So much had happened in the last few weeks that it almost seemed impossible that such a normal event such as the Snow Ball, would even be a possibility. The ball was supposed to be fun. A foreign concept for Eleven, as she quietly pondered the meaning of that word. She never got to have fun when she was a test subject and treated like a dog. In fact, when Mike asked her to go, she wondered what it meant. What it meant to be with someone in a public place and have fun.
Standing in front of the rectangular mirror that showed every facet of her appearance, Eleven marveled at what a little lip gloss and blush could do to someone. Back at the lab, she was never allowed to dress up and make herself look pretty. Truth be told, before she met Mike, she never knew what makeup was. According to Mike, it made someone who was already pretty, even prettier. Dustin, in all his wisdom, said that it made someone look "hot." Whatever that word meant.
Pretty. Eleven thought Mike would use that word when he saw her. He seemed to favor it whenever he was around her. Allowing a small smile to spread across her face, she looked down at her flowing dress that used to be Nancy's. The teen seemed to like her enough to loan her something special for the night. Drawn back to the present when a rush of footsteps sounded outside the door, she turned toward the closed door.
When it opened, she was greeted by Joyce, who had come over to help for the night. Eleven liked her. She was the first person, the first woman, who treated her with kindness and respect. Her hugs, while unusual at first, had become something of a comfort to her. Joyce wore a warm smile on her face as she took in her appearance. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, confusing the child.
"You look…you look beautiful."
Eleven tested the word out in her mind. Beautiful? Beautiful as in-
"Pretty?"
Joyce nodded. "Very pretty, honey."