The Cherry Trees

Chapter Three: 2015

Valentine's day was right around the corner, and I was really nervous because I did not want to get anything from Will. It would just be a really awkward situation between Lexi and I, and also between Will and I. Kind of like what happened with Luke and Lexi a few years ago. Ever since I found out, I didn't think anything of it. When I saw Will, we acted like we normally do. He'd be outgoing and funny like Lexi, and I'd be shy and quiet, laughing, and sometimes chiming in. Lexi continuously said I needed to work on my social skills.

But now with the national holiday of love coming up, I was a little nervous. I didn't voice this to Lexi at all since she liked Will and I didn't want to stir anything up. This is when I wished I had another girl friend besides Lexi. As I thought about this, I realized I could talk to Luke about it. I decided this was a good idea, and so I told my mom I was going out to see Lexi. She barely looked up from Alice when she said yes, so I raced out the door a few houses down to Luke's. I arrived a few minutes later and was bounding up his steps when I realized that I wasn't supposed to know that Lexi knew that he told her that Will told him that he liked me. It was a confusing situation. I started back towards the house when I heard the door open.

"Hey, Anne! What's up?" Luke said.

I turned in surprise and fear, surprised at his enthusiasm and fearful of him finding out. I happened to be a horrible liar.

"Uh... nothing. I just decided to take a walk."

"Up my front porch?"

"It seemed appealing at the time."

"What can I say, it is pretty attractive."

I gaped at him. He had never been like this before. Lexi was right, he really was coming out of his shell.

"Uh, yeah. Well, I was just passing by. See you tomorrow!"

"Anne, you are a God awful liar. Why are you really here?"

I swallowed. "Well," I said, taking a seat on one of the rocking chairs, "it's about Will."

Luke looked at me curiously. "What about him?"

"Do you know what he is doing for Valentine's Day?" I asked, trying to avoid telling him that I knew he liked me.

Something flickered in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. "No. Why?"

"No reason!" I replied, maybe a little too quickly.

"Anne..."

"Seriously, I was just wondering."

"Is this about you, or Lexi?"

I stared at him, unsure of what to say. If I said Lexi, I could save him finding out that she told me, but then he would know that Lexi liked Will. If I said me, then he knew that I knew that Lexi told me. As I thought it over, I realized that guys weren't worth all this trouble.

"Both of us," I replied truthfully.

"I see."

"What?"

"Well it's kind of obvious."

"What is?"

"That you like him but so does Lexi so that causes issues."

I threw my head back and bust out laughing, my rocking chair leaning back so far that I thought I might topple over. "You've got it all wrong, mister."

I saw almost a look of relief cross his face, and I wondered what that was all about.

"Well, he isn't planning to get anyone anything, so you can just relax a little."