Waterford, Chapter One.

Hi, the following is a story I hope to continue on here. Please keep in mind that this story is just that, a story. Someone I know read it and felt it was autobiographical. Some aspects were inspired by people I know as well as myself, but it is entirely fiction.
 
"In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit, Amen." The clergyman, kneeling at the edge of his rickety bed in his dimly lit room, prayed as he looked up to the crucifix, "Please, Lord God, please do not let me stutter during this mass. Please give me your blessing to enlighten the children. Please do not let my eyes wander to Jackie Powell. Please Lord, protect me." He once again made the sign of the cross and looked out the dusty, eighty-year-old window. He watched the children walk to the church shoving, laughing at, and gossiping with eachother. "Lord, promise me you have not failed me," the priest said as his eyes did exactly what he asked his lord to not allow -- gaze at Jackie Powell.

Jackie Powell was an eighth grader at Albertus Magnus Academy in Willow Spring, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago. She was loud, quiet, rude, caring, smart, stupid, lazy, and active all at the most horrible times. She was known throughout the parish for never attending Mass. Children gazed at her in either awe or sheer hatred. Teachers pointed at her ripped tights and ratty combat boots. Boys flirted with her and played with her short Twiggy haircut. Girls despised her but looked to her for information on sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, or just simply the hard math problem no one but her could solve. The priests either loved or worried for her. Rumors about her always flooded the air. Did she care? No. Not at all did she care nor become upset over the cruel words only said to hurt her. She always came up with meaner things to say.
 
Jackie Powell was very beautiful girl, and she knew that she was. She knew she was smart. She knew that she made grown men go crazy. She knew people loved her. She knew she was hated. That's what made Fr. Liam Waterford go mad with love for her. He couldn't help but gaze endlessly at her crystal clear blue doe eyes. He knew it was wrong to love her, but what was he to do? Was he just to never look or smile or speak to the girl that loved him just as much and break her heart? He couldn't do that to her no matter how strong she made herself appear. She was a china doll, and he cared for her just as he cared for the sick, poor, and downtrodden.
 
Fr. Liam put on his alb and walked through the priory to get to the church where he put on his chasuble and stole. He said hello to the altar servers and peeked out the door of the room where they kept the blessed vestments. Jackie's class was giving the Mass that day. Jackie was to be one of the students bringing up the gifts. She saw his head poke through the door and smiled at him. He smiled back and waved at her. "Lord, why?" he asked himself as he leaned against the sacresty wall. "Why?"
 
Then Mass began. He said his prayers, his homily (which, strangely enough, was about coveting), and gave the Euchrist. He left right away after the closing prayers. He couldn't bear to be in the presance of temptation anymore.