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🎧 Chapter 2 — The Golden Boy
Wednesday evening hit different — the sky was dipped in gold and pink, the kind of sunset that made even the church parking lot look cinematic 🎬.
Sarah rushed into the youth choir hall, ten minutes late, clutching her binder and trying not to spill her iced coffee.
Of course, everyone looked up.
> "Nice of you to join us, Sister Sarah," the choir director said, adjusting her glasses.
> "Sorry, ma'am! Traffic," Sarah lied (the traffic was just her hair straightener).
From behind the drums, Eli gave a lazy salute and mouthed, "You're late."
She mouthed back, "Mind your business."
He smirked, tapping his sticks twice against the drum rim — tap, tap — like he was drumming her heartbeat just to annoy her. 💓
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When the choir started singing "Good Grace," Sarah tried to focus. She really did. But every time she looked up, Eli was already watching her — that smirk doing things to her concentration she did not appreciate.
> "Sarah, you're flat again," the choir leader said.
> "Sorry!" she blurted, face burning.
From behind the drums, Eli mouthed, "Focus, Choir Girl."
She glared at him. Lord, if You're testing me right now, I see what You're doing. 😭
He laughed silently, eyes glinting with mischief.
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🎵 After Practice
People drifted out in clusters, joking about who had the worst pitch and whether the youth pastor's sermon could put an owl to sleep. Sarah stayed behind to tidy up the hymnals — mostly because she needed a few extra minutes to calm her heartbeat.
> "You don't have to do that," Eli said, leaning on the wall, watching her.
> "I like helping," she said, not looking at him.
> "Or maybe," he said, smirking, "you just like staying behind."
She turned, one eyebrow raised. "Do you rehearse these lines, or do they just fall out of your mouth naturally?" 😒
> "They're a gift," he said, mock-serious. "The Lord blessed me with charisma."
> "Pretty sure He didn't mean this kind of charisma."
> "Hey," he said, hands up. "I'm just spreading joy."
She laughed in spite of herself. "You're ridiculous."
> "And yet, you're smiling," he said, grinning wider.
She rolled her eyes. "You're so full of yourself."
> "Nah," he said, grabbing his backpack. "I just like people who challenge me."
> "You call teasing 'challenging'?"
> "Nah," he said, walking closer. "I call you challenging."
Sarah froze for half a second. The room suddenly felt too quiet.
> "You're such a flirt," she said finally.
> "Only with girls who sing like angels."
> "That line is so corny," she said, laughing now.
> "Corny works," he said, shrugging. "You smiled, didn't you?"
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🚶♀️ The Walk Home
They ended up walking down the sidewalk together, the streetlamps flickering on above them.
> "So," Eli said, kicking a small rock down the road, "you always this quiet?"
> "You always this loud?" she shot back.
> "Touché." 😏
> "I just… like listening more than talking," she said.
> "That's probably why you sing like that," he said. "Like you're saying something you can't actually say."
Sarah blinked. "You sound like a poet."
> "Nah. Just observant."
> "Observant people don't usually brag about it," she teased.
> "True. But confident people do."
She shook her head, laughing. "You're impossible."
> "And yet, here you are walking with me," he said, grinning.
They reached her street corner. The soft orange glow from her porch light made everything feel like a movie ending.
> "This is me," she said, stopping.
> "Cool." He nodded. "See you at rehearsal Sunday?"
> "Maybe."
> "That's a yes," he said, walking backward. "Don't be late next time, Choir Girl."
> "Don't call me that!"
> "Can't help it!" he called back. "It suits you!"
Sarah stood there for a few seconds, smiling at nothing. Then she whispered, "You're trouble," to herself — but she was still smiling when she said it. 😌
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