Chapter two (a sweet union)
As Abby jumped out of bed and got dressed, she couldn't stop thinking about the dream she had just had. She couldn't quite remember the details, but she knew it had been unsettling. She tried to shake off the feeling of unease as she hurriedly grabbed her bag and rushed out the door. She didn't have time to stop for breakfast, so she grabbed a granola bar on her way out. She was already running late for school.
The morning sun was shining brightly as Abby hurried down the sidewalk. She was so focused on getting to school on time that she didn't notice the dark figure approaching her from behind. Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed her arm. She let out a startled cry and whirled around, coming face to face with... Lucy! Abby's best friend was grinning at her with a mischievous look in her eyes. "You're lucky I caught you before you left," Lucy said. "I have an idea for a fun day out."
"I'm already late for school," Abby protested. "I don't have time for a fun day out."
Lucy's grin only widened. "It'll be quick, I promise," she said. "And it'll be worth it, I swear."Abby hesitated. She knew that Lucy had a tendency to get them into trouble, but she also knew that Lucy always had a way of making things exciting. Against her better judgment, she relented. "Fine," she said. "But it has to be quick."
"Trust me, it'll be worth it," Lucy said. "We're going to do something you've never done before." She grabbed Abby's arm and started pulling her in the opposite direction of the school. Abby followed reluctantly, wondering what Lucy had in store for her.
They walked for a few minutes, chatting about their day ahead. Then, suddenly, Lucy stopped and gestured to a large, overgrown hedge in front of them. "In there," she said with a mischievous smile. "Trust me."
Abby looked at the hedge with trepidation. It was at least eight feet tall, and it looked like it hadn't been trimmed in years. "I'm not sure this is a good idea," she said. "What if we get stuck?"
"We won't," Lucy said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Taking a deep breath, Abby stepped forward and began to push her way through the hedge. It was thick and prickly, and she had to fight her way through, but Lucy was right behind her, encouraging her on. Finally, they reached the other side and emerged into a large, secret garden. Abby's jaw dropped. It was a hidden oasis, full of flowers, trees, and a winding stream.
"Wow," she said. "I can't believe this is here!"
Lucy beamed. "Told you it would be worth it," she said. "Come on, let's explore!"They wandered through the garden, admiring the flowers and the peaceful atmosphere. The stream gurgled softly, and birds twittered in the trees. It felt like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Abby was starting to relax, when suddenly, she heard a loud "Splash!" She whirled around, her heart pounding. What had made that sound?
"Lucy!" she hissed. "What was that?"
Lucy emerged from behind a clump of bushes, her face shining with mischief. "It was me," she said. "I couldn't resist! Abby glared at her friend, but she couldn't help but smile. Lucy always had a way of getting her to go along with her crazy ideas. "You're impossible," she said. "But this is beautiful. I can't believe we've never found this place before."
Lucy shrugged. "I guess we just never knew to look for it," she said. "But now that we've found it, we have to enjoy it!" She ran over to the stream and knelt down, scooping up a handful of water. Suddenly, Abby remembered something. "Wait!" she said. "We're going to be late for school!"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Ab, live a little," she said. "We can be a few minutes late. It won't kill us."
"But it might get us detention," Abby protested. "And I don't want to miss class."
Lucy sighed. "Fine," she said. "We'll go to school. But we have to come back here another time, okay?"
"Deal," Abby said. They made their way out of the garden, pausing to make sure they hadn't left any traces of their visit. As they walked back towards the city, they saw the spires of the school in the distance. Abby felt a sense of relief. She was going to make it to class on time after all.
Just as they reached the edge of the city, they heard a voice behind them. "Abby! Lucy!"
They turned, and saw Emma running towards them, a look of excitement on her face. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked, a little out of breath. Abby and Lucy exchanged a guilty look. They knew they couldn't tell Emma about the secret garden. She was always a stickler for the rules, and they didn't want to get her in trouble. "Oh, we were just taking a walk," Abby said, trying to sound casual. "We were thinking about what to do for the school project."
Emma frowned. "Aren't we supposed to be working on that in class?" she asked.
Abby bit her lip. "I know, but we were just brainstorming," she said. Emma looked at them suspiciously, but she seemed to buy their story. "Well, you'd better hurry," she said. "We only have a few minutes until class starts."
They followed Emma to the school, feeling a little guilty about their deception. But the memory of the secret garden stayed with them, and they knew they would have to go back soon. The rest of the day seemed to drag on, and they couldn't wait for the end of the school day. Finally, the bell rang, and they rushed out of the building, eager to be free for the day. As they walked home, Abby and Lucy debated what to do next. "We have to go back to the garden," Lucy said. "It's too amazing to stay a secret."
Abby hesitated. "I know, but what if we get caught?" she asked. "We could get in big trouble."
Lucy smiled. "That's part of the fun!" she said. "We'll just have to be careful."
Abby knew she was right. The secret garden was too wonderful to keep to themselves. And the risk of getting caught only made it more exciting. "Okay," she said. The next day, after school, Abby and Lucy snuck back to the garden. This time, they were prepared with a picnic basket full of snacks. They spread out a blanket under a shady tree and lay down to enjoy the sunshine. They talked and laughed, enjoying the peace and quiet of the garden. But then, Abby heard a twig snap.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Lucy's eyes widened. "Yeah, I did," she said. "I think someone's here."
They listened, their hearts pounding in their chests. Then, they heard footsteps, getting closer and closer. Abby and Lucy held their breath, not daring to move. The footsteps got closer and closer, until they stopped right next to the tree where they were hiding. A figure stepped into view, and they both let out a gasp. It was Emma!
"What are you guys doing here?" she asked, a grin spreading across her face.
"You scared us!" Abby said. "We thought you were a stranger."
Emma laughed. "Sorry about that!" she said. "But I had to see this place for myself. It's incredible!"Abby and Lucy smiled at each other. They were glad that Emma had found them. Now they could share the secret garden with her. "We thought you would love it," Abby said. "We brought some snacks, if you want to join us for a picnic."
Emma's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect!" she said. "But first, I have something to tell you."
Abby and Lucy exchanged a look. "What is it?" they asked in unison.
"I heard some rumors about you guys skipping class," Emma said. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."Abby and Lucy were silent for a moment. Then, Abby spoke up. "We weren't skipping class," she said. "We were exploring the garden."
"And we didn't want to tell anyone about it, because we were afraid it would get ruined," Lucy added.
Emma nodded. "I understand," she said. "And I promise I won't tell anyone. This place is too special to ruin."
Abby and Lucy both let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Emma," Abby said. "You're the best."
Emma smiled.
The three of them spent the rest of the afternoon in the garden, enjoying the peace and quiet. They ate their snacks, talked about school, and laughed together. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
But all too soon, the sun began to set, and it was time to go home. "We have to do this again soon," Emma said as they walked back to the edge of the garden.
"Definitely!" Abby and Lucy said in unison.
As they left the garden behind, they all felt a sense of contentment. While Abby and Lucy were best friends, Emma was a bit of a loner. She had always been a bit of an outcast, and she found it hard to make friends. But she had always admired Abby and Lucy's friendship, and she longed for a friendship like theirs. When she discovered the secret garden, she felt like she had finally found something special. She couldn't wait to spend more time there with her new friends.
As she walked home, she thought about how lucky she was to have met Abby and Lucy. When she got home, Emma's mother was waiting for her. "Where have you been?" she asked. "I was worried sick!"
"I'm sorry, Mom," Emma said. "I was with some friends at the library."
Her mother looked skeptical. "The library?" she asked. "You've never spent time there before."
"I know, but I thought it would be a good place to study," Emma said. "I'm sorry I worried you."
"It's okay," her mother said, giving her a hug. That night, as Emma lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about the secret garden. She felt like she had found a little piece of magic, and she didn't want to lose it. She drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face, dreaming of the garden and her new friends.
When she woke up the next morning, she felt refreshed and ready to take on the day. As she got ready for school, she wondered if Abby and Lucy would want to go back to the garden after class. She hoped so, but she was also a little nervous. What if they didn't want to go back? As Emma walked to school, she couldn't stop thinking about the garden. She wondered if she would ever find anything else that made her feel the way the garden did. She was so lost in thought that she almost bumped into someone on the sidewalk.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" a voice said. Emma looked up and saw Abby and Lucy standing in front of her.
"Hi, guys," she said, her heart racing. "I was just thinking about... something."
"Oh, you mean the garden?" Lucy said with a smile. "We were thinking about that, too.""Actually, we were thinking of asking someone to join us," Abby said. "His name is James, and he's really nice. We think you two would get along."
Emma's heart skipped a beat. Was she hearing this right? Was Abby setting her up with a guy? She didn't know what to say.
"I... I don't know," she stammered. "I'm not sure I'm ready to meet someone new."
"It's okay," Lucy said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. "But, just hear us out," Abby said. "We really think you and James would hit it off. He's funny and smart, and he loves the same books as you. Plus, he's a big fan of the outdoors."
Emma hesitated. She was still unsure, but she was also curious. "Okay, I'll listen," she said. "But I can't promise anything."
"That's all we ask," Lucy said with a smile. "Now, let's get to class."
As they headed to school, Emma couldn't stop thinking about James. All through class, Emma's mind was elsewhere. She kept imagining what James would be like. Would he be handsome? Would he be friendly? Would he like her? By the time the final bell rang, she was more than a little anxious.
As she walked out of the classroom, she spotted Abby and Lucy waiting for her. "Ready to meet James?" Abby asked.
"I'm not sure," Emma said, twisting her hair nervously. "What if he doesn't like me?"
"Nonsense," Lucy said. "You're amazing, and anyone would be lucky to know you."As they walked down the hall, they saw a tall, dark-haired boy with glasses standing by the water fountain. "That's him!" Abby whispered.
Emma felt her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. "I can do this," she thought.
Abby walked up to the boy and said, "James, this is my friend, Emma. Emma, this is James."
Emma took a step forward and offered her hand. "Hi, James," she said, trying to smile. James took her hand and shook it gently. "It's nice to meet you, Emma," he said. His voice was deep and soft, and it made Emma feel a little less nervous. "Abby and Lucy have told me a lot about you."
Emma was surprised. "Really?" she asked, looking at Abby and Lucy. "What did they tell you?"
"Well," James said, "I know you're a big fan of fantasy novels. And I know you have a knack for creative writing."
Emma's face turned red. "You know that?" she asked. "Of course," James said with a grin. "They've told me all about your writing. It sounds like you're really talented."
Emma was at a loss for words. No one had ever said that about her writing before. She felt a surge of pride, and she smiled back at James. "Thank you," she said. "That means a lot to me."
"It's the truth," James said. "I'd love to read some of your work, if you're comfortable sharing it."
Emma's cheeks turned even redder. "Let's talk more about this over lunch," Lucy said. "Come on, James. We can go to the cafeteria together."
"Sounds good to me," James said. "Emma, are you coming?"
Emma hesitated for a moment. She still felt a little unsure about all of this. But she looked at Abby and Lucy, and she saw the excitement in their eyes. She didn't want to disappoint them. "Yes," she said. "I'll come with you."The four of them walked to the cafeteria, chatting about school and their hobbies. James turned out to be a big sci-fi fan, which pleased Emma to no end. She found herself relaxing and enjoying the conversation. As they sat down at a table, James asked, "So, Emma, what are your favorite fantasy novels?"
She lit up. "Oh, there are so many," she said. "I love the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The world-building is just incredible."
James nodded. "I love how Tolkien created such a rich and detailed world," he said. "And I really love the Narnia books," Emma continued. "The idea of a whole other world existing through a wardrobe is so intriguing."
"I love how C.S. Lewis takes such a creative spin on classic mythological archetypes," James said. "It's like the stories are both familiar and totally new."
The two of them chatted on about books, getting lost in their own little world of words. After a while, Lucy said, "You guys are so nerdy. I love it."They all laughed. "We are pretty nerdy, aren't we?" James said. "But it's fun to talk about the things we're passionate about."
"Absolutely," Emma said. "It's nice to connect with someone who understands your love of fantasy and sci-fi."
James smiled. "I think we should call ourselves the Nerdy Trio," he said.
Emma and Lucy both laughed. "I think that's a perfect name for us," Lucy said. "We'll be the coolest nerds around."They continued chatting as they ate their lunch. When they finished, James said, "I have an idea. Why don't we start a book club? We could meet once a week and talk about the books we're reading."
Emma and Lucy both lit up. "That sounds like so much fun," Lucy said. "I think it would be great to have a dedicated time to chat about books."
"I agree," Emma said. "I think it would be awesome to have a book club with friends who love reading as much as I do."
"I'm in too," James said. They agreed to meet in the library the following week to discuss the first book for their club. As they left the cafeteria, Emma felt a sense of excitement. She had never been in a book club before, and she couldn't wait to get started. When she got home that night, she immediately pulled out her copy of The Lord of the Rings and started re-reading it.
The week passed quickly, and before she knew it, it was time for the first book club meeting. She arrived early, eager to get started. When James and Lucy arrived, they sat down at a table in the corner of the library. "So, what did you guys think of The Lord of the Rings?" James asked.
"I loved it!" Lucy said. "I love how Tolkien created such a detailed and intricate world, and I loved the characters, especially Frodo and Sam."
Emma nodded. "I agree," she said. "I think Frodo's journey is so compelling, and I love how he has to overcome so many obstacles to save Middle-earth."
"And Sam is such a loyal friend," James said. "I was also struck by the way Tolkien explores the theme of good and evil," Lucy said. "I loved how he shows that even the most seemingly evil characters, like Gollum, have some good in them."
"That's such a good point," James said. "I love how Tolkien shows that good and evil aren't always so black and white, and that there's a lot of gray area in between."
Just then, the librarian, Mrs. Matthews, came over to their table. "I see you three are having a lively discussion," she said. "We're starting a book club!" Lucy said, beaming. "We just finished The Lord of the Rings, and we're going to be reading The Hobbit next."
"That's wonderful!" Mrs. Matthews said. "I'm glad you're taking advantage of the library to discuss your love of reading. Do you need any help finding copies of The Hobbit?"
"That would be great!" James said. "We want to make sure everyone can get a copy."
"I'll go grab a few for you," Mrs. Matthews said. She returned a few minutes later with several copies of the book. "Thank you so much!" Lucy said, taking one of the books. "We're so excited to get started."
"I'm glad you're all so passionate about reading," Mrs. Matthews said. "I hope your book club is a success."
"Thank you," James said. "We'll be sure to let you know how it goes."
As Mrs. Matthews walked away, they opened their books and began discussing the first chapter. They were so engrossed in their discussion that they didn't even notice when the library closed and Mrs. Matthews turned off the lights. As the sun set and the library grew darker, James and Lucy continued talking about the book. They were both so focused on the story that they barely noticed how close they were sitting to each other. But as they got deeper into the discussion, their voices grew softer, and they began leaning in closer to each other. They were so absorbed in the book that they didn't even realize that their faces were only inches apart.
Suddenly, Lucy's phone started ringing, breaking the spell. She jumped, startled by the noise.
"I'm so sorry!" she said, reaching for her phone. "It's okay," James said, smiling. "It was just a bit of a surprise, that's all."
As Lucy answered the phone, James took a moment to collect himself. He hadn't realized how much he had been enjoying the conversation with Lucy. He had been so focused on the book that he had forgotten about everything else.
He looked over at Lucy, who was still talking on the phone. He couldn't help but admire her enthusiasm and intelligence. He had always thought of her as just a friend, but now he was starting to see her in a different light. As Lucy finished her call, she turned back to James. "I'm sorry, I have to go," she said. "It was nice talking to you, though."
"It was nice talking to you, too," James said. "We'll have to do this again sometime."
"I'd like that," Lucy said, gathering her things. "See you tomorrow."
"See you then," James said. He watched as Lucy left the library, then gathered his own things and headed home.
The whole way home, he couldn't stop thinking about the conversation he had had with Lucy. When he got home, he sat down at his desk and tried to focus on his homework. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get his mind off of Lucy. He kept replaying their conversation over and over again in his head.
"What's going on?" his sister, Kara, asked, walking into his room. "You look like you're a million miles away."
James looked up from his desk. "I'm just...thinking," he said.
"About what?" Kara asked, sitting down next to him.
"About...a girl," James said, blushing. "A girl?" Kara said, her eyes lighting up. "Do I know her?"
"You've met her," James said. "It's Lucy, from my English class."
"Lucy!" Kara said, clapping her hands together. "She seems like a really cool girl. What's she like?"
"She's smart, and funny, and really nice," James said. "I just don't know if she sees me as anything more than a friend."
"You never know until you try," Kara said. James thought about what Kara had said. She was right - he would never know how Lucy felt unless he asked her. But he was scared. What if he ruined their friendship by asking her out?
He turned to Kara. "What if I ask her out and she says no?" he asked. "I don't want to ruin what we have."
"If you don't ask, you'll never know," Kara said. "But if you do ask, you might be surprised by her answer."
James thought about it for a long time. Finally, he made up his mind.