Death By Princess {Complete}

CH 20

"I'm going outside to play," calls Eli from the kitchen as he assembles his winter gear.

"Okay but don't be late. The sun won't be long going down and you got homework to do."

Eli groans. "Yeah, yeah I know."

"Excuse me?" says Link raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, I will be back to do my homework," he says, trying again.

"That's better," says Link. "Be safe."

Eli heads outside and looks around for any other kids. It's been a couple weeks since his birthday party and the unusual interaction between his peers regarding his mother, or lack there of. He has questions for his dad but he doesn't even know how to ask them. Instead, he goes about his day as a seven year old should with the fact he doesn't have a mom looming in the back oh his mind.

The kids haven't been too friendly to him either since then. There are a couple of kids that will play with him but only when there are no other kids around. The minute another kid makes an appearance, they have no trouble ditching Eli.

Laughter catches Eli's attention and he follows the excitement to the playground. There on the slide is a group of five kids.  Usually Eli would approach them confidently. Not now though. He waits, gauging their responses. One kid looks at him and smiles welcomingly. There it is. What Eli has been waiting for. He runs excitedly towards them. Finally he can be part of a group too.

Then another kid looks at him. Then another. But they don't have welcoming smiles like the first. Those two kids turn their back to Eli as they walk away and to Eli's disappointment, so does the other three. Then one kid stops and turns around. It was the same kid who first spotted Eli. Wearily, Eli puts his hand up and waves. The other child looks at him for a moment, then walks off with the rest of the crowd.

"Don't let them brats stop you from having a good time."

Eli turns around and Lillian in right behind him, flashing her smile revealing her white teeth which radiates against her tanned skin.

"I don't know what else to do without a friend," he says.

"I'll tell you what. I'm just about to give up work for that day anyways. How about we play."

"Really?"

Lillian nods.

"What will we play?" he says.

Lillian looks at the top of a nearby hill and Eli follows her gaze. "Sliding. Race ya," she says and charges for the top of the hill with Eli trailing behind her.

"What are we going to slide with?" says Eli when they make it to the top.

"Our ass --- er, butts. The snow is packed down so it's already smooth and slippery." Eli watches as Lillian sits down then she tilts back and lifts her legs. "Here I go!" She inches out and then she's off.

"Let me try! Let me try!" says Eli who copies Lillian's actions and slides down the hill for the first of many times.

***

"Again, Lillian?" says Eli as Lillian plops on the ground.

She puts her finger up as she catches her breath.

"We have been sliding for an hour," she says still panting. "I'm not as young as I was and I'm really feeling it. I'm tapping out, kid."

"Aww," he says but sits down next to her anyways. It's not as fun sliding by yourself.

"Hungry? You can come over for some hot cocoa and sweets."

"I haven't had supper yet," he says.