Cherry Tree Drive

Cherry Trees.

I slumped into my seat, silently being squished by my two best friends, who wouldn't stop giggling and muttering how much they couldn't believe I was home. They'd ask me questions every once in a while like:
"What college are you going to go to?"
"Have you been thinking of a job yet?"
"Any guys you want to see from school that got hot?"
I'd just shrug them off. All I could think of was Joe... I- I mean my dog! How much I couldn't wait to see my dog! Jeez.
"How long have you been driving, Ash?" I spoke for the first time in 5 minutes. He smiled into the rear-view mirror and I felt Georgie and Vanessa melt. I shot death glares to both of them. I'm pretty sure most people were friends with me to get to Ash.
I remember, once, a girl, Jess, came to stay over at my house, it was year 5. We had just became friends and we were getting close. We got to my house and all she would talk about was Ash this, Ash that. How she had a friend of a friend that once talked to him and how they 'fell in love.' Bleugh. Anyway, Ash returned home from football and she was all over him. So, that was the end of that friendship.

We turned on to Cherry Tree Drive. Cherry blossom littered the street and huge Cherry Trees stood tall and hung over the road. I smiled and took a deep breath in. I also missed that smell. Even past the seaside winds I could still never get used to the beautiful smell of the Cherry blossom.

The Watson kids played tag around their garden, the Reiss kids were now teens, busy on their phones. Everything was the same, but different. I caught sight of a car behind us coming closer. It was Joe. We pulled over and he drive up next to us.
"Oi nah mate, I forgot everything at mine. I'll catch you up later, yeah?" he spoke for the first time since I was back. My brother replied with an upward nod. Joe looked over to me and smiled a crooked grin. Wink. I melted in my squished position.

A pressure was lifted off of me as the two girls beside me exited the car. I followed shortly after, making sure nothing had dropped out of my pockets. I closed the car door behind me and walked up the path towards my house. Charlie and Ashley rolled past me with my suitcases.
"That shade of pink really brings out your eyes," I chuckled to my brother. He laughed and shook his head,
"Are you ready?" he asked as we reached the door.
"Yes."

We entered the house after Charlie took an age to unlock the door. I was the first to step inside. Another WELCOME HOME LYSSA banner hung across the hallway. I smiled and hugged Ashley and Charlie one last time,
"We're gonna go upstairs, okay?" I said and shot a look towards Ness and Geo. They took on board what I was saying and followed me upstairs.
"Okay sweetie, but just look out for your room" Charlie shouted halfway up the stairs. I suspiciously looked towards him and he smiled. I continued on my way up the stairs and came to my old room. I cautiously opened the white wooden door.

* * * * *

I sat on my new queensize bed, my friends next to me. Just like old times. We talked about the colleges everyone was going to, who was now hot, everything I had missed really. They managed to convince me to come to the same college as them after Christmas. It was now October, a month after my birthday. I was always the oldest in my classes, in the UK anyway. My mother, Carla, homeschooled me in New York.

The sun shone through my window, causing a warm spot on my bed where all three of us put our legs. Music started blasting from the back garden. Crap, I hadn't gone to see Solo, my husky, yet. I almost leaped off my bed and launched myself downstairs to get to the back garden. I flung open the sliding glass doors and stared into the sunny garden. Finally, weather to suit my outfit. Surely enough, there she was, on the other side of the pool, anyway.
"My baby!" I exclaimed, running towards her and cannonballing into the pool. Was it a good idea? No. Was it smart? Probably not. But what the heck.
"Nicknames already? Well, I better think of one for you then" a voice spoke as I brushed my hair out of my face. It was Joe, and now he was shirtless. Well, let's just say he's not a chubby little boy anymore. He held a hand out for me to get out the pool. I glanced to him, his hand, him, and the ladders. I clambered out of the freezing water and ran towards Solo. I brushed her all over and used her as a fluffy, warm, not-so-little towel.
"Well then," Joe muttered. He took a swig from his can of beer, turned towards me and crouched down to Solo. He set down the can and swung his legs into the pool,
"Nice bra by the way," he said, not even looking at me. I looked down, and, sure enough, my red bra was showing through my white shirt. Crap.
"Thanks" I replied, acting casual, although he could probably see me blushing as red as my bra.
"Would you like to be in my vlog?" Joe asked, smiling at me, somehow keeping his eyes from darting to my assets.
"As in a video? Nah, but I'd best change first if you're forcing me." He edged closer to me and brushed my sodden hair behind my ear.
"You look great, Lys."
"How are you so sure I remember who you are?" I asked, changing the subject and shaking his hand away.
"Because otherwise you'd have asked me already, plus, everyone knows who I am." There he is, cocky old Weller.
"I'm not sure... Are you...? No you're not." I joked. He put his arm over me and gave me a nuggie.
"Joe! You're messing my hair up! Stop!" I shouted, writhing in his grip. He let go and I finally realised why I had hated him all these years. He'd always try and beat me in fights, bully me, poke me. I hated it.

I lifted myself off the floor and dusted myself off, "Well, I'm going to change then, Weller" I said, grinning. He ran his hand through his hair, more than likely tensing his muscle. I turned on my toes and walked back towards the sliding door back into the house. I, for some reason, swung my hips a little more than they usually swayed. When I knew I was out of sight I ran. I ran all the way up the stairs and into my room. I caught Ness and Geo just moving away from watching me out of the window.
"What did you see?" I acted casual,
"Sparks. Everywhere" Geo answered.
"Very fucking funny." I walked over to my drawer where all my new clothes were. Ashley said that he, Nessa and Georgie had all gone on a shopping spree for me, because, knowing mum, she wouldn't have washed all of my clothes by the time I had to leave.
"The bottom drawer is stuff like jumpers, jeans, you know, warm stuff that Ash was told to get by Charlie. Middle is more your style, tees, vests, shorts, and the top is our special treat. Ash doesn't know about those, so keep them hidden." Nessa warned. I was more worried about the top drawer than Charlie's choice in warm clothing. Sure enough, the drawer was filled with Victoria's Secret, Ann Summers and all that jazz.
"We guessed your size from pictures, so we hope they're right."
I lifted a pink piece out of the drawer. It was skimpy, but I loved it. I grinned at the girls and gave them the 'you did good' look.
"Lyssa, you'd better come down!" a voice shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

*A/N sorry to leave it there... I'll update if and when I get 2 votes... I know, it's a lot. But why not, eh?*