Elle felt trapped as she stalked back and forth across the room, trying to find something, anything, to give her a brilliant escape plan. Nothing was coming to mind, and her insides squelched at the thought of what was waiting for her downstairs, and sparks flew from her fingertips in anticipation.
A soft knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts and Sandra popped her head in, "Elle, honey, you have got to come downstairs now", but Elle shook her head vehemently, "No way, you cant make me. Back off lady."
Sandra let out a soft chuckle, "The visitors all think it's a little weird that our new house guest won't come down and mingle, come on sweetheart, do me a favour." Elle sighed and shook her head…it was a nasty human trick when people said that, it was impossible to turn her down. If only she had come at her with something a little more violent she would have know how to handle it, but a please and a puppy dog look always made her surrender.
"You owe me", she said softly as she took the hand that Sandra had extended and accompanied her downstairs. Elle felt her heartbeat quicken as she made her way down from the second story with Sandra, still clinging her hand. It was unfortunate that she was, as had she not been then Elle could have turned around and run back to her safe haven upstairs, and away from this nightmare, but as it was Sandra had an iron grip on her hand, and she pulled her the rest of the way.
Elle hated this, they were staring at her. They all knew she didn't belong here, that she couldn't pull this off, she was barely human, some freak of nature. Hugging herself tightly she scanned the faces that were all turned in her direction, studying her, judging her. She gripped herself tighter. "Everyone this is Elle!", Elle unhooked one of her hands from her grip on herself to give a strange half salute, half wave jumble and sighed. She couldn't believe she just waved…this was going to be a long night.
###
Claire watched the scene unfolding in front of her with a hint of amusement, a splash of tenderness and an unhealthy does of jealousy. Elle was obviously struggling with the atmosphere that Sandra had just pulled her in to, she confusion and fear danced across her face and made Claire want to reach out and touch her, to reassure her that she belonged here. At the same time she was ready to open fire with every male in the room who was appraising her appreciatively. Elle was obviously confusing their stunned admiration as condemnation of the new party guest.
"Who is that?", one of the boys standing with her asked as his eyes studied Elle enthusiastically. Claire pushed down the urge to harm him that that sparked in her gut. "Elle" she said quickly, hoping his attention span would match his IQ and he would let it go. He raised an eyebrow at Claire, "No shit, that's what your mom just said, what I mean is will she be sticking around long and is she single?", Claire spoke through gritted teeth, "She isn't available". Mr Douche bag sighed, "Is she seeing someone?", but Claire didn't get a chance to answer, or to lie because Lyle who had seemingly appeared from no where answered before she had to, "Look man, she is spoken for."
Todd, the aforementioned Mr douche bag, let out a soft chuckle, and shook his head, "Come on Lyle she is too old for you, she needs a man," Claire raised an eyebrow and Lyle huffed, "You are only two years older then me…dick". Todd and Lyle continued their macho banter softly as Elle made a bee line for the group as soon as she broke away from Sandra.
Elle grabbed Claire's arm as soon as she reached them and whispered in Claire's ear, "Holy crap, save me pom-pom". Claire smiled and looped her arm through Elle's, "Come on", Claire walked away from the boys, who were to enthralled to realise the girl they were fighting over had been and gone and led Elle outside to the slightly less crowded backyard and they sat at the table.
Claire smiled softly, "I can't believe my mom got you down here", Elle shrugged, "I think she has voodoo mind-trickery skills", Claire rolled her eyes and stood up, "I'll just grab us a drink". Elle nodded rapidly, "Great idea!...maybe a champagne will sooth my nerves". Clare smiled and chook her head, "I'll grab you a soda!" and weaved through the masses towards to snacks table.
###
Elle drummed her fingers against the table nervously, careful not to look at anyone. Seeing a little spark appearing on her palm she quickly darted her hands under the table, and clasped them together closing her eyes and willing herself to calm down, she could handle this… "Just breathe", she whispered to herself.
"Are you ok?" a boy asked as he slid in to the chair next to her and a smile danced across his lips. Elle looked over her shoulder and saw Claire had gotten trapped talking to some great haired lady and sighed, she had come to realise that old people always took much longer than usual to talk. Claire would be awhile.
"Yeah, I'm fine", Elle said a little too brightly and shrugged, "Just waiting for my friend to come back…with my drink", the boys extended a plastic cup to her, "Well it's a good think I thought ahead and got you one".
As he handed her the drink, she sipped from it eagerly. Trying to use the four seconds it would take to think of something she could say to the boy sitting and staring at her.
She coughed and gasped slightly as the liquid burned its way down her thought and the boy chuckled, "Sorry, it has a little extra kick in it. I'm Todd by the way", he said extending his hand to her.
She smiled and took it, but kicked herself when she inadvertently gave his hand a small shock from the left over electricity which had been dancing on her palm seconds earlier. He only smiled, so she was hoping he didn't really notice.
Thankfully at that moment Claire returned to the table with the drinks, placing them down in front of Elle and took the only free chair next to Todd and pulled it over to Elle. "I see you two have met", she said staring straight at the boy, with her tone a little colder then usual, and Elle wondered if she had done something wrong.
Todd answered, "Yes, we were just getting acquainted, weren't we ?", Elle shrugged and smiled, "Uh, yeah, we were". Todd looked Elle straight in the eye and continued, "In fact I was just about to see if Elle would like to have dinner tonight?".
Elle scrambled for what to say, of course she wanted to eat dinner, what an odd question, she didn't think that this boy was that bright , "Uh, yes I would like to eat dinner…tonight". Todd grinned widely and stood up, "Great I'll pick you up at eight, I knew I felt a spark".
Elle's eyes darted up and she felt her heartbeat quicken, as she fought an internal battle "Oh no, he felt the spark, Noah is going to kill…..wait", she shook her head and looked at the boy quizzically, "Pick me up?", he shrugged, "Or I can meet you somewhere if you'd prefer?" Elle repeated his words again uncomprehendingly, "Meet you somewhere?".
###
Claire watched the scene with a simmering feeling in her gut but she couldn't really be angry because Elle obviously had no idea what she was agreeing to, the look on her face was completely blank as Todd tried to arrange the date which Elle had unintentionally agreed to.
But the thought of those two together made her queasy. Elle was easily led when it came to people telling her what was expected of her and Todd was a sleaze so she could only assume what would happen if they were to be left alone. She knew nothing could happen between the two of them but she also knew that less then nothing should happen between her and Todd.
"Actually Todd, its family dinner night tonight so Elle cant make it", Claire said her tone a little higher in pitch than she had intended. But unfortunately Sandra had chosen that moment to pop up with a tray of dips, "Elle can't make it where?" she said her voice not even attempting to hide its excitement. Todd played with his cup dejectedly as he answered Claire's mother, "I asked Elle out to dinner but she had plans for dinner with the family", Sandra raised an eyebrow at Claire who suddenly felt her face flush.
Sandra patted Todd on the shoulder, "Well you know what?, just this once we will let her out of it…you two have fun now!". Todd's stupid, annoying grin made its way back on to his face as he touched Elle's shoulder and told her he would pick her up at eight o'clock.
Claire felt sick as she looked over at Elle who was looking desperately back at Claire, "Why is he picking me up?", Claire smiled softly and put her hand over Elle's, "I think you just got yourself a date, Elle". Elle's eyes nearly bulged out of her head, "A date? A real one? Oh god, I've never been on a date….I mean I've done things with boys back at the facility like when we…." Claire held up her hand quickly, "Seriously Elle, not something I need to hear about right now".
Elle nodded and then smiled devilishly as she pulled Claire out of her chair, "You need to help me get ready!".
###
Elle studied herself in the mirror and then sighed and ripped off the umpteenth shirt she had tried on, as Claire silently played with one of her stuffed toys on the other side of the room distractedly. Elle huffed and turned around to face her, "You are not helping me at all, this is really important you know!",
Claire looked up to reply, her mouth half open and then she snapped it shut quickly and looked away. Elle looked down and realised she was barely clothed and rolled her eyes, "Its not like you haven't seen more before", she said slipping on another top and grabbing a jacket, "What about this one?".
Clare nodded, "Yeah that one looks nice", and Elle rolled her eyes and ripped it off, "Less enthusiasm pom-pom, please". Claire shrugged, "I didn't know you liked him this much", Elle shook her head and jumped on the bed next to Claire once she had put on the first choice from an hour ago, "I don't" she shrugged.
Claire's head snapped up and her brows furrowed, "Then why are you going to all this effort?". Elle looked at her and wondered if the cheerleader was as normal as she had thought, "He likes me….and its my first date, I thought I had missed out on most of the normal stuff like high school, prom and science club, but this is one that I can actually get to come true".
"Science club?", Claire smiled widely, and Elle held up her hand and let a spark fly out, "Yeah, I would have rocked those nerds worlds", she said with an eyebrow wiggle.
"Oh, or I could have been a cheer-bitch! I'm awesome at waving my hands around and yelling so I would be great at it", Claire feigned mock-hurt, "Cheerleading requires a lot of skill, ill have you know". Elle looked at her and shook her head before jumping up on the bed and raising her arms in to a C, "Give me a C", she jumped and clasped her hands together, "Give me a L", but before she could go on Claire had pulled her down by the legs so she fell back on the bed in a fit of giggles.
When she stopped and looked at the cheerleader she smiled, "I think we would have made great friends if we went to high school together". Claire nodded in agreement and her eyes drifted from Elle's eyes to her lips. Elle didn't know why her heart skipped a beat or why she was suddenly aware of Claire's hand on her arm, but it confused her.
"I think…that shade isn't right on you", Claire said motioning to her lips and Elle nodded dumbly as Claire moved away and to the makeup stand to being rummaging through the lipsticks.
Elle sat for a moment longer, wondering what had just happened. But before she could ask Clare if that was normal, the doorbell rang and Claire turned around and shoved a different shade in her hand, "Here you go", she mumbled as she began to shuffle off.
Elle grabbed her arm to stop her, "Wish me luck?", she asked softly, and Claire sighed and turned around to face her. "I hope you find what you're looking for", she said giving Elle a kiss on the cheek that burned much like the previous touch and not like anything she had felt before. Before she had gotten a chance to ask her what she meant, Claire was out of the room and Elle, with nothing else to do, grabbed her bag and walked down the stairs. Suddenly she was a lot less excited then she had been before.
When she reached Sandra and Todd she smiled, and it hurt her lips, but she wanted to enjoy her first date. The boy returned her smile and kissed her fleetingly on the opposite cheek to the one which Clare and previously kissed. It felt damp and hard, and not as nice as Clare's had. She wondered what that meant.
Authors note: Thanks guys, the reviews are really nice! And if you keep reviewing ill keep updating, as I know someone is actually reading it! xo
