Cherry

Chapter 9

Ethan

Last night when Cherry dropped me off, she told me she had to work today. But, by the time nine-thirty rolled around, and she still wasn't at my house like she promised she would be, I had Wyatt take me to work instead, since my car was still at the diner. I never got Cherry's phone number, so I couldn't call her to ask if she was alright or if plans had changed.

Whenever ten o'clock rolled around and she still hadn't clocked in at work, I started to wonder where she was. I know Cherry puts on this mysterious persona, but she'd never up and leave everyone in her life. I know I haven't known her for long, but that's a trait of Cherry's that's easy to pick up on. I knew she wasn't just ignoring me. Something was wrong.

So, as the day went on, I took customers' orders and brought them their food and drinks. It was extremely boring without Cherry being there with me, so the hours dragged on. I was starting to think it would never end and I'd have endless orders to take. But, once the clock hit four o'clock, I practically flew out of the diner. I wanted to find Cherry, but I don't have her phone number and I don't know her address. I have one idea of where she could be, but if I'm wrong, I have no idea where else she could be.

Cherry is a reserved person and acts like something bad will happen if she gets close to someone. I understand why she's standoffish, because she and I did just meet. But, I don't know why she'd show me her secret spot when she hasn't shown it to anyone else. I also don't know why she'd choose me as the first person to smoke weed with. Maybe she trusts me already? This girl sparks up a lot of questions in my head, but I love the mystery of it. I want to find out more things about her that no one else knows.

Once I park the car and begin to walk down the trail to the lake, I see a girl with gorgeous ginger hair flowing in the wind as she sits in front of the lake, dipping her feet in the water. I knew she'd be here.

As I approach her, I say, "Cherry?"

She doesn't move when she hears my voice. She doesn't even flinch. I could have been a murderer and she wouldn't have tried to run away from me. It's like she's deep in her head thinking about something.

The scent of weed is stronger the closer I get to Cherry, so it's not hard to realize she's smoking. Once I reach her, I sit down on the grass beside her, not saying anything else. I don't want to upset her. I just want to be close to her so she knows I'm here for her.

"Hi," she breaks the silence between us. She doesn't glance in my direction but instead exhales smoke and continues to focus on the lake shimmering in front of us.

"Hey," I look at her, noticing her hair flying in the wind. This usually disrupts a person, but Cherry isn't affected by it. She makes it look so elegant. "You didn't show up to work today. It didn't seem like something you'd do."

"You don't even know me well enough to make that accusation," she laughs under her breath.

"You're right. I don't know you. But I want to." I won't let her attitude get to me. She's clearly dealing with something that's making her act this way.

Whenever I say this, she looks away from the water and in my direction. She holds the blunt in between her index and middle finger and looks into my eyes. She shifts between each one of my eyes like she's trying to soak me in. "I'm sorry," she sighs. "I didn't mean to be harsh with you."

"Don't apologize."

"It's just that, I got hit with some bad news last night," she explains. "I didn't sleep well, either. I called into work today because I couldn't handle people today."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Cherry doesn't say anything but instead scoots closer to me. She leans her head on my shoulder, almost like a non-verbal I trust you.

We sit in silence for what feels like decades. We listen to the birds chirp and the fish flop around in the water. We let the wind blow our hair around and the sun shine down hard on us even though we're a little sunburnt from yesterday. Eventually, Cherry says, "Momma has breast cancer. My moms told me when I came home last night. Mom lost her job last month, so they've been low on money. I'm going to have to take up some extra shifts to help out."

I sigh, feeling awful for her. "I'm so sorry, Cherry," I console her. Without even thinking, I place my arm on her shoulder and bring her closer to me. I lean my head down and let it rest on top of hers as she nestles into my neck. "Let me help out."

"Ethan," she sits up and removes herself from me. She shakes her head horizontally and says, "I'm not going to take your money for my momma's medical bills."

"I want to help you, Cherry. Your moms raised an amazing girl, so they must be amazing, too. I want to help."

"Ethan," she smiles, "I appreciate it, but Momma would never accept your money. She's the most humble human being I know." Cherry moves her head back into my neck, and all we do is gaze into the landscape together.

Helpless. I feel helpless.