The Healing Process (L.T)

19

Laurent was bit scared when he left for the store. Ivy went to sleep right after her bath, and she's been knocked out ever since. He's called her from the store to make sure she was okay and she didn't answer, so there was no doubt that she was asleep. Larry was with him, and they were picking out stuff for her that she might like. He suggested they go shopping for most of her stuff tonight and then take her for the things she wants when Laurent got back from work on Monday. They didn't go overboard with her stuff although Larry had to keep Laurent from buying the whole petite section. The first thing he grabbed for her was her sanitary pads and things like that before he got her clothes. She didn't seem to like bright colors and almost everything she wore was dull, so he mixed them up. A few things would be vibrant, and most things would be dark, kind of like Yin and Yang.

They got the food prior to going to get her stuff so all they had to do was checkout and go home. They were standing in line, ready to go up next when Laurent spoke up.

"You think she will like this stuff?" He asked, gesturing towards their cart filled with her stuff. "I want her to be honest if she don't like it."

"Lau," Larry said, glaring at his brother playfully. "You ask me that the whole time we was here. She will love this stuff."

Laurent huffed and he nodded, rubbing a hand through his twists. "I hope so. She don't answer her phone so I think she still asleep. I mean I give her two pills, so she will be asleep for a little bit."

Larry nodded. "She still have cramps when you leave?"

"I don't think so," Laurent hummed. "When I help her wash, she was in pain but when we was done and I put her in bed, she was okay. She fall asleep right after, though."

"That's good I think," Larry shrugged. "I don't know, I don't really be with Melissa in her period before we break up."

"I never be with anyone when they have a period," Laurent chuckled. "I really don't know what to do but I will learn. Only for my baby."

Larry smiled and he looked over at his brother, noting the warmth surfacing in his eyes as he started to think about her. He was honestly happy that his brother was already showing signs of being okay, but he knew it would've taken this long. He's noticed the way he looked at the bottles they'd seen in the store, how he paused when he thought about buying one, and the reluctance in his step when he ultimately decided not to. It hasn't been easy for Larry either because Melissa texted him while they were food shopping and she offered to give some bags for free, and in return she wanted sex. He almost said yes to her and it took a lot for him not to come up with an excuse to go and see her. He did pick up some food and treats for Peanut, though, because he needed to be fed as well.

He'd forgotten to apply for more jobs when he got home after his situation, but he planned on doing it after they finished shopping. The job he head now was only part time and he worked Monday's, Thursday's, and Saturday's. He didn't really do anything outside of work so his pay was low and he needed more.

In due time.

They moved up in line and Larry started to put some clothes onto the counter. Laurent started to as well and he looked up at the cashier, smiling at him as he placed a few things on it. The man smiled back and he began to ring Ivy's things up, humming lightly as he swiped the tags against the scanner. Laurent wouldn't have questioned who he was if he hadn't looked at the name tag but he did and he frowned deeply, narrowing his eyes as he made sure he read the name correctly.

Bryce.

Laurent felt the adrenaline course through his body as he looked back up at the man, who was now ringing up most of Ivy's clothes. He clenched his jaw tight as he looked over his face, frowning when he saw tiny little scars decorating the sides of his face. They looked pretty painful, almost as if he'd been sliced by a blade. He looked rough and unkept; his shaggy hair was pointed in different directions, and his clothes were ruffled a bit as if he'd been shifting them around all day. It seemed as if he put little to no effort in what he looked like but it was clear as day that he was on some type of drug. His hollowed cheeks, the bags under his eyes, the bumps sprinkled across his forehead. He was a big guy, but he didn't seem to have the weight that he should have on his bones.