The Exchange

Chapter 9- Something Uncovered

After a lengthy chat on the phone with Polly, Sasha felt much better. Her emotions had been so up and down lately she felt both drained and confused. Constantly arguing with herself, and going from absolutely furious to deeply embarrassed had given her psychological whiplash.

She just wanted her life to go back to the way it was before Julien had popped up, weaseling his way into her head, and running through her mind causing havoc. She did not have the brainpower to contend with his ego! Seven weeks of this was going to kill her.

'Maybe I could temporarily move in with Polly or Cass?', Sasha mused, twirling a strand of hair absentmindedly. And who did Julien think he was randomly inviting his friends over to her house without even asking?!

He walked around as if he owned the place and she had to scuttle quietly in the shadows so as not to upset the mighty French prince. Sasha scowled at the image forming in her head and how easy she was defeated by his inconsiderate attitude.

Annette would be home from work soon and then she wouldn't have to tip toe around so much and she could hide in her mothers talkative shadow. Another wimpy move but better than lock herself away in her bedroom.

"I am a pussy", Sasha moaned glumly. Tying her hair up in a loose ponytail she decided to go find Ben heading for the kitchen first as it was his favourite place in the house.

----

The kitchen was empty. In fact all of downstairs seemed strangely quiet. Sasha hoped that the silence meant Julien and his perverted friend, Luis, had gone out. But it also meant that her brother must be back upstairs in his room and that seemed ages away.

She could picture what he was doing; tapping his phone screen under a heap of blankets playing one of his racing games. Mario Kart was his most recent favourite.

Smiling to herself she leaned down toward the sink, taking a sip of water directly from the kitchen tap. The droplets dribbled down her chin and she brought a hand up to her face to wipe them away.

The sound of a throat being cleared behind her made her jump and she spun around in surprise.

Julien stood in the doorway, this time fully clothed.

'Thank god! This boy actually does own a shirt', Sasha thought before slouching to rest her lower back against the kitchen counter. 

'Might as well get comfortable and prepare myself for the next snarky comment'.

"Can I get you something?", she asked Julien attempting to be casual but instead it came out in a tense and testing voice. She didn't know why but every time they were together she seemed to be on edge as though she were about to fall into a steep precipice.

He didn't reply. Why was he a boy of such little words? And why did he always stare at her like that?

She bit her thumb awkwardly. The light flickered. The fridge hummed.

'So we're going to stand like this all night then', Sasha mentally asked herself, wishing she was a mind reader.

"I wanted to say sorry", said Julien suddenly, cutting through the uncomfortable silence. His voice sounded gruff, not like its usual over-confident tone. He licked his lips.

Fiddling with her hands Sasha searched her brain unsure of how to reply. What was this? Some kind of joke? She raised her eyes slowly, unwillingly meet his gaze, and was surprised to see genuine concern written all over his face.

Who was this sincere person standing in front of her and where was the cocky Julien she knew?

He exhaled gently before ruffling his curly hair. Much to Sasha's suprise he appeared anxious when apologising to her as though he were stripping himself of all his jerkish characteristics that obviously acted like protective clothing. 

"So, désolé (sorry)", he said earnestly. It sounded even more heartfelt spoken in his native language.

Sasha was dumbfounded. Words had escaped her but not for the usual reason. Was Julien really admitting that he had been an asshole or was she just imagining it?

"Um okay", was all she could articulate in a feeble reply.

"I didn't mean to embarrass you", Julien continued, "I'm known for being a bit of a... salaud (bastard)".

Sasha nodded slowly, assuming the french word Julien had used was an insult rather than a compliment towards his character.

"I'll just stay out of your way now on", he finished, "easy for everyone". He offered her a small smile before turning to leave.

"Thanks", Sasha called out after him as he disappeared into the dark hall but her head was reeling. She was even more confused than before. Either she'd just spoken to an alien clone or she'd completely misjudged his personality.

'I'll stay out of your way'.

Sasha repeated Julien's words in her head. So he'd apologised. A start.

'But he still probably doesn't want anything to do with me', she told herself.

'Easy for everyone' meant easier for himself. Sighing she decided that she'd most likely never work him out even if she becoming more intrigued every day.

'What another mighty mind fuck to add to the pile!'

----

Once her mother had got back from work they all had dinner together. Throughout the entire meal Sasha was internally toying with the situation that had occured earlier in the kitchen but had still not come to a conclusion. Thus she was absent at the dinner table, lost in thought.

She didn't look at Julien once, worried this would confuse her even more and raced upstairs to her bedroom once she'd finished her plate of food.

Changing into a pair of fluffy Pjama trousers and white tank top she fell into bed knowing that the night ahead was going to be a long one.