Annie had just been to an inspiring Youth Crusade weekend and was challenged to strengthen her walk with God. She made the vow to not date for one year.

Her faithfulness was tested shortly afterward as Jason Novak, the most handsome guy in high school finally decides to ask her out.

Author's Note on Forsaking All Others:

Back in April 2003, I was able to visit the high school I graduated from to help celebrate "National Library Week." A special thank you goes to Kathy, the media specialist who was a gracious hostess. A very special thanks is extended to all the future authors I had a chance to meet. The students were very open, honest, and sincere. I hope that each one pursues their dreams, especially in their writing.

I would also like to thank the youth at my local church for their courage, and love for Christ.

I would like to dedicate this short story to both the students at Old Mill Senior High School and the youth at Watersedge Baptist Church. May this year draw all of you closer to the One who has all of life's answers.


Forsaking All Others

"And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
Luke 14:25, 26 KJV

Chapter One

"I didn't get a chance to ask how your weekend was," the tall blonde wearing a robin's egg blue pull-over sweater hurried behind Annie as she quickly made her way down the hall.

Annie's eyes beamed with enthusiasm. "It was awesome, Lacey. I wish you could have been there."

As the two girls were hurrying down the corridor to get to their next class, Kelly, Annie's friend from church met her from the opposite direction.

The girls reached out and gently squeezed each other's hand. "Hey Girlfriend! EDM!"

Lacey turned her head just as Kelly past and headed into a classroom. "What is EDM?"

Annie smiled. "Something extremely important we learned this weekend. It means every decision matters." 3

They had just reached their next classroom when Lacey gently pulled Annie's arm. "What does that mean?"

"Basically it means everything we do or say is a decision that affects us or others in some way. Say for example, I hear gossip about someone. I have a decision: to spread it and cause further damage to someone's reputation, or to refuse to talk bad about someone. I should take a step further and say something nice about that person to encourage them."

Lacey shrugged her shoulders as she followed her friend into the room. They had the first two classes together before meeting later for lunch.

Annie said a silent prayer for Lacey. She had some great Christian friends at church, but she was concerned for her friend since grade school.

Chapter Two

"Annie, please get off the phone. Dinner is ready and we have to go to evening service," her mom insisted for the second time.

"I will see you later this evening. I have to eat dinner," Annie pouted, having to bring her forty-five minute telephone conversation with Kelly to a close.

"It's cool. Remember, EDM! That means having respect for our parents even if we don't always agree with them," Kelly said.

"See you later Kel!" She grinned and then hung up the phone and headed into the kitchen.

"Need me to do anything?" she asked her mother who was busy at the sink chopping vegetables.

"You can get the glasses for the drinks," she said without turning around.

Annie retrieved three glasses-one for her mom, one for her brother, and one for herself-her dad was working and would eat later.

"Everything okay at school?" Her mother asked after her son, Ryan, a year older than his sister and a senior in school joined them, and they said grace for their food.

"Yeah, pretty good," Annie said.

"Guess who asked about you today?" Ryan said to his sister.

"Who?" She asked as she added a small amount of French dressing to her salad.

"Jason Novak," he answered very matter of fact as he scooped a large helping of spaghetti and meatballs onto his plate.

Annie frowned. "Why would he ask about me?"

"I don't know. He asked me if you were dating anyone."

Annie turned pale. "What did you say?"

"I told him you weren't."

Annie's mother could sense a spiritual battle rising in her daughter.

Ryan shook his head. "Last year you would have jumped at a chance if he even looked your way. You act like this is something terrible."

Later that evening...

"This is terrible," Annie shared with Kelly as they sat together on the pew waiting for the service to begin.

"Satan is tempting you! Remember what Pastor Luke told us in church this past Sunday? That the most gorgeous guys will all of a sudden come into our path because we have taken a vow not to date for one year," Kelly said.

Annie nodded as the service began. She wished it had been any other guy, but Jason Novak. She prayed during the service asking God to strengthen her and deepen her commitment to Him to stay pure.


Chapter 3

The following morning...

It was study time. The computers in the school library were lined in two rows circling a large filing cabinet.

Annie was busy using one of them to surf the Internet doing research on the history of the Baltimore Inner Harbor, one of America's oldest seaports, and a main attraction site for residents and tourists. She stood and walked to the information desk to use their pencil sharpener. When she returned, she saw an instant message had popped on to the monitor screen. Obviously someone knew how to access the computers on their closed network, even though whoever it was knew it was not allowed.

'Hi Annie, it's Jason. What are you doing Saturday night?'

She let out a soft gasp. Quickly turning her head, she looked to see if the media specialist was anywhere near. The students all knew they were not supposed to "chat" in either rooms or to each other while on the computers. This was study time and they were expected to follow the rules.

Annie quickly closed the window without responding, glad Mrs. Colbard had not seen the message or might have suspected that she initiated the conversation.

After several more minutes went by, another message popped on her monitor. 'Annie, are you still there?'

Just as she heard the bell signaling the end of another class period, Annie closed out the message as well as the sites she was researching, and shut down the computer.

She scurried into the hall knowing she only had five minutes to get to the gym located downstairs, at the other end of the building. Kelly caught up with her on the way.

"Hey Annie!"

"Hi Kel. I don't have long to chat. I have to be in gym class in less than five minutes," she said as she shuffled a few books from one hand to the other.

"Okay, I'll see you at lunch."

Neither girl saw the shadow standing near a row of lockers quietly observing.

To order: See link for Lotus Books below
"Rainbow Classics: Volume One"

dating, focusing on God, respecting others, "Every decision matters"

http://www.acquirethefire.org/