Sideways

Chapter One - The Sycamore Tree

Chapter One - The Sycamore Tree
Juliana Baker

I walked outside of my home to examine the young sycamore tree of which Bryce recently planted. The faint image of the view from the old sycamore tree was vaguely still floating around in my memory. Just imagining how extraordinary and breathtaking the view from the top of this tree will be excites me. It'll be marvelous. I can picture the leaves showing off a beautiful shade of green in the summer, along with its bright shades of red, yellow or possibly orange in the fall. Imagining the tree shine in the sunlight and its leaves swiveling to the ground makes my heart swell. To think that these are just thoughts and pigments of my imagination.

However, despite the new joys entering my life, I am still upset with Bryce. I knew that this tree was planted to ask for my forgiveness. I am sure that he thought it would work in a heartbeat, but everything he put me through has given me a sense of reality. This is not some fairy tale, I don't get a happy ending. Being completely honest, I didn't want a happy ending—at least not with Bryce Loski.

"Juli? Come in now, dear." My mother called for me. I did not realize that I had been staring at the small tree for quite some time. "I'll be right in, mom." I responded. I bent down and pat down the soil surrounding the tree. Bryce had no gardening skills whatsoever. I started walking towards my front door when I saw the curtains drawing closed quite quickly. My brothers do not know how to mind their own businesses. Once I walked in the house, my eyes darted over to the family recliner where both Matt and Mike were squished together on. They were both reading one of my father's newspapers, which happened to be upside down.

"Hey Juli, what were you doing out there?" Mike questioned, as if he were not spying on me with my other sibling. "I'm sure that you were able to see the scene through the window." I replied.

Matt grabbed his freshly squeezed lemonade and asked, "Did you forgive him?" I grabbed the lemonade from his hand and took a long sip.

"Definitely not, I don't take bribery."

"So sassy." Matt said while Mike meowed like a cat. The twins reached for their lemonade but I held it tight. I then walked towards the kitchen, smiling at my mother whom was setting the table for dinner.

"Wait, Jules! You didn't tell us the whole story yet!" Mike yelled as I washed my hands.

"It's not a story that you'd be able to read!" I yelled back, adding ice to my lemonade. "Also, that newspaper you both are reading is upside-down!"

I slowly began to drown in my thoughts, just like the ice cubes drowning in my lemonade.

Bryce Loski was just a flirt—and like Shelly Stalls, lots of hair, but no substance. He just wants to find a way to get out of trouble, even if that means spending some money on a tree. I so greatly wish that Bryce would change. I so wish that his beautiful blue eyes would just expand and truly see the world. The world does not revolve around him. But after thirteen years of life, he hasn't noticed nor realized. He isn't the angel everyone makes him out to be. Bryce Loski is a self-centered, idiotic boy with hormones flying all over the place. I mean, who does he think he is? Trying to kiss me in front of everyone when a few days before he was insulting my uncle's expense, then insulted me right after. How can anyone look at the spineless Bryce Loski and be oblivious to his arrogance and nincompoopery?

"Juli? Are you alright?" Mike questioned, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Y-yeah, why?" My question followed.

"You've been staring down at your lemonade angrily... I was getting scared."

"Just a bit angry, I guess." I responded.

"About Bry-"

"Finish that name and you'll never see the light again."

Mike put his hands up in surrender. "So the tree did nothing?"

"Didn't shake my opinion about him one bit." I paused and sighed, "you know Mike? I wish the Loskis never moved across the street. Sorry if I offended you."

"Why would you have offended me?" He chuckled.

"Because you're in love with Lynetta Loski-"

"I am not in love with her!" He argued.

"As if. Either you're blushing because it's the truth, or mom was testing out her new blush on you." His cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, "I'm gonna go with the first one."

"I wish that Mason stayed." I whispered.

"The Stueby kid?"

"If he were still here, I wouldn't have given Bryce the time of day."

"How about we go get ice cream with Matt, then watch the sunset from the tree on the other side of the neighborhood?"

"I'd love that."

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Published: January 1, 2018

I'm surprisingly somewhat proud of what I've written for you guys...

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