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.