The Exchange

Chapter 8- Awkward Encounters

The sun seeped into Sasha's room as a new day began. By the time she finally rolled out of bed, it was scorching. She groaned, face down in her pillow trying to recount what had occured the night before. She recalled going dancing with Polly and Cass, walking home and...

Her cheeks flushed bright red as she remembered falling through the guest bedroom window  right at Julien's feet. How cliche!

Squealing she immediatly began to berate herself- how could one person be so hopelessly embarrassing? If kept up the rate that she was blushing then her face was going to turn permanently crimson.

Sasha's recollection was blurred and there seemed to be parts missing, or maybe she'd made whole bits up, but she was sure that Julien had held her in his arms and helped her upstairs. And on top of that a half naked Julien!

'He probably only touched me because he had to', she told herself dejectedly, 'I mean he wouldn't want me passing out in his room'.

Sasha shook her head, surprised by her own thoughts, "I wouldn't want to sleep with him in his stupid room anyway!", she muttered under her breath.

So he'd helped her to her bedroom? So what! He was still the same high-handed, patronizing Julien he had been during the day, nothing had changed. Plus he'd made her feel like a little girl again. A little girl who couldn't look after herself. 

Releasing a sigh so big it deflated her body like a balloon Sasha tossed herself out of bed before padding to the bathroom. 

Although groggy she felt way better than she deserved as this hangover didn't even come close to past experiences. The only thing that was weighing on her was having to face Julien. She didn't doubt he would have some condescending comment to throw at her about her whole embarrassing act.

Raising her head slowly she studied the reflection in the bathroom mirror. A girl with long dark hair, rosey cheeks and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose stared back. She had sad eyes. Sasha stuck her tongue out at her image before noticing a small bruise on her forehead. 

'Maybe I do need looking after like a child' Sasha thought poking the purple mark, 'too clumsy for my own good'.

Praying Julien was out of the house at one his college classes she readied herself to head downstairs- it was time to face the music.

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Ben was in the sitting room watching a cartoon on TV and munching on a bowl of cereal when Sasha rounded the corner. Noticing her in the doorway he gave her a toothy grin that looked adorable matched with his still-sleepy eyes. 

"Hey", Sasha smiled back, "Where is everyone?"

"Mum's at work and Julien is somewhere as well but I can't remember", Ben replied before turning his attention back to the screen as a new episode popped up. 

Since school had broken up for summer Ben was taking full advantage of lazy mornings, lounging about the house to his hearts content which was something he wouldn't be allowed to do if Annette was home. Often he didn't even change out of his pjamas for the entire day which his mother would chastise the second she arrived back from work.

Sasha peered out of the window observing the boiling sun which was perfect weather for a dip in the pool. 

"Wanna go swimming?", she nudged Ben with an elbow.

Instantly dropping his spoon back into the bowel causing the milk to spill all over the coffee table her brother turned to grin excitedly over at Sasha.

 "Yeahhhhhh!!!", he cried gleefully, jumping to his feet.

"OK go get changed. I'll meet you out there in 5 minutes", Sasha winked before quickly adding, "and whoever gets there last is a stinky egg!"

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