's in it."

"Ouch."

"That's right."

I shake my head, smiling, and we fall into silence as the actually lyrics begin.

We are the travelers. We look to the ever-after.

We are the strangers. We practically endangered.

We know these roads, yeah. They never seem to bode well.

It's our predicament, and we ain't even sick of it.

We make our moves in mysterious ways.

We'd rather burn up than stick to the shade.

Not of this world, so we live on the run.

We keep our eyes set (eyes set) on what is to come.

(We are, we are) We are unstoppable.

(We are, we are) For the impossible.

(We are, we are) We are the Kingdom come.

That's who we are, that's who we are.

(We are, we are) We are unstoppable.

(We are, we are) For the impossible.

(We are, we are) We are the Kingdom come.

That's who we are, that's who we are.

We keep it moving, this path is by our choosing.

When we get tripped up, we call above for lift-up.

Stay busy bashing, while we proceed with passion.

They say we missing it, but I'm inclined to stick with this.

We make our moves in mysterious ways.

We'd rather burn up than stick to the shade.

Not of this world, so we live on the run.

We got our hearts set (hearts set) on what is to come.

(We are, we are) We are unstoppable.

(We are, we are) For the impossible.

(We are, we are) We are the Kingdom come.

That's who we are, that's who we are.

(We are, we are) We are unstoppable.

(We are, we are) For the impossible.

(We are, we are) We are the Kingdom come.

That's who we are, that's who we are.

There's no disguising. The truth is rising.

There's no disguising. The truth is rising.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

We're not afraid, we're afraid.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

So break the noise! We're not afraid!

As the song goes into the next chorus, the light turns yellow and I break and stop. But the car in front of me doesn't.

It turns red, and they're not even in the intersection yet, but they don't stop.

A car coming from the opposite direction that didn't even have to stop enters the intersection, and I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

Jesus, please...

But everything I'm afraid of happens before my eyes when the screech of brakes tears through the area, cut off with the sickening crunch of metal on metal.

Well. What do I have to say for myself? Honestly... not much. I suck. I was super busy for like the entirety of June, but that's really no excuse, especially not after making y'all wait for so long this chapter sucked so bad. I swear I will try my very hardest to be a better person and actually update a week from today like I'm supposed to.