A few days have passed since that awful weekend in the cottage. It's a shame things ended the way they did but I believe it was for the best. After that last talk with Eliza, we didn't speak for the remainder of the trip. She stayed locked in her room and I spent a lot of time outside, exploring the area and finding anything to distract me from her absence. It was tougher than expected. Even though I said I wanted nothing to do with her, I was still drawn to her room. I passed by it wanting to open the door and apologize so many times. Knowing she was just a couple meters out of reach was torturous and the fact that I couldn't talk to her anymore took a greater toll than imagined.
In the short time I reunited with Eliza, I'd instantly grown accustomed to our banter and seeing her occasionally. I secretly anticipated each encounter with her and often hoped there'd be a "next time" after each visit. But that idea was long gone now and I was staying true to my word. On the last day, a car came to take us home for the evening. Weirdly enough, it wasn't Hayden whom arrived, but another, much older, man who'd be escorting me home; just me. When I asked what would happen to Eliza, he simply smiled and replied, "she has other matters to attend to..". That was it.
When I arrived to the flat, a sense of relief came over me knowing that Eleanor was somewhere near waiting for my return. I called for her, ready to hear her skipping down the steps to welcome me home. No one came. It was late so I assumed she was already fast asleep. I was light on my feet as I scaled the stairs two at a time and raced to our room. The curtains were drawn and the neighboring lamp was lit as evidence of her being near. I was proven right when I listened and heard the running water or the shower just beyond the door. I remember wanting to sneak in the bathroom to surprise her, but decided against it. Instead, I changed out of my daywear and went to fetch my luggage from downstairs. By the time I came back my lady had emerged from her shower and was dressed in her night clothes. She didn't notice me until I pushed the door with my foot and finally said "hello."
This is where it got weird. Usually when I returned, Eleanor would've been filled with an abundance of excitement and I surely would've been knocked over in the midst of the welcome. Her melodious laughter would echo through the whole flat and I'd be a victim of a suffocating hug while she continued to squeal. But this "welcome" was out of the ordinary. It's not like she cursed me out or didn't speak. No, it was actually quite normal; simple.
"Welcome back, Louis." She told me sweetly. Her cheeks had a subtle indentation from her smile and her eyes were kind, non-threatening. But I couldn't help but feel awkward from the greeting. Eleanor seemed off. I couldn't pinpoint why, but my intuition strongly suggested it. I inquired to her about the odd mood but she claimed everything was alright. This shocked me even more. Eleanor was lying to me. I could always tell because in her greatest attempt to hide it, she'd be inexplicably mannered. She was so polite and courteous to the point where it made me uncomfortable and influenced a more cautious vibe.
What could she be hiding? I wondered. Could she have secretly known? My paranoia heckled me through the night and I barely got any sleep. The next morning was no different. Eleanor kept with the same act of normalcy and treated me more tender than usual. It was as if she was dealing with children how careful and gentle she was around me. The whole facade was so pretentious, I wanted to scream! Everything was too perfect, too calm. The every day struggle of life couldn't stop the act. She couldn't be bothered with anything. Not a damn thing could penetrate her superficies whilst in character and there reached a point where I nearly broke under pressure. Maybe it was the guilty conscious from being with Eliza; maybe my nerves were finally catching up to me and fueling this paranoia, I thought. I just had to relax. Eleanor didn't know a thing and I still had to work up the balls to spill everything. I just had to find the right time. But that's the problem; how can one determine the perfect moment to break someone's heart... This morning marked the third day of me trying to answer that question.
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Flipped: Back Again (L.T. Sequel to Flipped)
FanfictionIts been ten years since Eliza left and Louis has moved on with his life. He attended a university in London- where he met Eleanor- and has settled down in the city with her. He feels as though his life is perfect with his loving girlfriend and now...
