The Cherry Trees

Chapter One: 2015

With my rubbing stone in hand, I logged on to the computer that sat on the cracker kitchen table. A few of its keys were missing, so it took me a few tried before I could type in my Skype username and password correctly. I looked at the time in the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and reluctantly changed my status to "online". Then I waited for the three short minutes to pass to 3:00. At 8:01, Georgian time, Lexi logged on and her status popped up green as well, indicating she was available and ready to talk. I waited for the annoying ring of the online call, and when it came about five seconds later, I jumped a little in my seat at the shrill, unexpected noise of my doom. With a shaking hand, I moved the mouse to click on accept, though I had to slam the button down a few times for it to work. When it did, Lexi's fuzzy image popped up on my low quality screen, and a pixely smile spread across her face.

"Anne!"

"Hey Lexi!"

"I see you're starting to pack up!" she exclaimed, spotting the empty boxes sitting on the counter behind me.

"Yeah actually that's what I wanted to talk about..."

"Oh I know! I'm so excited for you to come home! Only another week or so, right? We are having a surprise party for you guys, but you didn't hear it from me," she said, looking around to make sure no one heard.

"Yeah but..."

"Oh and speaking of parties! My birthday is coming up and I'm so glad you will be home when it does and I'm gonna have this awesome party, I mean after all, I am turning 11, it has to be good! And then after that we have the wedding..." she said, losing her excitement a little. "And Anne, you should see the dress I have to wear. It's awful. It's all flowery and lacy and stuff and the fact that I have to smile in it while walking down that aisle in front of Leslie is just going to be awful! But thank God you will be home to come to the wedding so at the reception I don't have to suffer alone. Although my mom said that Leslie thought it would be great if Will came. Luke can't come because he will be in Arizona visiting his grandma. But I wouldn't want Will to see me in this disgusting dress. I hate being dressed up. Even more than you do. Oh my gosh though, Will is getting so cute! I mean, even cuter than before! And in a suit I think I would die. I sound really girly right now..."

"Lexi! Slow down and breathe a little please?" I said, laughing at the sight of her blue face.

"Oh. Sorry," she said giggling.

"Lexi, that all sounds great, but I don't think I am going to be back in time for your birthday." I spat it out before I could decide not to say it, and then held my breath waiting for her to say something.

"I thought you said you would be home by then."

"I did, but my dad may have to stay a little longer... I'm really sorry Lexi, you don't know how much I want to come home."

She sat there staring at the screen for a while in silence. "You have to come back," she pleaded, her lip quivering a little and her eyes drooping.

"I will, I promise. I just might have to stay for another month or so."

"Whatever," she said. Suddenly the screen went blank, and the writing at the bottom told me the call had been ended.

A smile broke across my face. I had done it.

-

"Anne come on we have to leave in twenty minutes!" my mom called from the kitchen. I packed up the last of my things and stacked the boxes on top of each other, rolling my suitcase into the living room where my dad was.

"I finished Dad," I said, setting my bag upright.

He looked up, tired at five in the morning, which was definitely understandable. "Okay, Anne. Thanks."

I nodded and headed out to the kitchen where I saw Jeff holding Alice awkwardly in his arms. I had said goodbye to Remy and Zane and all my other classmates yesterday, but I still hadn't said goodbye to Jeff. I just couldn't quite yet. I slipped into my empty room and rummaged through one of the boxes, searching for a piece of paper and a pen. I slipped them under my sweatshirt and walked quickly to the bathroom where I locked myself in. I flipped down the toilet seat and sat on it, setting the paper in my lap.

Dear Jeff,

Thanks so much for letting us stay here. I know it must have been painful having four extra people squished into your flat. I really appreciate it.

I just wanted to say thanks for such a great time here. You were my first friend in England, and I hope we can stay friends.

I stared at the paper not really sure what else to say. After a few minutes, I heard a knock on the door, and I quickly scrawled my name, address, and Skype name. "Coming!" I shouted, and I folded up the paper, and ran into Jeff's room, sliding it under his pillow. I hoped he would find it.

I ran out to the kitchen, rolling my suitcase along with me, leaving little indentations in the dirty carpet. All the boxes were lined up by the front door, with instructions for Jeff on what to do with them when they needed to be sent out. We loaded our suitcases into the back of his car, and he drove us quietly to the airport, where we would say our goodbyes.

"Thanks for everything," my dad said, shaking his hand. My mom gave him a hug, and he smiled. "No problem at all."

"Bye, Jeff," I said, hugging him.

"Goodbye Miss Anne. Stay away from those boys now, though I'm sure your dad will keep them from chasing you anyways," he said with a wink. I smiled, and we groggily waved and turned to catch the plane back to Atlanta.

-

We had been back in Roswell for a day now, and though I was exhausted, I was determined to make Lexi happy, especially after how we had said goodbye a few weeks ago. The plan had worked perfectly, and I knew it would be a total surprise when Lexi realized that I was home for her birthday. I crept up the stairs at 7:00 on January 15, and creaked the door open. I saw Lexi's mass of curls sprawled crazily around her pillow, and a smile broke out across my face when I saw her in real life after eight incredibly long months. I backed up into the hallway to get a running start, and then charged into her room, jumping onto her bed, probably giving her a heart attack.

"Anne?!"

"Surprise!!" I shouted, jumping next to where her legs were hidden under the comforter.

She screeched and grabbed my legs, pulling me down and squeezing the life out of me. "You're back!!"

"By popular demand!" I said.

"Best. Birthday. Ever."

Now when had I heard that before?