Chapter Text
‘Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,’ August called out to Laurent.‘At the end, you're going to be late for work in the end.‘
Laurente slowly opened his eyes in his new room, in his new home, in his new life. He rubbed his eyes hard before letting out a grunt of protest. August couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Good morning to you too. What time did you go to bed yesterday?
‘Late' Laurent finally replied in a hoarse voice, 'I couldn't sleep '
August gave his little brother a sad smile and sat down on the bed with him. 'Do you want to talk about it?'
Laurent shot him a look of disgust, but it didn’t have the effect he’d hoped for, as his red eyes completely ruined the effect. His brother merely sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
Come on, today’s the big day – my little brother’s starting his first job
"As if it were some sort of special event"
"Starting work at our uncle’s shop is a family tradition."
"You worked for less than a week because you didn’t know how to get money and you kept pestering our uncle until he’d had enough "Laurent retorted as he went into the bathroom to get changed
"Minor details. By the way. "August waited for Laurent to come out of the bathroom before continuing "I’ve noticed there are a couple of people who meet at the viewpoint in the evenings; you could pop along."
Laurent shot him a dirty look, this time with even more intensity.
"Laurent…""August"
"Laurent, I know it’s difficult."
"August, not now."
"But until the new term starts, this is our life now, and little by little we have to adapt to it.
"I thought you were giving me the choice of whether or not I wanted to talk"
"Laurent, but…"
"Well, the answer is no"
August stared into his brother’s eyes, trying to see if it had any effect on him. Seeing that he was simply holding his gaze, he let out a sad sigh.
‘At least let’s have a bite to eat at the bar before I leave this afternoon.’
‘I’ll think about it,’ was the last thing he said before walking out the door.
___
Laurent had been in the shop for less than an hour and already knew he wasn’t going to like it there. The shop was one of the few in the village and, so far, the only customers had been elderly ladies looking for the perfect outfit for Sunday.
Laurent hated being there, but his uncle had insisted that, as Laurent would be staying at his house over the summer whilst not at university, he should work in his shop. August had recently finished university and started work, so he came and went almost every day.
He heard the bell ring to signal that someone had entered the shop and was surprised to see that it was not another elderly couple, but two young people. The first was a girl with pale skin, typical of Vere, the northern town where Laurent had grown up, with light eyes and quite long, curly black hair. The boy accompanying her had a tanned skin, typical of the people of Akielos, the village where Laurent was now supposed to be living. He was quite strong and sturdy, with dark eyes, and his brown hair was tied. Although they had quite noticeable differences, they both had similar features. This was particularly evident in their expressions, as they both wore the same look of surprise upon realising that a new person was behind the counter.
"Hello" said the girl.
"Good morning"
"You’re not from round here, are you? You speak so fine accent."
Laurent gave a silent thank-you when the girl gave the lad a slap on the back of the head.
"What my cousin means is that we didn’t know a newcomer had arrived in the village"
"Or that the old man had any family. What are you, his nephew? You do look a bit like him"
The lad got a second slap round the back of the head
‘We were out looking for smart clothes – a friend’s brother is getting married. Kastor, one of the bar owner’s sons. Do you know who he is?’
Laurent shook his head.
‘You’ll get to know him – here, whether by luck or misfortune, everyone knows everyone.’
‘I see it more as a punishment.’
From the look the lad gave him, he could tell he hadn’t liked his answer.
‘That type of clothes outfit is right there in the shop window.’
‘Thanks!’
So off they both went towards the suits.
Just as he thought he’d finally got rid of them both and could get back to the book he’d brought along to pass the time, he heard the shop bell ring out again.
‘Damen, we’re here, mate!’ he heard the lad shout.