AUTHOR'S POV

Having bought all the shoes he can possibly buy, considering they're still traveling and won't have much room for them, Larry decided to quit shopping and head back to the hotel. Before the cab pulled up he received a call from Eleni saying that their meeting has been moved to an earlier time. She said she called Laurent first but didn't get an answer. Larry immediately thought that was weird because Laurent always answers his phone unless they're working and since Larry is certain he's been in his room mostly he doesn't understand why the call was missed. Unless he took a nap and the call didn't wake him up. Either way Laurent has to know so once he puts the bags in his room Larry will tell him...although a weird feeling comes over him as he makes the short step over. He isn't sure why until he hears a woman's voice call out "I'll get it". Even though Laurent's room is directly across from him he has to double check the room number to make sure he's at the right door. Why is he hearing a woman's voice? When this woman opens the door he immediately recognizes her as Christina. She and Laurent are friends but they also had a little something more going on at one point. For a minute Larry forgot that she lives in New York and now he's wondering if Laurent called her so they can hook up again. Surely not. Surely he wouldn't do this to him on top of what is already going on? Then he notices that she's only wearing a robe and with Laurent now joining her he notices he barely has on any clothes so he immediately thinks the worse. Laurent can tell exactly what Larry is thinking but he still has to act as normally as possible as to not cause suspicion with Christina so...

Laurent: "Bro? What's up"?

Larry: "Um, we need to go to the meeting early. Eleni said she called you but you didn't answer".

Laurent: "Yeah oki. What time"?

Larry feels a lump in his throat meaning he's about to cry. He swallows so hard even Christina and Laurent see it. He eventually answers Laurent's question... 

Larry: "In two hours".

His eyes are fixated on Laurent who's now wide eyed and shaking his head. Larry is unsure of what that means but he doesn't have time to analyze it because he feels something wet on his face. He looks at Christina who's now looking at him with a face reading full on confusion, then back at Laurent before spinning around to go over to his room. How he's so tired of crying. Meanwhile, Laurent is already in a panic because he knows Larry think he and Christina did something so he has to talk to him right now... 

Christina: "He was crying".

Laurent: "Yeah I know. Um, I gotta get dressed and go over to check on him. I'll be back".

Christina: "Yeah no problem. Take your time".

Laurent threw a shirt on and bolted out the door. He practically leaps across the hallway and started knocking on Larry's door...

Laurent: "Larry open the door please". *silence* "Larry"? *pause* "Larry"!

Laurent is unaware that Larry isn't in his room. He went inside for a moment but is so hurt he just left again. He wants to be alone before going to the meeting. He won't ride with Laurent either. He knows where the meeting will be held so he'll get there another way. When Laurent realized he isn't getting a response he assumes Larry is too upset to let him in so he'll have to try talking to him later. For now, he'll go back in his room to finish getting ready... 

Christina: *looks confused* "That was quick".

Laurent: "He didn't answer. Maybe he went to get something to eat but I need to get ready. We'll talk when I get back".

Christina: "No problem, and thank you again".

Laurent: "Welcome".

Laurent quickly got dressed so he won't be late. He receives a message saying that the car is waiting for him downstairs and it excites him because he can finally talk to Larry and assure him that nothing happened so he can't get downstairs fast enough. Much to his disappointment he sees that Larry isn't in the car. He calls Eleni to ask if she knows where he is. Turns out Larry called and told her that he's getting there another way and Laurent is thankful because he would be extremely worried if no one has talked to him so although he's upset he can't talk to him now at least he knows he'll be able to soon... 

The car pulls up in front of the building but it can't come to a complete stop before Laurent jumps out. He flew inside then sees Eleni waving him down so he figured she's outside of the room the meeting is in so he jogs over to her. He went inside and there's his beautiful Larry already in his seat...but when he sees Laurent he rolls his eyes. Laurent slowly walks over and takes the seat next to him. Speaking low enough so no one will hear him...

Laurent: "Larry, bebe it's no...."

Larry "I don't want to talk to you Laurent. Please go away".

Laurent can already feel his heart crumbling. He takes his hand and softly put it on Larry's back only to feel him flinch. This is all the more reason he really needs to talk to him so Larry won't continue thinking he's cheated on him...

Laurent: "Oki. I'll do what you say, but we need to talk bebe".

Wanting to honor Larry's wish he got up and took the seat across from him...and of course that won't allow him to keep his eyes off of him. The pain on Larry's face is making Laurent's heart sting and once again he mentally states, "I didn't do anything bebe" with the hope that it will telepathically reach his love. But, Laurent quickly discovers that the message went completely unheard because the pained look never leaves Larry's face. Laurent watched as Larry stares at the table...and as he takes one hand and slowly runs it through his fro as if he feels defeated. It's getting harder for Laurent by the second. Then...

Eleni: "Laurent? Larry? He's asking if you understand".

Even though Laurent really hasn't heard a word...and still looking at Larry...

Laurent: "Yes". *pause* "I understand".

Larry never lifted his head. He just nodded and like Laurent he endures the rest of the meeting although it's the last place they want to be...

*****

With the meeting finally over Larry is really quick to leave so he can get back to his room...but Laurent is determined to not let him get away so he runs after him. He's sure everyone, especially Eleni, is wondering what's going on between them but he couldn't care less. His focus is on Larry. He catches up then jumps in front of him...

Laurent: "Larry, ride back to hotel with me. Please"?

Larry: "No Laurent. I'll get there another way".

Laurent: *sigh* "Oki, well I'll come to your room and we talk yes"?

Larry: "We don't have anything to talk for".

Laurent: "Yes we do bebe and I'm not giving up until you agree".

*brief pause*

Larry: "Fine. Come to my room".

Relieved Laurent allowed Larry to walk around him and leave while he heads for the car...

*****

Laurent arrived before Larry so he's sitting on the floor outside of his room and waiting for him. Now seeing him walking up the hall he stands up. Their eyes meet but they haven't said anything yet as it's best to wait until they're inside. Once inside Larry does the customary thing of removing his jacket and shoes then turns around...

Larry: "So talk Laurent".

Laurent: "Bebe, Christina is only here because she needed to get away from her ex-boyfriend who was beating her. She asked if she can take a shower and after that I took one so that's why you saw us like that but I swear...we didn't do anything".

*brief pause*

Larry: "You telling me the truth"?

Laurent: "Yes bebe. That's the truth. Look in my eyes".

Larry takes that advice and begins searching Laurent's eyes for the truth. Laurent is sure he's going to find it but naturally he can't help getting caught up in Larry's beautiful eyes...

Larry: "I believe you". *pause* "I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to explain".

Laurent: "It's oki bebe. Don't worry for that".

Larry: "But we still have a big problem Laurent". *pause* "You still won't tell me what's going on". 

Laurent: "Larry I already explained".

Larry: "You didn't explain anything Laurent. If you did I wouldn't ask you". 

Laurent: *sigh* "You know what I mean".

Larry: "Right. You just want to protect me. Blah, blah, blah".

Laurent: "Really Larry? That's how you feel"?

Larry: "Yes that's how I feel Laurent! I'm so tired of being shut out over this shit"!

Laurent: "Well if you would have just waited until we got back to the hotel we wouldn't be in this shit"!

Larry's eyes widen in shock and his mouth falls open at Laurent's words, well, the truth in those words. That hits him hard. It takes him a minute but he eventually drops his head and stares at the floor. Laurent can't believe he said that and he knows it hurt him deeply so he quickly steps forward to apologize and comfort him...

Laurent: "Bebe I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it".

Larry's head is still down but he hears Laurent coming close to him so he steps back. He then looks up with tears in his eyes...

Larry: "You're right Laurent. This is my fault. Not just for kissing you at the workshop but for everything. For telling you that I'm in love with you and now Franco". *pause* "It's my fault".

Laurent: "Larry, please don't do this to yourself. Bebe you know I'm in love with you too and it's not your fault. Please don't". 

Larry: "It is Laurent and...I'm sorry. *pause* You can leave now".

Laurent: "I'm not going anywhere bebe".

Larry: "Laurent please. Just leave. I need to be alone".

*brief pause*

Laurent: "Oki", he whispers.

Laurent turned to leave but like the other day he stopped at the door to turn around and say one more thing...

Laurent: "I love you bebe and I'm here when you're ready".

With no response or even a head nod from Larry Laurent left. Larry went over to the bed and plopped down on it. He tells himself that he can't live with the mess he's made. All he does is cry while he and Laurent grow further apart from each other. Now that they're meeting is over and they don't have any Les Twins business for a few days he knows what he needs to do...at least what he feels he needs to do...

~morning~

Laurent woke up and unsurprisingly Larry is the first person on his mind. He thinks about the previous night and Larry having so much pain in his eyes that he cried himself to sleep. He's beginning to wonder if maybe he should tell Larry so they can figure this out together. After all, Larry said he wants to protect him too and that just speaks volumes about the love he has for Laurent. Larry telling him that he's a one man team isn't at all the case...but in retrospect Laurent can understand why he said that. They can't get through anything together if they aren't on the same page with each other. Laurent just couldn't take it if something bad happens to Larry. He loves him too much...but he realizes now that he simply can't keep this to himself so he got up with the plan of getting dressed and going over to talk to him. His attention is grabbed by a piece of paper that was slid under the door so he walks over to pick it up. He doesn't have a good feeling about this and when he opens it up to read it the words will confirm why...

Laurent, I love you very much but when I told you this I had no idea that it would hurt you and even though I'm not sure how it's hard to deal with. We don't have Les Twins business for a few days so I'm leaving to give you space. I'm not telling you where I'm going, just know I'm oki. You said that you handled business with Franco and I trust you. I also know you will be oki because you're strong. Please. Don't call me, don't look for me. You don't need to tell Eleni because I already told her. I'm really sorry but I do love you Laurent.

~Larry

Laurent falls to his knees and bursts into tears. Larry is gone and he has no idea where he is. Larry may feel like this is his fault but Laurent is taking full blame. If he had just told him Larry would still be here and he wouldn't have felt the need to leave...but he did and it hurts. How he wishes this was just a dream...

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A/N: I know this hurt a little but the update is coming soon! Please vote and comment if you enjoyed! Love you guys. :)