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Eli Manning wished she was born to another Era, or at least with a different first name. ‘QB’ as her brother’s now called her, wasn’t the most feminine high school senior but she certainly didn’t deserve to remind other’s of the NFL. Quite scrawny and often scruffy, she baffled her parent’s and her siblings alike. The youngest of five, she was not the only girl in the Manning clan but she certainly was the only one who turned out quite like this. To describe Eli as a ‘free spirit’ was an understatement and while she did her best not to make her parent’s mad, it seemed that no matter how hard she tried, in their eyes she could never do right. ‘You’re going tonight and that’s final.’ Her mother had said just a few hours earlier while fighting with her daughter over plans for the evening. Eli’s request? Well she did the same thing every saturday. First there was open mic night at the local coffee shop, and then there would be a house party directly after. She’d perch herself upon a friend’s sofa and smoke a bowl while watching the world spin and dissolve all around her. Perfect harmony. But her mother? Well tonight was the second annual something or other, really Eli couldn’t be bothered with specifics but she was positive it would require the brushing of one’s hair and for that reason alone she figured it was a waste of her time. However there is only so much clout one has at seventeen and so before she knew it, Eli was watching in disbelief as a maid dug out an old dress and steamed away the wrinkles. ‘Maybe if you used hangers, Ms Manning...’ they complained as she wondered wich pair of chuck taylors matched chartreuse. A few moments later she bounded down the steps wearing new wave eyeliner in bright green but was promptly sent back with the aid one of her sisters and given a much more natural face. I mean really, what did they expect? Now perfectly primped and completely devoid of personality, Eli grumpily followed along as the Manning clan piled into a limo and was on their way. But it wasn’t until she noticed the mischievous look in her mother’s eye that Eli realized things were about to get much worse.
‘Now Eli,’ the Manning matriarch began, “there is someone your father and I would like you to meet.” She added while reaching for her daughters hand. Without fail Eli’s eye’s were furiously rolling and soon she was even shaking her head. “Mom, this isn’t the middle ages and besides, I haven’t even prepared my dowery.” She barked, but of course they wouldn’t have it. The rest of the ride was spent fuming as her parent’s provided the details.. "a friend of your father’s son and it would be a step in the right direction for this family if you two would just get along." Blah, blah, blah, blah. By the time the limo pulled to a hault Eli’s parent’s could have been mimicking the teacher’s in Charlie Brown for all she cared. But hopefully the kind folks behind the bar wouldn’t card, seeing as a good black russian would be the evening’s only saving grace. Only after far too many introductions and what felt like a few trillion ‘oh you’ve gotten so big!’s Eli finally dropped down into her seat. Hunching her shoulders, she figured while forced to wear heels the least her mother could allow is poor posture. Besides, she was absolutely exhausted. Playing nice wasn’t one of Eli’s specialties and neither was feigning interest. Two reason’s why she felt a headache hitting the moment she noticed him walking her way. Tallish, blonde hair, she managed to pick that much up while ignoring her parent’s previous conversation and although she had specific instructions to make friends, Eli hoped that perhap’s he hadn’t been given the same prompting and would continue on his way.
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