This was originally handwritten on November 19, 2014.
~K
-----
The elevator door opened and in he stepped -- running shoes, tube socks that were a little too high, shorts that were a little too short, a t-shirt that was a little too tight, and a headband. There was no way to stifle the laughter that bubbled from her throat. He puffed up like a peacock showing off. "I look that good, huh?"
She'd never been one to lie. "That look does bring me joy... so much joy."
"Aw," his confidence never waivered. "Good. That look of joy on your face is enough for me." He stood there akimbo as the elevator jolted to a stop and the doors began to open.
-----
He was glad he'd convinced Elizabeth to go jogging this early. She'd told him at the start the only way she'd exercise with him was if he would come over wake her up and not get pissy when she swore at him for waking her up. He'd run the full length of a few blocks just for her, just because she said she wouldn't exercise if she had to do it alone. As far as waking her up had gone - that had been the biggest challenge. She slept like a rock. This morning she'd tried to swear at him for waking her, but she'd taken one look at his outfit and the laughter had just spilled out of her. Good, that strategy he been successful. Make her laugh and she won't swear. As far as the coming over, he'd been doing that for years already.
Elizabeth Laurent had been his best friend since the first day of high school. By now he could find his way to her place with his eyes closed.
-----
"So Ellie, where we going?"
"Eh, maybe the trail through the park?"
"The one between all the trees?"
"Yeah, that one."
"Okay." Elizabeth zipped up her navy blue hoodie and took off, leaving her best friend standing there in the lobby.
-----
She'd met Elliott Burke forever ago when she'd dropped all of her books on his foot when he'd bumped into her on her first day at Anders High. She'd been a new student looking for her locker assignment. He'd be the younger brother of the school's star athlete... and he'd been miserable his whole life hearing the comparisons.
"You aren't quite as big as Law, are you?"
"You're gonna play sports too, aren't you kid?"
" Aw -- You look just like Lawrence. Doesn't he Celeste? So handsome. Here's my number cutie."
Okay, maybe it hadn't been all bad, but he'd seemed really distracted when he'd stepped back and knocked her off kilter. When he'd turned around to apologize and steady her was when she'd lost her grip on nearly everything. Algebra II, Physics, World Lit., U.S. History, and a French Primer hit his foot like a book avalanche. He'd made a face. It was the funniest face she'd ever seen. Equal parts pain, what-the-hell, who-are-you, and a smile was the best way she could describe it.
He'd made her laugh out loud that day. He'd made her laugh every single day after. Today was no exception. It was just how things worked.
-----
He used to hate it when she called him "Ellie."
"That's a girl's name." He recalled complaining.
"And what pray-tell is wrong with a girl's name?"
"Nothing. Except the fact that I am a boy and my name is Elliott."
"That's a girl's name too."
"No."
"Yes it is Ellie."
"George Eliot does not count Lizzie. On two counts -- one, Eliot isn't even spelt the same way and two, it was her last name."
"Touche Ellie... touche."
So, "Ellie" had stuck. He was used to it now.
~K
-----
The elevator door opened and in he stepped -- running shoes, tube socks that were a little too high, shorts that were a little too short, a t-shirt that was a little too tight, and a headband. There was no way to stifle the laughter that bubbled from her throat. He puffed up like a peacock showing off. "I look that good, huh?"
She'd never been one to lie. "That look does bring me joy... so much joy."
"Aw," his confidence never waivered. "Good. That look of joy on your face is enough for me." He stood there akimbo as the elevator jolted to a stop and the doors began to open.
-----
He was glad he'd convinced Elizabeth to go jogging this early. She'd told him at the start the only way she'd exercise with him was if he would come over wake her up and not get pissy when she swore at him for waking her up. He'd run the full length of a few blocks just for her, just because she said she wouldn't exercise if she had to do it alone. As far as waking her up had gone - that had been the biggest challenge. She slept like a rock. This morning she'd tried to swear at him for waking her, but she'd taken one look at his outfit and the laughter had just spilled out of her. Good, that strategy he been successful. Make her laugh and she won't swear. As far as the coming over, he'd been doing that for years already.
Elizabeth Laurent had been his best friend since the first day of high school. By now he could find his way to her place with his eyes closed.
-----
"So Ellie, where we going?"
"Eh, maybe the trail through the park?"
"The one between all the trees?"
"Yeah, that one."
"Okay." Elizabeth zipped up her navy blue hoodie and took off, leaving her best friend standing there in the lobby.
-----
She'd met Elliott Burke forever ago when she'd dropped all of her books on his foot when he'd bumped into her on her first day at Anders High. She'd been a new student looking for her locker assignment. He'd be the younger brother of the school's star athlete... and he'd been miserable his whole life hearing the comparisons.
"You aren't quite as big as Law, are you?"
"You're gonna play sports too, aren't you kid?"
" Aw -- You look just like Lawrence. Doesn't he Celeste? So handsome. Here's my number cutie."
Okay, maybe it hadn't been all bad, but he'd seemed really distracted when he'd stepped back and knocked her off kilter. When he'd turned around to apologize and steady her was when she'd lost her grip on nearly everything. Algebra II, Physics, World Lit., U.S. History, and a French Primer hit his foot like a book avalanche. He'd made a face. It was the funniest face she'd ever seen. Equal parts pain, what-the-hell, who-are-you, and a smile was the best way she could describe it.
He'd made her laugh out loud that day. He'd made her laugh every single day after. Today was no exception. It was just how things worked.
-----
He used to hate it when she called him "Ellie."
"That's a girl's name." He recalled complaining.
"And what pray-tell is wrong with a girl's name?"
"Nothing. Except the fact that I am a boy and my name is Elliott."
"That's a girl's name too."
"No."
"Yes it is Ellie."
"George Eliot does not count Lizzie. On two counts -- one, Eliot isn't even spelt the same way and two, it was her last name."
"Touche Ellie... touche."
So, "Ellie" had stuck. He was used to it now.
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