The Exchange

Chapter 44

"Mira, can we talk?" Louis asks me softly. I turn away from my homework and nod.

"Yeah, always." I reply, slightly worried. I have no idea what this is about but I go along with it. I make myself stand up and sit on the bed next to Louis, taking a deep breath as I do so to calm my nerves.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, sinking down into the mattress.

"Yeah, I just want to talk to you about something." He says nervously, taking a long breath. I use my two fingers, and the pressure point Hayden taught me years ago, to turn his head towards me.

"What's going on?" I ask softly, looking into his eyes. "You look troubled."

"It's just..." he begins. I let my hand drop and he catches it in his own, "I should really tell you this," he pauses for effect, taking a large breath as he does so and exhaling slowly. His troubled state troubles me and my heart beats faster. My anxiety level is rising as to what could be so wrong. "We found out who sold the photo to the magazine."

"You did?" I reply slowly, "when?" I had no clue they found the private paparazzi who snapped that photo.

"Last week." he replies. It feels like time is going by so quickly these days. I didn't even suspect anything suspicious.

"So who is the unknown mystery man?" I ask, taking this casually and trying to show how little this bothers me. I glide over to my dresser and play with the jewelry pieces I've thrown on top, rearranging them into a neater order. His unknown face to me; formulated in my imagination. 5'8, brown hair, scruffy beard with a grey hooded vest and jeans, lurking behind a bush.

"It was Eleanor."

"What?" I turn speedily. The quick turn makes me dizzy and I instantly lift my hand to my forehead to stop the spinning. "Are you sure?"

"She admitted it to me over the phone." He responds, nodding disappointedly into his lap.

"Why would she want to do that?" I think aloud, mostly to myself even though I think we all know why she would want to do that.  Louis gives me a look. "Yeah, you're right."  I add after a second

"I handled it though so I don't want you to worry about it." He whispers, stepping over to me and placing his hands on each of my shoulders the way he does. I nod and he kisses my forehead.

"Do you think I should end it?" Louis whispers through tears. I step off his chest and look into his eyes.

"Do you love her?" I speak. My hands are still sitting on his chest, keeping us close, and his arms are still wrapped around my body. I know I should step further away, and create a larger distance but I just don't want to. I can feel that he wants me right now and admittedly, I want him, so I stay.

"Mira, what does that have to do with what she did?"

"Nothing. Do you love her?" I ask again. He thinks for a minute, looking intently into my eyes and pulling my closer to him.

"Not when she does this."

"But you love her?" I ask again, sounding more sure this time.

"I do..." Louis sad trailing off. For the first time in months his accent becomes prominent to my ears.  Love is a strong passion that does not quit easily.

"Then be with her." I say. He looks down and I see tears welling up on his eyes. "All this is between her and I, this has nothing to do with you." I tell him honestly.

"But Mira..."

"No buts" I stop him, "For once, I want to tell you not to worry." I say. He opens his mouth to protest but I kiss him lightly instead. A friendly peck for reassurance.

"Okay?" I ask waiting for confirmation.

"Okay." He still looks unsure but I know he agrees and I proved my point. I shouldn't be stopping him from being with who he wants to be with.