Weeping Willows

What Peace of Mind?

Chapter 17

The group sat around having their picnic in companionable silence. Jan stayed seated at the end of Elizabeth's chair forcing Ryan to take the chair next to them. She was grateful to Jan but admitted she would have to talk to him a lot sooner then she had intended. Every now and again he would stretch his leg out to bump her foot with his and gain her attention. If she wasn't so preoccupied with trying to plan out what she was going to say to him she might have found it a little cute but at that moment it was more of an annoying distraction. Addison must have been able to tell it was bugging her and decided to bring everyone's attention to her.

"So, what was the little show you guys threw earlier for anyway?" All the girls looked at the guys with interest waiting for their answer. They had been expecting Elliot to explain but Clayton was the one to tell them.

"We know it's someone's birthday soon so why not?" They all looked at him incredulously. Each turned their attention back to Elliot thinking he was the mastermind. Elliot raised his hands in surrender while pointing at both Dan and Ryan. Shocked looks all turned towards the two most awkward and quiet guys in the group unable to comprehend. Ryan ducked his head turning his attention to his plate while his cheeks heated up with a blush. Dan however shrugged his big shoulders in justification. There was a moment of stunned stillness before everyone broke out in hysterics over their discomfort. Once it calmed down each set of eyes turned in Elizabeth's direction making her squirm under their gazes.

"So, when is the big day anyway?" Jan inquired taking a rather ravenous bit of her burger. She couldn't help feeling a bit like a meal they wanted to consume at that moment. With a sigh she relented not seeing the harm in telling them.

"It's Monday."

"Any big plans?" Jan prodded, her attention still on her sandwich.

"None whatsoever. I want a quiet birthday this year." Her statement caused a few raised eyebrows and more than one confused look. As they continued to eat, she regaled them with tales of birthdays past. Each one outlandish and truthfully something she herself would have found hard to believe if she hadn't actively participated in everyone. From inappropriate tattoos given to them by a biker gang, to spending the night in jail in Vegas she told each story with vivid detail. By the time she was done there were mixed reactions of complete horror to fluid being shot out due to laughter. One of which was Addison who took her bag to the 'little girls' room' in the woods due to having tinkled a bit. Apparently, that happens when you're pregnant and doubled over in laughter.

"Admit it you're going to miss the excitement." Jan chided her but Elizabeth adamantly shook her head.

"Honestly after last years debacle I'm glad to be missing out this year."

"Well at least you've led an, interesting life." Jenny added looking not quite sure that was the description she wanted to use. She had been one of the ones horrified by her birthday tales. Elizabeth snorted, sure that wasn't the word she would have used either.

"Courtney makes life interesting." She pointed out feeling a pang of loneliness creeping in. While she wasn't going to miss all the theatrics that usually accompanied the bashes this would be the first year they wouldn't all be together. She wondered if Nicole would join them this year. She really hoped so. While Elizabeth wouldn't be with the girls this year, she did have a new group of friends surrounding her. She hated to think of Nikki sitting all alone in the house she once shared with David. This would also be Elizabeth's first birthday celebration without her family too. The thought just brought her spirits down making her want to curl away in a dark hole on that day, away from everyone and everything. Pushing her food around on her plate she found she no longer had an appetite anymore. She hated to waste Dan's amazing cooking, but she just couldn't stomach another bite. Her gut soured with her growing depression and she knew she needed to shake herself out of it before she ruined the day for everyone.