BRYCE

When I got home, I dropped my bag on the couch and walked inside the kitchen. What a surprise. I saw my mom and Mrs. Baker talking. They didn't seem to see me when I walked in. They were busy talking about…. Dad.

No surprise there. Mom have been telling Mrs. Baker about Dad's attitude. She cried a lot when she tells her. But today…. It's different. She's not crying. She's not happy. She's serious.

Before I had the chance to go out of the kitchen, my mom and Mrs. Baker spotted me. They looked over their shoulders and mom said, "Bryce? Go say Hi to Mrs. Baker."

"It's okay, Patsy. He seems tired." Mrs. Baker says with a smile.

"Nonsense. He's not. Bryce, go say Hi to Mrs. Baker." Mom repeated.

I walked up to Mrs. Baker and greeted her Hi. Mrs. Baker smiled at me and greeted me back. She looks so much like Juli. Of course, Mrs. Baker is her daughter. I turned around and faced mom who seems happy now. 2 seconds ago, her face looks serious. Now, she just told me to say Hi to Mrs. Baker, it's like she's been smiling like this for a long time.

"Honey, how was school today?"

"Uh…. Great, thanks."

I don't want to talk to my mom about school. I don't know why but I don't like it. She was about to ask me "What did you do today, Bryce?" when Mrs. Baker interrupted. Thank you!

"Patsy, did you know that your son planted this sycamore tree just for Juli?"

My heart pounded at the sound of this. The sycamore tree! I forgot to visit Juli and see what she would do with it! My eyes were huge when Juli's mom kept going. As for my mom, she doesn't seem satisfied and thinks it's a very bad idea that I planted that tree.

"No! It's a good idea! Juli loves it!"

Juli loves it? Really? I wish I were the tree. To look like I'm not eavesdropping, I quickly walked over to the fridge and opened it, looking for juice. I'm going to have to stay and listen to their conversation.

"What does she do to it, Trina?"

"She doesn't do anything to it. She does do anything with it."

Mom's expression seemed lost. "What?"

"Juli climbs up to the top of the tree and stay there for hours. I don't know, she seems to enjoy herself there. Sometimes, she even talks to the tree."

I inserted the straw inside and drank, still listening.

"Why is she talking to the tree? Doesn't she have any friends?"

With this one, I almost choked. I coughed harder and mom and Mrs. Baker looked t my direction.

"You okay there, Bryce?"

I gave them a thumbs up and got back to drinking and listening.

"She has friends, Trina. Of course, she likes talking to the tree. It's what she does when the old sycamore tree was still there at Collier Street. She loves that tree so much. I even thought Juli might get her bones broken if she doesn't come down. It's really high. She told me that when you climb on top of the tree, you can see the whole neighborhood. She's happy with that tree and we're fine."

I wonder if I climbed up to the top just like what Juli does. Would I really see the whole neighborhood? I remember her saying that it feels like it's magic when you go up there. Magic. I want to feel that too.

"Chet has been helping Juli water the tree even if it's fully grown."

Where's Granddad anyway? I think he's at Juli's. Obviously. He loves spending time with her. He seems like Juli's her granddaughter when you look at them both. I need to go to Juli's house and help them too.

I stood up and left the juice on the table. I quickly said Goosbye to both mom and Mrs. Baker and headed down to Juli's.

ooo

There they were. Granddad and Juli. Laughing and talking and smiling. They were having a good time. I frowned t Granddad. I should be the one helping Juli with the tree not him. This made me so mad. I walked over to Juli's fence and said, "Hi Juli. Hi Granddad."

Both looked up at me. Granddad said Hi to me…. Juli didn't. Her smile that was on her face awhile ago disappeared.

"Hey Bryce! Were you standing there awhile ago?" Granddad asks.

"No, Granddad. I just… got here. I just wanted to see how Juli's doing…" I paused before saying the last words, "with the tree, you know."

Granddad glanced at Juli, who was not looking at neither of us. He looked at me and said, "Why don't you come in, Bryce?"

Juli didn't do anything. She just stood there like a statue avoiding my gaze. I came in and looked around. Dad's wrong. Their backyard looks incredible! I looked from left to right, and I stopped when I saw the fully grown tree. It does look beautiful. Juli is right.

I tried to tell her that the tree seems healthy but no words came out of my mouth when I saw her staring at me. I didn't feel it and yet she is. I stared back at her and got lost in her eyes. This happens everytime we look at each other.

Do you know what they call when you stare at someone and they stare back at you too in the movies? The one that they call 'spark'? I don't feel anything like it when we stare at each other. Not a single spark. Maybe it only works for movies. I don't know.

I guess we both stared at each other for about several minutes and I think Granddad noticed it because the next thing Juli and I knew, he was looking at me then back at Juli. He nudged me on the chest and boy did it hurt.

"Ow! That hurt!"

"Sorry, Bryce. Accident."

I can tell that it's not an accident. He grins at me and at the same time, winks at me. I half-smiled and went back to examine Juli's garden tools.

"Juli? Have you seen…. Hello Bryce." A man said. It was Mr. Baker. I don't know why but I'm glad to see him. He smiled at me and I smiled back. This time, I really feel like I'm smiling back at him.

Mr. Baker asked her daughter if she's seen his paintbrush.

"I think it's inside the box Matt and Mike built." She responded.

"Right. Thanks. I didn't know you've invited Bryce too." His voice doesn't sound mad. In fact, it sounded like it's a good thing. But why?

I have no idea where Granddad went because when I scanned the Bakers' backyard, he was nowhere to be seen! Great. He left me with Juli and Mr. Baker alone.

"I didn't invite him." I think I just glanced at a glaring Juli. She still doesn't seem happy to see me. I don't blame her and I don't know why. I didn't do anything, did I? Or maybe it's because of me being a jerk to her thing? I can never tell.

Mr. Baker cleared his throat and said, "Well. Thanks for telling where my paintbrush is, sweetheart." He patted Juli on the shoulder and went back inside.

Great. I am now alone with Juli. I don't feel comfortable. I'm being a coward again. I hate this feeling. My stomach feels really heavy. And to me, it looks like I've been eating rocks instead of food.

"Juli…." I got shocked when I said her name. I mean, it feels like I wasn't the one who even said it. I was about to hold her arm but it's a good thing I stopped myself before I could reach it.

"I know I'm a jerk. I know things between us have been a mess. I know I've been stupid trying to avoid you."

She just stared at me not saying anything. Well, at least she's listening. That's a relief.

"I don't know if you're going to accept what I'm about to say…. But can we be friends?"

I don't expect her to say 'Sure Bryce'. I don't even expect her to say anything to me. I just want her to say something. But she's just standing there not saying a single word.

And then, she said, "I know. And I'm sorry for being a jerk too." Afterwards, she just left me alone feeling useless and disappointed. She went inside and closed the door.

Like what I said, I don't expect her to say anything to me. Guess we won't never be friends after all. I even feel stupid just going here! Next time, I should think first before doing anything.

I didn't know where Granddad is. I don't care, really. I'm getting out of Juli's backyard before something else happens. Then I saw my Granddad, sitting on a chair at my house reading a newspaper.

I got angry so I ran to him, "Where were you awhile ago when Mr. Baker got out of the house?"

He stopped reading and folded the newspaper.

"I was just right here, Bryce." He unfolded the newspaper and started reading again. I really feel like I'm about to explode. I grabbed the newspaper and threw on the ground.

"No you were not here! I didn't see you sitting here awhile ago! Don't you realize I looked stupid standing there alone after I said that I'm sorry to Juli? It would be so much better if you didn't leave us!"

He just looked at me. I felt my anger drop.

"I'm sorry, Granddad…."

"It's okay Bryce. I know how you feel…. But I left you alone for a reason…. I left you there alone so you can tell Juli exactly what you were going to say. And I did expect you were going to do much better than that…. To do much better than just stare at her shadow when she walked away…."

Shadow? It's not even night. Suddenly, I knew what he meant. Garrett's voice suddenly filled my mind.

"I am not! I was kidding! Man, what happened to you? The minute I knew you were avoiding Juli. And the next thing I knew, you were chasing after her! "I am not! I was kidding! Man, what happened to you? The minute I knew you were avoiding Juli. And the next thing I knew, you were chasing after her! What if she has a boyfriend and you're still like that? What will happen to you, Bryce? You're not going to stare at her shadow when she walks away, are you? Of course not! I know you, Bryce. You've never fallen in love with a girl before. Juli changed you, can't you see?"

What if she has a boyfriend and you're still like that? What will happen to you, Bryce? You're not going to stare at her shadow when she walks away, are you? Of course not!

What if she has a boyfriend and you're still like that? What will happen to you, Bryce? You're not going to stare at her shadow when she walks away, are you?

You're not going to stare at her shadow when she walks away, are you?

Of course not!

I think I just did….

Thinking about this over and over again made me shiver. I shrug it off hoping it will pass soon.

I hope so.