A Moment with El

You head downstairs and head to the kitchen. As you enter Elsie stops and stares at you. "Oh wow! Oh wow, you look so handsome!" She exclaims. She looks down at her basic dress and t shirt combo, she looked so plain and tacky in comparison. Her dress was a dark green and her shirt had an anime pink haired cat girl on it with the phrase Nita Yummy Nummy! She looks up at you. "Was I supposed to dress up? What are we doing today?"

You shrug. "I don't know. Fiona said if I'm going to be your guys' man that I had to look nice."

Elsie brings you a slice of toast with butter that she'd made. "Well...you definitely look nice." She sits beside you. You reach out to take her hand in yours as you eat one handed, careful not to let a single crumb fall on your nice clothes. She says. "I don't mind if you want to dress casual though. Just be yourself."

You smile. "I know El. I'm doing this for Fiona."

Elsie is staring intently at you as you munched. "This is...are we actually...is she serious? Are we really doing what I think we're doing?"

You nod. "Yeah, I think she is serious. I think we are." You smile back at her, she smiles at you. The doubts you were having before...they suddenly seemed far less important. "I hope we are." You add wistfully. Damn, there was just something about El.

"Mom's going to fight this." Elsie states, you knew she was right.

Looking over your shoulder out the kitchen doorway you say. "I know."

"Jesse..." You hear worry in your sister's voice, you turn back to see her concerned expression. "...Jesse um...Fiona can be rough...in the bedroom."

You study her for a time. "Yeah, I kinda figured. Her biting and pinching..."

"No...I mean..." Elsie takes a deep breath. "She might hurt you Jesse. I mean really hurt you. She might say things and do things. She's...scary sometimes Jesse. You haven't seen that side of her yet." You suddenly recall that fiery intensity in your older sister's eyes as she tightened that tie around your neck.

You ask in a whisper quiet voice. "Did she hurt you Elsie?"

She sidesteps the question, her eyes glancing away from you before looking back with a wide soulful look. "Just...look after yourself. Don't let her go too far or get carried away. And..." She swallows hard. "...and you be careful with her too, okay? I think...she's hurting...inside..."

There is total silence in the kitchen. You hold your half eaten toast in your hand, hovering over your plate motionless. You hear Fiona coming down the stairs. Elsie leans in and kisses your cheek. She gives you an assuring smile as she whispers. "It'll be okay, just be careful."

Fiona enters the kitchen looking stunning. Long black dress, a crimson red blouse, a black tight fitting leather jacket. She had on a deep red lipstick, simple stud earrings, her flowing blonde locks off to one side over her shoulder, and she had on a nice watch. She was looking fine, thought it was how she often looked when she was out "looking for work". She had her car keys and big stylish sunglasses in her hands.

"Hey, you two ready to go?" She asks.

"Fiona...uh, should I dress up or something? You two look so good." Elsie wonders.

Fiona shrugs. "Don't worry about it El. You look fine...as always."

Elsie nods and gets up to get her stuff to get ready to go.

Fiona crosses her arms and leans against the wall to wait for you. You munch down the rest of your toast and put the plate in the dishwasher. You head toward the the front door to see your dress shoes sat out waiting for you. You shouldn't have been surprised. You slip them on and tie them up. You slip your jacket on and make sure your wallet and keys and phone were into your pockets.

You and Elsie stand side by side, she with her backpack. The sneer on Fiona's face tells you she did not approve of the coat, but it was the best you had. She looks over the pair of you and the hint of a smile brightens her face. She looked upon her sister with every bit the love and affection that she looked at you with.

"You sure you can't skip that class El?" She asks one last time.

"Oh...I wish I could Fiona." Elsie says apologetically. "You guys have got me all afternoon though."

Fiona nods. "I guess I get Jesse all to myself for a while." She looks you over as she slides on her dark sunglasses and spins her car keys on a finger. "Okay, let's roll fam."