Flipped Again

Chapter 15: A Turn Of Events

A/N

omg. i am absolutely mortified. i'm rewatching flipped right now and i just realised it's 'sherry stalls'

NOT SHELLY!!

it seems i have swum out too far that i can't swim back so will be continuing to call her 'shelly' :/

sorry everybody! x

•••

When I sat down on the breakfast table, Shelly got up.

When I went into the kitchen, she rushed out.

When I opened my mouth to speak to her, she turned around and walked away.

What was up with Shelly? What had I done wrong?

What's worse, is that it wasn't a spiteful grudge, blatant and dramatic, as I'd often seen from Juli Baker. No, Shelly was genuinely distraught. As if she actually couldn't bare to face me. She seemed on the verge of tears constantly, like a boiling pot discarded on the stove, ready to overflow and pour out violently.

I told myself it was for the best I didn't confront her, that she wanted to be alone. But deep inside I knew it was just my inner cowardice, even afraid to face Shelly Stalls. I sighed in my own self incompetence.

The atmosphere in my home was tense and awkward, I could feel myself yearning to break free and get out of this confining space. Yearning to break free and get to Juli.

But I couldn't. Not with my stupid grounding. And there was no way I was going to face my father and own up to my 'wrong doings'. Because I didn't do any wrong doings. Not because I was scared of him or anything.

I found myself sat on my bedroom window, staring wistfully at Juli's house.

The sycamore tree, our sycamore tree had bloomed beautifully, it's trunk still thin, yet it's branches reached up and extended several feet high. I reminisced warmly about the fond memories we'd created there.

Suddenly, a face emerged into the scene, sitting themselves under the tree, their long skirt folded across their tender crossed legs, clutching a book, peering at it through their long brown hair.

I struggled frantically, opening the window, stuck my head out and cupped my hands around my mouth.

"Juli!" I yelled.

Her eyes searched inquisitively for the source of the sound, her gaze finally resting on me, her face lighting up with twinkling eyes and a dazzling smile, clear from just across the street.

She stood up and waved and I motioned with my hands, shouting "Wait there!"

I grabbed a piece of paper and quickly scribbled a note down.

My parent's are out tonight. Sneak into mine at 8'o'clock. You know how.

Yours lovingly,

Bryce Loski

I folded the note into a paper aeroplane and reappeared at the window. I threw it down, watching as it dipped and swayed, fighting the wind, and then as it trailed down smoothly, landing neatly at the foot of Juli.

She picked it up hastily, unfolding it and taking a second to read it. Then, with curious eyes she nodded, turning on her heel, and walked back into her home.