5 Missed Calls

3.

Few days after the race with Debling, Colin wanted to pay a visit to his younger sister Eloise. He wanted to tell her about Debling coming to the wedding and he had a small gift to put in Penelope's room, since her birthday was just around the corner.

"Colin?" Eloise was obviously surprised, almost scared. "Eloise, I came by to drop something off for Penelope." He walked in to her flat and noticed an already prepared plate of biscuits; he took one quickly as he saw it off the plate. "What do you mean?" Eloise confused, starting to sweat.

"Her birthday is near is it not? I thought I should put it in her room. I don't know if she's actually coming for the wedding but at least it'll be here when she does return," if she does, he thought. He was heading torwards Penelope's room when Eloise got in his way.

"You can give it to me and I can mail it to her," she tried to grab the gift from him but unfortunately he was taller than her and held it above his head. "Eloise, please I can manage. Thanks for the biscuits anyway," he brushed passed her, "I'm sorry I've been busy lately with Athena (his horse), how've you been?" He reached Penelopes room and grabbed the door knob.

"Colin!" Eloise yelled.

"Why are you yelling at me?" Colin noticed his sister was being odd and it was starting to worry him.

"What- what did you get for Penelope. Hopefully I didn't get the same gift," She felt dumb for asking but she had to distract him away from the door.

His hand was on the doorknob as he looked over to her," Just something I bought while I was away on my tour," he opened the door to the room wide open and can see it was completely empty. Colin was standing in the loft, too shocked to enter the room. "Eloise? Where is Pen's stuff?" Colin's face was stone solid.

"What do you me-"

"Has it always been like that? Is she not coming back?" His eyes about to water.

"No Colin, she's back. She just moved out a week ago-" Eloise stopped herself. She just confessed to her brother that her best friend was back.

"What?"

Eloise begins to stutter,"I meant that she- that she had all her stuff boxed and- moved into her new flat." Eloise gave up, there was no point now that it was out in the open.

"Eloise Lucy Bridgerton," he scowled.

"She's been back about a month and we didn't tell you because she didn't want you to know and it was best if she had some space-"

"Penelope Anne Featherington had been in London this whole time and you didn't bother to tell me?!" He was trying to be calm but he felt like was smacked in he face by not only his sister but his former best friend.

"She's my best friend."

"I'm your brother, you knew how much I wanted to see her-" HE cut himself short. Taking a deep breath in, trying to figure out what to do next.

"Tell me everything."