Elle spent the next couple hours getting ready for her date with Brian. Elle expected that she'd be ready
in no time, but to her surprise she found herself fussing over her makeup and agonizing over her choice of
outfit. After several failed attempts, she sat on her daughter's bed, trying to figure out why it was turning
out to be such a chore when she'd done this a hundred times. As she thought, she suddenly noticed that her
knee was fidgeting up and down as if she was nervous. She wanted to dismiss the thought as silly, but the more
she thought about it, the more acutely she felt the butterflies in her stomach. She was nervous. She was
actually nervous for her date. Elle tried to calm herself down, but that proved beyond her ability. It was,
after all, her first date with anyone except her husband in almost twenty years. It was both a nerve wracking
and exciting to think about. Finally after much effort and more than a little hair-pullling, Elle managed to
get herself ready. She'd finally settled on a low-cut white top and a sheer black skirt, along with a pair of
heels that were stylish but short enough that she wouldn't have too much trouble walking in them.
It was an outfit she would have never allowed her daughter out of the house in, but she was hoping Alli
might prove more sympathetic. But Elle wasn't planning on leaving anything to chance tonight. She may not be
able to take the MasterPC with her, but after her previous experiences, she wasn't going out without some
insurance. She sorted through the artifacts, looking for the best one to keep with her tonight. She considered
carrying the Universal Remote in her purse, or wearing the Wonder Watch around her neck, after all no one was
supposed to be able to notice. But finally, she decided the Ring of Three would serve her purpose best, and
slipped the innocuous looking ring onto her finger.
Dinner only increased her resolve to go through with her date, as she was forced to watch her husband and
daughter flirt with each other across the table. She sat at the table sullenly, paying as little attention to
the two of them as possible. She told herself it would all be better once she was out of the house. Joshua
finally tore himself away from his faux-wife to look down the table at his daughter. Seeing what Elle was
wearing, he cast a disapproving eye her way and said "I really hope you're not planning on going out like
that."
Alli came to her defense. "Oh honey, don't torture the girl. Can't you see she's nervous enough already?
Bad enough she's worried about Brian without you joining in."
Joshua replied "Well I still think she should change before she goes."
"Well, I think she looks beautiful, and I hope she has a wonderful time. For crying out loud she's 16
Joshua, I think we can cut her a little slack." Alli smiled at Elle encouragingly. Elle smiled back, grateful
for the support.
"Yeah, Dad, c'mon. I'm not a little girl anymore." Elle found herself feeling a little silly for saying
that. Then again, the fact that this conversation was happening at all was more than a little weird. Joshua
grumbled to himself but he didn't press the issue, so Elle figured she was off the hook.
After dinner, Elle found herself pacing the living room nervously. Her stomach was cold with anticipation,
and she kept having to wipe her sweaty palms on her skirt. Finally, just after 7, the doorbell rang. Elle
composed herself before walking swiftly to the door and opening it. Brian Teague stood just outside. Tall,
handsome, with perfect brown hair that seemed to fall in just the right way, Elle found her heart fluttering a
bit as she looked at him. He smiled at her and she smiled nervously back. "You ready to go?" He asked, still
smiling. Elle found herself curiously tongue-tied but she nodded and walked out the door.
Brian opened the door of his red convertible for her and then hopped in the drivers seat, and the two of them sped of into the night...