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š¤ Chapter 7 ā Under the Lights
Saturday afternoon, the youth-group picnic looked like a small festival.
Kids chased frisbees, the grill smoked, and someone was already losing at volleyball. The church banner flapped in the breeze:
"Faith & Fun Day 2025 š"
Sarah balanced a paper plate loaded with chips and soda, pretending not to scan the crowd for one person.
Kim noticed first.
> Kim: "Stop pretending you're not looking for him."
Sarah: "Looking for who?"
Kim: "Uh-huh."
Right on cue, Eli jogged up in a gray hoodie, drumsticks sticking out of his back pocket. Because apparently he couldn't exist without them. š
> Eli: "Need a refill, Choir Girl?"
Sarah: "If you spill anything on me, you're dead."
Eli: "Then I'll guard it with my life."
Kim narrowed her eyes like a hawk.
> Kim: "Mm-hm. Guard what, exactly?"
> Sarah: "Myā¦ soda?"
> Eli: "Totally just soda."
Kim walked off slowly, suspicious but smiling.
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š The Game
Later, a few of the guys pulled Eli into a quick basketball match. Sarah ended up sitting on the bleachers with Samantha and Lily, trying to look uninterested.
> Samantha: "You're staring."
Sarah: "I'mā¦ supporting our church's athletic ministry."
Lily: "You like him."
Sarah: "Lily, eat your hot-dog." š
Eli noticed her watching, of course. He winked right before making a three-pointer. The girls screamed; Sarah clapped once, trying not to smile too big.
> Samantha: "Girl, your poker face is broken." š
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š The Almost-Caught Moment
When the sun dipped low and the crowd thinned, Sarah wandered toward the edge of the field. Fireflies blinked between the trees.
Eli followed, pretending to check his phone.
> Eli: "You left early. Thought I lost my cheerleader."
Sarah: "I didn't know I signed up for that position."
Eli: "You did. Unofficially."
They both laughed softly. For a moment, everything felt easy againāuntil a camera flash went off. šø
They spun around.
Marcus (yes, that Marcus) grinned, phone raised.
> Marcus: "Aww, the church's favorite duo! Say cheese!"
> Sarah: "Marcusādelete that!"
> Marcus: "Relax, it's for the youth page."
> Eli: "Maybe don't post that one, man."
> Marcus: "Why? Y'all look cute!"
He jogged off toward the pastor's tent before either of them could stop him.
> Sarah (panicking): "He's gonna post it. My dad follows that page!"
Eli: "I'll talk to him, it's fine."
Sarah: "Eli, this isn't fine!"
Right then, Kim's voice called from across the fieldā
> Kim: "Sarah! Mom's looking for you!"
Sarah turned back toward Eli. Their eyes met; the panic turned into quiet laughter.
> Eli: "Guess we just became Facebook-official by accident." š¬
Sarah: "Not funny."
Eli: "Kinda is."
She swatted his arm. "Go delete that picture before my mom turns it into a sermon."
He grinned. "On it."
As she walked back toward the lights and noise, her phone buzzed:
Eli: Operation Delete Pic: in progress.
Sarah: Better hurry. Or it's the end of us both.
Eli: Worth the risk. š«
Sarah smiled, shaking her head. But her heart thumped faster than the drums at Sunday service.
Because this time, the secret felt one step from exploding.
And somewhere across the field, Marcus was already scrolling through his camera rollā¦ š³
To be continued.
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