A/N : Whoa guys , you're not completely over me and this story right ? Cause I swear I've been trying to write and with all the assignments I've had and upcoming exams and then this damned writer's block being a bitch ...
Anyways , I hope you enjoy this for the both of us.
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Laurent flashed me another of his grins before sliding past me and into the apartment. I swallowed nervously and closed the door, turning to look at him and finding him shrugging out of his jacket and throwing it on the couch over the shopping bag he previously held between his fingers. He stretched, as he always did, twisting slightly before sitting beside his belongings, his eyes lifting to look at me before he casually tapped the space beside him on the couch. I pouted slightly and made my way to the couch, slowly sitting beside him, careful not to look at him. Of course I was curious as to why 'we needed to talk'; was he here on behalf of his twin? I wouldn't be surprised if he was; he was all about Larry and his feelings when he wanted to be.
 I froze when his arm stretched out behind me and he pulled me to his body, his hand resting on my shoulder. His usual scent would be soothing, but now it only made me nauseous and even more anxious. His silence stretched on for a while as his index finger twisted in my shirt sleeve and chest rising and falling as his breathing slowed slightly. I opened my mouth to say something, but stopped when he cleared his throat, shutting it instantly and adjusting against his side, my eyes still focused ahead of me.
"Who that new guy?" he asked, causing my head to whip around to look at him. His expression was neutral; almost too calm as he observed his bracelets on his wrists. "Come on Jojo, you not talk to me all night?" he asked when he finally looked at me with a smirk.
"How...?" I started, instantly feeling sick.
"A fan send me the picture on Instagram." he informed with a twist of his mouth and a single nod. He must've caught the color draining from my face because he released a low chuckle, shaking my shoulder before continuing. "I find it on Larry phone and delete it, no worry. But the fan send me saying that you a dirty whore for cheat on my brother." he said, causing me to frown. Me? Cheat? Dirty whore? I couldn't believe it. "So who he is?" he asked again.
"He's um..." I started , failing to continue thanks to the dryness that rested in my throat.
"No tell me he a friend cause I know is more than that." He said with a smirk with only increased my uneasiness.
"He's just.." I said with a sigh, " My boyfriend." I exhaled nervously,dropping  my gaze from his face to my lap.
"Damn." Laurent chuckled. "Larry gonna be pissed." He commented, causing me to look up at him with pleading eyes. The last thing I needed was Laurent being the one to deliver the news. "I not gonna tell him, Jobug." He said, cupping my shoulder soothingly as he fought a smile. "I just say the truth, no?"
"It's his fault." I muttered.
"That's true." Laurent agreed with a slow nod. "And he know it too."
"Is this when I prepare myself to listen to you vouch for your brother?" I asked with a roll of my eyes.
"Hell no!" He scoffed, "Larry deserve all this."
"I beg your pardon?" I asked in shock. This was not what I expected to hear.
"I not here for tell you to take my brother back." He said with a shake of his head. "I not here for tell you he miserable without you and he need you and you belong." He continued, "Nope! I here for you. You like my little sister, Jo, I have to know you okay too."
"But, he's your twin." I stated, frowning afterwards when he laughed loudly.
"That not mean he right for what he do and I not gonna pretend he is."
"Oh." Was all I could manage to choke out as a reply, my eyes back on my lap.
"So this new guy." He said after a short period of silence. "He treat you good?"
I responded with a nod, my furrowed brows directed at my lap as I tried to wrap my head around the fact that Laurent did not come here to defend his brother. A Â part of me wanted to hear how miserable he was and how much he needed me. I wanted to hear that he sent Laurent as means of convincing me to take him back, and since that wasn't the case, my shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Joanna?" Laurent's voice brought me from my thoughts and made me look up at the confusion that rested on his face. "What you think about?"
"Larry." It made no sense to lie, especially to Laurent.
"I do." I frowned. "Unfortunately."
"How'd you come here without him?"
"I never tell him where I going." He said with a mischievous smirk.
"Oh, rebel." I replied with a smile of my own.
"I come because I miss you too." He said next, causing my smile to widen. "This thing is with you and my brother, you know? Not you, him and me. You not have to hate me too."
"I could never hate you, Laurent." I assured, leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek and leaning back to see him beaming.
"Good!" He exclaimed. "And, I get you something." He informed, picking up the shopping bag he had rested beside him and handing it to me.
I smiled as I took it from him, immediately ducking my hand in to retrieve my gift. I pulled out a white T-shirt, unfolding it to see a big smiling ladybug on the front, giggles falling from my mouth the longer I stared at it.
"It make me think of you." Laurent said, contributing his own laughter. "Turn it around."
And I did, my giggles morphing into full on laughter once I saw the red letters spelling out  'Jo-Bug' on the back.
"Oh my God." I said breathlessly between laughs.
"I love!" I corrected, turning to hug him. "Thank you. You always know how to cheer me up." I praised, burying my face in the crook of his neck as his arms tightened around me.
I smiled at my reflection as I stared at my new shirt courtesy of Laurent before bundling my curls into a ponytail. I somehow got Ashley, along with the help of Jonah, to convince me to visit Imani in rehab. I was even hoping that maybe the shirt would lighten whatever mood she would be in as soon as she saw me, considering Laurent could always cheer her up as well. I sighed for the umpteenth time  since actually deciding to tag along before brushing the stubborn strands into place. Something inside me cause me to feel ill about the idea of seeing Imani; and it wasn't just because she was in rehab. I had an odd feeling that the day was not going to end well, but of course this feeling wouldn't have been enough to convince Ashley that I shouldn't be going to see her. The vibration of my phone against the countertop caused me to look down at the lit screen, groaning lowly when Ashley's name presented itself.
"I'm  guessing you're downstairs." I sighed, staring sadly at my reflection.
"Hurry up! Imani can't  wait to see you."
"Wait, you told her?" I asked in panic. Â
"Just hurry up!" she yelled again, hanging up immediately after.
I don't  exactly know how I got into Imaniâs  car as fast as I did, but next thing I know, she's ordering me to buckle  up as we cruised  down the street. I picked nervously at my  nails and chewed on my lip as I listened  to Ashley's low humming. A part of me wanted her to reenact thr conversation she had with Imani about seeing me; every facial expression, sigh or giggle. But the other part of me preferred I  stay in the dark just in case Imani ended up chaging her mind. Â
"So..." Ashley stopped her humming to drawl causing me to look over at her. "Confession." she added, clearing her throat nervously. "About Imani wanting to see you."
"Jesus Christ." I muttered, running my hands over my hair. "You lied didn't  you?"
"I did." she said softly, keeping her eyes on the road. "But before you lose your shit, hear me out." she added quickly. "She hasn't asked for you but I can tell she's upset about  something and I can bet it's..."
"I can bet you're  full of shit." I spat angrily, my burning gaze stuck on the side  of her face.
"Come on Joanna, this is your best friend we're  talking about." she chuckled  humorlessly, as if mocking my apprehension. "She can't  stay mad at you for doing  something that was for her own well being."
"You've met Imani right?" I asked. "She sure as hell can,"
"She misses you." she pressed  as if i hadn't said what I said. Â
"I bet you $100 she doesn't. " I muttered, Â sinking into my seat with folded arms and my narrowed gaze now on the road before us.
 I couldn't  control the pace of my heart as I walked up the stairs of the rehabilitation institute. I looked over at Ashley who walked beside me, glancing about the place with a nagging sense of ease causing me to roll my eyes. The only good that could come of this was the $100 she was sure to give me at the end of this day. I  scoffed lowly when she opened  the door for me, rolling my eyes again when I caught her grin before stopping immediately to take the place in. There  was no doubt that this place was designed by a professional, everything from the carpet to the lights that hung from the ceiling completely aesthetically pleasing.
"Its eggshell and maroon." Ashley said softly beside me, causing me to look at her with an arched brow. "Andrea made me know that the colors in this room are eggshell and maroon and not white and red." she said with  a roll of her eyes.
"Andrea?" I asked, taking another glance around the room before looking back at Ashley to catch the jerk of her chin towards an elderly woman perched behind the front desk. "Oh." was all I could said, a quick nod following suit.
"Come on, she's  always back here." she said, taking off to the left towards a hallway of more 'eggshell'.
I followed after a deep breath, my index busy scraping at the cuticle of thumb. My eyes stayed glued to the Ashley's ponytail as it swung at the back of her neck as I tried to regulate my breathing and soon enough I found myself walking into a bright room, the walls still coated with the light and dark complimenting colors. My squinted eyes searched the room as I mechanically followed behind Ashley and eventually ended up almost knocking her to the ground when zi blindly connected to her back.
I didn't  expect the giggle that followed, my eyes landing on Imani who stood before Ashley who thankfully regained her balance without help of the grip I had intended--but failed--to have on her arms in order to help her.
"Forever clumsy." Imani said, her eyes on me and the corner of her lips perked up in a small smile.
"Hi." I said softly with furrowed brows.
"Hi there." Â she replied, eyes bright as her arms crossed at her chest.
"Um..." I sounded, looking away.
"That's  $100." Ashley said proudly, a grin on her lips when I glanced at her.
"What are  you talking about?" Imani asked.
"Nothing." I interjected, "Nothing at all." I added with an uncomfortable chuckle.
"I'm  gonna leave you too alone." Ashley said with an even wider grin.
"Where you going." I asked, hearing Imaniâs  voice mingle with mine.
"Chill with Andrea, I guess." she shrugged. Â "I still don't know what kind of wood her desk is." she rolled her eyes, pecking Imaniâs cheek before stalking off.
I glanced back at Imani in time to catch the ghost of the smile she wore earlier,  her formerly bright eyes dimming as she looked from where Imani had disappeared in the hall to where I stood. For a moment I thought she would burst into a slew of curse words, releasing the suppressed rage  she had held in for so long, but instead she brought a hand up to her mouth, her eyes blinking back tears and before I could understand what was happening, my arms were wrapped around her as she cried against my shoulder.
"Imani..." I started, rubbing at her back, ready to console her. Ready to tell her that I understood why she was so mad and needed time. Ready to tell her how much I missed her. To hear how well her programmes were going; how bored she was within these walls and how much she had grown to hate eggshell and marron. I was ready to plan a day of shopping and pigging out when she finally got out; one we would end discussing how full of shit Larry was and how much she liked jonah on my couch. I almost smiled at the possibility but was silenced when she choked on her next word.
"I have AIDS." she blurted out softly, a low sob falling out after the words.
I froze against her, my eyes wide as they stared blankly at the maroon wall as her body rocked against me with heartbreaking quiet sobs and her shaking arms tightened around me.