beautiful | daniel howell

e

day six: saturday
reason six: your freckles.

the green waves crashed against the shore as dan sat with the grains of sand between his fingers. lose curls gently blowing in the wind, eyes searching the skyline for the owner of the sweet songs and although he was alone again, he liked it. the peace.

he'd been with elodie everyday and he didn't regret it but he also kind of missed being on his own. he only had one friend but dan didn't see him often since he lived thousands of miles away.

they'd met over the internet years ago and they used to talk everyday. but something happened, they don't talk that often anymore.

elodie was aware that dan had seen her without makeup before. it was the first day they had met and sure enough she cringed just thinking about it. she didn't think anyone would be down at that beach that early so she took the chance. but now, of course she hated it.

she didn't like all of her freckles that dotted her nose. dan felt differently.

the young girl made her way down to the beach skipping as she did so. a face full of make up, like every normal day.

elodie saw the boy a few hundred from yards where she was. his dark silhouette beside the ocean skimming rocks along the water. his tall frame was hunched over, knees to his chest.

she smiled to herself knowing that someone was trying. trying to make her feel like she mattered. no one had done that before. he was special and elodie knew from that moment, she'd do anything to keep him around.

skipping down to him, she bent over so she could rest her hands on his broad shoulders. "boo." she peered round from behind him enough so she could see a smile forming on his lips.

"hey." he whispered close to her ear. elodie sat her self down next to him on the sand. "you know, i've always wondered why you wear make up." it was a statement but elodie knew he posed it as a question. she didn't reply and instead rested her head on his shoulder. "i understand that people can wear it if they want but...you really don't need it." dan brought his hand to stroke her soft cheek.

"i do." she mumbled leaning into his touch.

"not at all. you're beautiful, elodie. just the way you are." he brought his thumb to her lower lip, grazing it strong enough to rub the pink away. "how about we take a trip? just a short one." elodie nodded and the pair got up from their seats. hand in hand they walked along the concrete ground into a nearby town.

this one was different from the vintage one dan took elodie to on their second day together. this one was old and made from stone. it had cobbled roads like the first town, but there wasn't as many bright colours, just grey, white, black, and the occasional red.

"this way." dan led her around a corner and into the first shop on their left. the bell rang as they so, indicating customers.

dan picked up a packet, paid and quickly left with elodie's fingers still intertwined in his.

once they were out, he opened the packet and took out a makeup wipe. elodie transferred her weight from foot to foot, shifting uncomfortably. dan squeezed her arm gently but reassuringly before wiping away the makeup.

one by one, freckles began appearing on her pale skin. he wiped away the mascara, revealing her naturally thick eyelashes and the pink on her cheeks to reveal her blushing face.

dan smiled to himself and pressed a passionate kiss to her forehead causing elodie to smile back. she rested her head on his chest as they breathed together in sinc. "reason six, your freckles. you are beautiful, elodie."