Flipped: Back Again (L.T. Sequel to Flipped)

Chapter 15: Keep Cool

My heart was pulsating faster than I could comprehend. I'd just been celebrating how I dodged the situation at the office, finally being able to speak with Eleanor without attitude or indiscretions, and now the source of all my problems was waiting on my doorstep. Eliza couldn't have worse timing. I glance over at Eleanor to see if she's spotted our guest as well, but she's too busy on her cell to notice. The one good use for today's technology. It gives me the chance to turn the car around before its too late. I swerve around in a vicious u-turn that makes Eleanor drop her phone and be thrown back into her window.

"Louis!" She hissed from beside me. "A warning would be nice." I could hear her shuffling around in her seat, her confusion apparent when she got a good look at our surroundings. "Why are you turning around, we're littr'ly down the way." I glance her way when I hear the seat belt unbuckle and she begins twisting around. "Who's at our house?"

"Dunno'." I lie, pressing a little harder on the accelerator. "I'm sure it's not really for us anyway. Probably the neighbors again."

She mumbles something about how our neighbors were never so rude and strains to make out who it is. Eleanor still insists on returning home no matter how much distance I put between us and the flat. It's not the fact that Eliza may bring up our trip tomorrow that's got me uptight, or the fact that she could spill the secret of our affair in front of my long-time girlfriend. The anxiety is stemming from my own reaction to her. I can't guarantee that I can hide the excitement or satisfaction of seeing her. All the built up anticipation of our trip from the last few days wont be easy to cover. Yes, it happened because Eleanor pushed me away but now she was holding my hand as we drove; even if she was confused about the situation, the lack of suspicion and trust felt through her touch was soon to be wiped away all over again.

"Lou, c'mon." She says again. "I feel like we still have a lot to talk about and being at home is the best place." El hovers over the counsel, resting her head on my shoulder. "I hate when we fight. And it's unhealthy to let it simmer like this."

I mentally scoff. It's ironic because she was the reason we hadn't discussed anything. I've been trying to get her to talk to me for days without any success and now she wants to have a sit down? I can't help but feel a little irritated; but, nonetheless, I agree with her. After the millionth suggestion of returning home, I finally give in. We'd been driving for a while and I thought by now Eliza would've left after seeing that the house was vacant. The antsy feeling still crept upon me as I neared the neighborhood again; and I wasn't fully at rest until I saw the car was indeed gone. A sigh of relief escaped my mouth and I drove up happily. Once Eleanor and I were inside, it was quiet. We kept making eye contact but neither of us knew where to begin this "talk" she wanted so badly. I'd been in this position before with Eliza and- Dammit, I shouldn't be thinking of her right now. I'll have the whole weekend to do that. This time is solely dedicated to patching our relationship before its too late. Before I go on this trip and am hit with unwanted feelings from the past, I need a good anchor to make me remember where home is.

So, I took Eleanor by the hand and led her upstairs, closed the door behind us and sat down on the bed. Patting the space beside me, she crept over and made a chair out of me. And we sat there together, hashing everything out, saying all that needed to be said. Eleanor expressed to me the insecurities that blossomed when Eliza was around and how she feared she'd sweep me away, regardless of the fact I made my dislike for her well-known. It was tedious trying to convince her otherwise. Somewhere down the line she had cemented the idea in her head and was hesitant to cancel it out all together. Eleanor's intuition was scarily accurate but had one weakness that could always sway her opinion; me.

<ELIZA'S POV>

I was in my office, making the final drafts for the mural. This might have started out as a lie, but since I like to cover my tracks, I made it a reality. I personally called this Mr. William and proposed the idea this morning. He was thrilled to be receiving such a gift with no money coming out of his pocket. My only condition was to have an advisor accompany me on the trip; my dear Louis.