The Cherry Trees

Chapter Eight: 2013

Spring break came around, thank the Lord, and I got to take a vacation from everything. Soccer, which by now I figured out was definately not my sport. School, which I was doing well in. And Lexi. She was my best friend, but sometimes I just needed some space. A little room to breathe and think without her asking me a million questions. I was very excited.

We were going to the beach, a beautiful sugar-sand shore, with shells lining the waterline, and clear blue water set at the perfect temperature. I was a beach girl, like Lexi, who loved the sand and clear waters more than I did. We were leaving today, and I was excited to be going back to North Carolina, to the place we always went for spring break. It was then that I realized I had been here in Georgia for exactly a year. We had moved over spring break so that we would have a few days to start settling in. I had really hated it here when we first came, but now, strangely enough, this place was growing on me.

We arrived at our condo at around noon, so I had plenty of time to go out on the beach before dinner. I have to say, I kind of wish that I had siblings to play with, because it was quite boring without anybody to accompany me. It hit me that most of the time I wasn't alone because of Lexi, and I tried to remember how I was before we became friends.

"Anne?" said a familiar voice.

I spun around to look at my old best friend straight in the eyes.

"Lucy!" I said.

She squealed happily. "I can't believe that you are here! I missed you so much!" she said.

I smiled and pushed my long hair behind my ears. "Yeah, I really missed it here, too," I said.

Lucy grabbed my hand. "Now, we can hang out all week! How long are you here for?" she asked.

"Only five days, but that's enough, right? Is anybody else with you?" I asked.

Usually Lucy brought me to this beach, but since I moved, I assumed that she brought somebody else this year.

"No, just me..." she said. "You still have the rubbing stone I gave you?"

I nodded, showing her my irritated thumb. She smiled, knowing that it was a habit.

"Well, you want to go in the water? I'm kind of getting hot," Lucy said starting towards the waves.

"Yeah, sure," I said.

I thought that hanging out with her would be pretty awkard now that I had kind of moved on and made new friends. I hadn't even bothered to stay in touch with her, nor with any of my other friends from North Carolina. But, Lucy seemed to pick up right where we left off, with a few other questions of course.

"Are there any cute boys there?" she asked. Lucy had always been interested in guys, ever since I can remember.

"Um... well I don't really notice," I said.

"C'mon Anne, you know there is."

"Well... there is this one guy, but he doesn't like me," I said lowering my head.

Lucy put her hand under my chin and turned my head toward her. She had always been very supportive and optimistic. She studied my face closely as if she was looking for something.

"Hmm... what is this boy missing??" she said as if she was outraged, and she gently slapped my cheek.

I laughed, and she went under water, coming back up with a mouthfull of the salty sea. She spit it out at me, and I screeched, giggling.

I had forgotten how fun Lucy could be.

The rest of the day was spent splashing in the ocean, trying to catch minnos, collecting shells, building sand castles, and lounging on our towels, sipping lemonade. Overall, it was a great day, and I realized how much I had missed my old home.

"Well, I am glad you are going to play with Lucy all week," my mom said when I told her about my day.

I nodded, and my mom yanked my head back into place. She was braiding my hair... again. She always braided my hair before we went out to dinner. Or before school. Or whenever it was still wet before bed. She had an obsession.

"Hold still," she always reminded me.

"Where are we going tonight?" I asked.

My mom smiled, and I got suspicious. I hated surprises.

I sighed, and my mom tied off my braid. I went over to my bed and pulled out a t-shirt and shorts for dinner. Then, I slipped my size 4 feet into flip-flops, and we were off to the restaraunt.

"Pizza?" I asked.

Dad nodded, and I grinned. I loved pizza.

We walked into the parler, which was surprisingly dark. I went up to the counter to see the menu, when I heard it.

"Surprise!"

I turned and I saw everybody, my neighbors, friends, and family that all lived here.

"Holy Pickles!" I said, using Lexi's phrase.

Everybody laughed, and I went towards them, hugging everybody.

"You knew about this?" I said when I saw Lucy. She nodded and smirked. I rolled my eyes and turned to all of my other friends.

Sam, Emma, Lucy, and Mary were all there, my best friends, and the group of girls that I always hung out with. I had no other friends here besides them, and really, they were all that I had needed. Now, I noticed that I hadn't thought about them at all this past year, and it made me wonder how much I had really needed them afterall.