I've been to Elizabeth's house 4 times now. Her mom seems mean to her and nice to everyone else. Elizabeth always acts cold and sarcastic around her mom, but seems hurt in the end. Sometimes she makes the effort and says thank you or I love you to her mom for some reason or another. The effort is never returned. We haven't gone over to my house yet, and it's probably because I haven't offered. I can't see her and her mom interacting at my house. And that might help me find out what ever mysteries may haunt Elizabeth. I almost kick myself. I sound like such a creep. What the heck. I shake my head and follow Elizabeth to our usual spot, getting comfortable while she climbs the tree. Elizabeth had gotten bowls of popcorn for both of us after a prompt from her mom. I open my nearly blank notebook, hoping food will help Elizabeth generate some ideas.
"Have any ideas today?"
"No."
"I thought you were suppose to be good with plots." Elizabeth shrugs and munches on her popcorn. I tap my pen. Then I come to a realization and I start to get angry.
"Do you usually decide what kind of story it is before you come up with the plot?" Elizabeth hides her face behind her hair and slowly nods. I throw my book on the ground and stand up. "Why didn't you tell me?" Elizabeth shrugs. "Why are you so passive to me and your friends and such but aggressive towards your mom?" Elizabeth literally does nothing. She pretty much froze in place. That was kind of a lie though, she's more passive aggressive with her friends. And aggressive and assertive with her mom. To everyone else she's pretty much all 3. Including to me. Elizabeth still doesn't move.
"Elizabeth?" She does nothing. But her breathing sounds weird. I see her grip the bottom of her too big band shirt. (It's a Sunday) she pulls the shirt a little past mid thigh, still gripping it over her pajama pants. Her hair remains down and partly over her face. Her expression looks blank. But in the part of the eye I see, all I see is panic. Then I understand what's happening. She's having a panic attack. Suddenly I'm climbing the tree. I slowly get to where she is, remembering her foot and hand holds. I almost Slip and fall. But I get there. I edge close to Elizabeth and put one arm around her in and almost half hug, and grab one of her hands. I hear her breathing go back to normal and she slumps in my arm a little. Her grip on her shirt loosens and her other hand remains limp in mine.
"Your lucky today isn't one of my 'don't touch me or I'll stab you with a fork days' cause I would've pushed you off the tree. And that's almost like every other day these days." I laugh, feeling relieved for some reason. I don't know why I did any of this. It's not like it was my fault she panicked, I didn't say anything THAT bad did I? I'm brought back to the present when I feel my hand being squeezed a little. I smile as we stay in this position.