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twelve

chapter twelve: life isn't fair (pun intended)

***

November 28, 1953

She stood in front of the mirror, the one they were staring at on Thursday night before they escaped the house, with all of their guests still there, and went out for ice cream together, the broken family they were.

Eloise fixed her cardigan, straightening it and adjusting her top, hanging loosely over her high-waisted jeans. Her hair fell in her natural waves, the way she liked it. She pulled back her long bangs with a headband and slipped on her tennis shoes, her most comfortable pair to make sure her feet wouldn't hurt while at the fair.

Eloise grabbed her purse, throwing everything she needed in it from her gum to her lipgloss to a few hair ties. She turned on her heels and scurried away from her room, excitedly.

"Are you ready, Eloise?!" Her brother said as she walked down the stairs.

"Yes," she replied.

"Finally!" He groaned as Eloise rolled her eyes.

"Okay, you guys have fun," Their mother kissed their foreheads. When it came to Eloise's turn, she scrunched her nose, feeling like a little girl all over again. "Don't stay out too late!" She yelled as they walked out the door.

"Alright!" Her and James yelled before Eloise closed it quickly so they wouldn't have to hear anything else.

***

"Okay, you have friends coming with you, right?" James asked.

"For the millionth time, yes, James!" She said, clearly annoyed.

"I'm just making sure I don't leave you alone!"

"I know but, sometimes you sound like mom when you do that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're overprotective!"

"Eloise!" Someone said. She turned around, seeing Wesley walking toward her.

"Hey," she smiled as he got closer. She quickly turned around to her brother, putting her hands out, getting ready to push him away.

"Okay, I have my friends. Go."

"That's your friend?" He asked.

"He's one of them," she said, starting to push him. "Can you please go?"

"No, I want to meet him. I've never seen him before," he fought back, pushing in the opposite direction.

"James!"

"Hi, I'm James!" He smiled, holding his hand out for Wes to shake.

"Wesley," he replied, shaking James' hand with a smile as well.

"So, you're Eloise's friend?" He said, a smug smile on his face. She rolled her eyes, quietly groaning in the background, her hands on her eyes.