ALL NOVEL Meeting the family
“So he called him Elle which I thought was weird, but an oddly fitting name for him. And Eli was so shy and quiet at first. Usually I think loser nerds like that are so pathetic but he made pathetic almost seem cute? What was really surprising though is that when the hobos came in he was suddenly so kind and sociable. It’s not like I was afraid to talk to them, but I felt so guilty I had a hard time really looking at any of them. He seemed like he was almost even fucking saintly it was insane. I think if he was less afraid of everyone else in the world judging him he would have a lot easier time in school. But I get why he wasn’t afraid of them judging him, it truly felt liberating Hayley. And after all of it we had a really nice talk. But the at the end of the night I paid him a fucking compliment and he flipped he fuck out on me! All I did was give him advice about makeup. He likes makeup so why was he so mad? Look, anyway, I know you’re still mad at me and shit. I don’t even know why, but I really think I might need your help on this next one. He is so cagey and I have such a hard time charming him like everyone else. I was planning on inviting him out for a date at the mall with friends. We’re going to go shopping for clothes, treat him like one of the girls. He’s never going to feel comfortable around me unless I make him feel like he’s part of the gang. You’re like my oldest friend, and none of this is worth it if you’re not there. Anyway, if you even hear this message, text me back. I’d love to have you there with me.”
“If you’re satisfied with your message pressthe pound sign. If you would like to listen to your message press two. If you would like to re-record your message press three.”
I press the pound sign, and instantly check my snap, as if she’ll see it, hear it, and respond in the span of 5 microseconds. I need her to see that I haven’t forgotten about her in all of this. That this is for all of us. Eli being crowned prom queen won’t just be the cruel exercise in humiliation that bitch Vanessa probably jills off to. Men are nothing compared to women, and everyone will agree that men are better as women when they see just how beautiful I can make him. Women are objectively nicer, hotter and better to look at than men. Lord knows the only man I would ever fuck is a woman. And because he’s a man they can nominate him and another woman. It’ll be the first prom with two prom queens! Everyone will see that both Eli and Hayley are absolute baddies, and feel bad for ever making fun of trans people, or for bullying Hayley for her weight. Eli might be a man but he doesn’t need to be trans for me to be able to make that point using him. He has the bone structure and personality to make such a cute woman, and it will be a real lady boner killer for Vanessa if everyone walks away happier for this. Her life must fucking suck for her to need to get pleasure from other people’s misery any-fucking-way. I’d feel bad for her if she wasn’t such a clout obsessed spotlight stealing ass-whore. Maybe she’ll finally fucking learn that it’s not fucking cool to pick on peple who have it worse than you, when she sees you don’t need to punch down in order for women to come out on top. Men deserve ridicule because they hold all the power, but it’s fucked up to dog on people who have less power than you just because you fucking can.
Refocusing my efforts on the road as I reach the right street I tab through to Uber to check the address. Looking out at the paint on the curb for the numbers it’s too faded for me to be able to tell. I park by a house at the closest intersection, and make sure to grab my bag as I step out. I can probably find the house from here. Looking for the numbers on the mailboxes, I see where Eli lives at is a few houses down. I tried finding him at school the day after our date at the soup kitchen but the bastard was avoiding me like the plague and the LAST thing I’m going to ever do is look desperate. Besides, he left his address in my phone, so it’s not like I’m some creepy stalker. As I walk closer to the address he left in my phone when he was ordering an Uber from the soup kitchen I see a kid trying to skate near the driveway. He looks to be about 12 or 13 and seems vaguely familiar. He tries to do an ollie but the wheels barely even leave the ground. There’s a fairly nice car in the driveway but I swear I’ve never once seen Eli get dropped off or picked up in it at school.
“Holy shit, you’re Alyssa Siler!” The kid behind me says, while I contemplate why Eli busses everywhere when his mom clearly has a car.
He dismounts from the board disgracefully and jogs up towards me.
“You’re like the hottest girl in school!”
I turn to look at him and try to jog my memory.
“You’re Eli’s brother right?”
“Yeah!”
“I see you walking home with Eli all the time. Simon right?”
“Alyssa Siler knows my name! I can’t believe the most popular girl in school knows my name!”
I chuckle nervously. I know he’s a kid but this is unbelievably awkward. Being hit on by a 5 year old little perv was definitely not something I planned on having happen today.
“Hey, you’re on twitch right? I love watching your streams! Would you want to play games with me?”
“Oh, actually I’m here to see Eli.”
“Eli having a girl over? I thought I would never see the day.” A woman says, from behind me, nearly making me jump out of my skin.
It must be his mother because she’s a fair bit older, walking from the door, and holding a bag full of trash.
“I thought that for sure that pansy little fag would never give me kids”
She must still be drunk because you can smell it on her, her sentences don’t come out unslurred, and she’s clearly leaning on the trash can so she doesn’t fall over. Even if she is drunk though, the fact she would use those words when referring to her own son makes my blood boil over. Sure Steph and I have said similar things about Eli behind his back, I’m most super comfortable when Steph says it either, but at the very least we aren’t his own mother. Even if it were true I don’t believe he would deserve to have his own family members talk about him like that. Simon seems to agree because he seems similarly uncomfortable. Luckily he isn't here so he didn't have to hear her call him that, but living with her I doubt he hasn't heard her say such things about him before. As if summoned by me thinking about him the front door opens and Eli walks through it.
“Simon, come inside. You still need to finish your homework.” He starts, walking out into the driveway, while looking down at her phone.
He looks up from his phone for only a moment, but before I even have a chance to say anything he turns back around to head inside. Luckily or unluckily his mom decides to chime in stopping Eli in his tracks.
“Your girlfriend is here to see yoooouuu.”
He turns and shoots me the nastiest look.
“What did you tell her?”
“Nothing, I swear.” I raise my hands defensively. “Look, I just want to talk.”
“Well maybe I don't want to talk to you. Ever consider that?”
“That's okay.” I smirk. “Simon just invited me in to play games with him anyway.”
“Really!?” Simon asks, excitedly.
Eli lets out an exasperated sigh.
“Simon help mom get back inside.”
“Aw what!? But—”
“You can play games with your new friend some other time. Right now the adults need to talk.”
“Okay… Come on mom.” He says, sounding and looking like a kicked puppy.
“Haven't you already said enough?” He asks with his arms crossed.
“Hey, you were the one who said you liked my makeup tutorials. I was just saying your eyes are one of your best features. You'd do well to highlight them.”
“What do you want?”
“I just wanted to invite you out. Me and the girls were going to go hang out at the mall. High school's almost over and for all the time I've known you, you haven't really had many friends. You never go out to parties, You've never even been to any school dances. You deserve to have some fun before we all ship off to college. You could say no of course, but I'm just going to keep asking.”
“Well… I could use a new wardrobe.” He says, after a long pause, rubbing the back of his neck.