She Should Feel

Day Nine: Silk

*If you see a spelling error please comment on it so I can see, I had a headache while I was editing this and dosed off so it's not perfect. I apologize and thank you in advance.*

El sat on her bed, her mother doing her makeup. It was nothing fancy, just some eyeliner and mascara. But it was more than El had ever done in her life. When Joanne heard about the date she ran out and got a dress, it was a simple red one with silk. It was elegant.

By the time Josh arrived El was slipping on her heels.

She glanced at the mirror for the first time tonight and let out a small smile

For the first time in a long time she felt beautiful.

Josh held a single sunflower in his hand. He felt as if roses were overused. He had planned on using a cheap line like "because you're my sunshine." But when the door opened after he knocked he stood there unable to breathe.

Her usually straight hair has been curled, light makeup had been applied. His heart sped up slightly.

"El you—um here." He quickly handed El the flower, blushing slightly. Joanne watched from afar. Her only child was going on her first date, a weight seemed to be taken off her shoulders. She let a tear fall as El walked into the kitchen to set the flower down.

"Hold on sweetheart! I want pictures. Your father is coming home late as always so I want pictures to show him and for memories that we can look back on. Now get together you two!"

Josh and El squeezed together awkwardly.

Once a few pictures were taken El and Josh made their way out the door. A silver car was parked alongside the curb, Josh had borrowed it from his mother since he didn't have a car. He opened the door for her and shut it, smiling softly.

Josh drove down the road, looked a few times now and again to see what El was doing. Each time she would be staring at him or out the window. Finally El managed to get the first words out.

"Where are you taking me?" Josh slowed down to a stop at a red light.

"How do you feel about skating?"

• • •

"I'm in a dress!" She protested as Josh pulled up at the roller skating rink.

"It's a good thing I have a pair of sweatpants and socks in the back then, right? Come on, it'll be fun." Josh wrapped his hand lightly around hers after grabbing the pants; then led her inside as if it were a habit.

Expecting to see kids skating around after their parents had dropped them off, to her surprise the rink was completely empty. No one would bother her. Josh smiled and took her over to where the skates were, an employee took their sizes and gave it to them.

Once El put the sweatpants on Josh helped her with the skates and his, he held out his hands. El had never done this before. She stood off the chair and lost her balance but Josh supported her.

"I won't let you fall. Just push off your feet, keep them separated and stay balanced; like this." Josh demonstrated. Naturally El tried to walk and lost her grounding but managed to regain it. Doing what Josh did she went a few feet and bumped into him.

"Do you want to go out on the floor?" El smiled, excited that she had done it. He helped her out and turned around to skate backwards. Josh went here every Friday usually.

"How did you manage to get this place empty? And you didn't have to pay?" She questioned while following him.

"I had a few favors to call in, I figured you'd want to be alone. No one would come up and bombard us." The music turned on and the lights turned into different colors with a disco ball spinning.