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NOT THAT she was ever disrespectful or to ever say this aloud, but kim never really cared for church — she could read the holy script, pray and chant hymns at home — at least that's how she felt back in iowa
her church back home in sioux city was small, so she saw the same faces every sunday, she had to get up at 7 in the morning to start getting ready, all the older men of the church constantly stared at her and the younger women of the church in a predatory way and she didn't like the sexist, arrogant and old-school pastor who preached. one of the few redeeming qualities about it was that diana and trayvon went there
but ruby's church was the exact opposite
there was a lot of diversity, kim had seen multiple races and mixes in every corner, everyone was social and on their phones to use bibles unlike kimberly's old church which restricted it, the young outnumbered the old, the church was a large and beautiful sanctuary, the pastor wasn't a misogynistic pig and they served food. when her mother would come back from work later, kim was definitely telling her that this church was a keeper.
"hey kim" ruby nudged her as kim turned her head away from the pastor who was preaching and criticizing about america humorously yet in a clean way, "hm?"
"my friend riley keeps looking at you" ruby nodded her head towards the stage where the boy from last night was sitting at the drums
and there he was in all his glory, sitting there with the drumsticks in his hand and giving her a smile
when she noticed him — she didn't smile back, instead she looked back at ruby
"he was the one playing the drums this whole time? i didn't notice him,"
ruby nods "yes ma'am, the drums is the only thing on the stage that he wants to be a part of. but his father," ruby motions towards the pastor, "wants riles to be like him in the future."
kim finally realized the resemblance between riley and his father, switching her sights between the both of them — "hm, that seems nice..."
ruby smiles at kim, raising an eyebrow "you got something on your mind kim?"
yes. "no." ruby faked a silent gasp, "are you lying in the house of god?" kim bit her lip and looked down at her hands "okay fine. i am thinking about a boy."
ruby smiles cheekily, nudging her again "c'mon, tell me who." kim shakes her head "you don't know him. he's kind of....secluded"
"does he live in our neighborhood?"
"i guess you could say that..."
"is he cute?"
"cute would be a great understatement"
"oou, he sounds like the strong, silent, cute type. keep him." ruby and kim giggle before ruby says, "and you've got to let me meet him one day." ruby said before turning to face the front
kim hums, thinking about what happened with her and leo earlier "maybe."
after church kim, ruby and their friends ate food outside, chatting aimlessly while leaning against jace's car
kim was too distracted laughing at mike and youth's playful argument to notice riley walking towards her — but ruby wasn't
"black beauty, black beauty: little drummer boy at 3 o'clock; niner, niner"
kim looked over at ruby in confusion "huh?"
"hey cheater" riley greets with, his eyes on only kimberly
kim cringed in front of ruby, who snickered lowly, before turning to riley "uh hey"
"so some of my soccer friends and i are going to this restaurant, wanna come with?" and although kim did love food, all she wanted to do was go home — she'd already been social enough today
"um," kim started, getting ready to decline the offer but riley kept insisting "come on kim, please?"
ruby smirked at kim "yeah kim, he's saying pleaseee"
and with a heavy sigh, she said she'd call her mom to ask ~ hoping she'd say no
"is ruby going to be there?" kim looked over at the unsuspecting ruby who was guffawing at mrs. mccann flirting with the deacon of the church "yes ma'am she will"
"okay, but if i come back home and you're not there kimberly—" "i'll be back on time, i promise"
when kim got off the phone, she sighed before looking over at riley "i have to be back home before 5"
riley smiles "great" kim looks over at ruby and her friends "and ruby and my other friends have to come"
