Sweet Girl

Pretty Darling

Smoothing her sporadic curls into the mass of hair, down her shoulders, she caught herself in the mirror. As she stood in the corner of the living area, pulling the folds of skin by the indents of her nose, she smiled solemnly at herself. The subtle red hue she'd painted over her lips stretched out.
Taking one last peek in the mirror, she ruffled her hair against her head before gripping the ends together. She hated when it puffed into a triangle, her curls only emerging below her ears, making it increasingly difficult to tame it into a flattering shape.
She waved her hand at herself before she could take a last glance, casting the mirror's existence from her eyes. She turned toward Bella, who she had noticed was sprawled across the couch, staring at the ceiling with her arm hanging over the edge of the ecru sofa.

Stevie knew that Bella was still alien to entertaining herself, that it was a result of her unfortunate life so far. Nevertheless, she found it  amusing to find a four year old sighing at the high ceilings, as though she'd trudged in from a long day at work and splatted herself on the cushions.

"Have we got everything?" Stevie muttered to herself, scurrying around the foyer. She unfolded a crinkled list in her mind, checking off Bella's bag, her own purse, and of course, Elmo.
She paced around, glancing out of the towering windows every ten seconds, ready for an escalade to slither into her driveway, the two bags dangling from her arms.

Getting bored of the under stimulating ceiling, Bella sat up, catching Stevie peeking behind the lace drapes, eyeing the driveway.
A butterfly flicked around in her stomach, as she brought her attention to what could be waiting for them outside.
She slid herself down from the couch, her dress almost getting swallowed under one of the cushions. It yanked free, jolting her forward as she clopped over to the window.
As she ran across the hard-wood floor, the polished wooden heels on her t-bar shoes clicked against it. She looked down at her feet, and watched them stomp against the ground, making the same satisfying click as her heels hit the floor.
The cobalt leather shoes reminded her of the china doll in her new room, which sat idly on the chest of drawers, staring forward with its frozen, expressionless gaze.

She skipped over to Stevie, reaching her arm up to cling to her hand. She swung on Stevie's arm, shyly, burying her head behind her back when Stevie peered down.
"We can go soon, sweetie. Not much longer now." She bent down to pick Bella up, whom she had quickly decided was too restless and let her down. She straightened herself again, letting Bella hang onto her hand, which she rattled intermittently in anticipation.

She peeled the lace back over to shield the window, and lead Bella to the front doors. She peeped around the living area, checking the hall and the couch for anything left behind.
A small cloud of anxiety rained upon her, the thought that she'd be venturing into the public eye with a child. She hoped against hope itself, that she could have this day with Bella, this day alone, that she could do her best to adjust the little girl to the outside world before she realised that millions of people knew of her.

Hearing the chauffeur emerge from the ostentatious car, Stevie grasped and turned the ornate doorknob, which filled her palm, creaking the giant slab of oak toward her, and stepping aside.
"You ready?" She glanced down at Bella, who squeezed onto Stevie's hand from three feet below.
She nodded, clasping her other hand around her palm.
Stevie's hair gently flew behind her as she stepped into the driveway, layers of honey floss waving away from her ears as she guided Bella to the car door.

A lanky man slumped round, sliding before them and slipping forward to open the car door.
"Thank you," Stevie nodded to the floppy man, folding her spine to pick Bella up. Clutching Bella against her waist, she slithered into the gaping back door of the escalade.

The firm seats' familiar leather scent welcomed her. Barely having to hunch her back, Stevie lowered Bella into her seat. Bella reached for her as she realised her movement was restricted. She writhed around, to no avail, squeezing her hands from her outstretched arms, a helpless frown dripping from her lips to her chin.
"Shhh" Stevie calmly uttered, placing the bags next to the other window.
She slid into the middle seat, rubbing Bella's tights as she sat down. She leant forward, peeking round the ears of Bella's seat, and smiling at her as she smoothed circles on the little girl's knee with her fingertips.