The Cherry Trees

Chapter Twelve: 2013

"You're kidding, right?"

I shook my head.

Lexi was at home, probably eating ice-cream with her dad, since he wasn't very strict or disciplinary. Her mom had to work, so Mr. Blackwell had volunteered to watch her while she was suspended.

Will looked at me and smiled.

"She punched him?" he asked, a wide grin spreading across his face.

I nodded. "Yup. So now I don't have her today, so I am stuck with you."

"What about Luke, the kid she punched?" he asked. "Isn't he your friend?"

I nodded once more. "Yeah, he is, but he is at home since Lexi practically smashed his face in," I said.

Will laughed, and I could tell that he was liking Lexi more and more by the second. Which was good, since I wasn't really sure what he would think of her when I told him. And I knew Lexi liked him.

Will seemed to be lost in thought, and when he finally spoke, he startled me.

"Wait, are you saying that we can be friends?" he asked.

I shrugged, and he grinned. He did have a pretty cute smile. I shook my head, trying to clear the thought, not wanting to make Lexi upset. Intead, I let my thoughts wander to Luke, and how he was doing. I hoped he was okay, though he did kind of deserve that punch in the face. I smiled, noting that I should never embarrass Lexi, otherwise I might have a black eye, too.

"So... what do you want to do?" Will asked, breaking the silence, as well as my thoughts.

I shrugged.

"You don't say much, do you?" he asked.

"I talk... to the people that I actually like," I said teasing him.

He put his hand on his heart, as if he had been wounded. Yeah, right.

"Ouch. I'm hurt. But, if that is the way you want to do things, I guess that I won't talk to you either," he said.

I shrugged, not really caring.

"You," Will said, "are impossible."

I nodded.

He rolled his eyes, and then he continued. "So, what do you usually do with Lexi?"

I thought about this before finally responding.

"I don't know. We usually just talk about... things, and then we occasionally play soccer, which I am no good at, so don't even ask. We mostly just hang out in our clubhouse though, but you aren't aloud up there anyways."

Will shook his head. "You guys sound like a blast."

"No. I am the furthest thing from fun. Lexi, she is crazy though," I said.

Will nodded, obviously he had already noticed.

"And where do you live?" he asked.

"Northridge."

"Hey, me too! Where is Lexi?"

"In the neighborhood right behind us," I said. I wasn't really sure what it was called, becuase I had never entered the neighborhood where the sign was. I basically just cut through my yard.

"Cool. So we will be on the bus together," he said.

I nodded, knowing that Lexi would be happy.

-

"Like of the day?" Lexi asked, as I entered the clubhouse.

"Will," I said.

"Mm. Just as a friend, I hope," Lexi replied.

I nodded.

"My like of the day? Suspension! It is great! All I did was hang out in the clubhouse, and eat cookies! I should punch people more often," she said.

I shook my head, smiling.

"Hey! Maybe we could burn down the school and get suspended forever!" she said.

"I don't think that is how it works, Lexi," I said.

She sighed, obviously disappointed.  "Well, atleast I don't have any work to do," she said.

"Uh-uh! That is where you go wrong, my friend," I said. I went into my backpack and pulled out a blue, paper folder. I threw it on the ground, and motioned for Lexi to open it. She raised her eyebrows, and looked inside.

"Aww pickles!" she said.

"Have fun!" I said, lowering myself out of the treehouse.

"Wait! You did all this today?" she yelled after me.

"Yup."

"Then let me copy your work!" Lexi exclaimed.

"Nope! Have fun with your suspension!"

Lexi let out an audible groan, as I walked back to my house. I was so sneaky! We didn't have any work today, all we did was watch a movie! When I got home, I had printed off all those worksheets. Actually, the whole things was Will's idea, and I was very pleased that I had managed to prank Lexi.

When I got back to my room, I picked up my walkie- talkie, and I spoke to Lexi.

"Hey, you done with that work yet?" I asked, barely containing my laughter.

"Okay! There is NO way that this is third grade level!" she said.

She was right. It was all sixth grade worksheets.

"It's not! It was a prank, Lexi," I said.

There was a long silence before I heard her reply.

"Why you!" I turned around to see her running staight at me, and she tackled me onto my bed.

"AHHH!" I said, laughing.

"YOU GAVE ME FAKE WORK!!!" she said.

I laughed, and then she started to laugh as well.

"You sly dog," she said.

And I knew that she was already thinking of ways to get me back.