Theories of Insanity

9 | First Tears

October

9 | First Tears

Sunday, October 8, 2017

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Insanity:

Not believing the warning signs when they come.

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Birthdays had become a huge deal in my apartment.

Mine had been exactly two weeks earlier, and Christina, Paige, and Ashley had completely gone out of their way to ensure that it was spectacular. The fun thing in our apartment was this: my birthday was first, the Ashley's was exactly two weeks later, and Christina was exactly two weeks after her.

So today was Ashley's big day, and we were determined to make it just as special, if not more special, than mine had been.

Of course, it helped that Ashley's seventeen-year-old sister and best friend, Alexis, had flown in from Oklahoma to surprise her older sister two days earlier, and had been staying with us for the weekend until the end of Ashley's birthday.

We were all set for her big night, and I was pumped because she had excitedly agreed to let me invite Peter over for her party as well, and honestly any chance I had to see him was something I loved.

A tradition in our apartment relating to birthdays had become making a homemade cake for the birthday girl. So, while Alexis took Ashley out for a big birthday dinner—paid for by their parents—Christina and I got to work on making the best strawberry shortcake we could make.

"Guys, do you want to help decorate the apartment?" Christina called as she whisked egg whites into a fluff, "Morgan and I kinda have our hands full."

"I have homework." Samantha shook her head as she walked through the living room, "I'll be at the party though!"

"Yeah, I'm heading to my grandparents' for dinner." Madison replied, grabbing her purse from off the couch. "And I think Paige is sleeping."

Christina nodded, smiling slightly as everyone slowly trickled out of the living area and away from the birthday preparations.

"I guess it's just you and me!" I laughed, grabbing strawberries out of the fridge and taking a bite out of one, "We'll get it all done in time, no problem."

***

We did get it done in time, but barely. Christina was putting the finishing touches on the cake that was still a bit too warm to ice while I hung streamers from the ceiling and quickly vacuumed up all of the dirt and random spots that seemed to collect on our carpet before littering the entire thing with balloons. Samantha and Paige had wandered in and out of the kitchen, occasionally commenting on how good it smelled or clean it looked before retreating back into their bedrooms.

People arrived for the party at 8:00 and we were sure to have the cake cut and ready to eat before Ashley showed up around 8:15, gushing about how great everything looked and how much she loved the cake.

Alexis wandered over to me at one point in the night, looking around the crowded living room curiously.

"So, where's your hot boyfriend?" She asked, peeking around my shoulder, "Isn't he coming?"