Juli
The day went by quickly, and before I knew it I was on the bus home with Bryce. I was reading my book and he was studying his maths homework, we got off and walked to his house. He let me in the door and Chet was sitting in the front room in a brown resting chair. Chet looked much older but you could still see how young he was in his eyes.
"Juli!" Chet said with the biggest smile on his face, getting up quickly to pull me into a hug
"Hi" I said reciprocating the hug "so good to see you."
"I'll give you guys some time to catch up, I have homework to do" Bryce said smiling as he walked out the room and up the stairs.
"How are you dear?" Chet asked sitting and motioned for me to do the same on the couch.
"I'm great, got in on Monday morning and it's like I never left"
"that's wonderful, how is your family?" we talked about my family and his, how Lynetta was at collage and how my brothers we're doing with their music, how my dad's company moved him back here and how the drive back was. Chet was incredibly wise and compassionate; he listened and never talked over me. It was nice to find someone who actually wants to talk to you and not just waiting for their time to speak, Chet was like that. He hadn't brought up Bryce one yet, but I knew it was coming and when it did, it started with my sycamore tree.
"Your tree is looking very strong and healthy" he said looking out the window admiring it "so nice of Bryce to do that for you."
"Yes it was very kind."
"what's going on with you two?" Chet didn't beat around the bush, when he asked what he needed too, it was honest and precise, I'll give him that.
"What do you mean? Nothing, we're friends" I said too quickly, he let out a soft laugh.
"Is that how you wanted it to be?" he said looking over his glasses
"Yes, I think it was a miracle we even became friends again after losing contact. I don't want to screw it up and lose him again"
"Juli, I'm a firm believer that whoever is supposed to be in your life will always gravitate back to you, no wonder how far they wander." Chet said softy "I knew you two would always be special in each other's lives after the first time I heard you talk about him. It doesn't matter about the past; it only matters about the present." I slowly nodded; Chet always gave me words to think about. After that he continued talking, quickly changing the conversation to school. When it hit five o'clock, I said goodbye to Chet and walked across the street. As I got to the sycamore tree, I stood by it and admired the wind blowing throughout the leaves, making them dance on the end of the branches. Chet had certainly given me something to think about, about Bryce. I knew I wanted him in my life but I didn't know in what way and as I kept thinking about it, as soon as I let those repressed emotions back in, I knew I had flipped again for Bryce Loski.
Bryce
As I heard the front door close downstairs, Juli must have left; I got up from lying on my bed and walked across to the window. I saw her walk across the road and stand beside the sycamore tree, just watching it. I could see the wind blowing through her hair lightly as it was swaying across her back. I thought back to those many years ago how I planted that tree in her yard, how I was certain I wouldn't ever let us stop talking but things changed and she moved. I regretted it and if I could go back and not let us lose contact, I would. I don't think I ever got over her but I hadn't thought about it properly until now, while watching her in her front yard. She was endlessly fascinating and I was just plain. I knew she liked me all those years ago but since being back I wasn't so sure, a lot can change in four years. I dragged my eyes from her beauty and flopped onto my bed. I couldn't match to her; Juli was so much higher than me, on all levels. So I picked up my history book and tried to forced it from my mind. I heard a gentle knock on my door and my grandad walked in.
"Your mother said dinner is ready, wanted me to come grab you"
"Okay, I'll be right there"
"Juli is one of a kind, Bryce" He said suddenly.
"I know" I gave him a light smile that faded after a moment.
"I sure missed her. And I know she missed you too" he smiled and then walked out. She missed me? I missed her too but I didn't tell her that, maybe I should've. I got up from my bed and wandered down stairs to the kitchen table, chicken casserole, my favourite. I sat and my mum and grandfather talked around me, I chimed in every so often but I couldn't get Juli off my mind.
"I'm thinking of having the Bakers over for a barbeque sometime" my mum announced. That brought me back to reality.
"That's a great idea" Grandad said smiling at my mum.
"Bryce?" mum was looking at me happily
"Good idea mum." And it was, spending time with Juli outside of school would be nice, actually, spending any time with Juli would be nice. After dinner, I went up to my room and went through some old papers on my desk until I came across the newspaper from four years ago with the article about Juli and her tree. I stared at the picture. Juli had grown into an amazing girl and even though she had grown up, she stilled stayed the person she always was and I admired that about her. And looking at the picture from so many years ago made me realise that if Juli Baker were a star, she would be a shooting star amongst the ordinary stars.
Juli
The week progresses nicely, at school and at home. Everything is unpacked in our house by Wednesday night and my parents couldn't be happier. School is going well; Dana, Ben, and Bryce have welcomed me into their group. Everything was going well until, on Thursday, my music teacher gave me some not so great news.
"She wants me to sing" I slumped down next to Dana at our lunch table across from Ben and Bryce.
"What?" Dana and everyone gave me quizzical expressions
"Miss Kennedy wants me to sing at the music assembly"
"Oh… can you actually sing?" Ben asked me
"A little, but I don't like to sing in front of people"
"Can you get out of it?" Bryce offered kindly.
"It counts towards my grade" I frowned.
"Juli, two things will either come out of this situation" Dana put her hand on my shoulder "do you want to know what they are?" Oh hell, here we go
"I guess" I couldn't wait to hear this
"well either you'll be a good singer and pass and get your marks and everyone will love your voice…or you will be terrible, people will laugh and we" she gestured to the two boys and herself "will have a funny story to tell for the rest of the year." The two boys broke out into fits of laughter and I followed.
"God Dana that's horrible" I chuckled
"The girl has a point" Ben chimed in "That would be hilarious!"
"Come on now guys, I'm sure you be great" Bryce smiled at me and I could feel my cheeks go red, Dana and Ben smirked at each other but I pretended not to notice.
"So I was thinking that since Jules is back and is now a part of our little group, we should initiate her" Ben pointed his fork with pasta on the end of it at me
"Oh boy, and what does this initiation involve?" I asked a little scared.
"It involves my older brother getting us some drink and us just having a good night" I shook my head no.
"I've never had a drink before… ever!"
"you don't have to get rip roaring drunk, and you'll be with us so it's a good environment for your first drinking experience, you could do worse" Ben said it in a way that made me think his first time drinking was not a pleasant memory.
"You work so hard you deserve some fun" Dana chimed in. That was true; I never remotely let my hair down. Everyone is smiling at me including Bryce which made my heart race. So I shrugged, let out a sigh, smiled and said yes. We made a plan to meet on Saturday night for the so called 'initiation' and I could feel myself getting exited.
Bryce
After school, I hopped on the bus and took a seat next to Juli.
"So, the music assembly hey?" I asked putting my bag on the ground.
"I don't know why she chose me?" Juli groaned so loudly, it attracted other people's glances which made me laugh out loud.
"Well I've heard Miss Kennedy only chose people that would make the music department look really great. So you must be good"
"I'm not horrible" Juli giggled, which was quickly becoming my favourite sound in the world.
"Then you'll be fine. "I smiled at her. When our stop came up, we both got off and started walking home. We talked and laughed and I admired her every second. We rounded the corner to our homes when we saw my mum and Juli's mum talking to each other. My mum hadn't looked happier in weeks.
"Oh here they are" Mrs Baker said turning to us as we walked up to them "good to finally see you again, Bryce" her eyes we're warm as she smiled at me.
"Good to see you too" I said politely
"Nice to see you, Mrs Loski" Juli waved lightly.
"Juli, me and Bryce are so happy your family has returned" mum winked at me, kill me now.
"Thanks, it's so good to be back" Juli smiled at my mum, and then smirked at me while our mothers started chatting again. I tuned to Juli,
"Want to study that English assignment together?" recalling the work Mrs Fredrick's gave us this afternoon.
"Yeah may as well get a head start on it. Do you want to go to the park?"
"Great idea, let's go." we said a quick goodbye to our mothers and turned to the direction of the park. It wasn't a long walk so when we got there we chose the bench under a tree offering some shade. We sat and got out our books and started to work.
"Well I'm honoured to be studying with the smartest girl in the school, my grades will be up in no time" I said jokingly
"If you're lucky" Juli didn't look up from her paper but I could see her smirk. Working with Juli was a lot of fun; we would laugh and joke around but then also get the work done. I would sneak glances at Juli now and again and smile at the way she would chew on her pencils or how she would tuck her hair behind her ear every so often.
"I'm glad you're back, I missed you." I don't know why I let it slip but it was out there now with nothing I could do about it. Juli looked up with wide eyes, they softened quickly and she smiled.
"I missed you too." And from somewhere, while sitting on that bench in the warm afternoon air, I never wanted things to change. I only wanted to stay here with Juli Baker.