The Exchange

Chapter 41

The magazine bothers me everyday. I can't turn a corner without thinking about it and fearing someone will point me out.

I wait and I wait for another story to come along. I wait for someone famous to announce they're pregnant or a private marriage proposal or a horrific concert incident. I wait and I wait but my face is still the side story. I'm surprised no one I know has seen it yet.

I keep my eye on twitter and check it daily from my computer. The tweets have not gotten any nicer. If anything they've gotten harsher and meaner.

As if she's still seeing him. Has she not gotten the message?

I hope she sees this and knows what a horny gold digger she is.

Like seriously? take a hint. #godie.

There are lots of them and most are even worse. I don't know why I keep reading them. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it. Something makes me feel the need to monitor it. To watch it. It's like I'm looking for something but I still don't really know what.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing!' I say slaming my laptop closed. Louis is standing behind me, looking over my shoulder at the now closed screen. It's not until now that I realize how harsh my voice was. "I mean, nothing." I say more calmly, "Just twitter."

"What are you tweeting?" He presses leaning on the back of my chair.

"My life." I reply sarcastically, getting up from the kitchen table. I glance at the clock and see that It's five minutes after the time I normally leave.

"Shit," I mutter, power walking to the front door. I grab my bag on my way past my room and throw on my boots, "See you later." I call as I wiggle to get them on.

"Mira?" It sounds like Louis is about to ask a question so I turn around. His tall frame stands behind me holding a mug of tea. I skipped breakfast again this morning. I thought if I got to the kitchen table before Louis did he wouldn't notice, but I guess I was wrong. I just haven't been in the breakfast mood lately.

"Thanks." I say dryly, zipping up my coat and accepting the mug. I don't mean for my voice to be so emotionless but it just comes out that way. This time I realize there is no way to cover that.

"Mira, is everything okay?" Louis asks placing his hands on my shoulders.

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" I reply trying to avoid his eyes, "I'm just late."

Louis lets me go and I throw the door open to the grey, winter weather.

"Bye!" I call jumping out the door and taking off down the steps. Even though I know I won't be late, I power walk across the field and put as much distance between my computer and I as possible.

***

"What are you doing?" Niall asks stepping into the living room in his robe.

"Nothing!" Louis exclaims shutting Mira's laptop, but he's too late. Niall looks between Louis and Mira's laptop and Louis sighs. The other boys stride into the room one by one and stand to the side, observing the scene unfolding before them.

Louis sighs and looks back up to the boys cautiously, "Do you find Mira's been acting a little strange these days?" He asks looking from one of his friends to the other.

"A little." Liam replies, walking in from the kitchen with a banana.

"Yeah, she slammed her computer closed this morning when I asked what she was up to." Louis replies feeling a little guilty, "I just thought maybe something was wrong."