Cherry - part 33

Amelia

Rug

Amelia's brother, Florian, was driving his car, an Audi A6 in black, because he loves black, smoothly. He is smooth in everything he does. Even speaking, though he rarely does that. She could see how Gwen was trying to keep herself together. She should have thought about how Florian works. He just has this effect on girls, and they can't help it. Of course she saw him completely asexual, but he usually just had to look at a woman to get her full and undivided attention. He had always been the dark and mysterious type. He also had his own band, which only made the ladies mingle around him. Amelia never wanted him home if she threw a party. She loves him greatly, but he takes all the attention. He was never a big talker, but when he's among his fellow band members, he sure does a lot of talking. Amelia doesn't really listen to his music. It's usually some kind of metal they play. Girls don’t care. They just see him with a guitar on a stage, and that's usually what it takes for him to score someone. His guy friends are all jealous, and rarely invite him if they go out drinking, aka; trying to get laid.

“So, Ry, are you going to rehearse with the band today?” She asked him and he nodded.

They arrived at Amelia's house; a big, white villa in one of the finer areas. Her parents were both doctors and therefore rarely home, meaning her and Florian had the house to themselves most of the time. They all walked in.

“My room is upstairs.” She told Gwen, who only nodded. She would probably not talk when Florian was around. They all walked up to Amelia's room; an eggshell-white painted large room with a rug in the middle. Her desk was white along with all the other furniture in her room. Her parents had paid for it all, and she had not been there to pick out any of it.

“It's really nice.” Gwen said, while she watched how Sabrina and Arthur sat down like they were at home.

“Thanks so much for inviting me.” She added solemnly. They all smiled at her.

“It's nothing.” Amelia said. Arthur turned on the TV, and almost simultaneously a vague noise was heard from downstairs.

“What's that buzzing?” Gwen asked. Amelia laughed. It was her brother playing on his guitar before the band came over to rehearse.

“It's my brother. He has a music room downstairs.” She answered and Gwen nodded. Amelia was sad to see a nice girl like Gwen fall for her brother. Her too? That had been her first thought when she saw how she looked at him. Just like any other girl. She didn't know if he wanted to be such a womanizer. She didn't know much about his personality at all. She was saddened by the fact and sighed. Sabrina sat next to Arthur, watching some crap on TV.

A pinch of jealousy flushed over her when she saw Arthur look at Sabrina, and she shook her head, as if it shakes off the feeling.

The rug on her floor is red.

Cherry - part 32

Gwen

Newbie

Gwen's long, blonde hair flew around her, as she approached her new classroom. She had been bullied in her previous class. She had been 'that new girl', and therefore an easy target. She had been promised a new and better class. The door was suddenly right in front of her, and she was the last to arrive. The door was closed, and she could knock, but she didn't want to. It was hard to be the new girl, especially on the last year in High School. Then the door opened, and her new teacher, Miss Cryx, stood in front of her, mildly shocked.

“Hi. Gwen, is it?” It was almost like she was singing.

“Yes.” Gwen said, and whatever Miss Cryx should have done out of the classroom, she now forgot and welcomed Gwen.

“Everybody, this is Gwen. Now, I want all of you to be on your best behavior towards Gwen, so she can feel welcomed. Gwen, these are your new classmates.” Miss Cryx gestured towards an empty seat on the right side of a redheaded girl.

“Hi. I'm Amelia.” She turned her torso towards Gwen and shook her hand. Amelia smiled and turned around to the boy who sat next to her.

“This is Arthur, my best friend. Just say the word, we'll help you the best we can.” Gwen smiled. Amelia's words were so kind, a kindness she haven't known since she moved from her previous high school.

“Don't exclude me.” A voice said from behind. Gwen turned around and a short-haired, blond girl looked directly at her.

“You make it sound like I don't want to help her at all. I'm Sabrina, by the way. And I'll be your humble guide. Really, whatever you need. Where the classrooms are, which boys to go for... I know it all. I'm your gossip girl.” She flashed a smile at her.

“Sabrina, I am flattered that you will be there for Gwen, but if you could please wait to the recess to gossip, it would be nice.” Miss Cryx said. The class laughed a bit. This was apparently not the first time Sabrina had done something like this. Gwen smiled at her at turned towards the whiteboard.

After the class, people came up to Gwen to present themselves. Most people left, since this was the only class of the day, but Amelia, Sabrina and Arthur stayed.

“Do you want to come join us at my place?” Amelia asked when people had left. Gwen smiled at her.

“I'd love to.” She said.

“My older brother will come to pick us up. He'll be here any minute.” Amelia said. Gwen looked at her. They were talking for a few minutes before her eye caught him. The guy standing in the doorway had to be Amelia's older brother. Since Gwen was the only one facing the door, she saw him first. She blinked a few times and shook her head when she looked at him. He was about 6, 2 feet tall, and he wore a black leather jacket and black pants. His hair reached the middle of his back, and he had a slight time-glass figure. He was eying the floor, and there was something about him... she hardly could put it into words. His face was round, with marked cheekbones. You could slightly see his muscles under the leather jacket. Amelia turned her head and smiled. They all walked up to him. Gwen could barely make herself look at him.

“Gwen, this is Florian, my brother. Ry, you should have said something, you always sneak up on people.” She smiled. For a second he flashed a beautiful smile with white teeth, and she could slightly see his subtle dimples. When he looked up she saw his matte green eyes. He held her eyes for a second too long, that one extra second that makes your heart stop momentarily. If eyes really are windows to the soul, these reveal nothing. She tried to keep her stare from him, but failed. Dark, mysterious, tall and ever so handsome. Those were the words she would describe him with.

“And Florian, this is Gwen, our new classmate.” She heard Amelia say. She instantly looked up and gazed right into his eyes. She was too afraid to look away.

“H....hi....” She stammered in a low voice. She heard Sabrina laugh behind her. She pulled free from his holding stare to look at her.

“What?” Gwen said, now with power in her voice.

“Nothing. It's just... He has that effect on people.” She smiled again. Gwen looked around. No one seemed affected by her words, nor did they seem embarrassed by Gwen's behavior.

“Hello.” His voice was strong, powerful, and pierced right into her. She caught her breath. He reminded her of a picture she saw once, on her old high school. It was a painted picture of a fallen angel, and his slim, dark figure and this aura he seemed to have, made her think of the picture that both scared and fascinated her.

“Should we go?” Sabrina squeaked.

“Yeah.” Amelia answered, and they headed towards the parking lot.

It just started to rain.

Cherry - part 31

Cherry

Mirrors

Her maids were on the way to Cathy's place. Richard had just left to pick her up. James was cooking dinner. She was on her couch, waiting for things to happen. She was almost desperate to have something happening in her life. What was she supposed to do? She was wandering about in her own little world, and everyone was off doing stuff. Cathy was educating herself, Percival was working. And she was doing nothing but standing on the sideline, not doing... anything...

The buzzer snapped her out of her thoughts with its usual shocking sound. She got up and pressed the button.

“Yes, James?”

“Richard has returned with Miss Goethe. Should I send them up?”

“Yes, thank you James.” She looked at the clock. Time had been flying when she was on the couch. Her room was spotless. So would Cathy's apartment be, when the maids were done.

James knocked on the door, and before she opened it, she put on her best, fake smile. Cathy thanked James and walked into the room. Things were usually never awkward between them, but in the meantime she had looked in the mirror and despite Percival's wise words at the dinner, she just couldn't repeat it for herself again and again when she was alone. Though her mother and father rarely mingled in her business, even they had commented on her new lifestyle of obviously doing nothing. But she did things. She helped Cathy. She gave her life meaningful thoughts. She dreamed of Percival.

“How are you?” She managed to ask Cathy. Lost in thoughts she pressed the button on the buzzer and asked James how the food was coming.

“Right away, miss.” He answered.

“I hope you're hungry.” She looked at Cathy. She nodded. James walked in right after, with two perfectly served plates with corn-chicken. He placed it on the table and with a short nod, he was out again. Cathy placed the envelope on the table as well.

“Cherry, I cannot describe to you how grateful I am. All the things you do...”

“Don't mention it; I'm just happy to help.”

“I've been thinking... About how great it is of you, to do this. Considering what I am and what I used to be. And what I did... I mean, to Percival... If I had known, back then...”

The memory of Cathy and Percival in the corner on the street was like a slap in the face. She felt her hand shaking and in her head she kept replaying the horrifying memory.

“I said; don't mention it.” Her tone was harsh and she was surprised to hear herself snap at Cathy.

“Sorry.” She mumbled.

Involuntarily, Cherry came to think I wish I'd never ever helped her. She could stay as the local hooker and I could be off, doing other things than being in all her business. But immediately regretted the thought. She shot a glance at Cathy. Sitting there, eating something that must be one of the best meals of her lifetime, she didn't look smug, but she stared at the plate with a grateful look. She was obviously not comfortable with the way Cherry had just given her everything she needed. Her life had also been turned upside down. How could I be so selfish to deny her something good in life? She thought to herself. Cathy cut a piece of the chicken. She was careful with the knife and when she put the piece into her mouth, she actually seemed to enjoy it.

Everyone needs something good in their life. She took a sip of her soda.

“I've had James put up a guest bed for you next to mine, so we can talk before we go to sleep. I have a toothbrush here for you as well.”

“Thank you.”

Cherry looks at her untouched plate filled with food. It looked so delicious; it was almost a shame to eat it.

She turns her head to the right, and see herself in the mirror across the room, and feels utterly lonely.

Cherry - part 30

Tony

Call

Tony is not married. Actually he's never really been in a serious relationship. He doesn't want to count in Gwen's mother in, even though they were shortly married. The divorce got through half a year before Gwen was born. Sometimes he wonders how it affected his daughter Gwen, and she often asks why he doesn't have a girlfriend. She asked a lot when she was younger. Now she's 18 and she only asks once in a while. Mostly because her mother, Virginia, got married shortly after Gwen was born. He figures she doesn't understand why her father hasn’t chosen that kind of life.

Tony is sitting at his desk and feeling like a boss. He's working at a bank in which he actually is the boss. He only has one superior. He was looking at the phone, wondering if the damn high school her daughter went to, was completely ignorant of the complains the parents came with.

He had been to the school over a week ago and furiously looked for the classroom she was supposed to be in. He couldn't find it, and when he spoke to a receptionist about how his daughter had been bullied in her class, she just told him “We'll take a look at it and give you a call.” Which of course they haven't done. Gwen was a good girl. She had never done anything to anyone, yet the class she was put in, bullied her. She was the newcomer, and therefore an easy target. They just moved there, and despite Gwen's happy spirit, her classmates had been horrible to her. He wanted his daughter to move class, and he wanted them to take action now.

A buzzing sound came from the monitor. His secretary's light voice sounded through the speaker.

“A Mr. Mosby wants to see you. You have half an hour before the board meeting. Should I send him in, or are you busy?”

“Send him in, April.”

“Yes, sir.”

A few seconds later a man came in the door, followed by April, the secretary. She usually came in with the clients so she could bring them something to drink or eat.

“Pleased to meet you, sir.” Mr. Mosby said and shook Tony's hand.

“You too. Please call me Tony. Would you like something to drink?”

“Club soda would be fine, Mr.”

“April, we would like two club sodas and bowl of mixed nuts.”

“Right away, sir.”

April left the room and Mr. Mosby sat down. Tony did not remember him – he was not a client. It was seldom that someone who wasn't a client did not make an appointment.

“So. Mr. Mosby, what can I do for you?”

“I hear you are going to build a new bank.”

“That's correct. So you are looking for a job here?”

“Well, yes. But not in the bank. I would like to design it. You see, I'm an architect, and I think can make a wonderful new building for your bank. At a reasonable prize, of course.”

April came in with the club soda and a bowl of mixed nuts. Mr. Mosby took a sip of the club soda.

“That does sound interesting, Mr. Mosby. If you have some blueprints or something I can look at, I'll be glad to...” His speech got cut short when the phone rang.

“I have to answer this, sorry.” He mumbled, and Mr. Mosby nodded.

“Yes?” He answered.

“I call from your daughter's high school.” A woman said in the other end.

“Yes, I've been waiting for your call.”

“You wanted your daughter moved to another class, and we have one she can be moved to.”
“Yes. Are there any problems in that class?”

“No, it seems to work fine. Would you like me to transfer her? She can start tomorrow?”

“Yes, thank you. Goodbye.” He hangs up.

“Sorry. It was regarding my daughter’s education. I have been waiting for that call for over a week now.” He shook his head and looked at the clock. Fifteen minutes until he had the board meeting.

“I will send you some blueprints, Tony. Thanks so much for your time; I'm sure you have lots to do.” Mr. Mosby stood up and shook his hand again. And suddenly he was out of the door.

He never finished his club soda.

Cherry - part 29

Amelia

Always/never

Yesterday was the last day and today is the first day. Yesterday was the last day she had Arthur's attention during class. Today is the first day where all the boys will be staring at the new teacher. Yesterday was the last day with Janette, the substitute teacher. Today is the first day with Miss Cryx. And she was excited, yes, and then she was worried. It was a failure for her to lose her best friend to the teacher. She would invade the thoughts of all the boys and trying to be a teacher for them would be impossible.

She approached the school a tad early, but maybe then she would be able to catch Miss Cryx alone. She wanted to welcome her. She also wanted to let her know how much of an honor it was for her to be in the class she was teaching.

Miss Cryx was even more beautiful than she remembered. Her black hair hang loose except two tiny braids on each side of her head, tied in the back. She wore a skinny, black skirt, with a slightly pink shirt and a sea blue scarf. She was humming a tone Amelia never had heard before, and she was sure Miss Cryx hadn't seen her. The tone was so beautiful; she didn't want to interrupt her. Then again, it was slightly creepy to stand in the door and barely be breathing to be quiet.

Miss Cryx turned around and stopped her humming as if it was a horrible thing that she had been humming it in the first place.

“Good morning. Are you in my class?” She said, and Amelia noticed how she tried to keep her cool in front of her. She was staring at her. Amelia thought about that day were she saw Miss Cryx right outside their classroom. She was shocked to see her. She remember thinking 'is it today she's coming?' and shot a glance at Arthur, who obviously didn't want to stare at Miss Cryx either.

'”It's her, Arthur. That's Miss Cryx.” she had whispered to him.

“Really?” He said. She nodded and turned away. Arthur followed her. So why's she surprised to see me? She stared at me. She must remember me. She thought, but decided to follow her act. She wanted to be cool with the new teacher.

“Yes, I am in this class.” Amelia found her chair and sat down.

“Miss Cryx, we are honored have you as a teacher. We have only heard good things about you.”

“I'm glad to hear that. Please, call me Zia.”

“Okay, Zia.”

They were quiet for a time and Amelia found her things and put them on the table.

“How was Paris?” She asked, and Zia looked at the time before answering. It was almost time to start class. Maybe there was so much to tell, so she wouldn't have nearly enough time. Then again, Zia didn't know Amelia, so why would she tell her a long story?

“It was good, in many ways. Highly overrated, though. 'The City of Love' might not be the right term. It was raining most of the time and noisy people filled the street every day, all day.”

“I see.” She answered silently. A horde of people, her classmates, came in. They were mumbling and looking at Miss Cryx from time to time. The bell rang, and the rest of the people hurried inside. Miss Cryx stood in front of the board, looking at the students without looking like a superior individual, coming to teach morons. No, there was something about her eyes, something... benevolently...

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. As you all know, I am your new English teacher, and as you probably also know already, my name is Zia Cryx. You may call me Zia. I am very excited to be here with you. How much did you go through with Janette?” A few people put up their hands. Amelia figured she didn't need to. Zia looked directly at her for a second, before she pointed at someone behind her.

“Yes, you? What's your name?” She asked.

“Sabrina. And we began reading poems of the First World War, and she also told us about how most men secretly were gay.” People laughed. It was so typical of her to mention that. The sub told them many things, and the stories about general homosexuality was just a briefly mentioned subject, only because Sabrina asked what they did to ease the pressure when there was no women.

“I bet you would have liked to be there.” A guy shouted at her.

“In the middle of a bunch of horny men? Hell yeah!” And the class laughed again. Amelia looked at Zia, who also laughed.

“Yes, that's right, Sabrina. Most men were gay. It was a very demanding job, both physically and mentally. They needed some bodily contact and tenderness, like anybody else.”

Amelia wrote the notes in her book and shot a glance at Arthur. He was also taking notes. Then he looked at her and smiled. She wrote in the back of her book:

How do you like the new teacher?

I guess she's fine. How about you?

Yeah, she's cool.

She didn't look at him when she closed the book again. She didn't want to talk about her.

Zia wrote something on the board.

“Go in groups and discuss question four and five in your textbook.”

Amelia and Arthur look at each other simultaneously, and then she looks behind her and makes eye contact with Sabrina. She's her best friend. Though Sabrina has friends out and about, and Amelia never met many of them. Sabrina often spoke of people and told her stories about them, and Amelia was glad she had never met them. They seemed so different from herself, and she thought about how Sabrina must act very differently around her.

Sabrina nods at her. They walk out together, and Sabrina says “It's nice she has some humor.”

Both Amelia and Arthur nods in agreement.

Amelia looks at Sabrina while they walk towards a table.

She's wearing pink and black striped half-gloves.

Cherry - part 28

Cathy

Jobs

Besides her new school, Cathy still worked at the store. Part time only. She felt how the home nursing school took her time, and only at the store she had time to relax and hear the newest gossip. It went well for her, though. The school was a whole new world, and she really liked to be a part of a community, like she haven't been for a long time. She saw new faces she already knew because of the store or the gossip she heard there.

Cathy pulls up her phone from her pocket and calls Cherry.

“Hey, Cher. How's it going?”

“Cathy, hi. I'm doing well. How about you? How's school? Did you send me the bills?” Cherry's thrilled voice rung through the phone.

“School's nice. We learn all kind of nursing stuff. I didn't send the bills, I was wondering if I could come to your place later? It's been a while since last time I saw you.”

“Please do! You know what; I'll send Richard out to get you. When should he pick you up?”

“Thanks, Cher. I'm of at 7.30, so 7.45 would be great.”

“No problem at all. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

“Oh, I should really get home and clean, I guess it's best if I just drop them off and say hi.” Her thoughts wandered off to her dirty apartment which haven't been cleaned for a week. Dishes haven't been washed and laundry haven't been done.

“Don't be silly! I'll have James make his famous corn chicken. If you need some cleaning up to do, I'll ask the maid to pay you a visit. It's hard to be alone and starting school again.”

“Oh, Cherry, I already owe you so much, please don't. It's my responsibility.” It was nice of Cherry to offer her help to get things fixed. Yet Cathy felt she was in debt to her ears, and she would never be able to pay any of it back.

“Now, Cathy, I'll take care of this. Think of it as... you are already paying me back by going to school and helping yourself. I already have everything, now I want to help someone, and that someone is you.”

“But...” She started, but Cherry cut her off.

“Cathy, shh. Richard will be there at 7.45 sharp. And when you get here, dinner will be ready. And you just give James the bills, and he will give it to my accountant. And I'll have the guest room got ready for you, so you'll stay here overnight. Don't worry, Richard will get you to school safely tomorrow. When you get home, my maid will have been there and everything will be taken care of. It's going to be nice. I'll see you later, sweety.”

“Okay, I guess.”

She stared at the phone while listening to the beeping sound. She never intended to rip Cherry of all her goods. The guilt was building up, but Cherry didn't listen.

A costumer walked into the store, touching a few items before going to Cathy. Cathy knew the costumer; it was Miss Darsy's son, George. He was probably still bitter about being fired from his position as Mr. Cryx's assistant. She had heard he was sure that he was fired so Percival could take his job. She had also heard that it wasn't even Mr. Cryx who fired him.

“Hello, Cathy. I didn't know you still worked here.”

“Hi George. Yeah, well, it's only part time now. I'm studying to be a home nurse.”

“That's nice. How about your night job. Still doing that?” She was instantly insulted. George had never been one of her clients, but he sure was interested in knowing her whereabouts as a whore.

“Not so much anymore. Money is not that tight now. It was only an emergency solution. I had to stop at one point, and frankly I'm tired of all the mean rumors.”

“I understand that. I've heard some of them, and it's not nice.”

“I know.”

He stood awkwardly and looked at her, and she wondered if all he came for was information.

“Have you heard Zia's in town again?”

“Yeah, she's been here for a while.”

“Have you talked with her?”

“No, but rumors spread like wildfire, or chlamydia, in this town.” They shared a laugh and the awkward silence fell again.

“Did you want something?” Cathy asked, and George looked around him.

“I forgot what I needed.” He turned to the door.

“Have you found a new job?” She almost yelled at him before he got to the door. He turned around and looked confused, as if he wanted to as how do you know? And then he laughed. Of course she knew.

“Not yet.”

“Good seeing you, George.”

“You too.” He yelled as he walked out of the store.

Cherry - part 27

Zia

Projects

Her giant calendar on the wall had yet another X on it. She was counting down. She wanted a normal, regular life. Perry had been weird ever since that dinner thing with Cherry and their families. It was several days ago, yet he continued to being strangely silent. Zia had asked him how it all went, but the only thing he had said, was “Good.” So she didn't bother with asking no more. Instead she tried to make something useful of the last week she had left before she started her job. Countless times her mother had asked her “So what are you going to do today, honey?” and Zia had a new answer every day; “I found my old paint-stuff in the basement. I'm going to take up painting.”, “I'm going jogging.”, “I'm going to organize all my music.”, “I'm going to make vases of clay.”, “I'm going to reorganize my room.”, “I'm going shopping for new clothes and give some of my old to charity.”. She was restless and even though she thought “I could also just relax.” but being alone in the house was too much for her. She was used to being alone. She was used to live in an apartment in Paris, having each night alone. The truth was that Zia was lonely and had been for a long time, so she had to distract herself from the noisy silence. Today's project was to go visit her new workplace to get a better hold of it. She didn't want to risk her dignity because she couldn't find her way around it.

She drove her own car to the school and the silence was screaming at her. It was class time so the halls were empty. She wandered the halls silently around the school, until she came to the hall were her upcoming class was. She had been here once before, after hours, but it was strange to know that her students were on the other side of the wall. The bell rang, and only a few seconds later the students roamed the halls. A girl, who came from her upcoming class, stared at her. A boy beside her shot a look at the girl, then at Zia. They were about three people apart. The girl said something to the boy, but Zia couldn't hear it. The boy said one word, and then looked at Zia again. The girl nodded and turned around. Then they walked away. Now Zia could see her bright, red hair flair around her shoulders.

She continued onwards.

When the kids went to the next class, she decided to go home. It was quite hot outside and the last bits of summer were still visible in the heat, the birds, the flowers and the warm wind. She sat in her car with the door open and her legs out to cool down the car. She watched a car drive rapidly around the parking lot, finally parked and a man furiously stormed out of the car.

What a maniac, she thought for herself; I better get out of here before he pulls out a gun or something. She swung in her legs, but before she got to close the door, the man stood in the way.

“Hello.” He said calmly, fixing his messed hair. He was dressed in a suit.

“Can I help you?” Zia asked, and was surprised by her worried voice.

“Do you, by any chance, know where...” he paused and pulled up a note from his pocket, looked at his watched while mumbling 'second period', “classroom 13c is?” He looked pleadingly at her.

“I'm in a hurry.” He added. He was tall and very handsome. He had brown eyes, glasses and brown, messed hair.

“I'm sorry, I don't know.” She turned the key and heard the engine roar a bit.

“So you're not a mother?” He was genuinely surprised.

“I'm going to teach here in a couple of days.”

“Lucky students. Thanks anyway.”

“Bye.”

And then she drove away.