So, Here I Am

Chapter Twenty Six Larry and Issy

Since Soraya had called Larry and told him she and A.J. were back together as a couple, he had been in hiding, in a funk. He hadn't wanted to go anywhere, do anything, see anyone except Laurent. The Twins didn't have much work at the moment, until the week Maggie would be there.

Larry "Blood's thicker than water, Lau, you'd think he'd realise that, arrogant little bastard ! My own brother, stealing my girl !"

Laurent "He is your brother, you're right, but you will forgive him, he didn't "steal" her, and she wasn't "your girl". Now, get your head out from up your ass, and come and dance. We might not have work for a while, but we need to keep the edge" Laurent said gently, but matter-of-factly. He was trying to keep him busy, and not to let Larry get too upset about Soraya dumping him, he wasn't used to it, he was usually the dumper, not the dumpee, and it hurt.

Larry "How long till the L.A. workshops ?" he asked

"About a week, why?"

"I'm gonna spend a few days with Issy, she'll get my head straight".

Laurent didn't know why he didn't like Issy, she was a bit of a tomboy, and too straight forward for Laurents liking, but she was so good for his brother. She was a calming influence on him, and he could see, feel, the difference in Larry after he had spent time with her. She really did do his head good.

Laurent "Just let me know when you go, and when you'll be back, OK?"

Issy's parents had an apartment on Malibu beach, which she made use of from time to time. Stepping directly from your door on to the sand, hearing and smelling the ocean on your doorstep was a luxury she would never tire of, and would never take for granted.   When Larry called and asked to spend some time with her, she refused at first, she was so busy. But he sounded so sad, so desperate, she couldn't say no. She rearranged her schedule for a few days, and could always work form the apartment if she absolutely had to. He needed her, he said, no one else could sort out his head, his thoughts, his feelings, like she could. 

Well, if he put it that way .....

Larry met Issy at hers, and they made the short drive to Malibu in good time. Entering the apartment from the street, as the door opened, the first thing that smacked you in the face was the view. Sand and Water. Beach and Ocean. Larry put the bags down that he had carried from the car, walked over to the wall of windows, pulling one open, and took the deepest, longest, most fulfilling breath since his first on the planet.

"Oh, God, Issy, this is SO good, I needed this. Thank you" He said the thank you directly to her, as she joined him feeling the warm breeze on her face. They stood there for a long moment, arms around each other, as it was so natural for the two friends to do.  There was no uneasiness between them even since that night in her apartment. They still talked, texted, met for coffee. She felt they would be friends forever.

Issy "Well, the day is still young, whatcha wanna do ?" she asked, then a thought struck her

"We need to go get some groceries, if you're gonna cook dinner for me ...." she let her sentence trail off, waiting for a reaction form Larry.

"OK, come on then, let's go !" he shouted enthusiastically  "Of course I'll cook for you, Iss, it's the least I can do"  Where was Larry ? Her Larrbear? She was expecting some form of abuse, some expletives of some sort, but none came. He was happy here, and that made her happy. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all.

They did their shopping, Larry choosing ingredients for their dinner that night. Back at the apartment, they kicked off their shoes, and as the sun got low on the horizon, they took a walk along the beach, Larry's arm around Issy's shoulders, her arm around his waist. Looking exactly like the lovers that they were not.