Through the Fire (a Les Twins fanfic)

Chapter 2: Priorities

Shauna chewed on the top of an ink pen and frowned at the thick book open on the desk in front of her.  The third year pre-law program was no joke.  She spent half her time in class and the other half in the campus library crammed inside a cubicle doing research for the tons of homework assignments her professors handed out.

Some of her classmates passed by on their way to study group.

"You coming?" One of them asked.

"No, go on without me. I'll get the notes later."

She knew what her priorities should be and unfortunately school wasn't exactly at the very top of the list anymore.   It had recently gotten bumped down to number two by her new infatuation: Larry Bourgeois.  She had a major crush on him.  But ever since he arrived in Atlanta he wouldn't give her the time of day.

In the library parking lot she loaded her books into the backseat of her Honda Civic and drove to Gabby's to see if he was home yet.

She cut through the den to the separate guest hallway on the other side of the house and found Larry in his room mixing beats on his laptop.  He was wearing a tank top and his lean muscled, tattooed arms flexed with his every move.

He didn't hear her through his headphones when she called his name the first time, so she cleared her throat loudly.

He stopped and pulled one side of the fluorescent green headset up over his ear nearly burying it in his huge, soft afro.  Shauna plopped down on the bed beside him.

"I see you got the guns out today," she teased.

Larry was completely unresponsive.  He stiffened his jaw and dipped his chin down until his neck muff covered his mouth.

Shauna peered at the computer screen and switched tactics.  "What'cha doing?"

It was a ridiculous question to Larry. He thought it was obvious what he was doing, but he answered anyway.

"Mixing music."

"Oh. Can I hear it?"

After he finished adjusting the bass levels he routed the sound through the laptop's speakers and played a little bit for her hoping she'd be satisfied and go away.

Shauna bobbed her head to the complex beat. "That's hot. I love J Dilla."

Larry nodded wordlessly, trying not to show that he was impressed.  He didn't expect her to be up on rap legends.  She shifted closer to him until their arms were touching.

He pulled away, got up, and walked to the door.  "I'm busy. I really need to finish this."

Shauna reluctantly followed and dragged herself out into the hallway.  He was brushing her off again and it was driving her crazy.

As she walked away she vowed in her mind to catch his attention if it was the last thing she did.

Larry shut the door to his room and leaned on it, relieved.

Three weeks ago when he first moved in he had been standing in that same spot when Gabby threatened his existence.  She'd brought him some clean towels and asked if he needed anything else.

The stack was still flowery fresh and warm from the dryer and the smell reminded him of being at his mama's house. He beamed contentedly.  "No, I'm good, merci."

Gabby turned to leave.  "Oh and Larry...,"

"Hmmm?"

"If you even think about messing with my little sister, I will hurt you."

"But I—...,"

She vanished before he could protest.  He hadn't done anything wrong.  Shauna was the one always coming on to him.  He tried his best to avoid her which only seemed to make matters worse.

Larry had peeped her out his first night in Atlanta when they met in the limo on the way to the Image Awards.  She seemed like the pretty, nice college girl type and she talked a lot.  To him she was basically a miniature Gabby.  He could definitely tell they were sisters.

Shauna was more mocha-complexioned with longer, looser curls, but they had the same engaging eyes and smiles.  Even though he had no idea at the time that she would end up crushing on him, it wouldn't have mattered.  Larry preferred the girls he dated to be a little more round-the-way.

Besides, he wasn't about to lose his cozy spot in the house, or his life for that matter, over a cute girl.