In Her Head - Collision Course

Old Friend

Peter called Elle on the way into work, he let her know that he had an appointment that he couldn't get out of, a last minute thing he explained. 

"Belinda was right about this dashing off, Peter hasn't stopped this month," Elle thought.

"No worries Peter, I will see you when you get in, anything urgent I will email," she told him and put the phone away. Elle looked behind, she sometimes felt like she was being followed, she also needed to see who was behind her, it was an old habit that wouldn't rest but at least she wasn't as bad as she used to be with it. "Billy," Elle shouted, she just spotted him at a shop but she could have sworn he wasn't there when she passed it. Billy smiled at her, blushing slightly and walked towards her. "Hey Elle, what are you doing here?" he asked her, "I always walk this way to work, how come you're here?" Elle returned. "Oh, I live a few roads away from you and if I leave the car at work then I sometimes walk, we can walk in together today," he said. Elle smiled, "only if you let me get you a coffee," she said. Billy smiled and nodded yes. They made small talk and Elle was awed by the fact he had a wise head on such young shoulders, he wanted to become head of Security one day, Billy looked 27 years old, he had long hair that he mostly wore in a ponytail, he was of cherokee descent and he looked it, he always reminded Elle of a warrior, he was of medium build and about 5ft 7inches in height. She enjoyed his company as it was light relief, they giggled a lot that morning. Once they made their way into the office, Billy headed to the Executive Offices with Elle, he went off to see Frank and Elle headed off to her huge cubby hole.

In Frank's office Billy was almost pulling his hair out, "She doesn't stop looking behind her, she does it so nobody would notice, like she is trained in special ops, I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have lost her but if it weren't for the other couple of men I have scattered around then we wouldn't know where she is. I had to tell her today I live a couple of roads away from her!" Billy cried out. "I hate lying to her," he told them. Frank and Belinda looked at each other then back to Billy, "We have to keep it up for a little longer and we are sorry to put you into this position Billy, we cannot simply just tell her as life hasn't been so kind to her and she isn't as open as she should have been. Billy we adore you and cannot thank you enough, if it is too much then we can get someone else to do it but you are our best," Belinda said. Billy sighed, "I wouldn't have anyone else doing it," he told them flatly, "she is an amazing person and I wouldn't be comfortable leaving it up to anyone else," he admitted. "Okay, we will buy a property close by today and try to get it set up for you by the end of the week, we need to let her know that you and Stephanie have been seeing each other but you will need to make out it is longer as she won't understand the Eternal Connection." Frank said, "maybe Stephanie can help?" Belinda asked, "Yep!" they heard Stephanie shout. Stephanie and Elle got on very well and it seemed she was willing to help. "Peter is off to talk with the Elder Council today, he is hoping they can help," Frank said. "Look Billy, there is something else we need to tell you but it cannot be repeated, Stephanie you may as well come in for this," Belinda said, she waited until everyone was sitting down. "Elle summoned the Ancient many years ago, he sent Nancy to her just after Nancy lost her Eternal, she has been with her ever since and has taken the mothering role to her, you have to understand that Elle still won't open up to her fully, they have had conversations about certain things but she has avoided a lot. Her coping mechanism is to rationalise, that shuts her off, if we tell her it could be disastorous." Belinda explained. "But the ancient can only be summoned in the darkest of hours and only to direct.. ..Oh s**t!" Billy said thinking aloud, "She is a direct descendant, she is The Graceful," Belinda said. "Peter will have his hands full," Billy chuckled.

The morning was normal for Elle, a few clippings to forward on and a few emails to respond to. Meetings with the teams were shuffled to this afternoon. He had a lunch meet with Evan this afternoon, it would take him 40 minutes to get there. Elle could grab a sandwich and eat at her desk, that way she could just take a short lunch at her normal time, 1pm. Elle wasn't as anxious as she had been previously, Peter still hadn't got involved in a relationship and that shocked her, there were lots of women vying for his attention, it aggravated Elle at how desperate some of them were. She thought it was probably to do with that coffee body wash he uses, that's probably why she kept on letting thoughts of him enter her head. Belinda had invited Elle and the kids to a barbeque at her place this weekend coming, this was the one time Elle had said yes to meeting them outside of work, she was more comfortable with them all now and Nancy said it would be good for her to socialise with them outside of work, she needed friends, Nancy was always chiding Elle about how closed off she could be saying she needed friends. Elle prayed that the children would behave themselves and not be so hyper.

Peter called Frank on the way to the office, "Dad, he says it's time, we cannot put it off any longer. I have to let her know that I know about him," he said. Frank sighed, "Son there is no choice, she is needed, it's been too long," Frank told him agreeing with the Elder Council. "I'm going to lose her!" Peter cried, "we don't know that Son," Frank told him. Peter was unable to talk so he slammed the phone down or he would lose his temper, silently he fumed. Peter was in love with Elle but she wasn't interested, just when he thought he might be winning her over, her scent would disappear, he couldn't get his head around it. She would call him Braveheart at times, she didn't even understand that was the literal meaning of his real name. Peter groaned, his head was a mess and he had no idea how to tell Elle, she didn't seem ready. Four months is a long time to Eternal Connections but she had closed it off like a tap and it was slowly killing him inside.

“Hold my calls Elle, I need at least twenty minutes” he said brashly. Oh ffs what has got his goat, I’m getting really ticked off with his bloody mood swings, she thought. “Yes Mr Skeel” she replied tightly. “Do you need anything?” She begrudgingly asked him, his strong sculpted face looked like it had turned a shade pink but she didn’t want to spend too long looking into his autumn forest eyes, last thing she wanted was to have him think she was interested in anything more than a professional relationship, although, she snapped the thought out of her head. She didn’t miss the pulse in his jaw, yeah he is fuming she thought. She wanted him to know he had ticked her off and it wasn’t acceptable. “I’m Sorry Elle,” her head snapped up. Okay, not what I was expecting but you are still a t**t, she thought. “Mr Skeel, I understand things can get very stressful but I do not appreciate being talked to in that manner, if I can help I will but, it is all too easy to offend people by not voicing how you are feeling, take it from personal experience.” “Okay, call me Peter please, calling me Mr Skeel sounds far too much like you are talking to my Father. Something came up and I’m not sure what to do,” he replied honestly and slightly deflated. Nope she definitely wasn't expecting that. s**t, s**t, s**t! Why oh why am I confrontational? His face is f*****g handsome when he is eating humble pie, I’m doomed, Elle groaned internally. “Do you want to voice it or do you need me to put someone in their place?” She softly asked. He let out a belly roar of a laugh, his eyes shone brighter and it softened his chiseled face, almost making him glow. Elle wasn’t prepared for the feeling across her chest, she felt lighter and truly happy, she even had a slight fluttering in her stomach. She smiled brightly and he stopped laughing instantly trying to clear his throat. “Elle, I know you are capable and I appreciate it but no, I just need some time to get my head around some things,” he said, his tone still sounded amused but she could also hear the deflated tone mixed with it. Let’s face it, they both knew she was more than capable of taking someone down a peg or two, she was so strong and her voice was so commanding, she held any room, was amazing at making people compromise, even when the room was so intent not to understand, she could break it down in any way they needed. Skeel International has never been so peaceful up until a few months ago, Elle became somewhat of an agony Aunt helping keep the peace by showing her colleagues another point of view. She had been an asset in negotiating and liaising with the media these past few months. Skeel was about to expand into the world of finance and they had a solid plan to succeed, Mers International were the leaders in the financial sector at the moment, to say they were upset and worried was an understatement. Mers were trying their hardest to darken the name Skeel, Skeel have successfully and respectfully built a communications company from the ground up. The name was recognised by everyone, from household to corporate, even Government agencies used their systems. 

Peter was about to turn and walk into his office but he looked at Elle and said “erm, Elle. Old Friend says hello.” “Does this old friend have a name?” She asked. How the hell would he know who I know, we are worlds apart she thought. “He told me his name as you knew it, Old Friend” he replied sadly. The colour drained her face and he walked into his office closing the door. No way, no way! she thought, her breathing became shallow and her heart started beating a little faster. With her mouth still open she called out in her head “Old friend I need you.” In an instant she could feel the warmth on her shoulder and the side of her face, she leaned into it and felt the familiar comfort wash over her, she felt safe and the colour slowly started coming back to her face. Although she still felt slightly light headed she was comforted and her breathing was returning to normal. “How the hell does he know about you Old Friend? Does he?” She leaned into the warmth while she was firing off questions in her head. “You are the only one who has ever been called Old Friend.” I cannot seriously believe Peter knows, unless… ...No he wouldn’t, s**t! I am in some deep doo doo here, he can either read my mind or… ..No, no way! I have never mentioned Old Friend to anyone. “Old Friend, please stay close to me for a bit today, I really could use some strength.” Two tears fell down her face, she quickly wiped them away and picked up her phone. After two rings she heard the woman on the other end of the line “Hi Elle. He looked like a bear with a sore head when he stormed in here today. Is everything okay? Do you want me to..” “Belinda, I sorted it already, he is sulking in his office,” Elle cut in. “I need to ask a favour though, could you possibly cover me for an early lunch?” She asked. Peter has an external appointment and in forty minutes he would leave. She needed to breathe in some fresh air and get out of the building. “Sure I will honey,” she chuckled imagining how Elle had sorted it. “Thanks Belinda, I want to grab a breather and get to the shop before the lunchtime rush,” Elle explained. They finished up the call once she replaced the handset Elle checked their emails and blocked her diary for the early lunch she was taking.

Old Friend was the only one who knew everything about Elle, he was her comfort, her strength and she felt he loved her unconditionally as a friend. Nobody but Old Friend truly knew Elle, they all had their own versions but they had no idea. At Elles worst, she could talk to Old Friend, although she wouldn't receive a response, she could make sense of the jumble in her head. If she hadn’t felt the warmth of Old Friend she would have taken her own life, he brought her from the brink and stayed close whenever she needed him. He was the most personal and vulnerable part of Elle.

The trouble was, Old Friend was in her head. Elle had no doubt that he was real in a spiritual form, she could feel the warmth radiating when she called, you couldn’t mistake that, but not a single person would know. The feeling of dread started creeping in, Elle felt like she was about to unravel, she was feeling exposed. 

"Old Friend, what am I going to do?" Elle whispered.

Elle seen Peter off and put her phone through to Belinda's office, when she exited the building she walked straight to the park a couple of roads behind the office building, it was close to the river and Elle needed to get calm, she sat on a bench and thought about what Peter had said, she couldn't get it out of her head, after a few minutes she had decided she picked him up wrong, there isn't a hope he could know of Old Friend," feeling calmer Elle relaxed a bit. "Good morning dear, is it okay if I rest my bones here?" An elderly gentleman asked her, he looked like he was 75, he was wearing a t-shirt that showed he still had some strength with the muscle she could see, jeans, and polished black boots. He had short white hair and green eyes, just like Elle. She had never seen anyone with eyes quite like hers, even her family or lack there of couldn't explain it to Elle.  Elle smiled at him, "of course, I am just about to leave," she told him. "Oh please don't child, it isn't often I meet people," he told her. Elle was wrapped in hook, line and sinker, the world was at its craziest and it was the elderly and poor who were suffering, it was like they were ostracized and nobody bothered with them. Elle smiled kindly, "I am sure I can stay a little longer in that case," she told him. They made small talk about the weather and got on to the subject of family, "I have two children, other than that I have some close friends who are family," Elle told him honestly. "I have a Granddaughter, she has her own family but she calls if she needs to," he told her smiling. "other than that my extended family are dragons and I love them." He stated.

Oh here, typical! I always get the f*****g weirdos. She thought. "Can't have a normal flipping conversation, it's always you have a great future ahead of you, yeah nice try with that one I got a gaslighting f*****g husband, or you have great power, yeah well I was f*****g helpless and weak!" The whispers about you are true, you are real was another one, You are needed to protect everyone, "what a load of old tosh that was," the world of wonderful is awaiting your return was another. The list is bloody endless, someone even mentioned fairies to her one day, "I really need to stop talking to strangers, I am like a bloody loony siren, hey yeah, come see me!" This one is now talking about dragons, too close she argued. "Sorry Old Friend, I don't mean to not acknowledge you but I know you are only in my head, they will lock me up and throw away the key," she told Old Friend in her head.

"Oh don't worry, I don't take offence to you not acknowledging me dear," the man said, snapping Elle from her thoughts. "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I must have zoned out there," she smiled at him. "I really must get going now, it was lovely to meet you," she smiled at him. "It's okay child, take it one day at a time and be open, it will all make sense after that. I am always here if you need me," he told her and vanished into thin air. Elle was shaking.

"Tell me that didn't f*****g happen! Are you so screwed in the head you will make up these scenarios with people. Are you that desperate to mean something in the world? But you just saw it with your own eyes, how the hell did that happen? Do you honestly think you made that up?" She argued internally. 

Elle called Belinda and went straight home, she told Belinda she was really unwell and that she would be going to see the Doctor as soon as she could. She couldn't tell Belinda she had an episode and was mentally unstable so she promised to talk to her later in the week. Elle must have sounded like a wreck on the phone but Belinda didn't ask many questions. Elle went home and sobbed, she was losing her head, maybe she really was damaged like her husband used to tell her. Elle was close to being sectioned previously, it took a talented counsellor to find out what was truly going on. Elles husband was arrested and granted supervised visits with the children, it was a nightmare until he worked out he couldn't get to Elle ever again then he just gave up parental responsibility like the kids were worthless. 

I don't know if I can deal with this. Elle groaned internally.