Orchard

10

Class ended and I found Talia in the hallway. We had been best friends in elementary, middle school, and the first 2 years of high school. Then I started drifting into the loner life. We're still friends but it's just not the same. I was still worried about what Demitri had texted me during class. "Talia," I started, "Sorry for being even more distant this year, even worse than last year." I finished. She looked at me and smiled, "Celeste it's okay I know you have that new boy!" She laughed. Talia had been there for me when my dad passed away.

My dad's death was, and is still a mystery. He went missing, but it was more like he vanished rather than "went missing." The police searched the entire town of Orchard and for miles outward. Not a single clue. No body either. Some say he left me and my mother to escape with another woman, I hate that rumor. Others say he was eaten alive. Honestly, I'm not sure which is worse.

My phone went off and the call was from Demitri. "See, there he is now," Talia smirked. I answered the call, "Hello?"

"Celeste, why didn't you answer my text?" He demanded rather harshly. "I was busy in class I'm sorry, I didn't exactly know what to say either." I replied, and gesticulated to Talia that I would be right back. "Well please be careful okay?" He sounded really worried. "It's just my mom Demitri like what's the worst she can do, shave my head bald? I think she already cut off enough," I retorted. "Trust me she can do worse," he said flatly and then hushed. "What do you mean?" I questioned. "Later." He said and hung up.

I walked back to Talia, "Well that was confusing," I said. "Haha! Go figure, boys always are. Welcome to my world sister!" Talia said playfully. She was one of those girls who have a line of boys chasing after them. Talia has big, brown doll-like eyes, so dark that they're almost black. Her hair is like a rust color, naturally. She likes to say it's "auburn, not red, I am NOT a ginger." I don't exactly know why she's so against being called a ginger, I think she got sick of the "gingers have no soul" jokes.

Last year, when we started growing distant, Talia had a big deal with 2 different guys. She was talking to them both at the same time. Gus and Baylor, both star atheletes, and both extremely attractive. Baylor was that looming-tall type, with short blonde hair and soft blue eyes. He looked innocent and sweet, and I heard he was pretty religious. As our star quarterback, he got a lot of attention. Gus on the other hand was a classic douchebag, the kind that girls really shouldn't like but always end up falling for. He too, was tall, but muscular, with deep brown eyes and chestnut hair. Well, Talia fell in love with both and before she could choose, the boys found out about each other and Baylor was heartbroken. Gus was pissed that he wasn't the only guy "getting some" and spread some pretty nasty rumors.

"Tal, can you walk me home?" I asked her, "You can probably stay the night if you want, I'm sure my mother misses you." I added. Of course I had secret motives, I wanted to follow Demitri's advice and surely mother wouldn't hurt me in front of Talia. "Sure! I miss our sleepovers, Cel." She grinned widely. Talia was the only person who called me Cel, and I called her Tal. Some sort of 3 letter "only my best friend can call me this" kind of thing.

The rest of the day went by dreadfully slow and I was surprised that Demitri didn't text me continuously. When I got out of last period, Talia was waiting for me by my locker. "Let's go, my mom said it's cool if I spend the night." She said excitedly. I didn't even ask my mother but she always accepted Talia.

We started the walk to my house and Talia talked on and on about how she thought she still had feelings for Baylor, and how he hated her, and how she found a new boy named Alan, it was a never ending story. I stopped dead in my tracks right in front of my house, and Talia shut up. Irina was standing at my front door talking to Mother. "Oh, hello Talia, long time no see," my mother said cheerfully. Irina turned and looked at me and Talia, and pretended she didn't know me. "This your daughter?" Irina asked in her thick Russian accent. "She very beautiful," Irina continued. "Why thank you Mrs. Azarov, do you have children?" My mother asked. "No, I do not." Irina was such a good liar it made me almost believe what she was saying, and I knew she was Demitri's mom. My mother replied, "Lucky you!" and fake-laughed. "Well, welcome to the neighborhood," Mother finished and sighed. "Thank you, I leaving now," Irina smiled and headed off.

"Well that was odd!" Talia said loudly, and I gave her a death stare. I knew she would say something like "Hey, that lady has the same last name as your boyfriend!" even though she knows my mother is a completely against anything male.

We went inside after Mother and I told her Talia needed to spend the night tonight because we had a group project, which was a total lie, but she bought it and said it was fine. Talia and I went into my room, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and realized I had gotten a text from Demitri.