Cedar Edge

Prologue

“If you drink from a bottle marked ‘poison’, it is almost certain to disagree with you later.”

-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland-

Swinging my legs back and forth I listen to the birds chirp.

The slight rustle of leaves in the tree around me adds to the symphony of sounds.

My mom hates that I climb this tree so much, not that she says it out right.

But I can see it. Anytime I come home with skinned elbows and twigs in my hair she gives me the look.

You know the one I’m talking about. The one moms do so well, it's the perfect combination of disappointment and love that hits just the right spot to make you never want to do the thing you’ve done again.

Unless you're me and the thing is climbing your favorite willow tree. In the woods you’ve been told to stop going into. Then the look doesn’t achieve its goal.

To be fair, this tree, and subsequent garden around it, is her fault really.

She used to tell me stories of secret gardens full of magic at bedtime but it wasn’t until she told me a story of the Duchess of Northumberland who created a garden of only plants that could kill that my real obsession started.

I hum along to my favorite song currently playing in my head as I read through the latest library book about plants.

I think at this point I’ve read close to every book Cedar Edge Library has that contains information on the flora and fauna around us.

Ms. Ceilia says she’ll look at ordering more for me, which I appreciate.

Not everyone understands my obsession, I’m sure it’s rather odd to see a kid my age reading these books.

But she seems to. I think maybe it’s because she has her own obsessions that no one gets.

Momma says Ms. Ceila has an ‘affinity towards death.’ But I just think she’s curious like me.

Nowadays I’m either here or in the library, so I like to think I know Ms. Ceilia better than most. She has been keeping me company while my mom gets the house ready for our new editions.

I silently gag thinking about it. Something about Rodger Haven reminds me of the very plants I study.

The only thing I’m mildly excited for is to have a brother.

Rodger’s son is my age and will be living with us full time.

I don’t have any friends, minus Ms. Ceila, so having one who lives with me has real benefits.

“Hey, what are you doing up there?” The voice disrupts my thoughts, startling me enough that the book fumbles from my hands.

I watch in horror as it flies from my perch heading straight for the ground.

I can already hear the reprimand Ms. Ceilia will give me if I return another book that's got the mark of nature on it. After the last time I’m pretty sure she might revoke my library membership which would be utterly devastating.

Jerking over the side of the branch I look down, bracing myself for the destruction, only to see my book being cradled by a boy with brown hair and kind eyes.

Next to him stands a blonde boy who has, instead of kindness, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes that I know all too well.

My mom calls it the ‘act first, think later’ look.

The brown-haired boy looks down at my precious book clutched in his hands, reading the title out loud, “Botanical Curses and Poisons…” He trails off, raising his gaze to mine again with an eyebrow cocked and a questioning expression.

“Not very light reading.” The blonde one says under his breath.

My brow furrows, annoyed at his words. No one understands my love, and fascination, with what plants can do for us.

“Can I have it back please?” I hold my hand out as I dangle from above them in the tree. The brown-haired boy watches me intently as he slowly holds my book out. The moment my hand touches the cover I snatch it from his grasp, shoving it quickly into my bag where it's safe.

When I peer back over both boys are still standing under my tree, eyes glued to the spot I’m in.

Neither look familiar, though to be fair I don’t tend to socialize.

School feels tedious and I hate having to talk to people, so I keep my head down and focus on the learning part until the bell rings.

After school I spend time here, alone, with my plants and willow tree.

“I’m Law.” The brown-haired boy finally says before pointing to his companion. “This is Logan.” The blonde smiles at me with a friendly wave.

I want to ask why they are here and to tell them to go away, but I think that's considered rude.

Plants make sense to me. They are easy, for the most part, once you figure out the right variables to keep them alive.

But people, people have never made much sense to me.

They are ever changing the rules of interaction, and I can never manage to keep up with them.

“Uh I’m Thea.” I finally reply, unsure how to proceed.

Logan, the blonde haired one, steps closer to my tree. “Whatcha doing up there Thea?”

“Reading?” I say hesitantly, because isn’t it obvious what I was doing.

He keeps staring at me, the silence building until I get the hint that he’s wanting more of an answer.

“I’m reading about plants; it's a new book from the library. Well not new I guess, but new to me. Did you know, according to this book, of the 20,000 plants in the United States approximately 700 of those are known to have toxic properties?”

Logan, to my shock, looks genuinely interested. “That's wicked” he mutters, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes flashing. “Plants are pretty cool.”

I blink a few times waiting for the part where he makes fun of me, but it never comes.

Instead, they both just stand there, smiles on their faces as if eager to hear more.

“Uh yeah they are. They are actually really cool.” I swing my legs up in the branch before starting to slowly make my way down to their level.

“Careful Tink.” Logan says.

“Tink?” I ask with a frown as I look down at him.

He laughs, the sound loud and clear. “Yeah, because you look like Tinkerbell up in that tree.”

Law smacks him upside the head but the nickname brings a small smile to my face, after all no one has ever given me a nickname.

I take a step forward onto another branch and feel the loss of stability seconds before I hear the crack.

I’m free falling suddenly, hands reaching for the safety of my tree as I hurtle towards the ground.

I close my eyes against the pain that I’m sure is about to smash into me, only it never comes, instead I feel arms wrap tightly around my body.

Blinking my eyes open I glance up at my savior, expecting Law or Logan. Only I’m not met with their faces, but rather a beautiful boy with black hair and radiant blue eyes peers down at me. This close I can notice freckles spattered over his pale skin.

“Careful little sis. Don’t want you getting hurt.”

Two Years Later….

Standing in the back of the church, the sun beating through the stained-glass windows, I can feel the sweat dripping down my back.

The sweltering heat might have been tolerable had Rodger and mom not demanded I wear this monstrosity of a puffy, pink dress.

The shoulders are literal balls of puffy chiffon that go down into long, scratchy sleeves that end at my wrists.

The bodice is equally as scratchy and the long skirt keeps the heat trapped in.

“Stop fidgeting.” My stepbrother, Ace, growls as he loops his arm with mine.

I roll my eyes as my other arm tugs at the back of the dress.

“Easy for you to say, you are wearing normal clothes.” I twist again trying to get to the zipper, even to just loosen it a little.

Rodger had said he ‘accidently’ ordered the wrong size but I suspect otherwise.

Not that my mom had believed me. She thought the man hung the moon and the stars.

“Cricket…” Ace says my nickname in warning.

Ever since he caught me falling from the tree he’s been glued to me, same with Law and Logan.

Kids from school took notice real quick, suddenly scrambling to be my friend.

And it has only gotten worse now that I’m joining them in high school.

Suddenly I had a stream of girls, and guys, wanting to be my study partner only to be very disappointed when I never allowed them into my house.

But, honestly, what did I expect? Logan was from the founding family of the town and really had the golden retriever bad-boy energy thing going.

At least according to bathroom gossip. Everyone was in love with him and Ace.

It always made me laugh because Ace and Logan had no interest in anyone but one another.

Law was equally as popular, particularly now that they all were in high school.

Suddenly everyone had their sights set on the local cowboy.

And me? I was still the weird girl who preferred the greenhouse to the football game and had somehow managed to become a part of their trio.

At least I hope I still am…

The boys were older than I was and had left me alone the last year of middle school and despite trying our best to stay as close as we could our different schedule has made it hard to hang out with just the four of us.

This year would be the first time I joined them in high school and I was stupidly nervous that I would suddenly be pushed aside.

No. They wouldn’t do that. Ace wouldn’t do that.

Finally dropping my arm I force myself to focus on anything other than the torture device I’m wearing.

“You got to wear something normal!” I practically hiss back.

Indeed Ace looks like Prince Charming. He is dressed in a dark suit, the material cut perfectly to his form and his hair artfully styled to still look messy but remain out of his face.