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

Chapter 19: The Obvious

<LOUIS' POV>

"I love you-" the last phrase I was able to get out before Eleanor was dead from the line. Everything seemed fine but she hung up with such urgency, I'm beginning to think that was all for show. She must truly resent the fact I'm not going to her recital. This is an important day for her but I know what I'm doing is right- or at least justified with good intentions. If I were to deny Eliza, she'd come back full force without an ounce of pity for whom she may hurt. As long as she was getting back at me, she didn't care. And poor Eleanor, she's not ready or could remotely handle the kind of evil craftsmanship Eliza's capable of. To just expose our affair with words would be too merciful; I'm sure she'd find a much more inappropriate way to express her dislike and for Eleanor's sake, I hope it never comes to that. Heaving a deep sigh, I try to combat an oncoming headache by brushing my hair back with my fingers. All this stress will kill me one day, I'm sure of it.

I check the time and I've been walking about for a good thirty minutes, maybe more after that phone call. I don't think Eliza would be awake by now and I'm not in rush to return so quickly. The scenery is quite beautiful and I decide to walk just a little further to see what else this place may have to offer. Surely with a house here, there should be a town nearby. So, I continue to follow the path of the creek, walking further, going deeper into the woods that became more serene with every step I took away from the cottage house. It was probably my hidden cowardice to face Eliza that fueled my new sense of adventure, but I didn't question it; I just kept going. This time was good. Space and time alone was needed for this occasion. Sometimes, the "cowardly" was best to allow yourself to really think of what to do next. And lord knows I needed a solution, quick.

I felt my phone buzz again but it wasn't a message from Eleanor. This time it was an alert from work. My office was sending out a daily schedule for the "project" I'm supposed to be observing in Doncaster. Eliza really has them convinced. I'm not sure if we're even any where near Doncaster to be honest. I know the area like the back of my hand and none of the landscape seems remotely familiar. Granted, I don't explore the countryside too much. It lacked two very important things; a decent club and wireless connection. I did however enjoy the lack of chaos between the trees; the senseless arguments of pedestrians replaced with the sweet songs of native birds and the gentle hum of the creek beside me. I suppose it was the change of scenery I needed. And indirectly, I have Eliza to thank for the small slice of peace she handed me apart from the load of trouble she's caused... Hell, the trouble we have BOTH caused.

The more time I have to my self to walk alone and think, the cloudier my thoughts become. All of this added stress is too much to deal with. What I wouldn't give for a quick drink to momentarily forget and cease my thinking. But since I have nothing of the sort, I'm stuck facing reality. I've been contemplating whether or not to ditch the trip and take my chances with telling Eleanor the truth. If it ended badly, I could just really head to Doncaster and camp there for a few days while she cooled down at home. I could lay everything on the table and go from there. Who knows, it could be a fresh start for me; a new beginning if she decided to rightfully dump me. Of course I'd be heartbroken if she did just that but like I said, it'd be justified and I would have no choice but to respect her wishes.

But then what would become of me and Eliza? . It could go on a more positive note and draw Eliza right to me. With no more strings attached to Eleanor, I'd be a free man and could pursue that unknown dream. Or, would she see it as me trying to free my self of her by coming clean and reconciling my relations with Eleanor instead. She wouldn't be wrong; but it wouldn't necessarily be totally correct either. Needless to say, I can't fathom what my next play could be; or how I'd feel to lose contact with either of them.

These two women are quite important me. Eleanor was the first girl in a very long time to make me feel love again. And not only receive it, but to not be afraid of reciprocating it as well. Now, Eliza's affections were from another time but to deny any lingering feelings for her would be juvenile at this point. We all know it's there. That damn flame that can't seem to extinguish itself no matter how much I pray it would. I spent years tricking myself into thinking I had gotten rid of all of trace of Eliza in my system. And I assure that it was in fact true until I stumbled across her again. If it had not been for that fateful night at the gallery, all of this could've been avoided. But no. Eleanor simply had to go see the starving artists and awoke that dormant part of my heart that still belonged to her.