Preparations

Meetings, meetings and more meetings. That's what life seems to consist of these days, we have a 'meeting' about everything, but all that's due to stop now as Tammy called her final one to announce something pretty important: she thought we should nominate a leader to deal with every day things and to enforce laws…

It's funny but I've never thought about things like laws or leaders, we all were always there for each other and I had as much power as anybody to live my life, to get on with what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. And of course my own moral code to live by.

So anyway, we went through the tired out process of nominating and voting and it was no surprise to anyone, least of all me when Jay beat Scott and Silver to the title. He is a true leader, fair, honest and generally a good guy. He actually seemed quite embarrassed about the whole thing and his first act as 'leader' was to elect Scott and Silver as co-leaders – can you believe him? A triarchy indeed!

Grace smiled to herself, yawned and shook her head as she continued.

It was all a silly-ritual, and pretty pointless, but as Tammy announced a "party to celebrate" I realised why it had been done: as a cover-up for Ally's surprise party.

The party's tomorrow, and I guess I'm looking forward to it – I only wish Jay and I were on better terms. I invited Lance to stay on a while longer for the party and stuff…he's done nothing bad and he pulls his weight by collecting firewood and water with me so I didn't think anything of it – but I think Jay's pretty annoyed about it. I really don't know if we can keep going on like this, we act like we're the best of friends but we ignore all the underlying feelings and we ignore the fact that we touch and hug, putting it all down to knowing each other so well but I can't help but get sick of being in this in-between stage…

Jay and I argued about Lance yesterday…I don't really know why or how it happened. One minute I was talking to Lance and then Jay had pulled me to one side…

"Is it true?" He asked disbelief in his voice as I looked at him.

"What?" I wondered, no idea what could've gotten him like this.

"That you've invited that guy to the party? To stay, without asking the leaders opinion?"

I frowned at him. "That guy has a name Jay." I spoke slowly. "Lance. Yes I did ask him to come to the party, and I told Silver about it."

Jay narrowed his eyes. "I don't trust him."

I laughed. "He's a nice guy – if you just gave him a chance…"

"He's nice to you!" Jay spat back. "I wonder why…"

I scowled at Jay, my supposed best friend. "You're just annoyed because he's treating me like a girl – rather than just a friend!" I yelled my anger not allowing me to control this any more. "Something you've never had the guts to do!" I turned to walk away but he grabbed my arm and put his lips close to my ear.

"Be careful." He hissed before letting me go and walking off.

I was so angry with him I couldn't help but yelling and it makes me mad just to think about it. I just wish he'd let me know how he feels one way or another – instead of giving me signals that I can't read…

Sara's not very well, but the others assure me that it's only a summer-cold and that she'll be fine in a few days. I try not to worry about her – but what if she was really sick? How would we cure her…there aren't any doctors anymore.

Mali insisted that she looked after Sara for a few days, whilst I got everything ready for the party and she seems happy about it. Sara likes Mali a lot, and I didn't have the heart to say no; perhaps unconditional love from my little sister will help Mali feel a bit better about the whole Luke thing, and she can start to look forward…

Ally's day started in the same way it was due to end: Strangely.

She'd had a peaceful night for a change, which had meant that she hadn't seen Cooper that evening, she smiled to herself; perhaps knowing he was there was helping her after all.

When she awoke her eyes fell upon a small card in an envelope, on the front in neat handwriting was her name. As she tore the card open she found herself face to face with a picture of Graceland. She laughed and read the message inside:

Happy Birthday!

I hope all you want this year is yours,

Love, Cooper. Xxx

In spite of herself Ally smiled. It was a birthday she'd almost tried to forget, the first one on her own, but she realised now that she wasn't alone. She had people with her, people to care for her if anything went wrong. She didn't need to be scared anymore – the past was nothing; it couldn't hurt her – unless she let it…

The downstairs of the cottage and the picnic area was busy and filled with people putting up decorations and laying out a table for food (which would be cheese and mash potato pie and fruit salad!) in the air there was a strong scent of excitement – all couldn't wait for the party to be in full swing, so that they could finally let loose and have some change. Do something simple like dance without worry, if it was only for one night.

Scott was strumming away on his guitar, getting every note as close to right as he could whilst Tammy and Cooper put up streamers, Cooper holding onto her waist as she stood on a rickety old stool and reached to pin them up.

"Looking forward to tonight?" Her voice was softer than usual as she sat next to him and didn't scowl.

The party was doing good to everyone!

Scott looked up into Silver's enchanting eyes and felt himself smile, maybe they'd just gotten off on the wrong foot… "Yeh. Should be good fun huh?"

Silver nodded and felt her eyes fall across the area onto Cooper who was now helping Tammy down from the stool. "Yes." Her smile was a little faded. "Are you going to sing us an original song then?"

Scott studied her carefully as she gazed at Cooper. "Perhaps."

"Hiya!" Louisa's greeting was shrill as she joined the two and Silver's face clouded with disgust as she stood up.

"I'll see you later." She told her fellow leader.

Scott stopped strumming and stood too. "Wait – I'll come with you…" He looked kinda pleading but still Silver couldn't forget that easily what she thought about him.

"No it's okay." She lowered her voice. "We have to face up to our mistakes." She told him as she strolled back to the house.

Jay was pretending to study the papers he was holding in his hand, paper that was empty and tried to block out Grace's happy laughter which floated over from where she was standing with Lance.

He allowed himself to glance up for a moment and felt sad when he saw how happy she seemed. Did he ever make her that happy? Could he ever?

Jay lowered his eyes and thought about the past few years, the years without her and the ones with. What a difference! Grace had brought with her something his life had been missing, innocence, purity a girlish charm…she meant so much to him, had always been there when he needed her, when his dad was sick and again when he'd died…she was his support, his best friend and he…did he?

Jay watched her for a moment, a long moment. What did she mean to him really? He shook his head, tonight was the night, he had to decide one way or the other. He had to be fair to them both.