Feel Pretty

seven (Eli)

As I dropped Odell off at his apartment, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in my chest. I watched him disappear into the building, his shoulders hunched, and his steps slow. He always seemed to carry the weight of the world on his slim frame, and it bothered me more than I liked to admit.

The drive back home felt longer than usual, the usual calming hum of the engine doing nothing to settle my restless thoughts. My mind kept replaying our conversation in the library. The way Odell had spoken about himself, about Diana... it tore me apart to see him think so little of himself, to hear him believe that he wasn't worthy of love or beauty.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter. I hated that he felt this way. Hated that he couldn't see how incredible he was.

By the time I pulled into my driveway, I was exhausted—not from the day, but from the mental tug-of-war I'd been battling the entire ride home. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by the familiar scent of home-cooked food and the soft glow of the evening lights. But it didn't soothe me like it usually did.

"Hey, Mom," I called out as I kicked off my shoes and dropped my bag by the door.

"Eli, honey, is that you?" My mom's voice drifted from the kitchen, warm and welcoming as always.

"Yeah," I replied, heading toward the stairs. "I'll be down in a bit."

I made my way to my room, mechanically going through my routine. I changed into more comfortable clothes, washed up, and tried to push away the worries that kept gnawing at me. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about Odell. His sad eyes, his hesitant smile, the way his voice trembled when he talked about himself.

As I tossed my towel into the laundry bin, I knew I couldn't just leave it alone. I had to do something to help him. I had to make him see what I saw in him—what everyone who cared about him saw.

I made my way back downstairs, determined to talk to the one person who might be able to help me figure out how to do that. I found my mom in the living room, sitting on the couch with a book in her hands, her reading glasses perched on the edge of her nose.

"Hey, Mom," I said, plopping down on the couch beside her.

She looked up from her book, smiling warmly at me. "Hey, sweetheart. You okay? You look a little... tense."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I'm just... there's something I need to talk to you about."

She set the book aside, giving me her full attention. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to start. "It's about Odell."

At the mention of his name, a knowing smile spread across her face. "Odell, huh?" She leaned back, crossing her arms with a teasing glint in her eyes. "So, what's going on with you two?"

I rolled my eyes, though I could feel my cheeks heating up. "Mom, it's not like that."

"Uh-huh," she said, her tone playful. "I've been around long enough to see when something's brewing. But go on, tell me what's bothering you."

I took a deep breath, trying to focus on the real issue. "It's just... Odell, he... he doesn't see himself the way I do. He thinks he's... not enough. He said some things today that really messed with me, and I just—I want to help him, Mom. I want him to see that he's worth so much more than he thinks. But I don't know how."

My mom's expression softened, the teasing fading away as she took in my words. "That's really sweet of you, Eli. Odell's lucky to have you in his corner."

"I don't know if he feels that way," I muttered. "He's been through a lot, and I just... I want to help him feel better about himself. I want him to... to feel pretty."

The words tumbled out before I could stop them, and I cringed inwardly at how cheesy it sounded. But it was the truth. I wanted Odell to see himself the way I did. To see the beauty in his soft features, in his kind heart, in the way he lit up a room without even trying.

My mom smiled again, a softer, more understanding smile this time. "Eli, that's not cheesy at all. It's actually really sweet. And it says a lot about how much you care about him."

"Yeah, but... how do I do it?" I asked, feeling a little lost. "How do I help him see what I see?"

She thought for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Well, the first step is to be there for him, which you're already doing. But beyond that, it's about showing him the little things. The things that make him special, that make him stand out. Sometimes people get so caught up in their own negative thoughts that they can't see the positives anymore. Your job is to remind him of those positives, even if it's just one small thing at a time."

I nodded, trying to take it all in. "So, like... compliment him more?"

"Sure," she said, "but it's not just about compliments. It's about actions too. Show him that you value his opinion, that you appreciate the little quirks that make him unique. Help him find confidence in those things. And most importantly, be patient. Change doesn't happen overnight."

"I can do that," I said, feeling a sense of determination settling in. "I want to do that."

My mom reached out and squeezed my hand, her eyes filled with pride. "I know you do. And I think Odell is going to start seeing himself the way you do sooner than you think."

I smiled back at her, grateful for her advice. "Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime, honey," she replied, giving me a warm hug. "Just remember, you're doing a good thing here. And if there's more going on between you two than just friendship, well... I'm all for it."

"Mom..." I groaned, though I couldn't help but chuckle at her persistence.

"What?" she said with a laugh. "I'm just saying, you'd make a cute couple."

I shook my head, still smiling as I stood up. "Goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight, sweetheart," she called after me as I headed up the stairs.

As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't stop thinking about what my mom had said. It wasn't just about telling Odell he was beautiful—it was about showing him. Proving it to him in a way that made him believe it.

And I was going to do whatever it took to make sure he felt pretty, inside and out.