Juli
It had been exactly one day since Bryce Loski planted the sycamore tree in my front yard and one day since we officially started talking. After I helped him finish off planting and watering the tree we had talked all day and night until both our mothers had to come and pry us away for dinner. He tried to apologise for trying to kiss me in front of everybody, but he didn't have too, the moment I saw him planting that tree, my tree, I forgave him. I mean as soon as I saw those eyes, I was a goner, just like the first day I saw him.
"So all is well I take it" my mother said as soon as she closed the door to our house after insisting I come inside for dinner.
"Yes, very much so" I breathed out following mom into the kitchen. Everything was working into place, and I hadn't been this happy since sitting up in my tree before they cut it down.
"I'm glad, he's such a nice boy" she was facing away from me but I could tell she was smiling, I could hear it in her voice and I couldn't help but smiling too.
"Are we talking about Bryce? Because I agree" dad walked into the kitchen and sat at the table, giving me a wink while he talked "as soon as he came to ask my permission to plant that tree, I knew he was a good one"
"Really? What did he say?" I said sitting at the table much too quickly and almost falling out of the chair.
"Watch out there, already falling at the mention of him" dad laughed "He actually caught me coming home; he ran across the street and asked me. He was so nervous but said he had to show you that he was sorry and I gave him permission straight away". Hearing this made me smile even more, I couldn't help it; just knowing that he knew the sycamore tree would work shows how much he knows me, and how much he knew I loved that tree. My brothers came home and we all ate dinner together, it was one of the happiest dinners I've had with my family because everyone was happy, everything was well.
Bryce
On Sunday, after planting the sycamore tree for Julie, we started talking and it occurred to me, I never wanted to stop. She was so smart and funny; she was never boastful and always had something to say. She made me feel comfortable and I didn't feel like my nervous fumbling self, and that was nice. When Juli refused to talk or see me, I knew I had to show her that I was sorry and how I felt, and as soon as I decided to do something, I knew exactly what it had to be. I knew her dad must have been visiting his brother because he had been gone the whole day, I knew he wasn't at work being a Saturday and most stores are not open. I waited around the window all day waiting for him to come back and as soon as I saw his green truck pull into their narrow drive way I practically ran as fast as I could to get to him. I explained how I had to show Juli how sorry I was and he agreed straight away
"Really?" I said with disbelief "But you haven't heard what the plan is"
"I trust you Bryce, besides I think you know what will make my Juli happy" he stated, patting me on the shoulder. He began to walk into the house, leaving me to work on step two.
"Mr Baker, this may include me digging a hole into your new lawn" I didn't want him to be mad when I put my plan into action, besides, Juli had spent so long on the lawn, I sure as hell know that she would sure be mad if she saw me digging into her lawn she spent the last few months bringing back to life. Mr Baker turned and smiled at me
"Like I said, I trust you Bryce" I smiled back and nodded and started to walk back across the street "hey Bryce!" I turned back "the plant nursery on Hail road always has the cheapest but best sycamore, I'd go there." he nodded, I smiled and nodded back.
The next morning I got up early, had a shower, had breakfast and started to count my money. I had allowance money and it added up to twenty five dollars, I hoped this would be enough. I shoved the money into my pocket, hopped onto my bike and peddled as fast as I could to the nursery on Hail Road. There were about 8 baby sycamore trees, I chose the one that made me think of Juli, the most beautiful one, paid and brought it home. That afternoon I dug the hole, half way through I looked up and saw Juli watching me with angry eyes, she was mortified I was destroying her lawn so I dug quicker and quicker and went and got the sycamore tree. I didn't look up again until I heard her front door close and she was walking towards me, straight and confident, very Julianna Baker. I didn't know what to say so I just stood there and watched her walk towards me. she looked from the tree to me and let out a small smile, a smile that could light up the whole street "need some help?" her voice was the best thing I had heard all day. We kneeled down and started pushing and patting the soil into place, I just had to touch her so I reached out and put my hand on top of hers, she looked up to me and smiled, I smile back, and what was when I defiantly and uncontrollably flipped hard for Julianna Baker.
Juli
It had been one month since Bryce had planted the sycamore tree in my front yard, and everything was perfect. Bryce had quickly become my best friend, and my favourite person to talk too. He wasn't a nervous wreck when talking to me anymore; I think he was comfortable with me now. Even at school, he wasn't bothered when people would stare at us walking down the halls or sitting together at lunch. My parents invited Bryce into the family at almost imminently, he would come over for dinner a lot and my parents would try and talk to him and get to know him, they knew he was nervous because of the egg incident, but that was 'all in the past now' according to my parents. Bryce's parents have also come around to the idea of me being his friend. His mother is very nice and will talk to me more when I am over, but his dad is much sterner and will only ever say a few words to me while I'm there. I think Bryce has spoken to his dad about all this, but I didn't care, as long as I got to spend time with Bryce, it was all the same to me.
After I got home from school today and saying goodbye to Bryce outside my house, which consisted of about a half an hour talk, I could sense there was something wrong with my parents. Mum was cleaning more than usual and dad always looked like he was about to talk but then would close his mouth, finally I decided to speak.
"Okay, what's going on" I sighed, they both looked at me, then to each other, then back to each other "Guys, seriously?"
"Okay…Julianna…well…okay" he fumbled over his words
"Dad!"
"Julianna, were moving away."
Bryce
Juli loved school, she was smart and loved learning. So when she didn't turn up one day without giving me any notice, I was a little worried. We ride the bus together, but sometimes she is late and gets a lift, and if she's sick, she'll call my house before I leave. So needless to say, today was boring without her. Sure I hung out with Ben and Dana, my new friends ever since I told Garrat to shove it, but school without Juli was always boring.
"Dana have you heard from Juli?" I asked, sliding into my seat at lunch
"No sorry, it's not like her to miss school" Dana took a bite of her sandwich "is she sick?
"I don't know she didn't call me this morning, like she usually does"
"She probably was sleeping and forgot to call"
"yeah I-"I was cut off by Ben sliding into the seat next to Dana
"are we talking about Juli? Have you kissed her yet?" he said flicking up his eyebrows, he has been asking me this about one a day since me and Juli became friends.
"No" I sighed "stop asking me"
"well you better do it soon, the sooner the better" he stated
"why the sooner the better?"
"well what if she sees you as just a friend? You like her right, obviously. So you should prove it"
"Ben leave him alone, he will do it when he's ready" Dana pushed Ben's arm. I wasn't paying attention when they started talking about the maths homework that Mrs Waters gave out last period, all I could think about was kissing Juli. I mean I always assumed it would happen but what Ben said about she might only see me as a friend. Maybe I should do it sooner rather than later.
Juli
I usually call Bryce to tell him I won't be coming to school, but today I couldn't stand to hear his voice. Half my life I have been pining over this boy and the minute I finally actually start to be friends with him, my parents tell me were moving. When they told me, I thought they were joking.
"Yeah right" I laughed leaning back in my chair, their faces didn't show any sigh of a joke.
"Juli, my company is being relocated to a different town and we have to move as soon as possible" my dad said. My face dropped instantly, how can I be expected to move.
"No! We can't go!" anger was welling up inside me "This isn't fair!" I could feel tears threatening to make an appearance.
"Juli were sorry but we need to go, we need the money" my mother said, coming around to put her hands on my shoulders. That shut me up, I knew we weren't poor but we certainly not rich and we needed extra money to cover Uncle Daniels bills.
"When are we leaving?" I asked
"Two days, I know it's soon but we have to get packing quick". The next day I didn't call Bryce, instead I packed my whole room into boxes. I don't have much stuff so it only took half the day, then I helped mum and dad pack other rooms into boxes. It's funny how people can pack their whole lives into boxes, pick up and move, only to unpack those boxes in a new town and rebuild a new life. I checked the clock, it read ten past three and I knew Bryce would be at the bus stop soon. So I put on a light cardigan and walked to the bus stop to wait for Bryce.
Bryce
Nothing happened at school really; Sherry Stalls flirted with me a little. Everyone knew I liked Juli but Sherry somehow made it her mission to attract my attention, it was infuriating. When I got off the bus, I saw Juli waiting there.
"Hey! Why weren't you at school?" I asked, walking over to her. She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes and they were a little red, something was wrong "Juli, are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine" she gave me an unconvincing smile "I wasn't at school because I wasn't feeling well" she gestured with her hands around her stomach and scrunched her face "so I stayed home. Do you want to go to the park?"
"Yeah sure, let's go" I knew something wasn't right. So we walked to the park around the corner from our houses and sat on the bench, facing towards the playground. She wasn't talking, which wasn't like Juli, she always had something to say about how beautiful the sky or the trees surrounding the park were, so I decided to start.
"Juli, what's wrong" I sighed, she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
"Bryce, were moving away" she broke the silence. I laughed; obviously it was a joke "no Bryce, tomorrow. Tomorrow were moving".
"No!" I said a little too angry, she flinched "you can't move"
"I know, but my dad's company got relocated and we need the money, so we have to go". I was too angry to speak; Juli reached out and placed her hand on top of mine. It reminded me of when I planted the sycamore tree in her front yard and when she came out to help, I placed my hand on top of hers and everything was right. But everything wasn't right. I turned towards Juli
"Bryce-" her words were stopped when I put my lips to hers; she reacted straight away, fitting her lips to mine. I pulled my face away from hers, she looked right into my eyes and smiled and I had to do it again. I reached out and cupped the side of her cheek and leaned in again, she met me half way and if we were going to be separated, this would be on good terms to end on.