The Cherry Trees

Chapter One: 2014

Tomorrow was the day that Elizabeth died. I knew that Lexi was going to need me, and I knew I had to be supportive and comforting. I lay in my bed, staring at my ceiling in the dark, not able to see a thing. Just thinking. Thinking about what it would be like to lose a sister. I had no idea what she was going through, I had no way to relate to her loss. Losses, I corrected myself. With one life taken, so many were affected, and I vowed to myself I would always keep that in mind. When Elizabeth died, Lexi's parents separated. Her brother moved away. And Lexi, she was left alone. All physical traces of her sister were lost, and now all she had left was her memory.

When I woke up that morning, I went downstairs and grabbed a doughnut out of the large box my mom had purchased. I heated it up in the microwave, and skipped over to Lexi's house. I walked in the back door and leaped up the stairs to her room. She was still asleep in her tiny twin bed, twisted and curled up in her blankets. Her crazy hair was sprawled everywhere, and in her hand she clutched something shiny. I didn't bother trying to figure out what it was; obviously it was personal.

I leaned over the side of her bed, and stuck the doughnut right under her nose. I watched as her face scrunched up, and then her eyelids fluttered open, revealing her dazzling green eyes.

"Oooh! My favorite!" she said, suddenly awake. She snatched the doughnut from my hand and started eating it.

I laughed and shook my head. "You're welcome," I said.

"Thank you!" she said, her mouth stuffed with sprinkles.

"Whatever. I will see you at school!" I yelled, retreating down the stairs.

" 'kay!"

After getting dressed and ready for school, I boarded the bus, my thumb working at my rubbing stone. Yes, I was worried about today. I didn't want to make Lexi upset the least bit. I wanted to make today good, and maybe I could balance out the emotions she was experiencing.

The bus stopped where Lexi usually got on, but I didn't see her waiting on the driveway. She never got on the bus and walked down the narrow aisle to our sticky seat either. Where was she? I concluded that her mom had driven her into school today.

"Hey, Anne!" Will shouted from the seat across from ours.

"Hey, Will!"

"Where is Lexi?"

I shrugged.

"Don't you two have telepathy or something?"

"What?"

"Like, you can communicate with each other in your minds," Luke said, putting his fingers to the sides of his head.

"Um... No?"

"Darn! That would be so cool!" Will said.

"You guys are so weird," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"No, we are normal and everyone else is weird," Luke said.

"Oh speaking of weird, be nice to Lexi today," I said.

"Why?"

"She is in a bad mood." Which could possibly be true.

"Darn it Anne, you know us we are always mean to Lexi," Will said sarcastically.

"Whatever," I said.

"You say that a lot," Luke pointed out.

"Whatever."

They dropped the subject and started talking about this weird alien show or something, so I just tuned them out. When we got to the school, I started my normal routine. I went to the cafeteria and bought an apple juice for 50 cents. Then I walked to my classroom and took a seat at my usual desk across from Will. Lexi always sat next to me, but for some reason, she still hadn't arrived. I chatted with Will and Luke until thee morning announcements came on, but Lexi still wasn't here. That's when I began to get worried.