A/N: Warning this chapter talks about church and being Christian. If you do not want to read that part then skip Ace's POV or don't read this at all. I'm not trying to offend anyone. I just thought I would go ahead and give you guys a heads up if you don't like reading about certain things. The same topic will be included more in this book after this chapter. If you guys want me to I will put a warning in each chapter that I do it. Hopefully I didn't scare any of you and you guys will keep reading so enjoy!

Jasper's POV (redhead)

"Dude! Get up! We have class in fifteen minutes!" Nico yells and slams a pillow into my face.

I groan and roll over.

"If you don't get up, I will leave you here and won't give you my notes." He says and walks out of my room.

I push myself up and grab my phone. I send Stranger Girl a good morning text. I stand up and stretch before searching for a t-shirt that does not smell or feel like a cat sneezed on it.

I brush my teeth before grabbing my black and white Jordans. I rush towards the door and hope around on one leg as I try to put one shoe on.

"Finally sleeping beauty is awake," Nico grins and opens the door.

I roll my eyes and put my other shoe on.

"At least you matched your clothes this time."

"I have to look better than you, don't I?"

He rolls his eyes.

My phone vibrates from my pocket and I pull it out as I follow Nico out of the apartment.

Morning Stranger

I smile at my phone and slide it back into my pocket. We step outside and I'm met with a breeze of cold air.

"Why is it so cold?" I question and rub my bare arms.

"It's in the forties, Jasper. It's your fault for wearing a short sleeve shirt."

"Yeah. Yeah," I grumble to myself.

-------THE YEAR OF HELLOS-------

Ace's POV

"Did you know it was going to be this cold?" I question Jaxon.

"No."

"It's great seeing you and everything, but maybe you could've picked something a little more warmer."

"You can pick next time."

"Sounds good to me."

-------THE YEAR OF HELLOS-------

I blow out a breath of air and open the door. I fix my hair that probably has nothing wrong with it and pick up a paper before walking into a huge open room with pews.

Most of the pews are filled, but there are a few empty ones. I quickly sit in one towards the back that no one is already sitting in. In the front is a stage area and I think a choir loft. Women and girls are smiling and greeting one another up there.

There seems to be a joyous atmosphere floating around, because even I can't help but smile.

This is already a better start than the last church I went to.

For fifteen or twenty minutes is filled mostly with people singing. After the wonderful singing, a man started preaching.

"I see there are some new faces today. Welcome to White Mountain Community Church! Today I wanted to talk to you a little bit about the blessing and curse. Some people don't like to preach about Hell or tell people about Hell, but Hell is just as real of a place as Heaven.

"We have a choice to make and there are only two options: good or bad, blessing or curse, Heaven or Hell.

"Hell is a terrible place to go to. Some people just blow it off. Hell is something that you don't want to blow off church. Hell is a place where you will be alone," the preacher's boice breaks and a tear slides down his face.

"Fire will everlasting. Your hair will burn away. Your skin will come off and grow back just for the cycle to repeat. Over and over and over. Hell is torture and I don't want to go there.

The preacher smiles as more tears fall down his face and he raises arms above his head. "I'm going to the place where Jesus is! Where my God is bigger than any problem that we face. Where my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life! The place where god has built a mansion for me! Oh church! Isn't it wonderful to know that our God has a wonderful place for us?"

I knew there was a reason I wanted to start going to church. A reason that needed to find THE church. A reason why I left the apartment and Max alone to drive around to who knows where.

This was -is- the reason.

The reason I came to this church. The reason I walked down the isle as soon as the words left the preachers mouth. The reason I cried like a baby and fell down at the alter to ask for forgiveness of my sins.

The reason is that my name would be written down in the Lamb's book of Life.

-------THE YEAR OF HELLOS-------

God, you are going to have to help me with this.

I knock on the door and put my hands in my pockets.

The door opens and a black girl opens the door. She raises her eyebrow. "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Sophie. My friend said she lives here," I answer.

The girl looks at me wearily.

"We used to be good friends back in high school. My name is Ace."

She smiles and motions for me to come in. "She's down the hallway in the second door on the right."