A/N: I don't think there is anything triggering in this chapter. I made it as fluffy as possible. Also, there is mention of church and religion. I just want to make it clear that no matter what religion you are or none at all or whether you go to church or not is completely and totally cool and valid.

Song: Best Day of My Life by American Authors

September 17

Today was the best Sunday I've had in a long time.

Last week, Sarah and I swapped phone numbers, and early this morning, I texted her to see if she was awake for church. I hadn't seen her at the service last week, and going to church was usually a really big thing for everyone in town.

Me: Hey, Sarah. I was wondering if you were up? It's almost time for church, and I didn't see you at the service last week.

Sarah: Oh, I don't go to church. Sorry

At this point, I felt like an idiot. I didn't even ask her if she was religious or was the same religion as everyone here.

Me: It's fine. Sorry, I should have asked if you were religious or something.

Sarah: It's not a problem. I figured it probably wouldn't have occurred to you to ask since the whole town goes to church lol

Me: Yeah I guess, but I still should have asked. Anyway, I guess I'll talk to you later. A few hours of boredom here I come :/

Sarah: If you find church boring, then why do you go? Just ditch it

Me: My mom would kill me if I didn't go

Sarah: Dude, it's your life. Don't let anyone restrict you by telling you what you can and cannot do. If she likes going to church, she can go to church, but if you don't, you shouldn't have to go because she's going

Me: If I tried to pull that, she'd just drag me with her anyway especially since I've got nothing to do right now

Sarah: It wouldn't hurt to just ask not to go would it? Besides, I've got you covered on things to do. Meet me at the park in five if you can come

I threw my phone on my bed and bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen where my mom and dad were arguing over something stupid. It was probably over where he last saw her earings or something. I cleared my throat nervously, and they both stopped talking to look at me. "Are you ready to go, Austin?" Mom asked with a smile.

I shook my head. "Um, I was actually wondering if I could not go to church today?"

Mom and Dad looked at each other like I had grown three heads. "But we always go to church every Sunday." Dad said.

"Is there something wrong?" Mom asked in concern.

"No, I just... I don't really like going to church," I mumbled.

Dad looked from me to Mom before he left the room. Mom walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Austin, is there... is there something you would like to tell me?" She asked.

"No, not really. I just don't find church that interesting." I said.

"Do you... Do you still believe in God?" She asked, hesitantly.

"Yes," I said. "I just don't want to go to church."

She swallowed hard and then nodded. "Yes, well, you are growing up, so I suppose you can make your own decisions about whether you go to church or not. What will you be doing while we are out?"

"I was going to go to the park and hang out with Sarah," I said. I couldn't believe my luck. She is letting me decide whether I go to church or not!

Her eye twitched at that statement. "Alright, but you be careful with that girl. I've heard rumors about her that I don't want you getting mixed up in."

I frowned. Sarah seemed like a really awesome girl. The only thing I could think of that would make my mom dislike her was the fact that she doesn't go to church, but she just said it was fine for me not to go. "What kind of rumors?"

"She-"

"Amelia, we're going to be late!" Dad called from the front door.

"Alright, Tom, just a moment!" Mom called back. She sighed and turned back to me. "Just promise me you'll be careful? I don't want you to worry over something that may not be true."

"Okay, Mom," I said even though I was almost a hundred percent sure that there was nothing to worry about.

"Good. Now we have to go. Love you." She grabbed her jacket and hurried out the door after Dad.

I ran back up the stairs to my room and quickly changed into something more comfortable than my slacks and polo shirt. I scooped up my phone again, and as I made my way out the door, I grabbed an apple to eat on the way. By the time I got there, Sarah was sitting on a swing with her notebook and a picnic basket next to her on the ground. She was wearing a light grey hoodie and jeans that were a little frayed at the bottom. Her hair was tucked up in a loose ponytail with a few loose strands flying free in the breeze.

"Took you long enough," she said with a smirk and jumped off the swing.

"Yeah, well, I had to change my clothes too. I figured going to the park didn't require the normal attire I would wear for church." I said, crossing my arms.

She laughed and picked up the basket and notebook while tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I guess it doesn't. I hope you don't mind peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I hadn't eaten breakfast yet, so I thought we could eat out here."

"It sounds good to me as long as you didn't poison it, Osborne" I said.

She shoved me playfully. "Whatever, Lakewood."

We walked along the path into the wooded area, bickering about the food and other random things. When we got to the part where the path starts to circle back to the park, Sarah grabbed my arm to stop me. "We're going this way," she pointed at a little trail that was partially hidden by the foliage. I hadn't noticed it was there before. "I take it you've never gone this way before?" I could hear the smirk in her voice before I looked at her.

"How would you know if I haven't?" I asked defensively.

"Because you were staring at it like I just showed you Narnia," She said.

"I hate you."

"Love you too." I stood there and stared at her for a second before she realized what she said. "Not like that," she added hastily. "No offense. You are an okay enough looking guy, but you're not my type."

I winced a little when she said "guy", but I brushed it off. "Only okay looking?" I asked, feigning hurt.

"Would you rather me say mediocre?" She asked innocently.

We both started laughing at that and made our way down the trail. We stayed silent for a few minutes before I said, "I don't think anyone's been down here."

She nodded in agreement. "I'm fairly certain no one's noticed the trail. If they had, the place it leads to would have the same amount of litter the park has if not more. Also, for the record, you really aren't that bad looking."

"Thanks," I said, my face heating up a little. "You aren't too bad looking yourself. You're just not my type either."

She smiled at that. She then looked up at the sky and shouted, "See that world? A guy and a girl can be friends without sexual tension!"

"Sarah!"

We laughed again as we watched a few startled birds fly away.

"Sorry, it's just at my old school, before I... I said the thing about myself, people often teased me for being friends with a few guys." She got really quiet after that. After a few moments of walking in silence, I put my arm over her shoulders comfortingly.

A few more minutes went by before the trail open up to a small clearing. I gasped at the sight. In the middle of the clearing was a pond. The water was crystal clear, and I could see the smoothed out pebbles and rocks in the bottom of the deepest part of the pond. Along the edges were flowers, and at the opposite end there was a log, half sticking up out of the water.

"This is beautiful," I said in awe.

Sarah nodded with a soft smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, it is."

We sat down and took out the sandwiches she packed and two bottles of water. We ate in silence, listening to the birds and the breeze rustling the leaves. I finished eating before her since I was less hungry. I thought back to what my mom said about there being rumors about her. I figured I should ask her before I heard the rumors myself. That way she had the chance to tell me before anything reached me.

"Hey, Sarah? Can I ask you something?" She nodded her head and took another bite out of her third sandwich. "My mom said she heard a rumor about you. She didn't tell me what it was, but I was wondering if you knew anything about it. I didn't want to hear something that might not be true before you had the chance to try and tell me whatever it is or is not on your own."

She stopped chewing and swallowed hard, looking at the ground as she did so. "It'll probably be about what happened in Norfolk and what I told everyone that made them hate me so much. I promise to tell you what it is soon, but not right now." She looked up and forced a smile. "I heard the club fair is coming up. What clubs are you interested in joining?"

We talked and joked around after that, but I couldn't help thinking about the supposed rumor and what she could have said that made people hate her. How could anyone hate her? What she said couldn't have been that bad, right?

Even with those thoughts in the back of my head, I still had an amazing time. I realized that I have never had a connection to my former friends like the one I have with Sarah. I've never had so much fun with anyone before even if we were just talking. I try never to say these words because I'm always waiting for the right time to use them in case something better comes along, but I feel like now would be a great time to say (or write) them.

Today was the best day of my life.

~Austin