One more trip around the sun

Lex looks over at Amanda while they were still heading to wherever it was that they were headed to. "Mandy are you really that upset?" She asks, the way that Amanda reacted to that was odd. Perhaps Lex did take the teasing a little too far, But they both knew neither of them really meant anything by it. And they only did that kind of joking with each other when no one else was around.

Lex and Amanda had known each other for quite some time, When was it that they first met? Ah, it had been so long ago that Lex had forgotten about it. It seemed like one of those friendships that had lasted for years. Same as with her and Ash, She couldn't really remember back to the time when they met.

Heck, Even when they started dating, she was engrossed with her studies. Sure such a thing was uncharacteristic for the otherwise lazy procrastinator that was Lex, but when she found something she really liked and really wanted to do, Well she would really put her mind to it.

That was what drove her to inundate herself into studying quantum mechanics, The challenge to do something that had never been done before, simply because of an idea that she randomly had. It was difficult for sure, not necessarily because of the information subject. Yes that was difficult, but for Lex it was still something that she was able to pick up with a modicum of effort and study. It was the studying though that was what killed motivation for Lex, and the death of motivation is what lead to procrastination.

Amanda turns and looks at Lex and offers a slight smile "No, I was just thinking..." she sighs and looks out the window and mumbles something under her breath low enough that Lex couldn't make it out. It didn't seem like it was meant for her to hear so she wasn't going to press it. We all sometimes have thoughts that we speak out sometimes, but aren't meant for anyone in particular.

Lex tried to engage Amanda in further talk but it was pointless, she seemed lost in her own thoughts at present. The rest of the ride was quick, only about fifteen minutes after Lex won the little teasing game that Amanda tried to pull, and then went quiet after loosing, they arrived at the destination. The driver got out and opened the door for the ladies to get out of the vehicle.

In front of them was, as Lex had rightly assumed certainly not the house. It was a building of quite immaculate design, pleasing to the eye, and even with it being in the heart of the city, somehow made it seem like it was in a rural country side. A Small quaint looking building surrounded by the many taller buildings around it. But the high walls surrounding it would still give some privacy.

The name on the building indicated it being a restaurant, Au Sommelier du Château was the name of the place on the wooden signboard hanging out front. There was a gate leading into a front yard, the yard half encircled by the veranda, and the red brick walls surrounding the rest of they yard from the gate entrance gave it an elegant homely vibe. Decorative vines were strategically placed along the walls and wrapping the columns of the veranda to enhance the aesthetic.

A sculpted marble fountain was in the middle of the yard with a red cobblestone path leading from the gate, around the fountain and to four different corners of the yard. each portion of they yard separated by the path had a small garden and tables set in a pleasing symmetrical layout. Nothing seemed out of place and everything fit so well together to give a rather enchanting atmosphere of the place.

Amanda walks through the gate and up towards the double French doors on the opposite side of the yard and enters quickly without saying anything. Lex, being a bit slower taking a look around as she heads in the same direction following Amanda enters just a few moments later. Wondering what is going on with Amanda to cause her to be so uncharacteristically silent,

She gets to the door and opens it, "SURPRISE!!" A cacophony of voices shouted out as Lex walked into the room. She just stood in the doorway a bit frozen "Wha..?" A blank and baffled face is what Lex greets the room of people with.

Ash steps around from one of the tables and comes up to finish dragging Lex into the room and closing the door "Happy Birthday Lex." he smirks "You forgot about your birthday didn't you?"

Lex was still a bit out of it. "Birthday?" she looked to Ash confused, and he laughed and smiled "Yes dear, It is your birthday. I figured you've been so busy that you weren't keeping up with the dates, So I planned this, and had Amanda keep watch over you today so that you wouldn't end up missing it."

Lex recovered from her shock, "You know how much I dislike parties like this. And I would have been perfectly happy to not have any birthday party. Its not like its some important day, It just means that I'm now one full year older." She pouts

Ash nods "Yes, but this year is also different love. Which is why I am a bit surprised that you forgot about it. You are now officially twenty one. So now you don't need me or anyone else to get you your alcohol" he laughs. "Come your the guest of honor so you have to say hi to everyone, And your also obligated to get drunk too. Its why I got us a limo to get home." he grins from ear to ear with his charming smile.

"I... Really can never win against you can I?" Lex sighs, "Fine lets get this party going. You roped Amanda into this, and even had her trick me to get into a dress." she glared at Ash. "I'll make you pay for that tonight." She stated as a matter of fact.

Ash just laughs it off as he dragged her around to say hello to the guests. Most of them were acquaintances and friends of Ash whom Lex was polite with, but never really bothered to interact with them before. So she didn't know their names or even remember their faces. Now that she thought about it, She didn't really have any friends outside of Amanda, and Ash certainly doesn't count anymore, seeing that they are now married.

It's still strange though, She woke up this morning and could have sworn something else was happening. She just shook her head though and chalked it up to just a dream, it was certainly lacking in any clarity. Just the nagging at the back of her head, and she was getting a bit of a headache. Though that's why she didn't like dealing with people more than she had too. It was exhausting, she was an introvert, sure she didn't mind being around people and actually really enjoyed company.

But to her sitting in a room with someone else, even if they weren't talking and doing their own thing, that was quality time spent with them. But getting out and having to talk to people because they expected you to talk to them? Why did people not just appreciate the enjoyment of silence? why in social settings do people always feel the need to fill in the silence with idle chatter?

Lex spent more time walking around the restaurant that seemed to have been reserved just for them. It was a novel experience for Lex, to have a place all for themselves for the party. Well novel for her to be the center of attention of such a thing. After a couple hours of mingling a bell rang and everyone started making their way to tables and Lex was lead to the head table where she was joined by Ash and Amanda sitting to her left and right.

The meal was quite fantastic, and Lex decided to slow down her eating to both savor the food, as well as to dissuade others from coming up to her while she was eating. It was a full five course meal, the first she had ever had of such. Some small appetizers, then a French onion soup that was out of this world in flavor quality. The soup was followed up by the main entre, which was Lex's favorite, a ribeye steak cooked and seasoned to perfection. This was followed up by a bread pudding with bourbon sauce for desert, and just when she thought everything was done, some cheeses were brought out at the end.

Suffice it to say that she felt stuffed by the end of the dinner, She felt quite warm from having had such an event surrounded by the people that meant the most to her, and others. Though if she was going to be honest with herself, she would have enjoyed it more without all the others. She couldn't understand just why Ash had them come. They minded for a bit more, Lex imbibing in much wine by the end of the party that Ash had finally ended the party and everyone made there ways to their vehicles.

Amanda and Ash guided Lex to the limo where Ash opened up the door and helped the two ladies get into the car. Lex was feeling quite, well she was feeling a bit passed the stage of tipsy. The ride home was not too eventful, save for an overly affectionate and drunk Lex practically hanging off of Ash. Amanda had taken the seat on the other side of Lex on the same bench, and was slightly dozing off, pressed up against Lex which just caused her practically laying on top of Ash.

The limo hit a bump causing the trio to come off of their seats a bit, which cause the two girls to have shifted. Lex ending up laying onto Ash's lap. But Amanda was on top of Lex causing the two girls to slightly shift their positions. leaving both of their high cut dresses in a precarious alignment, and Lex herself in a precarious position between the two.

The trio found themselves laughing about the situation, and the two girls too inebriated to untangle themselves, with Ash not doing anything to help their situation but started to tickle them relentlessly.

A few minutes of this, and the laughter of the two girls, the driver stopped the car. Slowly the two girls got off of Alex and straightened their clothing just as the driver opened up the door to let them out. Ash and the driver assisted the two ladies out of the vehicle and Ash took them off to head inside.

"Hon, Mandy is going to stay wish us tonight." Lex slightly slurred as she spoke. She was still rather drunk but managed to get better control of her faculties after the ride home, which lasted almost an hour.

Ash just chuckled as he guided the two ladies inside "Yes dear" was his only response as he let go of the two and opened up the door. And just as the door was open Lex took off upstairs towards the bedrooms dragging Amanda behind her. "Come on Mandy, I'll show you to your room, and get your clothes.."

After about ten minutes with doors closing, some giggling between the two girls and then the sound of the shower starting, Lex came downstairs to see Ash just sitting on the couch watching some late night news. She walked over and sat down next to him leaning onto his shoulder "Thanks for tonight."

Ash just smiles and rubs Lex's back as they spend a few minutes watching the television, the sound of the shower having stopped some time ago. Lex stifles a yawn and gets up and stretches, then grabs Ash's arm with a smirk "Now I think I promised you some punishment for your wonton walk to death by throwing that party no?"

Ash gives a mock look of horror at Lex offering up token resistance as she drug him upstairs to the master bedroom by the belt. A belt that also mysteriously somehow came undone while she was pulling him up the stairs. Just as equally mysteriously the ever more lacking in clothes Ash had on, where by the time they got to the room he was only in his boxers and something had happened to Lex's dress along the way. She shoved him into the dark room and closed the door behind her.