By The Blossom Tree

By The Blossom Tree Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The time ticked, each second feeling like a day had gone by. Fern groaned, continuously glancing back at the half green half blue clock that always seemed to be exactly 1 hour and 13 minutes ahead of time, but she knew what time it would be on the clock that the bell went. She looked next to her, staring at Birch. He glanced over at her, smiling before looking down at her hands. She brought her index finger to the side of her nose, then moved it away, pivoting her hand so her fist was facing toward her with a confused expression, which was sign language for bored. Birch nodded before looking back at his book looking at all the notes. Then looking back at Fern sticking his tongue out making a face that looked as if his work made the room smell horrible. Fern looked down at his book before seeing the small note that he wrote. Saying ‘I wish that Miss wasn’t talking so slow, I think I’m going to fall asleep.’ Ferns small grin appeared on her before weary face chuckling. The teacher spoke a little louder which usually meant she could hear people talking and it was a warning before she stopped the lesson. Fern looked at her book that had barely any work in it. as well as Birch, Fern sighed. Maybe she could sleep through the rest of the dull lesson and get to her volleyball practise faster if she fell asleep. Fern crossed their arms on the desk before taking one last look at the board. ‘God, I hate math.’ She rested her head on her crossed arms rubbing her forehead on the cotton on her jacket. Her eyes had closed and her mind blank, the voices that were before loud, were now as quiet as a mouse. A void of darkness flew across her eyes, like the midnight sky when the clouds brush over the moon.

“Fern? Are you okay?” A femminine voice asked, concern in their voice, it sounded so familiar, she rubbed her eyes, all sorts of shapes formed in her closed eyes, the sound of a car speeding by made her open her eyes, flinching at the sound.

Fern’s eyebrows furrowed together as she lifted her head off her hand that was keeping her head stationary, so that she wouldn’t bang her head on the window. The street lights made the inside of the car slightly more visible, she looked up to see her mother, examining her in the backseat one eyebrow raised and a hand reaching for her forehead. Fern’s eyes widened. She smiled nodding, her mother sighing in response, the corner of her lips curving into a smile. Turning back to her window, chatting with her husband. Her smile lit up the car with memories and joyfulness.

Fern looked at her hands, placing them together pushing against them, her palms went straight through, “My palms slipped right through, I guess I’m dreaming…” She thought to herself. Fern’s breath became jagged, she looked at her mother. “We’re getting toward the corner.” Her thoughts filled her head, her hands shaking.

Her mother and father chatted away, Fern’s breathing became heavier. Her mind is playing back over and over of that dreadful night. She couldn’t wake herself up. Her mother started laughing, her father as well, they both had their eyes closed. They had gotten to the corner. Fern’s eyes widened, a light engulfed her vision, blinding her.

“Fern, wake up.” The familiar voice whispered, shaking her roughly. 

Fern raised her head, the dream still playing even though her eyes were open. Fern quickly rubbed her eyes then sighing as she opened them, the night terror no longer playing in her mind. Stretching her arms toward the ceiling before opening her eyes looking at the person who had woken her from her slumber. “What Birch?” She questioned Birch gazing at him with her hazy heterochromic eyes. 

Birch stared at her with a stern look then turning his head toward the teacher. He then looked down, his hand on his face shaking his head. “You were asked a question” He whispered to Fern.

Fern looked toward the teacher. She glanced at the board, her face looking guilty. A few chuckles from other classmates and even her friends. She paused then coughed, her cheeks becoming a bright red from embarrassment. One of her friends, Aleia glancing back at her, a sly grin playing on her lips as she mouthed something to her then turning around and looking at the board. Fern already knew the answer, she just didn’t know how to explain that she was sleeping in class and how her lessons are so dull.