Weeping Willows

Growing Pains

Chapter 6

Later that night Elizabeth found herself lounged across her couch with a bottle of merlot, the comfiest throw she owned, and her friends faces across her laptop screen. The three of them were laughing riotously as she recounted her day to them in as much detail as she could. She rolled her eyes at the fact that her friends found her muddled day comical. Although, now that she wasn't right in the thick of things anymore, she had to admit it was kind of funny. She chuckled to herself as she took another sip from her glass.

"You're living the dream Lizzy." Courtney sighed out wistfully making Elizabeth snort into her wine which caused some of the fluid to go up her nose. Hacking she sat up using her throw to wipe the offending liquid from her nose. She made a mental note to toss it in the washer later as she rubbed it back and forth.

"You stay right where you are. I don't even want to know what would happen if you and those two sisters ended up in a room together."

"Only fun things I assure you."

Elizabeth shuddered as visions of mad scientist and experiments gone wrong danced in her head. It was the stuff nightmares are made of and it scared the crap out of her to even think about. She tried to shake the image not wanting to give herself terrors, but as hard as she tried it just wouldn't leave. Her thoughts just got worse and worse as she imagined what the three would be capable of if they ever met. If it ever came to pass, she was leaving the country. It would be much safer then sticking around that was for sure.

"Then why can I only picture the center going up in flames."

"Oh, come on Lizzy we wouldn't blow the place up. It's their home after all."

"I for one don't see flames but world domination."

At Lauren's words Courtney's eyes lit up making Elizabeth groan. Visions of the cartoon Pinky and the Brain danced through her head with reckless abandon. She shuddered at the thought. It's official those three could never meet. In fact, thousands of miles away may not be far enough of a distance to keep disaster from striking.

"Don't encourage her Lauren."

Lauren just smiled while taking a drink from her own wine. Courtney glowered at her and stuck her tongue out.

"Real mature Court real mature."

"Please, in the grand scheme of things we're still all babies. After hearing about your day, it warms my little black heart to know that I'll never have to grow up."

This made them all laugh. Elizabeth watched her friends from the screen missing the old days but glad they still had a way to have their girl's nights. She hated to admit it, but she missed having the company. She watched the other three as they sat around Nell's kitchen table picking on each other and having a good time. She wished she could give each of them a hug.

A loud creaking noise above her drew her eyes to the ceiling as she stared at it in contemplation. Everyone she came across after leaving the senior center she had asked about the house and they all stated the same thing; haunted. Each person had then lambasted her with some harrowing tale of when they were a kid and broke into the place only to barely make it out alive. Physically shaking her head she turned her focus back to her friends.

"What were you looking at hon?"

"Nothing, the house is just making creaking noises is all." Nell went to speak again but was railroaded by Courtney.