Chapter 10: The Dance

"Pain is what made me leave the church. But that's not the same for everyone." Delta cried.

Invited to a dance by the Harrisons. Delta and her younger sister accept the invitation. The Millers will be there and a bunch of Christian friends, friends of the Harrisons and Millers.

DELTA

Her little sister was talking with them. Talking with their friends. Friday and Freya Harrison were before her and their guy friends Kyle and Hans. She sat a few feet away from the group on the patio at a table. She sat in a spinning chair. The night went on and another one of Harrison's friends showed up. A girl with the name Isabella. Delta got up to get a drink of tea. Isabella was nearby talking with Friday. Friday left to wander somewhere else. Probably to dance or talk. Delta pondered. Then she noticed Isabella before her. Wow. . .Another friend of theirs. I should be friendly.

"Delta," Delta said, offering her hand for Isabella to shake. They shook hands.

"I am Isabella, maybe you've seen me around before? For a game day or two. I came with a guy named Jack."

Delta looked at her face, similar yes, I've seen her somewhere before. I think CYA for sure. Maybe a past game day. She thought. "I was at the CYA summer event."

"Oh?!" Isabella said in surprise. "Is that how you know the Harrisons?"

"Yeah, Freya invited me," Delta turned to motion towards Freya, who was dancing with Kyle at the moment. "I know the Harrisons and the Millers through a homeschool group called AHC."

"What did you think of the CYA event?"

"It was-" Delta began as she thought about it. But she knew about her unbelief. It held her back from enjoying that event. My bitterness chains me. "It was good. Good food. The music was alright I guess. Overall it was good."

"Ah, only good?"

"Well-" She looked at Isabella again. Thinking. Do I tell her? Can I trust her? But she seems to be one of them. . .One of the good ones. Filled with light. "I don't exactly. . .believe what they do." Wow, she thought. I got that out and was honest. "Anyway, I shall not keep you. Go ahead and dance with the rest of them. I only do line dances, not partners." Delta stepped away. Going back to the table, she was sitting at earlier. But several minutes later Isabella came up taking the seat to Delta's right. "Isabella, right?"

"Yes."

"How was your day?" Delta asked. Making small talk she told herself. She then reached to pick up her tea and take a sip.

"Well, I was working behind a desk. Nothing too exciting. It's not physically demanding but it's calm and nice."

"Ah, cool. Well, my day was writing pretty much. Ate my brunch slash breakfast at two. Then more writing. Then here I am. But I am curious what do you like to do with your free time?"

Isabella nodded thinking for a bit. "I like hanging out with real authentic friends who are there. I like socializing." Delta nodded. She looked at the girl. Her face for a bit. Her thoughts drifted a bit. Keep talking pretty girl. Oh dear, I watched too much Warrior Nun. I was just like Ava. And I think she has a boyfriend. Another no! Isabella was still talking. "What about you? Writing correct?"

"Yeah, writing pretty much oh I guess Netflix."

"Let me guess."

"A vampire tv show."

"The TVD?"

"Oh, the show that takes place after the TVD. The Originals."

"Nice."

"Thank you."

"So you mentioned you didn't believe. Are you fine with telling me? Because-" She looked around and motioned to some of the people. "You surround yourself among believers?"

"I-Let me think. How much do you want to know?"

"Whatever you feel comfortable with sharing."

"Well, 2014. I mean. . .In 2017-"

"Haha, I like the face you make when you're thinking."

"In 2017 I went to a place called Hume Lake. Soon after I was baptized. But then in 2019 I kind of left the church. I got sad. God wasn't there. Also, I joined an atheist community on Facebook. I read stories by some of the other people in there about how they were HURT by the church. Bullied by Christians. I was disgusted. I wanted no part and so I left." Delta glanced at Isabella for a second. She doesn't have her calm-happy face on more like a pained one?

"There were other factors. But the big one was Christian bullies. I ask myself though why do I still attend their Bible study."

"But it's good that you guys can hang out and still be friends while believing differently. It's good to have friends from other views and walks that can challenge you."

Delta nodded. "Yeah. I agree." One of the guys came over. He arrived late to the party. But he was here nonetheless, Mat. "Dance?" He asked Isabella. She took his hand and they went off to the dance floor. Delta sat there thinking.

"Remember our promise," Cin said. "I know what you thought about earlier. Pretty? Really?"

"I know what I have to do."

"We promised not to marry. Falling in love or doing things that could lead to more than a friendship is dangerous to our promise. Especially talking with a Christian. Friendzone her and others that are here."

"I KNOW! I will do just that. Do you talk as if it's not important to me? But it is! If there is one thing true about me. If there is one thing I know for sure. I will keep my word on this. And if I somehow broke it or someone breaks it somehow I'll be destroyed inwardly and outwardly. I WILL WEEP FOR DAYS! I WILL NOT MARRY!"

"I'll leave then but know this having Christian friends is your greatest weakness."

"Yeah, I am done talking to me. For a bit. Maybe later tonight. When I can process everything and think about my day. No, they are not weak. I am. For betraying my. . .family. They were family. And my flesh and blood family believed also so I betrayed them. I am filled with regret. . .I hate that I left but I am glad that I did." She snapped out of her thoughts as Isabella came back from the dance floor. Delta looked her over once. She had another thing to tell her.

"I have been thinking recently. I like to view myself. . .I seek to be an honorable person. I seek to be a woman of my word. But I am not. I am human. I am dishonorable. I made a promise back then to follow God forever. But then I broke that and made one not to follow him forever. But the one I made before. . .I have been thinking what if I resurrected it or retook my promise. . .But then who am I? I am a dishonorable person because I will again break my word for not following him forever."

"Ah, that's good that you're open and thinking about this."

"Yeah," Delta said, nodding her head. Thinking.