The Cherry Trees

Chapter Two: 2015

"So then Luke told me never to write about this to you and so I said I promised and then he told me not to call or Skype you about it, so I didn't! But now you are here so I am telling you in person so technically I am not breaking any or his requirements!"

"He told you all that?"

"Yeah! He has come out of his shell alot since you left! It's like he is a whole new person. I kind of like him better to be honest," Lexi said.

I stood there in shock, soaking in what she had just told me. "So Will really likes me?"

"Didn't I just tell you that Luke told me all of that! You aren't supposed to know and neither am I so let's just keep this between us."

"Don't you like Will?"

"A little... but it doesn't matter."

"Yeah it does."

"No, I mean remember when Luke gave me that Valentine when you liked him?"

"Oh, yeah," I said, recalling the awkward moment. "That was a long time ago."

"Seems like it. But it seems that everyone likes Will and he likes you."

"I got that part. Who is everyone?"

"Me and Abbi."

"Who is Abbi?"

Lexi looked at me like I was stupid."You know, the girl that lived in your room for the past eight months?"

Oh. That Abbi. She better not have stolen anything. "You guys are friends?"

"Yeah, I mean not like best friends, but she tells me things. She doesn't know that she isn't my best friends though. It's kind of an awkward situation."

I laughed. "You're just an awkward person in general, Lexi."

She stuck her tongue out at me. "Well, I needed someone to be a friend while you were gone and it was just convenient that she lived right next door, we're in the same class, and we are the same age. Stuff works out. I think you will like her though, she is super nice."

I nodded. "I'm sure."

Lexi looked at me uncertainly. "Are you okay?"

I nodded again. "Yeah sure thing!" I said reassuringly.

"Well okay! So..." Lexi began going on and on about something else, and I smiled and nodded, but my mind was elsewhere.

Lexi had a new best friend. Figures. I'm gone for eight months, finally come back on her birthday and in time for the wedding to surprise her, and she replaces me. Granted, she hadn't actually said it, in fact she had said that she wasn't friends with her. But I could read between the lines. Of maybe I was reading too much into this. I wasn't sure yet, but I would keep looking for it.

"Oh, so Anne! You have to see this dress I have to wear... it's atrocious! You are literally going to throw up it's so bad. Hold on." She ran into her closet, and I waited patiently on her bed for her to come out.When she did, she was wearing a pink fluffy thing with flowers all around the waist and ribbons trailing down the skirt from the waistband. I could feel my eyes widen, and a laugh made its way up my throat. I let it out and began crying I was laughing so hard. Lexi's face turned beet red and then she began laughing too.

"That's awful!"

"I know it! I'm just so glad that you are going to be here for it to help me through. I wouldn't want Will to see me in it, and I would not want to invite Abbi if you weren't coming, so I am just so glad you are here!"

I blinked a few times, and then smiled, knowing I hadn't been replaced after all.

-

I walked back to my house after spending the day at Lexi's just talking about stuff that happened while I was gone. My feet squished in the soft earth beneath the yellowing grass, and I knew it must have rained last night. I crunched through the small woods and underneath the treehouse. I paused, looking up at it, and I had a sudden urge to climb the wooden planks nailed to the tree trunk to see it after waiting for so long. I took them one by one, and just as I unlocked it, I heard something inside. I waited silently for a few moments with my heart pounding like thunder. Then with one quick motion I swung the door open and saw someone strangely familiar. We looked each other straight in the eyes, and then I felt anger overcome me. I jumped down from the tree and sprinted back to Lexi's house, bursting through the back door.