FAITH & HOPE 13

FAITH

She had been living in Willows for nine days now, and the first week of the dreaded church camp had concluded. Only seven more, she thought. Unless she could somehow orchestrate a plan that would pardon her early. But the likelihood of that happening was Slim.

Perhaps she was being a tad bit melodramatic. Perhaps church camp wasn’t as bad as she made it out to be. Sure, she had to wake up early and spend all day sitting in a crammed room with jovial church goers who enjoyed nothing more than prayer time. And okay, maybe the lunches of kale and rocket salads and fruit bowls weren’t as terrible as she initially thought. But still, it was church camp for God’s sake. What on earth was Faith even doing in such a place? It was not in her nature. She was out of her element, trapped in a place she didn’t belong.

At least Sebastian would be coming up soon, It was Friday afternoon, which meant only a few hours remained until he got off work and drove up to Willows. He was staying until Sunday morning, which was more than enough time to spend with him. All week she had done nothing but miss him. As though her entire body was yearning for him, aching for something she couldn’t quite reach. There was a pull between them, Faith and Sebastian, like gravity. And when they were separated for too long, she left that pull. It was indestructible.

‘Come to the grocery store with me,’ her mother said as she looked in the mirror, applying her lipstick. ‘It will be good for you to get out of the house.’

Faith looked at her. ‘That’s all I seem to do these days - get out of the house. Every single day for six hours, in case you’ve forgotten.’

Claudia pursed her lips and ran a second coat over them. She rubbed them together and smiled at her reflection. Then she turned to her daughter. ‘But other than those six hours, you don’t do anything, Faith. This is the problem. This is why I wanted you to go to camp in the first place. To have fun, to socialize, to meet people.’

‘I have met people.’

‘Who?’

‘People.’

Claudia sighed. ‘Sweetheart, I just want you to be happy.’

‘I am happy.’

‘You have no friends.’

‘I don’t need friends! Faith said. ‘I have Sebastian.’

‘Yes, but, honey.’ Claudia stood from her vanity chair. ‘ Sebastian won’t be here forever. He won’t be here in January.’

Faith glared at her mother. ‘And whose fault is that?’

‘Don’t do this again.’

‘Why? It’s the truth. You tear apart our family, rip me away from my hometown with my friends and boyfriend, uproot me to this God awful place, then complain when I don’t have anybody.’

‘Faith,’ her mother said softly. ‘You didn’t have many friends back home either.’

‘Fuck you!’ Faith yelled, then turned around and went back to her room.

Hours had passed. Donny was working and Claudia was out. Faith sat cross - legged on the floor of her bedroom, Sebastian lying stomach down on her bed. She put the bong to her lips and inhaled deeply. Sebastian watched her in silence, not saying a word. He knew better by now.

She exhaled and let out a small cough, then reached for her bottle of water.

‘I wish there was something I could do,’ Sebastian finally said, ‘I can’t make it better. I can’t do anything.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ she said, placing the bong back on the floor.

‘I know, but I love you and hate seeing you like this.’

‘Me too.’

It was quiet for a moment.

‘Can you just kidnap me?’ she said. ‘Knock me over the head, drag my body to your car. Maybe no one will even notice my absence.’

Sebastian laughed. ‘Come home next weekend. We can do something.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Are you going to your dad’s place any time soon?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘Fuck him. I don’t want to see him right now.’

‘Fair enough.’

‘This is the fault of both of them, Equally. I don’t only hate her, you know.’

‘So,’ he sat up on the bed. ‘What do you want to do tonight?’

‘Do we have to do anything? Can’t we just lay in bed and be together?’

‘I thought you wanted to go out,’

‘I did, But I changed my mind.’

‘Well, whatever you want to do.’

She thought for a moment. ‘Actually, you know what,’ she said as she stood. ‘Perhaps a night out would be good for us. A chance to get my mind off things,’

‘Whatever you think is best.’

‘And I know just the guys who can help us out.’

An hour later they were down by the lake, sitting in the park, drinking alcohol with Carson and Jake. Thanks to Faith’s genius idea, she managed to locate the boys, introduced them to Sebastian - who they immediately bonded with - and was able to score them some alcohol. Now they were all happily intoxicated, wandering about, not making sense of anything, which was exactly what Faith wanted.

She took another swig from the bottle. ‘Your names together make Cake.’

‘What?’

‘Carson and Jake,’ she said. ‘Cake.’

They laughed. ‘Alright.’

‘What do you do, Sebastian?’ Jake asked.

‘I’m currently working at an electrical co - op.

The hours are long, but the pay is great.’

‘Nice,’ Carson said. ‘You like that stuff? Electrical?’

‘I guess,’ Sebastian said. ‘Not the biggest passion of mine, but it will suffice.’

‘You should come down here more often,’ Jake told him.

‘I’ll try,’ Sebastian laughed. ‘When this one’s busy all week, I can hang with you guys.’

‘Busy all week?’ Carson said, ‘Doing what?’ You get a job, Faith?’

‘No,’ Faith rolled her eyes.

‘She’s in church camp,’ Sebastian told them.

‘No way,’ Carson gaped, then the both of them erupted into laughter. ‘You, In church camp?’

‘Don’t remind me.’

‘What made you decide to do that?’ Jake asked. ‘Is it the one at St. Andrews?’

‘Yes, unfortunately, And trust me, it wasn’t my choice. My mother is forcing me against my will.’

‘It can’t be that bad.’

‘Says you.’ Faith glared at Carson. ‘You Don’t have to sit through the torture every day.’

‘What do they make you do?’ Jake asked. ‘Do you have to like, sign a pact to God and shit?’

‘Yes, I had to give my soul over on the first day when they baptised me in Holy Water.’

‘Get out.’

‘She’s joking,’ Sebastian said.

‘Oh,’ they laughed again.

‘But seriously,’ Jake said again. ‘What do you even do there?’

‘We sing church songs, And recite prayers. Play games, make T-shirts. It’s really quite terrible.’

‘Sounds like torture,’ Carson said.

‘Believe me,’ Faith said. ‘It is.’

‘So why do you go?’ Jake asked. ‘Just tell your mom you’re on your way, then ditch.’

Faith went silent. Why hadn’t she thought about that before? ‘Hey, that’s actually not a bad idea.’

Jake winked.

‘I just might have to try that one out,’ she said.

Sebastian looked at her. ‘And you think Claudia won’t find out?’

‘Who’s side are you on here?’

‘Your’s obviously. But I’m just being a realist.’

‘Well’ unfortunately this is a pessimist - only space,’ she gave him a fake smile.

‘Shut up,’ he laughed. ‘Do whatever you want, Faith, But Don’t think your mother won’t notice.’

‘Oh, trust me,’ she said to him. ‘Getting my mother to notice me is exactly what I intend to do…’