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The car ride was long and boring. Delilah couldn't wait for it to end, so she could see how the tree was doing.
Delilah had an old willow tree that has been in her back yard for a long, long time. It was there before her family moved it. Just a small-ish tree. It was growing a few years before that. Now it's much bigger with a garden surrounding it. Delilah built the garden herself. She loved looking after plants.
Delilah hopped out of the car, and made her way into the house, and to the back porch where the tree was. Gracefully, she picked up an old, rusted watering can, and filled it up with the water spout on the side of her house. Then trotted over, and watered the tree.
In a way, I guess you could say that tree was her best friend. She used to sit under it and read almost every day. But stopped when her mother told her to.
"You're going to get grass Stains all over your dress," she warned.
Delilah's mother was strict, just as Delilah told Peggy Sue in school. She was mean, and didn't care much for her daughter's interests. If you asked her to name her daughter's favorite color, or what she liked to do in her spare time, the answer would depend on her mood. And she'd pause for a minute, and wouldn't be able to figure out the real answer.
Like most people with stuck up parents, Delilah played the violin, and had practice today. She didn't really enjoy playing her violin, but her mother agreed she could decorate it in return for taking classes for it.
Delilah was getting ready for practice. Well, more like her mother was getting her ready. She insisted on everything looking perfect. She sat on the floor with Delilah, with pink and blue colored hair pins sticking out of her mouth, while she tried to do Delilah's hair.
"Hold still," she said, still struggling to put the next clip in.
"Ow- Mom! Ok, it's not going to go in. My hair's too short, give it up. I don't like hair clips. I can't wear them anymore."
Her mother looked as if she was about to cry.
"I know. Why'd you have to talk me into letting you get your hair cut short?"
"I like it short. I hated long hair, it was so annoying."
As Delilah's mother sighed, putting away the hair clips, a familiar voice greeted them both, walking through the door.
"Hi, Peggy," Delilah's mother smiled, and greeted the friendly person back, "You're just in time for Delilah's violin practice."
Delilah froze.
"Shoot. Practice. What time is it?"
Peggy checked the time.
"5:47, why?"
"Oh, I'm going to be late!" Delilah cried.
"What were you thinking? We should've left twenty minutes ago!" Her mother exclaimed.
"Well you were so focused on making sure I looked perfect-"
She paused, then sighed. Now was not a time to argue.
Delilah picked up her handbag, and said goodbye to her family as she ran out the door.
She sped down the road, past the trees, and into the main plaza where the fountain and the cherry blossom trees stayed. She only made it as far as to the corner when she sharply turned, and there stumbled an innocent bystander who would be knocked down by Delilah's clumsiness. The two fell backwards, hitting the ground before any could get a look at each other.
"What's wrong with you?" One shouted, "watch where you're going!"
Delilah tried to gain her balance. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I just have to be somewhere right now, and I wasn't paying attention-"
The other girl looked up at her, recognizing her voice.
"You," she whispered, her mind too full of thought for her to manage a full sentence, "you're the girl from Ms. Simpson's class."
Delilah didn't say anything. She just stared at this girl wondering why she remembered her. She didn't speak to anyone but Peggy Sue in that class. She didn't speak to anyone but Peggy Sue at all.
"Little Miss Perfect," the red-haired girl interrupted her thoughts.
"Excuse me?" Delilah stammered, confused.
"That's what everyone calls you," Red justified.
Delilah looked down to where she sat for a minute. She was confused, more so than upset. She had forgotten all about practice.
"What's you're name?" She asked.
"Addison. Why do you care?"
"Addison," Delilah paused as she stood to her feet, "don't ever speak to me again."
Addison froze. This wasn't something she expected such a nice girl to say. And to say it so coldly. It sounded as if she hated her. Like she wanted revenge for something.
There was a long moment of silence. No one spoke but the wind, blowing the cherry blossom trees around. Normally, Delilah would stop to admire them, but not now.
Delilah looked up at the girl, then looked down shyly. She stood for a moment, gathering what just happened... And then she left.
That day, she was late to violin practice.
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