" 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 "
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𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬. It was plainly clear to everyone when they continued their work that something had happened between them. Not a minute passed by that they didn't stare at each other. It was painful for Lively, Wright and Will to watch them and as for Millie and Issie. They all rolled their eyes every time they blushed at each other.
Once they had finished their work, they all heard the jingle of keys and the front door opened. A man and woman walked in, smiling once they saw the four guests in their house. Mrs. and Mr. Partridge welcomed them all, especially Estelle. Louis' mum had heard much about Estelle and she liked her even more seeing she was respectable and friendly.
" Lively, your parents called. Your mum and dad are coming over for dinner and so is your aunt and cousin." Mrs. Partridge informed Lively and she nodded. " What about you four? Will four be staying for dinner?"
" I wish I could, but I need to be home. My parents need me, but maybe another night." Flora sighed. She loved how Louis' mother and father cooked.
" Sorry, I can't. Tonight my parents are going out and I need to watch my brother." Will excused himself.
" I can stay." Wright rubbed his hands. " I can't wait to eat."
Mrs. Partridge chuckled, " Thank you, Wright. Estelle, will you be staying?"
Louis crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping she would stay. Millie and Issie did the same.
" I haven't a clue. I'd have to call my mom and -" Estelle's phone pinged. " That would be her. Excuse me."
Estelle stepped outside and saw the text her mother had sent her. In short, Ines would be going out to eat with her new work friends and she wouldn't be home. Estelle sighed, but understood. Her mother deserved some fun in her life and Estelle could live with it. Estelle texted back it would be fine.
Estelle entered back into the house to see Will and Flora putting on their sweaters and waving goodbye. They both smiled at Estelle before retreating outside. Lively and Wright were sitting with Louis on the couch, eagerly waiting for her return. Millie and Issie came into the room from the kitchen.
" What'd your mum say?" Louis asked.
" Ah, she's not going to be home tonight. She's going to be with some work friends." She shrugged. " I guess I have to head home before it gets dark. Sorry."
Louis hid his disappointment, but Millie was having none of it. She was not having her brother lose the chance of trying to get the girl he liked to like him back, no matter how many times he's been annoying to her.
" Oh no!" She said loudly in a monotone voice. " You're mum's not home?"
Lively caught on instantly and responded loudly, " But what will you have for dinner?"
Estelle back up a few steps, worried on what they were doing, " I don't know. I'll make some ramen or chicken. Why are you talking like that?"
Millie continued, " That's not a proper dinner. Soup from a plastic cup?"
" I'll be fine." Estelle assured, but it was too late.
Mrs. Partridge had heard and she was having none of that. She had heard from the kitchen and came racing into the living room before Estelle could try and leave. In her house, no guest would go home with an empty stomach to eat some cheap soup.
" My goodness. You are not going home. Not while I'm here." She said. " You'll stay here and eat dinner with us. Then, I'll have Issie drive you home so you'll get there nice and safe."
" I wouldn't want to be a bother."
Millie chimed in, " Nonsense, it's not a bother at all. We like having guests."
Estelle finally agreed and Millie sent a thumbs up at Lively. Genius' they were. The wing women of the century.
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The teens had been laughing and hanging around the living room until they were called to set the table. The Cantors and the Lee's came around eight. The Cantors consisted of Lively, her mother and father. The Lee's were related to the Cantors through Lively's mother. The Lee's were Lively's aunt, uncle and cousin, Poppy.
The Cantors had been close to the Partridge's ever since they moved from Connecticut to England. Naturally, the Lee's would eventually come to England too and become close friends with the Partridge's as well.
Poppy Lee was a beautiful girl with dark brown hair with lighter highlights in her hair. She looked similar to Lively in a few way and you could tell they were distantly related. Poppy, however, was much less energetic and closed up. She also didn't like Estelle with the way she glared or gave a quick judgmental up and down look at her.
The dinner had been set for twelve on a round and lovely table with a flower centerpiece.
It was a table Louis' family had when they had a large amount of guests. Louis made it point to sit next to Estelle. Lively was on Estelle's side just in case she got nervous. The dinner was delicious and it certainly made Estelle feel welcome. She hadn't really had a dinner with her family since her father was never around to have one, but she was okay with it just being her and her mom.
" You're from Florida, correct, Estelle?" Issie asked.
Estelle nodded, " Clearwater to be specific. It's on the western part of the peninsula."
" Louis tells us you are quite the energetic type." Millie added on and Louis nearly died in his seat.
" Well, I did have a handful of friends back in Clearwater?" Estelle admitted.
" Why did you move to London?" Poppy, for the first time since they've sat down, spoke. " Some emergency or something of the sort? Any reason whatsoever?"
" Uh, no. My mother got a better job here and it took a few month to plan the move."
" What about your school? I bet you had a good school." Poppy continued.
" I go to Kensington now. It's probably better I go there than my other school considering it wasn't well funded."
Poppy became invasive, nitpicking at anything she could find and it didn't take long, " You mentioned only your mother. What about your father?"
" Poppy." Lively raised her voice slightly.
Estelle blinked and looked down at her plate of food. She refrained from speaking of her father for obvious reason. She didn't exist to him, so she decided it would be better to act as if he didn't exist either. She had told Lively and only Lively about her father and she crossed her fingers not to tell anyone.
Lively knew why Poppy had become invasive and rude. Poppy, no doubt, was crushing hard on Louis and despised seeing him interested in another girl. The conversation was changed and Estelle was silent for the rest of dinner.
Luckily, dinner was just about finished and their plates were picked up. Louis took Estelle to the living room to give her some space between her and Poppy.
" I'm sorry about that. Poppy can be blunt sometimes, but that doesn't excuse it." Louis held her hand.
" It's fine. I don't talk about my father a lot." She shrugged. " He's not in my life."
" Sorry, again. I can't imagine what that's like."
" At least you have a good mom and dad. They're really good at cooking." She compliment, changing the subject.
" You should come on Sundays when we serve roast dinner." He nudged her.
" What's that?"
" Are you bloody kidding me?"
After a conversation about what the heck a roast dinner was, Mrs. Partridge sent Estelle with Issie to drive her home; but not without a proper hug goodbye from everyone, especially Louis. They clung onto each other and called each other their nicknames - star girl and Lou. When she left, Lively and Wright gave Louis a look.
" What?"
Lively shook her head, " Oh my gosh. Are you that insanely clueless?"
" Who was that?" Poppy grimaced. She wasn't happy about another girl being there. She knew Estelle's name, but she wanted to know the relation between her and Louis.
" Estelle, the girl Louis has a crush on." Wright responded without hesitation. Needless to say, he was pissed about that nitpicking of Poppy at dinner. " I can tell they're endgame."
" You've known her for what? Less than a month." Poppy scoffed.
" And it's been the best month of my life." Louis sighed, dream- like. " Does she seriously like me?"
" Friends don't hug each other like that or have you and I hugged like that?" Lively hit his head.
" MUM! Louis has a crush on Estelle!" Millie from the living room, walking to the kitchen.
Mrs. Partridge laughed out loud from the kitchen, " I hope you invited her to Sunday's roast dinner. We adore her."
Millie, before disappearing into the kitchen, said, " I personally think she's too pretty for you, but she'll make an amazing sister in law."
" Millie!"
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nova speaks - Millie would be me if I had an older brother. I love the bond they're growing and it's more than obvious Estelle is growing feelings for Lou back. Poppy probably won't be a big plot point, but she will be mentioned here and there. Who wouldn't be jealous? Anyways, I hope you enjoyed and see you next chapter.
with love - nova