Ren and Molly had never really been to church as children. They went when they were younger, but as they grew older they stopped going. Especially after their mother got sick.

Molly wasn't paying attention to what the preacher was saying. Molly glanced around the small chapel as she chewed on the cuff of her hoodie. Her eyes fell on a boy with dark brown hair and eyes to match.

He was dressed in what Molly would describe as 'his Sunday best'. But on his feet were cowboy boots.

Finally, his eyes met hers. He gave her a small smile and mouthed, Hi.

She returned his greeting with a small wave.

Ren put a hand on her knee and she turned her attention back to the preacher.

When the sermon was over, they filed out of the church.

Molly had an arm wrapped around her brother's as they walked up to the preacher and his wife.

"Nice preachin' today, Reverend," Wesley said.

"Good to see you," Reverend Shaw said.

"Yes, sir, you too. These are my sister's children, the ones I was tellin' you about. Ren and Molly McCormack."

"Ren, Molly, welcome to Bomont." Reverend Shaw shook Ren's hand.

"How you doin'?"

"We are so happy to have you with us."

"Thank you."

"I think you're gonna like Bomont High School. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the graduating class this year is the biggest in the school's history. Hey Roger! Come on over here!"

Ren saw Molly about to start chewing on her cuff and grabbed her wrist. He rubbed her back in an effort to try and calm her.

Molly let her eyes wander and noticed the boy from earlier walking off with his parents without a glance in her direction.

He'd seemed so nice.

The man walked over to their group.

"How many seniors we have at Bomont High this year?" Reverend Shaw asked.

"About 220, give or take a dropout."

"Roger's the school principal there."

Ren shook his hand.

"Wait. Do you play football? 'Cause we need a really good kicker."

"Oh! Ain't that a fact!"

"But, remember, if you're gonna play for us, you're gonna have to stay clean, keep out of trouble. I heard you already had a run-in with the law."

"You what?" Wesley asked.

"I don't know how it is up in Boston, but down here we have rules against playing music too loud."

"You're kidding me. He got popped for playing music?"

"What grade will you be in, sweetie?" the reverend's wife asked Molly.

Molly froze up.

"She'll be a sophomore this year," Ren answered.

"She's very shy," Wesley said.

"You two should meet my daughter, Ariel. She goes to Bomont. You're gonna need a friend on your first day. This Ren and Molly McCormack. They'll be attending school with you tomorrow," her mother explained.

"Hey," Ren said.

"Hey," Ariel echoed, "Hey, dad?"

"Yes, honey?" Reverend Shaw said.

"Rusty and I have that science project due tomorrow and we're gonna be working on it pretty late. So I was thinking I could just stay over. Is that okay?"

"On a school night? Is that necessary?"

Ariel turned to her group of friends. "Rusty! Don't you think it's gonna take us all night?"

"Sure, at least," Rusty said.

"I guess it's fine."

Ariel kissed her father's cheek. "Thanks, Daddy. Bye, Mom!" Ariel walked off with her friends.

"Come on," Ren said, pulling his sister back to their aunt and uncle.

Ren was working on his Volkswagen bug, so Lulu invited Molly to go to the grocery store with her.

"Why don't you go pick out some foods you like to eat?" Lulu suggested.

The store was small enough, so it wasn't that difficult to navigate.

Molly wandered down the cereal aisle and of course her favorite was on the top shelf. Molly had always been on the shorter side, but it had come in handy when she was on her former school's dance team. She stood up on her tiptoes, trying to reach the cereal.

"Oh! Let me get that for you." Molly turned and noticed the boy from church.

He reached up and grabbed the box of cereal before handing it to her. "You're new in town, right? I saw you in church this morning."

Molly nodded.

"I'm Willard." He held out a hand for her to shake, but she just stood there until he dropped his hand. "What's your name?"

Before Molly could do anything, her aunt came around the corner.

"Molly! There you are. Oh, hello Willard."

"Hi, Mrs. Warnicker."

"I see you've met my niece, Molly. She'll be starting at Bomont High School on Monday."

"Cool. I'll...uh...see you then."

Willard tipped his cowboy hat at her and walked off.

Lulu looked at Molly and her bright red cheeks. "Don't worry, I won't tell your brother."