Afraid to Love ✔

Part 2

After the meeting Les Twins, Mia kept her word stopped all therapy but her physical therapy and was determined to get back to her normal life and that included modeling.
By the beginning of 2013, she was modeling full time again throughout the world.
The first part of Mia's big return tour was through Europe. Mia and her model friends dragged Mai from club to club for weeks partying like there was no tomorrow.
This was the life Mia wanted to get back to, Mai and Mia spent most days shopping between photoshoots and most nights in the club with Mia's friends.
Their little family business was doing better than before. Zoe, their older brother and business partner, assured Mai that he could still handle things on his end as long as she made time for meetings once a week. This wasn't new, it's how she worked when Mia was in the hospital.

Mai

With all the new fans Mia has made recently, I was grateful that Mia didn't fussed about the extra security during the tour and bonus she seemed to get along great with all of them. Her main 4 were all some form of ex-military.
'Big Sexy' is a former a SEAL, but he would tell you there is no such thing as 'a former SEAL. He teaches Mia Tai-Chi and self-defense. His real name was Matt Lockheart but Mia called him 'Big Sexy' she says it is because he reminds her of the wrestler, Kevin Nash (the long hair version). Matt was in charge of her security detail but he was her shadow, he accompanied Mia everywhere. Of course, because we are twins I was assigned 2 security, Change and Booker, but since I was always with Mia they ended up following Matt's instructions too.
(Spring)
Mia had a fashion show at a club, when we arrived I found out the twins would also be there. It had been almost a year since we'd seen them.
Of course their performance was amazing, but I noticed that Mia seemed to only watch Laurent even when he was just in the background. I asked her if she wanted me to invent a reason to see him again but she just shook her head and said she didn't want to him to see her as a groupie. I laughed and let it go, for the time being.

If I had realize this would be such a major industry gathering I would have dragged Zoe here to network. There were actors and models sucking up to producers and casting agents. My straight hair made it easier for people to tell me apart from my sister, who was wearing her's curly.
After a long and gross conversation with some sleazy agent, I excused myself almost running towards the bar. If I'm going to shake this icky feeling, I'm going to need a strong drink maybe 4. I cursed under my breath as someone grabbed my wrist. Thinking it was the sleazy guy again, I forced a polite smile on my face preparing an excuse, but when I turned it was one of the twins. Baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, his hair in twists, black neck warmer, beaded necklaces and a bunch of rings, a T-shirt, black jacket, backwards dark jeans and Jordans. I was relieved that it was him but curious why he stopped me.
(In French) "You stalk me, Mai?" His voice low in my ear.
"Don't flatter yourself. Release my wrist!" I scoffed. He seems surprised by my response but didn't let me go. "You feeling ok? Everything ok, with you? Your brother?" I ask him trying to show polite concern.
(In French) "Yeah", he responds but he doesn't say anything else. Okay he is in a mood, I assume.
"Oh, well that's good. Okay, nice seeing you again." I say trying to walk away but he still holds my wrist. "Was there something on your mind?" I ask and smile politely.
He stared at me for a while, then he released me and walked away. I stood there wondering what that was about. Why he thought I was stalking him or why he prevented me from leaving when he obviously didn't want to talk. Crap! I forgot to arrange the meeting for Mia and Laurent. I tried to call him back but he was long gone now.

The next day, when I was out running errands, I ran into the twin again.
(In French) "You stalking me?" he asked.
"No! Again don't flatter yourself. Why do you keep asking if I'm stalking you? When you keep popping up wherever I am", my voice a little sharp. He looked at me confused. I sigh and repeat my statement in French. His eyes light up.
(In French) "You can speak French!
"Yes, of course", I respond giving him a look.
"Why do you always speak in English when you know I only speak French?" he asked.
"Firstly, you don't only speak French, I know you speak at least three languages. Secondly, I speak in English out of habit. I've been speaking English for the past ten years, except when my sister irritates me." I answered. "Now you answer me? Why'd you think I was stalking you?" I ask. He just smiled at me. He looks like a devious child. That day he accompanied me shopping and he was quite flirty. I shrugged it off, he's French, they're flirty.
We ran into each other' a few more times during Mia's tour and finally decided to exchange information. I would have considered us... friendly, even though he plays a really good game we couldn't get past the friends stage with extras stage.
So when I received a call one day from Laurent asking to talk to me in person about his brother, I didn't think twice about it.
I met him on the way to one of my sister's fashion things at a London café. He is wearing his hair in an afro, sunglasses, a black sleeveless Tshirt, an outrageously long colorful scarf with fur, dark pants and boots.
He greets us in English with cheek kisses, after a few minutes he asks to talk to me alone. Mia smiles then whispers in his ear, before walking away laughing.
He started by asking in English, "What you want from my brother?"
I answer him in French, "We're friends, so hang out occasionally, if he needed something I would try to help him out." I lean forward and remove his sunglasses. "I don't really have any expectations of him. As far as I understand, Larry has a full plate. I'm happy with a few hours here or there."
(In English) "That all you want for him a few hours!?" He looks surprised.
I reply in French, "I enjoy spending time with him once in a while but I honestly do not expect him to fulfill any dreams or anything like that. I can do that myself. So a little time and his respect is all I want." I look up into his eyes, "Does that answer your questions, Larry? Nice English by the way."
He laughs now speaking French, "Mia say you know it was me. Do you know how she know?"
"She watches him closely, your brother, and you don't move like him." I regretted putting it like that but it's the truth.
"Oh? My brother watch her too. So how you know I no Laurent, she told you?" He laughs.
I smile, "No, I know because I can see you." Also she wouldn't has laughed at him if you were Laurent."
"So what now?" he asked.
"That's up to you, you obviously had your reasons for doing this, maybe in time you'll tell me. I'm free for a while so we could eat here or go shoe shopping, if you have time." I offer.
"I have something else in mind." Larry said. "Come with me."

Laurent

(Twin's hotel room)
"My brother told me your sister watches me closely." I ask Mai as I hand her a drink.
"Ugh, when you say it like that, it sounds like she's stalking you or something." Mai says showing her disgust on her face.
"How you mean it?" Larry asks repositioned Mai so she can lean against him.
"As far as I can tell, she thinks Laurent is a very talented and artistic dancer the best she's ever seen, okay that sounds worse." She shakes her head. "Maybe you should ask her."
"She no here, you are." I reply.
"What up with her?" Larry asks before she could continue. "She always with girls and big security dude."
"What are you implying Larry?" Mai turned to face him. "Are you asking is she into girls or if she is messing around with Matt?" She asked with an indignant tone and a menacing look.
"I no know, both." Larry laughs. Mai pushs my brother's shoulder.
"Call her over."
"She's working right now," she says as she digs her ringing phone out of her purse. "But if you want you can come with me to go see her." She says looking directly at me then picks up her phone, "Yes, Mr. Change? Yes I see, ask Matt escort her out and wait for me. Also tell Matt I'm bring 2 friends with me. Make sure she waits for me."
"What's up?" Larry asks.
"Duty calls." Mai sighs gathering her belongings.
When we arrive, Mia is standing outside the building looking like a chastised child. Mai steps out and talks with Matt. Matt escorts Mia to the car, closing the door behind her. Mia got in the car without seeing if anyone else was in the car while she watches her sister through the window.
Mai walks into the building twisting and pinning her hair into a bun followed by men in suits.
"Hello, you done already?" I ask slightly startling her but not enough to get her full attention.
"That depends," she answers still looking out the window for her sister.
"Depends?" I ask.
She turns towards me looking irritated, then her face flushes. "Oh, uh, I'm sorry, I thought...", she blushes and stutters, "I thought by friends...was a code...extra security... sorry.", she lowered her head.
She was cute it reminded me of when we met. She started again, "Hi." Her voice small. "Nice to see you... again... uh...the contract ... was wrong." Her face turned redder and redder with each word as she mover closer to the door.
"Your sister said that you watch me closely?"
She looked like she was going to faint and quickly turned back towards the window squeezing her eyes shut, "Only when you perform otherwise it would be creepy, right?" Her breath slows then she laughs but her laugh was different than I remembered, it felt forced.
Matt opened the door. "Is okay, they found the right contract. Let's go back." He held his hand out for Mia as she almost sprinted out the car without another word.
"If you still have time I can get you on the set, you can be her guest." Matt looks at us.
What was that? Did she run away?
"Come on, Bro" Larry pushes me to get out the car.