Through the Fire (a Les Twins fanfic)

Chapter 16: Gentleman Callers

Gabby couldn't sleep. She hadn't been sleeping well ever since Laurent left. The bed seemed so big without him in it.

She flipped on her side and fluffed her pillow for the hundredth time. Eventually she gave up and went to the kitchen for a glass of water.  The house was dark and eerily quiet.  It was never quiet when Larry and Laurent were around and she had gotten used to their lively racket.   When she opened the cabinet the glasses on the shelves were still neatly organized like Larry left them.   A pang of loneliness hit her.  If it was this bad after only a week, she didn't know how she was going to make it six whole months.

Shauna had come over earlier and they finally had their movie night.  After the movie ended Gabby went to the laundry room and returned with her sister's Charlie Brown t-shirt and pink panties washed and neatly folded.

"Here."

Shauna's eyes got big and she tried to play dumb.  "Where'd you find those?"

"You know where."  Gabby cut her eyes at her sister.  "How long was it going on?"

"A while."  Shauna scooted over on the couch and prepared herself for a boring speech about what a bad idea it was for her to get involved with Larry, blah, blah, blah.

But Gabby just moved closer and put her arm around her.

"So...do you miss him as much as I miss Laurent?"

Shauna nodded and let her head fall on Gabby's shoulder.  "I didn't mean to catch feelings. I don't know what happened."

"I know.  When I first met Lau I wasn't planning to fall for him either.  They kinda have this irresistible effect on you and the next thing you know..."

"The next thing you know you're a thousand miles away missing them like crazy."

Gabby patted her sister's head.  "Basically."

After she finished her glass of water, Gabby turned out the lights and trudged back to bed.  She was lying under the covers staring at the ceiling when her phone buzzed and lit up.  The time was 3:48AM.

"Lau?"

"Hi, baby.  I'm sorry I woke you."

"No, you didn't wake me. I was up."

"What you doing up?"

She let out a long ragged breath.  "I can't sleep without you."

"Me neither.  What're you wearing?"

"Um.  My nightgown?"

"Take it off."

Gabby put down the phone to wiggle out of her gown then picked it back up and laid anxiously in the dark awaiting Laurent's next instructions.

****

Gabby woke up giddy and satisfied the next morning.  She showered and changed into a pair of gray cropped jogging pants and a white halter top.

Since she was still tired from staying up all night playing dirty on the phone with Laurent she decided to work from home.  She was in the living room checking her email when the doorbell rang.  She opened the front door without looking through the peephole first expecting it to be the mailman or maybe a neighbor.

"Hi."

"Tarik? What are you doing here?"  She stood halfway behind the door to hide her exposed midriff.

He pointed to the box under his arm.  "Patrick sent me by with some files you need."

There was a short silence as Gabby processed his answer.