Waiting To Blossom

Chapter 2

'I'm here.' Blossom dropped her bag in the hallway and walked to the living room where her sister was sitting on the couch. She gave her a hug and then sat next to her. 'How was your day?' Blossom thought about Jay. 'Weird' she answered. 'Why?'
'Some dude named Jay invited me to a party next Thursday. The worst of all was that Katie was excited about it.'
'But, isn't it exciting?'
'No. I don't like parties'
'You don't have to go.' Cheryl looked at Blossom to see if there was any disappointment on her face, but there was none. 'Maybe. But I'm sure that Katie will force me to go in the end. She always does. Do you think that mom will let me go?'
'I think she would. But, who is this Jay?' Blossom almost forgot about him. 'Oh, he isn't important.' Why would she bother to talk about him when she never needed to before? 'I forgot that you never talked with or about boys.' Blossom shrugged her shoulders. 'I always admired that in you, you know?' Blossom looked at Cheryl with confusion. 'What?' 'Most people at your age, or even in their whole life in fact, are thinking about those things. You aren't. You're just being you and I love that. Of course that love is beautiful, but not thinking about it can be beautiful too at times.' 'Thanks.' Blossom responded. She never thought of it that way. It's true that if you begin falling in love and having boyfriends at a young age, that you will never have a break from that drama ever again. 'But, do you then regret that you got with Barry so young?' Cheryl shook her head. 'No, I love Barry. Although I do sometimes wonder if it wouldn't have been better if I would've met him when we were a little older. However, then I always think immediately that I wouldn't want to change a thing in our story, I think it's perfect just the way it is now. I think I can say that we're lucky'
'Besides, you never know what might have happened with you two if you hadn't met that day' added Blossom. 'Maybe Barry could have died or something.' Cheryl laughed at Blossom's impulsiveness. 'Maybe.' she said. 'I just think that it doesn't matter which life you lead, as long as you're the one who makes your own choices and you don't regret anything.' Blossom nodded. 'I admire the way you think about things.' Cheryl laid her head on her hand while she kept looking at Blossom. 'Thanks, sissie' she said. 'Do you want to order some Chinese? Barry is coming home late today.'
'Yes, I'd like that.'
While Cheryl ordered the food, Blossom thought about the conversation she and her sister had had. She couldn't help but to also think about her mother. Her mother always tried to persuade Blossom into getting a boyfriend. However, everything that her mother said or did left Blossom cold. She just didn't want to think about those things. It was hard enough to concentrate on her life just as it was now. Blossom was a bit of the black sheep of the family, but she didn't mind that. It even amused her from time to time. She was turning nineteen in a few months and she was almost certain that her mother would bring the subject up again. Blossom would be five years behind the norms of love in her family by then after all. Hadn't her mother anything else to be worried about? Like Blossom's education that was hanging by a thread? Even if her mother didn't, Blossom did and she knew she had to concentrate on her exams. If she failed again she wouldn't know what to do or what to think of herself. The doorbell rang. Cheryl walked to the door and came back with the Chinese food. 'It smells good', she said. Blossom walked to the dining table and helped to unpack all the boxes. The smell didn't seem so good to her, it actually made her feel dizzy. Blossom sat down while her sister walked to the kitchen.
It was a question of time, she had learned that from earlier that day. However, without any announcement beforehand nausea overwhelmed her and she quickly ran to the bathroom. Cheryl heard her sister throw up. Swiftly she followed her.
'Are you okay, Bloss?' Blossom put her thump up, but didn't answer. Everything hurt inside of her. 'I'm going to fetch you some water.' Cheryl walked away. Blossom flushed the toilet and leaned with her back onto the walls of the bathroom. Cheryl brought her the water and sat down next to her. 'Thanks, Cherry.' She took a sip from the water.
'Now I remember, you did say some days ago that you weren't feeling that well, maybe you should stay home for a few days', Cheryl suggested. Blossom noticed that she was worried. 'No, it's okay. I just need to sleep more often.' That couldn't be it. She already slept well. But she didn't know why she would feel like that otherwise.
'I think you're pushing yourself too much. You're stressing yourself out about those exams.' She did felt she was under a lot of stress lately. She just didn't want to fail again. She wanted to prove that she could do it, especially to her mother. That she needn't to look for a boyfriend and that she could take care of herself. However, she was afraid she would never pass the exams. Why would she if she failed them at first? She looked at Cheryl, she didn't want to worry her. 'It's going to be fine, don't think about it.' Blossom hugged Cheryl. 'Thanks. I know it will be' she said. Cheryl smiled. 'Do you still want to eat the Chinese?' Blossom nodded, even though she had lost her apatite.

After the Chinese food Cheryl drove Blossom home. In the car Blossom told her about the plans she and her mother had made to buy baby clothes for her. 'So, do you have anything you secretly want but didn't dare to tell anyone?' asked Blossom. 'Well, kind of, I don't want any more newborn clothes, because I think we have enough of them already. Pink is a little too traditional for us, I know mom loves traditions, but I'd rather have more colors. They especially have cute clothes in ''For Baby's'' ' Blossom acted as if she was writing it all down. 'It seems as if you had this in the back of your mind the whole time.' Cheryl laughed. 'Thank you for telling me.'
'No problem, just keep in mind that it's a surprise.' They both laughed. 'I don't see why you don't like pink clothes, though, I think they're kind of cute.'
'I will remember that for when you ever have children.' Blossom laughed. 'That could take a little while, you'll have forgotten about it by then, but thank you for the great gesture.'
Cheryl went inside the house to drop Blossom off and to say hello to her parents. 'Cherry!' they said while they hugged her. 'How is the baby doing?' her mother asked immediately. Blossom smiled. 'I'm going to do homework', she said and hugged Cheryl goodbye. Being upstairs she noticed she had forgotten her phone on the staircase and went down again. She grabbed her phone and wanted to go up again, but hearing her name in the conversation Cheryl had with her parents made her say. 'She's been feeling a bit unwell these days, she just threw up at my place.' Blossom felt a little uncomfortable hearing them speak about her like this, but at the same time she was curious what they would say about her when she wasn't around. 'I think it's because she stresses too much. I've talked to her about it, so maybe it will go away soon.'
'Thank you for telling us, Cherry, we will keep an eye on her.' Mr. Peace said. Her mother sighed. 'Why doesn't she take more care of herself? It almost seems as if she was pregnant or something.' 'Luckily she isn't like that.' Mr. Peace said. Mrs. Peace sighed. 'That reminds me: 4 more months and then I'm going to be a grandmother', she said excited while she changed the subject. Cheryl laughed. 'Have you spoken to the doctor already about your complaints?'
'Mom, it's alright. It's totally normal.' Mrs. Peace shook her head swiftly. 'I don't remember that I ever had cramps in this period, have you talked to the doctor yes or no?' Cheryl smiled, you could see that she appreciated that her mother was worried, but at the same time she didn't want her mother to be worried. 'Yes I have, he said it was fine, just like I told you.' Mrs. Peace seemed relieved. She put her hand against her chest. 'Alright then, I will stop worrying so much. However, you have to consider that this is my first granddaughter, I can't help but to feel overjoyed and nervous at the same time.' Cheryl reached out to her mother's hand. 'I know. It's my first baby as well.' Mrs. Peace's eyes became a bit wet. She quickly let go of her daughter's hands and looked away while putting her hands on her waist. 'Well, you probably should go back to your husband now, he is probably wondering where is wife is.' Mr. Peace looked surprised. 'Don't push her away, why won't you have a cup of tea before you go, Cherry?' Cheryl gave a kiss on her father's cheek. 'I would love to, but mom is right, it's getting late and Barry doesn't know where I am.' Mr. Peace didn't seemed grumpy about it. 'You can let him know with your phone, can't you? That's why they invented those tiny shiny things.' Cheryl laughed and gave her mom a kiss on her cheek as well. 'I've got to go, but I'll see you guys soon.' Mr. Peace had no other choice than to conform himself with the goodbye. He gave his wife one of those looks, which she answered with an innocent expression, and Cheryl left the house.
Blossom went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on her desk chair. She opened a schoolbook, grabbed a pen and the matching notebook, but for some reason she couldn't concentrate. Something was bothering her. Maybe she shouldn't have overheard the conversation after all.