All Things New - A Story PART 1 - Purity Challenge

All Things New~ Second chances are NOT over-rated

A Valentine Story~ By Jenny B. Jones 

I check my phone for a text message or missed call. That would be the millionth time today. The count would be higher, but I took a short break for lunch.

I stare at the ceiling and sigh as my mom sweeps into my room.

“Look what I found in the bottom of the trash can.” She holds up a small silver ring and smiles. “That was close, huh?”

With a laundry basket on her hip, Mom places the ring on my bedside table, runs her hand over my hair and disappears.

I stare at the silver object until it’s a blur in my vision.

This ring didn’t accidentally walk to the trashcan. It didn’t accidentally fall into the trashcan. O threw it in there. Weeks ago. Though obviously not very well.

There seem to be a lot of things I don’t succeed at. Like boys. And relationships. And commitments. And that whole purity business.

My name is Jordan Spencer, and the only thing I do well these days is make mistakes. And for some mistakes, there’s no going back. Putting that Purity ring back on my hand will not make things better, will not erase the events of my sophomore year. Won’t erase the pain.

My phone trills, and I answer without checking the display. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me.”

My hearts sinks at the voice of my best friend, Kelsey. When am I going to get it in my head that Devin Terrell is not going to call?

“It’s the youth groups Valentine’s Day banquet tonight. You should come with me." I’d rather eat nails. “Thanks, but I have other plans.” Like watching “Gilmore Girls” reruns and feeding my goldfish.

“Jordan, come on. You haven’t been in youth group like all year. Are you honestly going to sit at home on Friday night and wait for what’s his name to call? It’s 4:00pm. Do you really want to be that girl who desperately agrees to a last-minute date?”

Um, yeah. I do. “I’m bust Kelsey, OK?” On top of everything else I have going on, I need to squeeze in some more time to feel sorry for myself. And frankly, that’s exhausting.

My best friends laugh is hollow. “You’ve changed, you know? You went from wanting to conquer the world to spending all your time chasing this guy.”

“I’m not sitting around waiting for him.” I pause, expecting a lightning bolt to crack through my roof and strike me for the lie.

“Prove it then. Come to the Valentine’s banquet with me. We’ll eat, we’ll talk, then totally OD on some chocolate.”

I laugh despite it all. “So tempting.”

And in a way it is. I used to go to the banquet every year and all the other youth group events at the church. But lately, I’ve kinda dropped out. And I can’t say that going my own way has been a ragging success.

“If Devin Terrell calls, it would serve him right to find out you already have plans,” Kelsey says.

And this gets me. She’s right. Maybe if he finds out I went out tonight and didn’t wait around for him, he’d be jealous.

“Kels, I’ll see you there.”

“And you’ll hang-out? And eat chocolate until we barf? And----“

“Goodbye.” I laugh and hang up.

Check tomorrow for part 2...

~ Stephanie ~

   *Phil. 3:13-14*