Jesus Freaks: The Prodigal (Jesus Freaks #2) Read Online Free Page A

elbows are perched on his knees. “It is,” he answers with certainty, but offering nothing else. “So, now what happens for you?”
    I shrug. “I don’t know. I guess I go back to my regularly scheduled life starting tomorrow?” I break into nervous laughter and most of the group follows. Silas doesn’t laugh much as it is so I didn’t really expect him to follow.
    “I mean,” he continues, “what’s your plan? Are you going to, like, work with Roland here? Change your major? Move in with him?”
    I huff through my nose. “I don’t see why any of those things are necessary right now.”
    Silas shifts in his seat. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him sit still for very long. “You’ve got a big commitment to take on, Kennedy.”
    Jonah leans forward, arching his eyebrow toward Silas. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean,” Silas faces Jonah, “she’s gotta kind of get her act together, don’t you think? She can’t keep working downtown and skate by without doing volunteer work now that people know who she is.”
    I clear my throat and wave. “I’m over here. And, why can’t I work downtown? At the university-approved coffee shop?” I arch my eyebrow as I throw that last bit in.
    Silas gives an aggravated-sounding sigh. “Because. Because I guarantee you if there are kids on this campus who are questioning and who hang out with more liberal ideas like you do, they’re going to be paying attention to you and everything you do. If they have a true heart for Christ and are watching you for cues, you don’t want to be a stumbling block for them, do you?”
    I clench my teeth for a brief second before releasing them and licking my lips. “If they’re looking at me before Jesus, they’ve got problems I can’t help them with, Silas. I didn’t ask to be Roland’s daughter,” I remind everyone. And myself.
    “But you are ,” Eden speaks up.
    Jonah nods. “None of us get to choose who our parents are, but we’ve got to deal with them, don’t we?”
    “People still need role models, Kennedy,” Bridgette offers softly. “And, for right now, you’re going to be just that, for a lot of people.”
    I roll my eyes. “Matt says there’s a band of disenfranchised PK’s who need me.”
    Jonah flashes a melancholy smile but Eden cuts in before he can open his mouth.
    “And I think you need some of us, more than you did before.” Her voice is soft but intense. A dynamic she masters. More like a pastor than the wife of one, which she aspires to be.
    I nod. “You’re right. I was supposed to spend some time this semester with Maggie sort of getting my act together to fit in around here. And, we haven’t done that.”
    “It’s not about fitting in, necessarily. It’s about being heard. Like,” she takes a deep breath, “those girls at Planned Parenthood. You knew how to talk to them without even thinking .”
    “It was terrifying,” I admit.
    Eden shrugs. “Whatever. You pulled it off. Now you need to be able to do that with people around here, too. You have stuff to offer, Kennedy. I’ve heard you in prayer sometimes. You don’t say much, but what you do shows your clear heart for God. You’re a lot like your dad, you …”
    She keeps talking but I can’t hear her words. I stand and lift my hand. “Not really in the mood for familial comparisons right now, Eden.”
    “Sorry.” She looks down and I instantly feel bad. For a second.
    “It’s fine. I’ll be back in the dorm tonight, okay? I’ve got to go talk to my mom.”
    Like your dad …
    Shaking the cobweb of offense from my head, I offer a weak wave to my friends. Before returning to my mom, I note that Matt and the man I’m calling his dad are still talking in the doorway with Roland. When I’d looked over before, Matt was gone, but he’s back and staring at the floor. I don’t have time to wonder where he went, but I do anyway. Really I just want to go stand next to him. He’s been my only port in this storm.
    Mom