Flipped (L.T.)

Chapter 42: Glutton for Punishment

I've refrained from telling my mum anything that happened. As far as she knows, we met, we ate, then I dropped her off because she was 'tired'. Its too late to go back to school so I've just decided to sulk in my room.

Why the hell does this keep happening? Am I just glutton for punishment? Do I have 'hopeless' written on my forehead? I just don't understand. Every time I try, and there looks to be progress, I ultimately end up failing. Its usually Eliza who comes with something unexpected and ruins everything but this time it was me. Granted, I think she overreacted. Its not like I cheated on her; we weren't even together, still in that developing stage; which was also paused momentarily when we had that fight. Nothing was discussed and I was convinced my feelings were totally one-sided until the next day.

I was willing to talk everything out but instead, she chose to run away. And to all people, Gabriel. She cant even stand him, turned off by his pompous nature. Eliza is only doing this to spite me and is doing a bloody good job at it too.

No good can come from this day so I decide to just wait for dinner to come, eat, then go straight to bed. The sooner it ends, the better.

I woke up the next morning chilly and sniffing. I must've accidentally thrown the covers off while tossing and turning last night. The heat in my room is shit and feels like an ice box. Such a great start.

I stagger out the bed, using the wall as support as I walk to the bathroom. I try to wake myself up in the shower, washing my hair and letting the warm water awaken my senses. But as fate would have it, I end up squirting shampoo in my eye and knocking my shin on the toilet when I was blindly stepping out to reach for a towel.

Looking in the mirror, I see my poor eye is bloodshot, irritated by the chemicals mixed in. I quickly run the towel over my hair, not really caring how it turns out, just that its somewhat dry so I don't get any sicker than I feel.

I finish in the bathroom and head back to my room to change. My uniform is put sloppily together. This seems to be the new style for me recently. I've entirely stopped trying to look presentable, too preoccupied with other matters. When I've slipped on my good trainers, I head to the kitchen for some much needed juice and breakfast.

"Mornin' Lou Lou.." The twins mumble tiredly as they sit at the counter. My mum is at the stove making them oatmeal. The smell of cinnamon and apple grips me and I find myself beside her, watching her mix the different ingredients.

"Hungry, Louis?" She asks over her shoulder, grabbing milk to pour in the mixture. "I can make ya bowl, if you'd like?" My mum sounds drained; just a maternal robot covering all the necessities such as my health and condition. She must still be upset from yesterday.

"Yes, please." I say politely and take a seat by the girls.

After I've received my oatmeal, I eat quietly by myself while the girls are knocked out on the counter. Lily is leant back in her seat, mouth hanging wide open. While Leah is face down, scraggly hair dipping into her breakfast. The house is eerily calm and I wonder if I'm partially to blame for the somber mood.

When I'm done, I scrape out the remainders and wash out my dish.

"Have a good day mum." I call as I wrap my scarf around me, waiting by the door.

"G'day Lou, I'll see ya in the evening." She returns and I make my way to the stop.

Wesley is waiting in his car with Ryan as I approach the vehicle. The windows fog when I open the door and I welcome the heat of the car, melting into the seat as I feel my body start to defrost.

The locks click and I jerk up when Wesley and Ryan turn around simultaneously, staring at me.

"What're you guys-"