In summer and in early fall
It's time to pick an apple!
---Anonymous
Where the Wild Apples Grow
Chapter Four: In Which She Climbs
I was still awake when Alice burst into my room.
"Wake u—Oh! You're already up. Good. You have to help us set up. We have about four hours to get ready! C'mon! Take a shower, get dressed! Don't forget to wear sneakers! And a jacket!" Alice chirped at me, while I looked blankly at her. She left as soon as she finished talking.
My head fell back against my pillow. I didn't really want to get out of my bed; it was nice and warm and safe. I kicked off the comforter, and lay there and let the cold get me. It came to me that I probably looked odd—bed head, only underwear and a sweatshirt on—and that maybe I should change before Alice came back.
I stretched and there was a pleasant soreness in my muscles from staying in the same position the whole night. I glanced at the clock, and it said it was six a.m. I sighed, blowing my bangs above my head. I probably should take a shower or something…
Mumbling incoherently to myself, I grabbed my clothes for the day and my underwear, and a brush and toiletries as well. The wood under my feet was nice and cool, and my feet made slapping noises against the floor as I headed across the hall to the bathroom.
Ignoring my reflection in the mirror, I quickly undressed and turned on the water, holding my hand under it until it got hot. I stepped in, and I felt myself relaxing as the water pounded against my back. I let out a slow breath, and breathed in the heavy steam. It felt wonderful against my skin.
I scrubbed my shampoo into my hair, and then rinsed it, and continued with the conditioner. When I was finished with that, I just stood there until my whole hands were pruny. I stepped out, cringing at the water I was sloshing everywhere. I hoped Esme didn't mind if I got mold on her nice floor tiling.
I toweled off my hair until it was fairly dry, and put on an old plaid shirt of my dad's. It was huge on me, and I had to stuff it into my jeans, knowing as I did so that I looked like a total geek. But somehow, it felt like he was there, cringing at the prospect of a crowd along with me. We both hated large groups of people; there was way too much noise, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
But maybe it would help that it was out in the open country air, and not in our living room, where my mother held our annual Christmas parties. Or, at least, where she used too…I shook the thought from my head, concentrating on my reflection instead, though that wasn't much better than the painful memories of past Christmases in my head.
I looked every inch of the lonely thirteen-year-old that I felt inside. I wondered if I would look different when I was fourteen. Maybe I would spontaneously grow boobs, though how that would happen in two weeks, I had no idea. I grabbed my brush and started brushing, wincing at the tangles. When I finished, I deliberated between putting it in a ponytail, before deciding that I would just leave it down so it could hide my face from the stares.
I put my hiking boots on in my room and then clomped down the hallway to Alice's room. After I knocked and she didn't answer, I nervously pushed open the door, wondering if she didn't hear me. She wasn't there.
But I was surprised at what I did see.
I kind of had a vague picture of Alice's room in my mind: pink, and lots of it. But Alice's room was a nice blend of green and light brown, with pretty flowery curtains. Posters of the latest boy-bands were scattered about her walls, angled just right. Right above her delicately carved desk, there was a collage of pictures. Curious, I moved closer.
The first one I saw was of Alice and another girl, with their arms around each other's necks and an amusement park in the background. They were making peace signs and had silly faces on. Alice was definitely younger, and she had shoulder-length hair. The girl had blonde hair and big brown eyes with full pink lips that were naturally curved at the edges. She was really nice-looking.
I skipped over several pictures, and looked at the one with Alice and a boy who looked remarkably like the blonde girl. He had the same brown eyes and smile as the other girl. Their arms were wrapped around each other's waists. It made me smile when I saw how much shorter Alice was then the blonde guy.
I let out a short laugh, and looked to the one next to it. It was of Alice, the two blondes, and two other guys. One of them had really curly brown hair, and he resembled a football player. He had a tattoo on his forearm, which was wrapped around the blonde girl's torso, who was wearing a sport's uniform. I looked over at Alice, and she was wearing one too. They both looked kind of sweaty and excited.
And standing at the edges, looking disgruntled and annoyed at the two couples, was a boy wearing a white-and-plaid jacket. He had really red hair that was sticking up all over the place, and it ended at his collar. Because it he was kind of blurry, I wasn't sure if he was cute…not that it mattered much anyway.
I think those were the kids Alice was talking about. What were their names? Something…oh, yeah, Jasper. So the guy with her was Jasper, her senior boyfriend.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Alice's clock. Crap! It had been almost two hours since Alice came to wake me up.I hurried out of Alice's room and ran down the stairs. Loud jazz music emanated from an unknown source, and I ran through the living room and out to the patio. I rushed down the steps leading to the ground below.
A large table was already set up, with loads and loads of wooden baskets surrounding it. Bright blue signs announced how much each bucket was for rent, and the entrance fees. Alice's sign was on a large post near the 'entrance' of the orchard. The smell of apples was overpowering.
A loud crash came from behind me, and, startled, I whirled around. My heart rate slowed down when I saw it was just Aunt Esme moving around some stuff. She smiled up at me when I walked over to her. "Good morning, Bella!" She said cheerfully. I nodded my hello at her.
"You missed all the fun! Where were you?"
"Sorry. I was taking a shower." I gave a sheepish shrug, deciding to leave out the fact that I was in Alice's room. Though Alice was nice and all, I doubted she would appreciate the fact that her almost-fourteen-year-old cousin was snooping in her room.
"Oh, no problem!" But then she got a mischievous smile on her face. "So, Bella, do you mind working the table for a few hours when this whole fiasco starts? I have so many things I need to do…it would be a big help."
What could I say? I couldn't say no. I mean, she bought me all those school supplies and made me cookies and (tried) to make me feel welcome here. But I also wanted to go look for good climbing trees…
"I guess." I shrugged. "But I could I look around first?"
"Of course! Just be back here in…hmmm…." She looked at her watch. It looked like a man's watch. I wanted to know why she wore one, but I supposed that's a story for another day. "In about an hour? I'll whistle for you."
"Whistle?"
"Don't worry. You'll hear it." She smirked at me. "Have fun…while you can."
I made a nervous laugh and cautiously walked down the gravel path. I looked back a couple of times, but Aunt Esme had already disappeared. I shrugged to myself, and strolled leisurely, trying to keep a good look-out for potential climbing trees.
While I looked, I was constantly surprised by how quiet it was. Well, not quiet exactly. But I was surprised by the lack of car horns and people's voices. It was just me, the sun, and the swaying branches. I felt something in me just…let go. I felt, for the first time in a while, like my normal self.
It took me a while to find a good tree, mostly because lots of the trees' branches were to far up for me to climb without gloves and more will. Plus, I was mostly looking for an easy one.
It was near the wilder part of the orchard – I assumed it was the back of the orchard because of the white fence guarding the edge and the fact that the trees didn't look as brittle – when I finally found the perfect one.
It was about twenty feet high with wide branches. There were thick tumbling roots and a couple thick branches near the ground. I rubbed my hands together in anticipation, smiling to myself. I could smell the apples' sweetness from down here.
After stumbling over a root, I found some steps to pull myself up. Grabbing hold of one of the branches with both hands, I pulled my feet up against the trunk. I pulled up with all my strength. Trying to be quick about it, I threw one of my legs over the branch. I made it, barely, and I knew I was going to get a bruise. I steadied myself, holding onto the branch with both my hands.
I looked around for a good way up to the top.
But I kept getting mesmerized by the branches loaded with apples swaying in the gentle, Pennsylvanian air. It was so gorgeous.
Smiling wider when I found a good thick branch up to my left, I stretched my arms, wrapped my legs around the branch to steady myself, and I pulled myself slowly up. And from there, it was quite easy to get near the top.
I could see the entire orchard from this view, as well as the house and the trees in full bloom. I reached for a nice, ripe red apple near me, and, shining it against my dad's shirt, I took a big bite. Sticky juice dribbled down my chin and hair got into my mouth but I didn't really pay attention because oh my goodness the taste…
It was the sweetest thing I had ever tasted. Real, true sweetness. I moaned in pleasure and took another big bite. I licked the juice along the apple's skin and wiped my mouth on my sleeve. Pure heaven.
Aunt Esme grew the best apples ever. Ever ever ever ever…
In that moment, with the apple juice making my fingers sticky, and the freezing wind making my face red and cold and like I was about to get frost bite, and the bruise forming on my thigh, I felt the happiest I had in a long time. A really long time.
From now on, this would be my tree. Bella's tree. That sounded nice. My apples. My branches.
My…happiness.
--
By the time I got back from my tree (Esme was right – I could hear her whistle) people were starting to arrive. Mostly the little kids and their tired and annoyed parents. I saw a couple people glance at me furtively, but they lost interest when they saw I didn't, say, burst into hysterical tears and do the cha-cha on a singing bear.
I guess they had to get here early so they could get the good trees. Alice was smiling and chatting with a family of three as she handed them two baskets. I sighed to myself. Though I had only known Alice for about two days, this seemed typical of her.
When she spotted me, Alice waved me over. The family looked around for who she was waving at, but they couldn't find me. They said their good-byes and that's when I headed over.
"Bella! You didn't help set up!" She pouted.
I shrugged as I slid into the chair next to her. "Sorry. I just needed a shower. But I'm making it up to you -- I'm staying here for a few hours, so you can go hang out with your friends. Okay?"
Alice squealed, "Thank you so much! That's so nice of you."
I didn't bother explaining to her that Aunt Esme assigned me the job. I was actually in a good mood; I didn't want to bring anyone down. Alice then proceeded to explain how to work the desk, where I mostly did a lot of nodding and mhmm-ing without paying much attention. When she abruptly bounced off, and I was left all alone, that's when everyone decided to attack.
"I need two adult tickets, three kid baskets, and four baskets!"
"Sorry, do you have change for a hundred? How about fifty?"
"Four baskets please! I would like to request the green ones!"
"How about change for a twenty?"
Overwhelmed with the huge line, I clumsily and slowly did what everyone asked. Hearing the huffs and complaints of the people in line made me blush horribly; I felt like I was on a television show.
After completing everyone's request, I got maybe a two minute break. And that's when the teenagers showed up.
They showed up alone, in groups of three or four, couples, or in obvious cliques. Girls were squealing over summer tans, and boys were checking out new scars.
And they all were headed towards me.
I don't know if anybody knows this, but after losing your father and then moving to new to a small northeastern town -- where you happen to be related to a popular family -- and every teenager at the new high school where you will be attending knowing all that and heading towards you, can be quite a frightening experience.
I finally realized it after the tenth time someone asked my name: this wasn't Aunt Esme being nice for me not helping set up. This was her punishment.
As a shy person, I'm not good at witty small-talk -- especially with people I don't know. So while the teenagers of Winston High School tried to figure me out and where I stood and how much I was like Alice, I stayed pretty quiet.
I heard this one girl, while she was leaving, say, "She's not like Alice at all. How are they even related? They don't even look like family."
And if that didn't bring my down my already good mood, being introduced to Alice's friends after the hordes of people asking veiled questions about my personal life certainly did…