Feel Pretty

twenty nine (Odell)

The days following my birthday were different. There was a change in the air—something subtle but undeniable. It was in the way Eli looked at me, the way his fingers would brush against mine, or the way he stood just a little closer than before. It was both comforting and nerve-wracking, making my heart race in a way that was completely unfamiliar to me.

I'd always been aware of Eli—how could I not be? He was my best friend, my confidant, the one person who'd been there for me through everything. But now, every touch, every glance, every little gesture seemed to mean more. And I wasn't sure what to do with that.

We were sitting in the living room, the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows. I was curled up on the couch, a book in my lap, though I hadn't turned a page in what felt like hours. I was too distracted by the way Eli sat next to me, close enough that our knees touched. Every time he shifted, the warmth of his leg pressed against mine, sending a shiver up my spine.

"Hey," Eli's voice broke through my thoughts, soft and a little hesitant. "You okay?"

I looked up, meeting his gaze. His eyes were so warm, so full of concern that it made my chest tighten. "Yeah, I'm okay," I said, offering a small smile.

He didn't look convinced. "You sure? You seem... I don't know, distant."

I shook my head, trying to brush it off. "I'm just thinking, that's all."

Eli reached out then, his hand resting gently on my knee. The contact was light, almost casual, but it sent a jolt of electricity through me. "You know you can talk to me, right? About anything."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know."

He gave my knee a gentle squeeze before letting his hand fall away, leaving me feeling both relieved and disappointed at the same time. "Good."

We fell into a comfortable silence after that, but my mind was racing. I couldn't stop thinking about how his touch lingered, how it felt so natural and yet so new. I didn't know what to make of it, didn't know what it meant—or if I was just reading too much into it.

As the afternoon wore on, Eli eventually suggested we go for a walk, something to clear our heads. I agreed, grateful for the distraction, and we headed out into the cool evening air. The neighborhood was quiet, with only the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of cars breaking the silence.

We walked side by side, our arms occasionally brushing as we strolled down the tree-lined streets. Every time we touched, I felt a flutter in my stomach, an inexplicable warmth that made me feel both nervous and giddy.

At one point, Eli reached out and took my hand in his, lacing our fingers together. The gesture was so simple, so innocent, and yet it made my heart skip a beat. I glanced at him, but he just smiled, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

And maybe it was. Maybe that was what scared me the most—how right it felt, how much I wanted to just stay like this, holding his hand, feeling his warmth next to me. I squeezed his hand lightly, and he squeezed back, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a way that made my breath hitch.

We didn't say much as we walked, but we didn't need to. The silence between us was comfortable, filled with the unspoken words and feelings that neither of us was ready to voice yet. But it was there, simmering just beneath the surface, in every touch, every glance, every heartbeat.

When we finally made our way back home, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky painted in soft hues of pink and orange. I felt a strange sense of calm, a quiet happiness that I hadn't felt in a long time. And as we stood on the front porch, our hands still intertwined, I realized that whatever this was between us—whatever it was becoming—it was something I didn't want to lose.

"Thanks for today," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Eli smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime."

And then, before I could overthink it, I leaned in and pressed a quick, soft kiss to his cheek. It was over in an instant, just a fleeting moment of bravery, but it left both of us frozen in place, staring at each other with wide eyes.

"I—I should go inside," I stammered, pulling away and stepping back.

Eli nodded, still looking a bit dazed. "Yeah, right. Um, goodnight, Dell."

"Goodnight, Eli," I murmured before turning and slipping inside the house, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. I had no idea what was happening, what any of this meant, but one thing was clear—I was falling for Eli, and there was no going back now.