Connected Lives (a Les Twins FanFiction)

Chapter 5

He may not have been throwing things, but Thea felt like Larry had stepped right over the overreacting line and landed smack in the middle of irrational. Watching him pace back and forth was making her dizzy.

"Larry, Larry," she felt like she was talking to a brick wall, a moving one at that. "Larry! Oh my god! Stop!" she shouted.

Thea's frustrated and worried voice broke through the chaos in his head. He stopped and leaned his tall frame against the back of his plush couch, letting his head fall back as if a weight hung from each of his characteristic twists. "None of this is making sense Larry. What does Gabi, kicking Lau out and thinking you're a bad father have to do with all of this?" she asked in a quieter tone.

Larry looked vulnerable, not something anyone would see often, or at all. It almost made Thea uncomfortable seeing him this way. Instead, pushing her own insecurities aside, she walked to him, stopping an arm's length away and looking up at him. She had thought he was a beautiful man from the moment she met him. She took a deep, calming breath. "Lar..." she started but was cut off by Larry's quiet voice.

"Gabi left Laurent. She should have a long time ago because he treats her like shit. But he doesn't see what he's doing to her. No, he doesn't want to see. He doesn't want to see what he's turned into. He doesn't have the right to be pissed off..." he paused a moment before looking at Thea and continuing, "so I told him that." He gave a shrug and shook his head slightly.

Suddenly he felt as if he couldn't speak. If he did it would mean admitting to Thea his deepest flaw. The way he had so carelessly treated his role in Aurelie's life made him physically ill. But rather than changing his ways, he buried the thoughts and feelings deep within him. But never deep enough because they haunted him in the quiet before sleep and into his dreams. Aurelie as a young woman telling him how he had been a worthless father. Aurelie refusing to see him. Or not knowing him. Aurelie yesterday, today, tomorrow with arms outstretched, tears running down her applecheeks, begging him not to go. And he does anyway. Laurent knew all of this, he was the only person he had ever confided in and he chose to turn that knowledge into a weapon to gut him. Larry was devastated. A light, almost hesitant, touch on his arm jarred him from his dark thoughts. The feel of Thea's fingers on his skin raised the fine hairs on his arm and he felt himself take a quick breath. He knew she was looking at him but he couldn't bring himself to look back. A moment later Thea pulled her hand back as if she had been stung. Bad timing Thea, she self-scolded.

"Um, can I get you...something," her words faltered, "like...well, I stocked your fridge with that mint water you like, and..." God Thea, you sound like an idiot. To her relief Larry stopped her with a lift of his hand and she saw a flit of a smile cross his face. His Adam's apple bobbed with a silent chuckle. "Hey! No laughing at me!" Thea arranged her face into an indignant skowl.

She has no idea what she does to me, or how much I want - no, do - how much I do love her, Larry confessed inwardly while gazing at the stunning woman before him. She was beautiful, no doubt, but it was her confidence and intelligence and calm that he had fallen in love with. It was probably instant but he repressed his emotions so much that he would probably never know. Before he could stop himself, he reached out and gently ran his thumb over her cheek. He saw her eyes widen and cheeks flush before he realized what he had done.

"Thea, I'm sorry," he sighed, "I, um, shouldn't..." his words trailed off, unsure of what to say next.

Composing herself, Thea smiled warmly, "Please, it's okay Larry. You've just been in a really stressful situation with Laurent."

"Laurent. Right. That motherfucker." Even as Larry's anger resurfaced, he felt a growing sense of unease about his brother. Using his well honed talent, he shoved the feeling deep into his brain, then closed the door and locked it tight. "I need to sleep."