Church. Fallon was going to church. He couldn't believe he was going to church. Why had he agreed to this? Oh that's right, cause Aster asked him. How was he supposed to say no to her? He wasn't, that's how.

So there Fallon stood, in front of the mirror in his room adjusting his shirt. He was freshly shaven and his hair was brushed back. The person staring back at him in the mirror didn't even feel like him. He was trying to make a good impression and not stick out.

A shooting pain in his leg had him sitting back on his bed. Fallon squeezed his eyes shut and takes a deep breath. He could push past this. His phone buzzed with a text from Aster letting him know she was there.

Fallon's parents had already left earlier that morning to go to church themselves. He was glad he wouldn't run into them and have to explain what he was doing. Didn't want to get their hopes up in case this didn't work out.

Fallon hobbled his way downstairs and out front. Aster was sitting in her car looking at her phone. In Fallon's eyes, Aster looked amazing as always even if she was simply looking at that device. He had to take a moment to appreciate her without her knowing. It only took a few seconds for her to realize he was standing there. She locked eyes with him and for a moment he forgot how to breathe.

"Gonna keep standing there or get in?" Aster asked with a coy smile after turning her window down. She wondered how long he'd been standing there since she was engrossed in whatever was on her phone.

Fallon smirked and, with a tilt of his head to the side, replied, "I quite like the view." He did and it was hard not to. There was her physical beauty and also something brighter within her he was attracted to. But the physical beauty really had his attention.

Aster playfully rolled her eyes at him and unlocked the door for him to get in. She was nervous, to say the least. It wasn't everyday she walked in to church with a guy by her side. Still, she was excited Fallon agreed to come go to church with her. Deep down, she prayed this helped the both of them. It wasn't the Christmas event they were going to, but a regular church service. She wasn't serving in the children's ministry that Sunday, so she figured it was the perfect time to go with him.
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Fallon was sure he would get struck down by lightning as soon as he stepped into the church. He held his breath and looked up at the ceiling. Nothing happened. There was no bright light from heaven or God throwing a bolt of lights at him.

"Hey, you okay?" Asters sweet voice flitted through Fallon's thoughts and brought his attention to her. Just the sight of her made him smile and eased his worries. He still figured at any moment the heavens would part and he would meet his Maker, though.

"Yeah." He replied with a reassuring smile. "Just haven't been in one of these in a while." A while meant years. He was sure God was upset with him for avoiding church and Him, but Fallon had his reasons.

Aster set her hand on Fallon's arm and gently rubbed it. "Just breathe. We're all family here." She felt extremely nervous her first time in church just a few years prior. Heather whispered those same words to her in those moments.

That's what Fallon was afraid of. What if her church family didn't like him? He silently followed Aster into one of the pews and sat next to her. His hands clasp tightly and rest in his lap to prevent them from shaking anymore than they already were.

A small music band came out and the lights dimmed. Everyone in the building collectively quieted down and stood to their feet. Fallon followed along with Aster more for that fact that he didn't want to stand out. When he got to his feet, that searing pain returned. He hid it as best he could.

Fallon didn't know a single song they played. Aster on the other hand knew every word. Fallon found himself watching her as she sang, mesmerized by how into it she was. With her eyes closed, one hand lifted, and her head titled upward, she certain was into it. And so were others in the room.

They happened to be playing one of Aster's favorite songs. It struck a deep chord within her and that triggered some tears. Fallon noticed she didn't wail or cause a big scene. It was a silent cry he witnessed from his mother when he would go to church with her all those years ago. Aster was deeply connected to something Fallon spent years trying to grasp but could never hold. He wanted to make sure she was okay, but he elected to sit down and watch everyone else participate. The atmosphere shifted and it made him very uncomfortable.

As if things couldn't make Fallon more uncomfortable, a man he presumed to be the pastor of the church spoke about something Fallon struggled with for years. He spoke directly to Fallon's situation and it made Fallon wonder how he knew this information. The man's words hit too close to home for Fallon's liking.

Aster glanced over at Fallon and saw he looked uneasy. Was this a bad idea? All Fallon had to do was start sweating bullets or run out for Aster's worries to be confirmed... but he stayed.

"Are you okay?" she whispered to him and shifted closer to him. Their shoulders touched and that snapped Fallon out of his swirling thoughts. He almost jumped out of his skin when they came in contact with each other.

"Y-Yeah. Just my leg," he quietly responded to her. Fallon gestured to the leg clad in the boot to keep it from getting injured even more. He hoped to get it off soon. It was more than his broken leg, though. It was him, his life. It was so broken and that man on the stage knew way too much.
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Hey, y'all!! Finally back. Got the issue resolved so I can save my work and write with ease now. Thank you Slayton24  for helping me write most of the chapter. You stepped in to make sure this story could be told ❤️. I wanna give another special
shoutout to miss_marna ! She won first place for the cover contest, so her work is featured as the cover for this book :) This chapter is also dedicated to her. Thank you so much for being patient with me as I figured out how to get this content out for y'all.

Much love!!!