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| Short Stories : The Cherry Tree |
Julie walked slowly down the corridor on the fourth floor. The hot sun hit the big window. Ten minutes until the big break. She had managed the three-hour English exam, especially in the heat. She went downstairs, bought a cold apple spritzer, and sat down in a large weeping willow. She let the questions of the exam go through her head again, actually she had a very good feeling. Hopefully your feeling won't be deceiving you again as so often!
"Hey Julie!", She hears the voice of her best friend Noah calling across the school yard. "Well, you crazy!" "How was your English exam?" He asked and sat down next to her. A touch of his perfume or after shave brushed Julie's nose and she took in the familiar smell of thank you.
He was a head taller than she even when seated. He had tamed his fine, blonde hair, which came down to his ears, with some gel. "You've put your hair on again ...", Julie noted and put her fingers on the gel-hard strands of hair. He pulled his head away quickly and held her arm. "Are you crazy? You're ruining my hairstyle he complained with a laugh and looked directly at Julie with his clear blue eyes. She returned the look, but couldn't hold it for long when she felt her heart beating a tad faster. She pulled her arm out of his hand and moved a little away from him. "Did I hurt you?" He asked quickly and seriously. "Nonsense!", She replied and looked at him again with a smile. A smile that she got used to, in case she didn't want to show what she was really thinking !! "So English was pretty good ...... I have the feeling anyway!", She quickly changed the subject, "How was German?" They talked for a moment about the exams they had just finished, until the doorbell rang for break. "I have to go ..... you know ...", he smiled at her and stood up, "oh, what's up with tonight? Are you coming over about the story?" Julie thought for a moment and agreed. The next moment she regretted her decision. She watched him go and couldn't suppress a small smile. He had a sweet and peculiar gait. And also his wide baggy pants. She would recognize him among thousands again!
"Hi," someone sat down next to her and she quickly averted her gaze from Noah. "Hello Ben," she said in astonishment when she found him on the bench next to her. Ben was one of those sonny boys who can be found at least once at every school. He had that smile that Julie thought made him so irresistible. He also had an athletic figure, broad shoulders, slim waist and so on ... and on top of that, he was pretty good-looking. In this case, looking good meant for Julie: dark blue eyes, light brown hair, a sweet smile. Apparently a lot of girls thought so ... she too had had a crush on Ben once. He's obviously not in her! Well, they had once been to a project at the school together. He hadn't been particularly nice to her. That was almost six months ago.
"Well, how are you doing?", Ben asked friendly and moved a bit closer to her. She didn't understand what was going on. Ben, the guy who didn't even look at her with his four letters when they were together the project, sat next to her-close to her !!! - and asked her how she is! "Don't you have anyone to talk to or why are you talking to me?", Julie wanted to know skeptically from him. She eyed him carefully out of the corner of her eye. Ben looked at her indignantly: "Why shouldn't I talk to you ..." Oh my God, what was going on here? Did she have a bad dream or already hallucinations from the heat? Or did he have heat stroke ??
This guy is up to something. Why else should he be nice to me ??, she thought to herself and considered how she could get out of this situation as quickly as possible.
"I'm fine ... I have to go now ... my friends are coming over there ...", she got up and looked at him again. He smiled at her. Not a dirty, mean smile. No .... a nice, sweet, irresistible smile !! "Okay, we'll see you ..." he said politely before she finally fled. What was that???
"Folks, you will never believe what happened to me ... I had an encounter with the third kind!", Julie opened to her friends Ellen and Noemi. "With Ben ??", Noemi hacked and looked at her with a broad Grin at, "what did he say ??" "He just came to me and planted himself next to me when Noah hesitated to his beloved!", She said, still amazed about what had just happened. "Firstly, he asked me how I was doing ... and secondly, he said we'll see you ...", Julie wildly waved her hands in the air while telling the story, "he's up to something!" "Such garbage ..... you are paranoid, you know that? Maybe he only dared to speak to you now because you were alone ... ", Ellen replied firmly. Julie gave her an incredulous look that spoke volumes." But I've already said that he's been watching you secretly a lot lately! "she added in a whisper, expressing her opinion with firm conviction. "Think what you want ... I will beware of him anyway ...", she decided and changed the subject.
Shit a flat too !! Julie was running late anyway. She wanted to be with Noah almost a quarter of an hour ago. She had been delayed by a discussion at home that she had to attend. Julie quickly fumbled the air pump out of her backpack and only pumped the bare essentials into the tire. She didn't like being late. It had gotten a little cooler because of the fresh wind that was blowing in the meantime. Feeling the cold breeze on her freshly showered skin, she pulled on her black cardigan and swung onto her bike.
She stopped at number 34. It was a nice big house. Two-story, a garage extension, a "small" garden with a large cherry tree in the middle, which provided plenty of shade and cherries. "Hello Julie," Noah greeted her, "where are you?" We were waiting for you ...! "" Who is we? ", She asked and stepped into the hallway," are you already talking about yourself in the majority? "Both laughed and he put his arm around her." No. ..Lisa is here! ", He whispered in Julie's ear," you don't mind ...! "For a second she hated him and her.
But in the next moment she had put on her "just-don't-let-show-smile". "No ... no problem ..... as long as you explain to me what the stupid industrial revolution was all about clear ... ", she hoped it sounded believable. Because you could see a small tremor in her voice. But he didn't even notice. Well, with that she had learned to find herself out. They went out onto the terrace and Julie greeted Lisa, her best friend's adored. She had nothing against Lisa.
But for some time now she had noticed how much it nagged her that he was apparently in love with her. Of course she was jealous, after all, he was her "boyfriend". She had been number one for over a year. They did everything together. Actually, weird, since they didn't know each other very long at the time. They just got on right away Understood each other when she came to the class that had been fixed for years. Although the classes were supposedly newly thrown together, everyone knew each other, only Julie was new. And Noah was so nice to take care of her. It was actually totally weird how they got to know each other. Julie remembers like it was yesterday:
"So and now everyone draws a name," said Mr Hellwig, you dear English teacher, "with whom you have drawn, you should give me a presentation by Friday. Of course in English and you can chose a theme!" Throughout the row, everyone who had a piece of paper said the name of his partner. Last in line was Noah and my name hadn't been mentioned yet. "Julie", he read and it donged at the break. He smiled mischievously at her, which surprised Julie very much. Now they were preparing for this presentation and got along pretty well. He was a warm and, above all, intelligent person, what on doesn't look like it at first glance!
She felt a little out of place when she sat next to Noah, but he hardly noticed her. Of course he explained the Industrial Revolution to her, because he kept what he promised.
"I'll get something to drink!", Julie explained, as the two moved closer and closer together. Both looked up briefly, told her what they would like to drink and turned back to each other. She got up with a sigh and went into the kitchen . She knew her way around this house very well. She got a bottle of Coke and an iced tea from the fridge. She tried to slow down as slowly as possible so as not to have to go straight back out. She got another tray and a couple of biscuits from the fridge Cupboard over the dishwasher. "Why is it taking so long?", Noah asked and came into the kitchen, "Tell me, did Ben talk to you?" She looked at him horrified. "Why?", She asked him curiously and looked at him expectantly. "He wanted to talk to you ... about the summer festival!", Noah said and came to her and put his arm on her shoulder again, "he's interested!" He raised and lowered his eyebrows. "Don't kidding me !!!!", she replied gruffly and pushed his arm off her shoulder, "you know that I think he's good ..." She paused and sat down on one of the chairs on the round Kitchen table. "You know exactly how he always treated me ... also with the project work ...", she added seriously. He came over to her, sat down on the chair opposite her and said calmly and firmly: "I can Just say one thing: Some don't immediately notice who belongs to you, even if she is right in front of your nose! He looked straight at her. She had to swallow when he said that! For a moment it seemed to her that her heart stopped beating for a second. She avoided his gaze and hoped she hadn't blushed. How right he was!
"You are probably right!", She said in a whisper and stood up, "I was very surprised when he suddenly came and asked me how I was doing!" She wanted to use her smile, but she had the feeling this time she would not be able to do it. "I have a little surprise for you ...", he opened her and took the tray, "I hope you are going crazy now ... I told him he should come over ... he will so come over in ten minutes .. "She looked at him, aghast. Should she be happy now? Something in her stomach was happy ... but she was convinced that these weren't butterflies. "Yes ..... I look totally crazy today ..... in my old jeans ...", she ran into the bathroom and combed her shoulder-length, brown hair vigorously. "You look cute. .. as always! ", he said to her in passing, on the way to the terrace," don't worry .. "Did he just say sweetly before she could get upset about him again and be with him The doorbell rang to complain, it was neither time to get upset about his comment nor to feel flattered.
That should be Ben ..... A small tingling sensation spread through her. "Are you going!", Noah called to her from the terrace. She threw one last examining look in the mirror and hurried to the door.
"Hello Ben", she greeted him with a sincere, heartfelt smile, "come on in ... we're on the terrace ..." He stepped in and never let his eyes off: "Hi!" As she passed, she took it its smell: a cozy mixture of shampoo and perfume. Slowly it came back ... the feeling for him !!!! That "I'm-so-crazy-about-getting-to-know-you-feeling"! "Would you like a drink?", Asked Julie Ben and swiveled a swivel in the kitchen. "Ne Cola ... maybe ... thank you", he replied and wanted to follow her geade. "You can sit down with the others, I'll be right there," she said without turning around and hoped that she had a moment to catch her breath. He was so nice and friendly to her ... she should be Noah believe ?? Of course ... he wouldn't lie to her !!!! But what if Ben had lied to him ??? No, not a bad thought !, she commanded herself softly and took the Coke. Ben was in the living room on the couch "Don't you want to go out to the others?", she wondered and gave him the Coke. He shook his head: "Sit down next to me ... I won't bite ..." He smiled mischievously at her ... this smile was really irresistible !!! She hesitated and then sat down next to him. No Risk, No Fun! Wasn't that always what she advised Ellen and Noemi. Why didn't she stick to it !? "Shall we listen to some music?", Julie asked after a pause between them. He nodded, visibly relieved that she had said something. She turned on the radio and sat down again.
"Well ...", he began to explain with a somewhat shy manner, "actually I wanted to ask if you would like to go to the ball from the summer party with me ..." He searched her gaze to get her reaction see. She looked at him enthusiastically, but with a touch of skepticism. Was he really like he was now ... or ?? Was he serious at all ??? "I'm serious ...", he added quietly. Could he now also read minds ???! Okay ... if that's the case. "Do you know what I always wanted to tell you ... .Ben ... you have to close your eyes ... ", she replied and moved closer to him. He closed his eyes. "You don't want to hit me, do you?" He joked and grinned. She leaned forward a little, close to his face. He opened his eyes. Both felt this tension between them. Their faces only about two centimeters apart kiss you now, "he whispered gently, pressing his lips gently to her lips.
"Oh, I'm bothering you!", The two were caught by a loud voice while making out. Noah stood in the doorway and looked at the two of them. They let go of each other and grinned at each other in embarrassment. Noah had such a strange expression on his face and his voice sounded damned in a bad mood. But why ??? Was Lisa gone already ?? Did you have a dispute ?? "It's already late ... my parents will definitely be coming soon and they certainly don't want you smooching on their couch Noah said to Julie, with a bitter undertone. What's wrong with him ???, she wondered helplessly. She brought Ben to the door and said goodbye with a little kiss goodbye.
"What is wrong with you ????", she confronted Noah when Ben was gone. "What should be?", He talked himself out of it. Julie knew when he lied. His left eyelid started twitching nervously. "Where's Lisa anyway?", She continued to pester him. "Went home ... you should now too," he said dismissively and put two glasses in the dishwasher. "Tell me what I did to you, that you are so to me now ... I won't go before that ...", she defied him and sat down on a chair.
For a while they sat opposite each other in silence.
"Did you kiss him or did he kiss you?" He asked suddenly, there was something derogatory about his tone. She looked at him confused. "He me ... hardly imaginable ... or ???" she replied poisonous and got up, "of course ..... but then why are you so mad at me ....? Because he kissed me, wallflower, or because your dream chick didn't kiss you !! "She fetched her rucksack and walked towards the door." I'll be in touch! ", She said indifferently in parting and slammed the door behind her.
There was absolute radio silence between them for a week. They even tried to avoid each other at school. That was the worst week of her life. Apparently Ben was genuinely interested in her, but she didn't care a lot by now.
She felt empty. She felt like half a person ...... like a flower without a blossom ....... like a birthday cake without candles ...... like a fountain pen without ink ..... like a song without Text! All because of Noah! There was simply nothing left to shake ... or to doubt ... she was clearly in love with him! And there was no other way than to tell him, because this is the only way to save a lot ... even if their friendship would never be the same as it was before!
"Hello Julie", Noah's mother opened the door for her. She greeted her with a warm smile and asked me to come: "He's in the garden. He's been so weird ... closed lately! Has anything happened ...? At school or something? " She shook her head and told his mother about a disagreement between them. "That's why I'm here ... I wanted to talk to him ..." she added and went out onto the terrace, down the stairs to the garden.
He was sitting on one of the rocking chairs under the cherry tree. "Your cherry tree", on which you gave the English lecture, or cherry trees in general. A rare, if not to say strange, topic.
"Hey," she said softly. Noah turned around in amazement and looked up at her. He got up and looked at her. He didn't have that evil, bitter look on it anymore. "I'm sorry for the way I acted. .. "he started to speak, barely audible. He avoided her gaze. He had never done that before ..... Did that mean something?
"I came ... because I have to tell you something urgent!", She informed him about the reason for her coming. "I have to tell you something too ... you were only right ... what you said that I was just angry that you were lucky and I wasn't ... so to speak ... ", he explained his behavior from the previous Friday evening.
She was disappointed. In the first moment she still had a glimmer of hope that he was going to say the same thing as her. But now ... well ... how could it be otherwise?
"So I came to tell you ..... that I ...", she stuttered to herself and played nervously with a branch of the tree. She looked at him desperately. He was exactly in the angle of incidence of the sun and his eyes were even clearer than usual! She imagined she could reflect in them. She took a few steps towards him and hugged him. He returned the hug and she hugged him ... like it was the last time ..... you could never know how he would react to her following confession. He looked down at her with a gentle look. "Do you remember what I said about the person you belong to ..." he said before she could say anything. "That's exactly what I wanted to tell you ...", she stopped in the middle of a sentence when she felt how he stroked her back ... She got goose bumps all over her body.
"My God! I was blind ... or just stupid ... or both! ", He looked at her lovingly. She now understood what he was saying." Are you serious, what ... ", she wanted ask, but he put his fingertips on her lips. "Sh ...... shh," he whispered, leaning forward to kiss her. Silence. Only the leaves of the cherry tree rustled in the wind.
Author : Miriam Bashabsheh
