Connected Lives (a Les Twins FanFiction)

Chapter 15

Much to Thea and Elodie's relief, no one was arrested. As to what she had witnessed, Thea was still unsure of what to make of it. Mama B was her quiet, thoughtful and clearly much happier self. Thea knew she had witnessed everything too but she did not seem at all phased by it. In fact, it's almost like she expected it. Thea had not asked her about it though, maybe she just didn't see it like Thea did. Asking Larry or Laurent anything was out of the question for a number of reasons. That left Elodie. The two women got along well, but they were 18 years apart and Elodie was always fluid on her relationship with her baby brothers: at times as protective and nurturing as a mother, other times irritated like an older sister, and sometimes the boys were secondary to her fierce love for her Mami.

Thea was an emotional and mental wreck and no one seemed to realize that. She guessed it was that she only let it all wash over her behind closed doors. It also got a little - a lot - irritating that everyone seemed to take for granted the privacy they had been enjoying. Over a week now, Thea had been tirelessly putting out fires, quashing rumors, cancelling Les Twins engagements, issuing refunds, and on and on. All of this walking the razor thin edge of giving enough information to appease clients while ensuring they did not know they had received no information at all. It had stretched her skill and talent to the absolute limit.

Boubou had been wonderful, trustworthy support. And Regi, well, she could not make it without him. Ironically, the fallout between Laurent and Gabi had proved an invaluable tool in the social media realm. Apparently and 18 year old girl visiting Paris from Houston, Texas, had watched the whole thing go down after she had gotten a selfie with Laurent. (Thea was reminded again why online fans made her gag when she learned Laurent's newest "nickname" was "Lau-lipop," god) As for fangirl, naturally "Laus_texas_grl" posted the entire experience all over Instagram, which was then shared on Twitter and Facebook, even YouTube. That Gabi took off to South Africa for a photoshoot slash vacation only fueled the rumor machine. Thea as sad for Gabi, who she considered a friend. The hate thrown at her was terrible and untrue. But Larry and Elodie were adamant that she not know what had happened, they did not want her to feel responsible. Thea had agreed, but for less virtuous reasons: Gabi was a risk to their privacy as well as their brand if she knew and told anyone, even in confidence, and it was leaked. Les Twins were not A List celebrities, yet, but depending on how the media decided to cover an overdose story, they might not survive the scandal to even see the list. Building an empire, that was what she was doing, required an empress. She was becoming more aware daily she was very alone in that empire.

Oh, and there was Sarah Ember. When she had arrived at Charles des Gaulle, Thea had made sure there was a car to pick her up. She had arranged, and paid for, accommodations at one of the finest hotels in Paris, just minutes walking distance from the boys' penthouse. She had even set her up with a private tour guide to take her around the city. But Thea had not actually met Sarah, or spoken to her for that matter, since she arrived. I haven't had time, she told herself. The truth was that the idea of meeting someone who had a vision or whatever about something no one could ever have known, it freaked her the fuck out. She was still trying to fully accept the twins' impossible gift, she didn't need any more inexplicable shit in her life. But, she wasn't going to be able to put this off forever. Sooner rather than later, Laurent was going to ask how everything happened, and Larry would remember that she had known. Yep, she needed to get the meet-and-greet with Sarah over with. After she talked to Elodie.

Holding tight to her extra dark espresso, Thea set off at a purposeful walk. The door of Laurent's room was shut which likely meant he was sleeping. She opened the door, hyper aware of any noise it might make. The room was quiet save for the scratching of Elodie's pencil as she solved a Sudoku and light snores coming from the bed.

It was difficult for her heart not to soften when she saw them. Laurent was slightly propped up in the bed but had slumped down a bit. His right hand rested on Larry's head, his left laid along his side. Larry had rested his head near Lau's side and his left arm hung down, having fallen off the bed. His right arm was draped over Lau's middle and his fingers were wrapped tightly around his brother's hand. She let her eyes roam over the twins but kept coming back to Larry's ringed fingers holding onto Laurent's. She realized then, more clearly than ever, that each of them may fall in love with someone, but that is had better be able to accept that she was never going to be number one.

She pulled her eyes from the boys, first looking to Mama B who evidently had been watching her with interest. Thea smiled at her when she beckoned her over.

"How are you Mama B?" she whispered.

Mama B's eyes lit up when she smiled. Larry had her smile. She picked up Thea's hand and patted it softly. "You care deeply for my sons, you work hard to help and protect them. It means so much to me."

Thea's eyes had gone watery. "Yes, I care for them, they are my friends."

"Ah, yes, they are friends," she paused for a while, like she had lost her train of thought, "Thea, you are good and kind, a very smart woman," another long pause. Thea almost said something but Mama B spoke again. "I agree with Larry that you are right for him. Just be patient with him dearheart, he locks away so much of himself, it takes time for him to find the key."

Thea was taken completely off guard. She self-consciously glanced back at Elodie, who apparently had heard what Mama B had said and it had shocked her too. Before she could stop herself, Thea blurted out, "Did he tell you this!?"

Mama B gave a breathy chuckle, "Oh my no, he would never say anything like that to me! But his heart would, so it spoke to me what he could not say in words." With that she patted Thea's hand again, then picked up her knitting, humming quietly.

Thea sat back on her heels and looked over at Larry and Laurent. She sighed and scrubbed her face with her hands before rising to walk to Elodie. The sister's eyes had been on her since the moment she walked in.

"Can I talk to you Elodie? Outside?"

The hallway was uncomfortably bright after the dim hospital room. Thea stopped and faced Elodie, who spoke up before Thea could start. "Why don't we walk? I have been sitting too much lately, and moving is good for the body...and conversation." So the two women set off at a leisurely pace, and again, while Thea was figuring out where to begin, Elodie spoke first.