Weeping Willows

Chapter 17

What Peace of Mind?

                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 every one.  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. 

                Conversation continued around her as she tried to shake out of her funk.  Addison endured lighthearted teasing once she returned but Elliot gallantly came to her rescue.  Elizabeth looked up at the sky watching as dark clouds began lumbering in causing a slight drop in temperature.  She was startled back into reality when Jan squeezed her shoulder and looked at her in question.  Elizabeth sent a limp smile at her pretending all was right in her world.

                “I’m full.”  Not appearing totally convinced but deciding not to push it, Jan took her plate carrying it away to be tossed.  Everyone began packing up to leave trying to beat the impending storm that brewed in the distant sky.  Elliot sent Jan, Jenny, and his wife on ahead seeing how tired Addison had become from the day’s activities.  He handed Addison’s keys to Jan telling her they would drop off Elizabeth on their way in since she lived out in the boonies.  The girls raised a protest, but Elizabeth agreed noticing how dead on her feet Addison had become.  She waved the car off as she waited for the guys to load everything up watching the ever-darkening sky above.

                Once they were ready to leave, she offered to sit in the bed of the truck, but Clayton waved her off.  He and Dan jumped in closing the tailgate behind them.  They told her that with Elliot’s driving the grill would be safer with them holding on to it.  Giving up she nodded and proceeded to the cab of the truck.  Ryan was standing there waiting for her holding the door to the back seat open for her.  A wane smile graced her lips finding she was a little tired herself and just couldn’t muster up much more then that.  He climbed in the truck behind her forcing Elizabeth to scoot over on the bench seat to make room.

            “Aren’t you going to sit up front with Elliot?”             “I didn’t want you to get lonely back here by yourself.”

            “Won’t Elliot be lonely up front by himself.”

             “Nah, besides I prefer your company to his any day.”

             “Hey!  I would be offended by that if I didn’t agree with it.”  Elliot’s joke made her chuckle as she shook her head at their banter.  Turning the truck on Elliot pulled out onto the dirt road they drove in on beginning the long drive back into town.  Slouching in her seat she settled in covering her mouth as a deep yawn escaped.

             “Why don’t you take a short nap.  We’ll try to keep the noise down.”  Elizabeth briefly thought about arguing and trying to stay awake, but her eyelids drooped in protest of the thought.  Giving in to Ryan’s suggestion she closed her eyes welcoming the darkness.

              Sometime later she was jolted awake as Elliot hit a rut in the road a little too fast.  A chorus of protests rang out from the bed of the truck that had Elliot yelling an apology out the window.  Elizabeth found she had sprawled out across the seat in her sleep and she cringed inwardly as she realized Ryan’s lap had become her pillow.  She lay as still as possible trying not to alert him to her current state of wakefulness.  She chastised herself for her carelessness not wanting to send the wrong message.  It was to late she feared as he slowly ran his fingers through her hair in a soothing motion.  How could she have been so stupid to not think before carelessly falling asleep beside him.  How was she supposed to let him down easy now when she just snuggled right up to him?  Her thoughts swam in a panic as he talked away causally to Elliot completely unaware of her distress.  She just couldn’t figure out how to move away from him naturally and appear as if she was just moving in her sleep.  But what if when she slid her head off his leg, she ended up rubbing him in a particular area?  Oh crap, what if she already was with the motion of the vehicle and just hadn’t noticed.  She wanted to check and make sure she wasn’t but was too afraid to find him pitching a tent next to her head.  No, she couldn’t slide off she would have to sit up if she wanted to avoid any mishaps.  If she pretended to sit up and stretch awake would she have to figure out how to avoid his advances in front of the guys.  She didn’t want to make things awkward and embarrass him in front of his friends, but she just couldn’t think of what to do.  She lay as still as possible not knowing the right thing to do.  Hell, why had she agreed to ride home with the guys again?  Elizabeth was saved from her mounting panic as Elliot brought the truck to a stop.

                “You might want to wake sleeping beauty back there Ryan so she can get inside before the storm hits.  We don’t want her out in another one.”  She cringed again holding back her frown hating being treated like some damsel in distress.  Ryan gently shook her shoulder and caressed her arm trying to wake her.

                “Time to rise sleepy head, you’re home.”  Elizabeth pushed herself up trying to fake confusion as she blinked her eyes open looking around.  She hoped her act was convincing enough.  The last thing she needed right now was Ryan knowing she had been awake while laying in his lap.  She stole a quick glance down relieved to find his lap in a normal state.  At least she had managed to avoid causing anything like that to happen.  Elizabeth’s eyes snapped up to meet Elliot’s in the rear-view mirror at his quiet chortle.  He had clearly caught her looking making Elizabeth blush.  She silently pleaded him with her eyes as Ryan exited the truck.  Mischief danced in his chocolate brown orbs sending a wink her way as she squeaked.

                She said a quick thank you for the ride and ran up to the house staring at the ground the whole way.  She waved a hurried goodbye then retreated into her house.  The last glimpse she got of them was of a confused Clayton and Dan looking over the cab while Ryan looked deep in thought and Elliot appeared to be having a seizure trying to contain his laughter.  As she slammed the door behind her leaning against it fear began to take over.  As she caught her breath Elizabeth settled her nerves deciding he wouldn’t really say anything.  Walking away from the door her steps faltered as doubt crept in.  Her eyes widened and her breathing stopped as one simple question invaded her mind.  Would he?