An official text invite from Liam left me floating on cloud nine for the rest of the day, enough so that Tristan even helped me develop a plan to make it happen. Since there was no way on God's green earth that Mum would allow me to go see Liam, we agreed I'd tell her I was going to Tristan's. And I'd start off there so it wouldn't be a lie.

Sure Mum wouldn't be pleased about me skipping a church gathering, but I had every reason to believe Tristan would be seen as a perfectly acceptable alternative. Because he grew up catholic and came to church with us a couple of times, and she even met his mum, he basically became some exemplary role model Christian kid in her eyes. It was thanks to this that this plan was probably going to work.

The clock hands turned so slowly during last class that it only made me think it was responsible for making time drag on. I didn't know what Liam had planned, but the anticipation and excitement built so much that my leg kept bouncing. Even though the teacher was standing at the front of the class speaking, I could barely make out any words in the monotonous drone of voice. All I wanted was to race home and get ready, then head straight to Tristan's.

Then finally, the bell rang.

For once, I didn't wait around for others to pack up and leave the classroom first. I shot up from my seat and darted out the door before anybody else even had a chance to flinch. Tristan was bending down at a vending machine as I whizzed past him, but I quickly stumbled to a halt and turned back to him.

"Easy cowboy," Tristan said, handing me a can of coke. "I see lightning in your eyes, even Beyonce fans don't get this crazy."

"It's not everyday someone gets invited to hang out with––" I paused, glancing left and right to check no one was listening in before leaning forward to whisper, "Liam Petry's."

"That's because he isn't famous and nobody cares," Tristan said, getting out a second can for himself. "Anyway, this works out fine since I'm going to the youth group tonight anyway."

"You are?" I asked, cracking open the tab and bringing the drink to my mouth. Tristan glanced contemplatively at the Pepsi in his hand before reaching for my coke and switching them out.

"I didn't mean to get Pepsi," he said. "Let's swap." Beggars couldn't be choosers, so I shrugged and cracked open the Pepsi this time. "But yeah, some of the guys just asked me to tag along just before. Might as well give it a go."

We started walking out of the school gate together but parted ways pretty early on. I must've left way earlier than Josh since I couldn't see him up ahead like he'd normally be. It was a relief since it meant I could probably get in, shower and change, then head out before he'd have the opportunity to sour my mood. It was Friday which meant Mum finished work early, so I'd have the opportunity to let her know before I head out. I almost skipped home as all the energy and excitement burst through me. I'd be hanging out with Liam!

When I reached home, I saw Mum's car parked in the carport and her silhouette dusting the top of the window frames through the thin veiled curtains. I raced inside and headed straight for the stairs.

"Hold up, hold up, Jude!" Mum's voice ground me to a halt. I stopped midway up the steps and turned to look at her, holding onto the rail as I did so. "What's got you in such an awful hurry? You know better than to run inside."

"Sorry," I said. "I'm just excited to get ready for tonight."

"Youth group?" she casually asked, continuing to dust while she feigned disinterest in the topic. "You're interested in attending tonight, per chance?"

"I'm meeting Tristan since he's going," I said, relieved that no word of it was a lie. While I neither confirmed nor denied, I trusted Mum's assumptions would naturally fill in the gap. Considering this should be enough, I started to turn and continue up the stairs.

"Great," she said, making me halt again. "I'll give his mum a call and make sure it's all fine."

I turned back around. "Huh? Why?" I asked.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" Mum asked. "You wouldn't want to impose, would you?"

Of course Mum would go ahead and stick her nose in everything. She put down the duster and headed to the house phone perched in the kitchen. She picked it up and typed in Tristan's mum's number which was jotted down on a sticky note on the fridge. I stared with horror as I watched the inevitable unfold, squeezing the railing with dread. This was going to backfire on me very quickly.

Jude? Here? I've heard no such thing... We have no room in the car for him, Tristan should have discussed this with me first... Tristan isn't even interested in these kinds of events in the first place. Why would he invite Jude there?

Mum's eyes burned into mine while she held the phone to her ear, standing with her hand on her hip while she waited for her call to be answered. I prayed that God would not let anybody pick it up. Please, please! Mum's eyes momentarily widened before she looked away, immediately putting on a sweet voice and becoming immersed in the phone call.

"Hi Rosy, it's Lori, Jude's mum. Yes, I'm well, thank you. How are you?"

I stared in horror as reality surely swept in before swooping into action. I raced down the stairs and grabbed Mum's arm, gently urging her to end the call. "Please, please," I all but mouthed in the ever-quietest whisper, "You don't have to do this." Mum pushed me away and stuck her finger in her other ear.

"That's so lovely, darling," she answered sweetly as she glared at me. "Jude tells me he's going to youth group tonight with your son. He won't be imposing at all, will he?" Mum's eyes stared daggers into me as she listened to whatever the response was from the other end of the line. "I see," she said, completely pokerfaced. "Well, have a great night."

Mum placed the phone back on its port and turned to me, void of any particular emotion. The response can't have been good. I shut my eyes and prayed for my soul. I couldn't believe I got caught lying so obviously. Of course God would demand retribution. Of course he wouldn't let me get away with this. Maybe he did see this as unholy and wanted to prevent me from going. Maybe it was something he considered homosexual and sinful. Would I have to wipe my hands of all respect and admiration for Liam? I couldn't make God mad. I couldn't face an eternity in Hell.

Trapped in a prism of fear, tears began to pool around my eyes. My heart went into overdrive as I burst out, "Mum, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean––"

"Have fun with Tristan, sweetie," Mum said, stopping me in my tracks.

"What?" I asked, shocked frozen.

"Rosy said Tristan already spoke with her and she's fine with it," Mum said, crossing her arms as she studied my tearful and shaking reaction. "Were you expecting a different answer?" she asked.

My eyes widened at the sheer stupidity of the fact that I'd almost told on myself. I quickly shook my head. I needed to come up with the second most honest excuse for this reaction. "I told you already, didn't I?" I asked. "You didn't believe me and then you embarrassed me by ringing up."

She furrowed her brows ready to argue, but I sprinted up the stairs skipping two at a time.

"Jude!" I heard Mum yell after me, but I reached my room and slam my door shut.

My heart felt like it'd be catapulted from my chest straight into an abyss. Or that's at least where I'd hoped it'd land for just a little bit of peace and quiet. Lying was not something that came naturally to me. As somebody who spent my life being honest to a fault, I had a hard time controlling my emotions and overlooking the potential consequences. Surely if God could forgive murderers and convert them into preachers, then he could forgive me for skipping a youth group that'd result in my inevitable demise, opting instead to spend time with my hero.

My intentions were innocent and pure. God would surely see this. Surely.

Only after a decent shower and sprucing up was I able to calm myself down completely. It'd go awry pretty quickly tonight if I showed up looking like a crying mess. My anxiety has lessened, and the initial excitement was seeping back in. All I had to do was swallow my nerves and continue biting all the bullets coming my way. This was all for a good cause.

I picked my favourite church outfit consisting of beige slacks and a trendy button-down shirt. Since Liam only ever saw me in my school uniform, I wanted to ensure that I looked my best. Liam was, by default, a really cool guy. His friends were naturally an extension of that, too. If I wanted to become friends with him then I'd have to meet the quota, as well.

My phone buzzed on the bed. I looked at Tristan's name on the screen and opened it up.

It read, "Come wen ur ready. We can hang b4 u bounce."

I replied, "Ok," and threw my phone back down.

It buzzed again straight away. Was it still Tristan? I picked it up once more and saw an unsaved number. I recognised who it was based on the previous messages even before reading the latest one. Pastor Cordell wrote, "It's gunna be a good night. Keen as to hang and get to know you all more, see you tonight."

I'd rather the text came from Liam. There was no time to text and explain that I wouldn't be there, especially if he somehow decided to get a hold of my mum. Knowing her, she'd probably get to him first. I'd rather deal with the consequences after successfully avoiding my impending doom and replacing it with some more favourable memories.

It's been a while since I've asked Dad for pocket money in secret, so I was still penniless just as I was when I had a milo with Pastor Cordell. Hopefully Liam would choose something that was free otherwise this was going to be more awkward than I anticipated. I checked myself in the mirror, and remembering what Liam said about my hair, licked my fingers and smoothed it down a little. Maybe I'd have to actually take his advice and ask mum or dad to spot me a visit to the hairdresser.

But everything else could go on the backburner because right now, I was about to hang out with Liam Petry!!

I glanced at my bag and wondered if I'd need it. Deciding probably not, I just chucked my phone in my pocket and headed back down the stairs at the same time Josh was coming through the front door. We noticed each other at the same time and even though I wanted turn and hightail back to my room, Mum was still down here, so he was less likely to do or say anything too outwardly mean.

We passed each other wordlessly, but our shoulders bumped with a bit of force. I knocked into the doorframe and continued my way out, refusing to engage with him. He was probably thinking he'd make do on his threat tonight, but the joke would be on him. I'd be spending my time with Liam Petry instead.