SAGE

Chapter 3

Sage Miller

I ran a hand on my face feeling very frustrated and annoyed. If there's someone I don't wanna see right

now, it's Kate and her drama. That girl drags drama wherever she goes and I'm too tired to entertain

her.

"What the fuck are you doing here Kate?" I deadpanned and pushed my hair back.

She ignored me and strolled in like she ownedd the place. I sighed and followed her to the living room.

"We need to talk." She demanded and sat down on the sofa I was sleeping in a few minutes ago.

"Why not make yourself at home." I sarcastically told her.

"Oh, don't worry your pretty little heard. I'm planning to." She retorted making herself very comfortable.

I raised one eyebrow at her questioningly waiting for her to speak up.

The silence was deafening between us as she seem to think of what to say. Her bitchy and hard

exterior crumbled and at that moment she looked human.

"You know Sage, you don't get to end this I don't want this to end." She started softly. No disdain, no

resentment in her words. She sounded vulnerable. "I actually like you and I waited a long time for you

to notice me when you finally did noticed me you were gone before I knew it. I didn't get to enjoy the

moment."

My brows pecked up in surprised. I sure wasn't expecting that. Kate is known for being a bitch. The

Queen bee of our grade. She went out with guys so she can have bragging rights. I'm surprised it was

different with me.

But still I didn't care.

"I don't date Kate." I pointed that out to her. "I told you the other day, we had our fun and that's over. No

need to drag this on and cause unnecessary drama."

"I will cause drama Sage. As long as I don't get what I want." She said and her voice changed into

malicious. "There's something you should know about me Sage, I always get what I want."

"Good luck with that." I sarcastically said. I added an eye roll. "Now get out of my house."

I wasn't kidding and I made sure to show it in my face.

"I won't allow you. I'm Kate freaking Anderson. No one rejects me." She exclaimed and I'm done with

this.

"Fine I'm going to sleep." I said in a monotone voice already walking away. If she wanted drama I won't

give it to her.

"Get back here Sage." She demanded but only one girl can order me and that's my sister, even she

doesn't do that.

"Lock the door on your way out." I called halfway up the stair.

I don't know what she did next and I couldn't care less.

The next morning I woke and my phone ringing. It honestly felt like this was becoming a habit. People

couldn't just let me sleep in the morning.

I groaned and growled hoping that the person would give up and leave me alone but

it didn't stop. The person was persistent. Finally giving up on sleep, I sat up and grabbed my phone.

I was surprised and scared when I saw the caller Id. Wren. I didn't know what to think of it. My first

thought was if Eve was alright. I couldn't help but think of the worst things possible

I hurriedly and picked up the call.

"Wren." I rushed out already at the brink of panicking. Calls from here are never good new especially

this early in the morning.

"Morning Sage." And that tiny hope that I had that Eve was alright was crushed by the tone of her

voice. She Was worried and I could tell.

"What happened to her?" I panicked already looking for clothes to wear.

"She locked herself in her room and won't come out. I could hear her sobbing through the door Sage.

She won't open and hasn't eaten since she came back from school yesterday." Her voice wobbled. "I

don't know what's wrong. Do you think she'll hurt herself."

I had told Wren a while ago about Eve's issues. I didn't want to betray her trust but I had no choice. I

knew that sooner or later something like this will happen.

Eve's mental health isn't the best. And at this moment only one thing could push her into cutting herself

or even depression. Styles, and I swear to my dead parents that if he did something I will fuck him up.

I will fucking kill him with my bare hands. I've worked so damn hard to get Eve to a good place where

she didn't have to cut herself. Aunt Lauren killed shortly after dad died and adding to that was Clara's

abuse, I almost lost Eve to suicide.

Now, seeing how much she loves that damn looser, Styles. If he so much as broke her heart. It'll

shatter her and I'll have to pull her to the surface again. After I've worked so hard to get her off the cliff

she was headed.

I've lost too much in my life. I wouldn't survive loosing her. I will do anything for her. I killed for her and

I'll do it again and again. I can't loose her.

"I'll be there Wren." I ran down the stairs.

I dialed Eve's number while looking for my car keys. I just have to talk to her to know she hasn't hurt

herself yet. I hoped she haven't but she wasn't picking up my calls.

I arrived in her house and found Zac already waiting for me in the porch. I couldn't explain how scared I

was. I've seen Eve at her worst, after that whole Ryan Dalton saga. I wanna see her like that ever

again but I'm afraid, afraid that I was right all along.

I told her when she started dating Styles. I told her that he was just a fuckboy after one thing. She didn't

listen.she never does.

I don't know what happened between yesterday and this morning. I thought she was doing so great.

She wasn't showing any signs and then when I talked to her yesterday she was okay, happy even but

then again that's when she's the most destructive. When she sounds and look happy.

She's skilled at hiding how she really feels. She's an excellent actor. You'll see exactly what she wants

you to see. She's an expert in pretending.

"I don't know what to do bro, I'm glad you're finally here. Maybe she'll talk to you, she has to right? I

don't know what happened. She was okay just a few hours ago." Zac said the moment I approached

him.

"I'll go talk to her. Like you said, she has to talk to me." I told him running inside the house. I was pretty

confident that if there's someone he'll talk to, is me.

When I entered the house you could have sworn someone died. The whole atmosphere was tense and

full of sadness. Just walking up the stairs I felt like I could bawl my eyes out.

Wren was hugging herself and in the verge of tears. Ben and Alex were sitting on top of the stairs

holding the railing. The maids were lurking around on corners.

I guess it was hard on them too. My sister is the most important person in my life. I guess I didn't

expect they'd react this way.

But that's how Eve is, she leaves an impression on everyone. Whether you met on the side of the road

or you found out she was your daughter five months ago. She'll have an impact on you.

I ran up the stairs and everyone followed. I took the tray from.... Susan I think is her name. I balanced

the tray with one hand and used the other to knock.

I knocked a couple of times and no one answered. Each second that went by without any answer

passed with an increasing wave of anxiety.

"Please open up Eve. It's Sage. Please let me in" I softly called. I waited as I heard shuffling on the

other side of the door.

She opened the door wide enough for me to slide in. She locked it after I got in. I placed the tray on her

nightstand.

"They called you huh!" She stated weakly.

I turn around and did a quick once over on her body. She looked fine physically or at least she didn't cut

herself. All I saw were dried tears, a sad face and dark circles. She must've cried for a long time. She

looked so defeated.

I knew she needed a hug so I gave her one. I pulled her in and she buried her face in my chest and

started sobbing and my heart just broke. Then I knew exactly that he hurt her. I didn't even have the

energy to cuss him out. My sister took priority and making that she's okay is important that breaking his

jaw.

I never wanna see my sister sad. With each sob, the heaviness in my chest grew. All I wanted was her

sadness to go away. I could take it away if I could. She doesn't deserve to be hurt, not after being so

hurt for so long.

"It's going to be okay." I coaxed rubbing her back. " I'm here now. I'm always here."

I wanted to ask what happened but I know she'll tell me soon. This took me back to when we lived in

the same house. Whenever she was sad we would sleep together holding each other. I was her pillar

back then and I still am. And she is mine.

It's us against the world. Together forever.

"I broke up with Harry." She suddenly choked. My whole body tensed. Not because I was surprised. I

knew he hurt but I still wished I was wrong. I still wished she was sad because of something else,

perhaps that she miss her dead baby or that she remembered the day she miscarried.

But she was heart broken because of that piece of shit. I know if they broke up is if he did the breakup-

ing or if he did something.

My gut went to 'he did something'. What made me more pissed that anything is that I for a moment I

believed he truly did love Eve. For just a moment I think I saw it in his eyes, the love he had for my

sister. It turns out I was just as delusional as Eve. I thought I was good at reading people but he fooled

me too.

Eve was happy with him, she wanted lived after a long time of isolating herself. She Was getting out

there, exploring and that's what I wanted for her, to experience life. He did that for her, he showed her

how to live and not just be alive. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"He cheated on me Sage and it hurts so much." She explained. "I don't know how to make it shot. It

feels like he ripped my heart right out of my chest."

Uncontrollable rage bubbled inside me. I wanted to shove my fist so far up ass his grandkids would feel

it. I knew he was a burstard but this is just too fucking much. He hurt the one person I truly adore in this

planet and right now I didn't know what to do with the rage I was feeling.

I didn't even know what say to her because all my brain could think of is how many different ways I can

murder him and get away with it.

So I said the next best thing. I offered her a shoulder like I use to when Clara would pull her acts. I

didn't wanna risk saying the wrong thing so I offered comfort.

"Let it all out Eve. Let it all out." I shushed her and pulled her so that we were laying in her bed. "I'm

right here with you."

I pulled her head to my chest and I rocked her playing with her hair soothing her. Giving her comfort

until she felt asleep.

I left softly after Eve fell asleep. I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I waited outside his building, I

didn't wanna go up to his penthouse. I just had to teach him a lesson.

I warned him. I made him a promise once. I told him if he dared hurt her I'd come for him. I'd fuck him

up and today was the day. I keep my promises unlike him who couldn't keep his word.

It's a damn miracle I kept calm for this long.

I was leaning against my car across the road when finally spotted him exiting his building. I immediately

saw red.

I push myslef off my car and took long strides and croosed the road. One thing I noticed was that his

body looked deflated, he looked like how Eve looked but I didn't allow myself to feel bad for him or read

too much into it. For all I know it couldn't be an isolated matter.

All I wanted to bash his face even his ancestors wouldn't recognise him.

"You fucking bastard." I growled causing him to turn around. He didn't get a chance to process what

was going on before my fist landed a solid one on his jaw.

He stumbled backward and almost fell with how hard I punched him. My fist connected with his face

again and it didn't feel as satisfying as it was suppose to. Actually it felt like nothing. No relief came out

of him and I could see he wasn't fighting me.

I fought him a couple of months ago at Alora's house when I found out Eve was pregnant. I knew he

wasn't just a pretty fuckboy, he could throw a mean punch and block and if I hadn't been training and

fighting since joining the gang, I would've lost against him.

And today he wasn't even blocking, so I stopped. Hitting him didn't make me feel any better. I felt

nothing from it. It didn't bring relief like I imagined it would.

I noticed that I attracted what little people were walking by. I got off him and sat next to him. He didn't

border to get up. I noticed the was some guy coming towards us but Styles told him not too.

I knew the guy from somewhere but I didn't think about much. I felt exhausted and drained.

"How could you?" I asked him. "How could you hurt her like that?"

I still didn't understand. I was so sure he loved her just as much as me. I was so sure he'd kill for her

just like I did. And to think that I trusted him to take care of her.

"I knew you were a bustard and a fuckface but cheating? I didn't think you'd do that to her and to think I

trusted you.." I snarled weakly. I didn't have the energy to fight with him. I just wanted to understand.

Why?

Why would he hurt her like that? If he was cheating why didn't he hide the prove. She trusted him and

so did I. I never actually realised that until now. I did trust him to take good care of her. Eve is fragile,

she might appear strong but she's not so strong.

"She actually trusted you. She actually loved you. You were important to her." I continue to punch and

he dodged and blocked. " You were the first men she let in after_"

I stopped and bit my lip. This was so hard for me. Looking at the man who broke her in the eyes.

He tensed and I froze.

"You didn't deserve her. I always new that. She was always to good for you but she saw something in

you that was good. She was never a good judge of character but I am. I told her and I told you you'd

hurt her." I breathed out the anger. The hurt I was feeling.

I realised that he didn't break Eve's heart alone. He broke mine too. I was warming up to him. After all I

did let Eve stay at his penthouse.

"I hate that I was right." I truthfully told him. "I wish that this one time I was wrong and you were good

for her because she was happy with you and as much as I didn't like you at first but she was happy and

I was starting to see what she saw in you and guess I was wrong too cause there's nothing good in

you."

As if it was possible. His body deflated even more than it did when I saw him.

I stood up and dusted myself. My knuckles were bruised but it was just a small reminder that he hurt

me too. I looked both side before I crossed.

"I didn't mean to hurt her. I love her." The words were faint and barely a whisper but I caught it. He

whispered the words into thin air and sadly I believed him.

I didn't want to believe him but I did. Maybe part of me wanted to believe that he did love her and would

never hurt her because that was better than facing the truth, that he used my sister. Another person

used her once again.

I don't know what propelled me to believe him but I did. Maybe it was the look in his face when he saw

me or when I told him all those things or maybe it's all those times I'd seen him with Eve. It's hard to

fake being in love and I want to believe he was in love with her. That is better than believing the

alternative.

I guess I feel bad that he lost too in this game. I saw it in his eyes. He lost too.

I know he's remorseful.

Maybe the reason why I'm feeling bad for him is because he's a man and so am I. It's hard being a

man.

I drove to school the next day feeling more conflicted and more confused. Why do I feel so bad for

him? All I wanted was to look into his eyes and tell him how much I despise him, now I couldn't seem to

stop thinking about the lost look he gave me. He looked just as hurt.

I tried to get him out of my head and tell myself that he is history. Never to be thought of.

I made a point to see Evernly everyday since I confronted Styles. He tried reaching out, coming to my

house and begging me but never did I once gave in. Eve comes first always. No matter how bad I felt

for him I would never allow him near Eve ever again.

Shockingly she was doing better and I knew it was all an act to appear normal. I knew her very well to

know that she'll fake it until she make it. But it was okay because I was there every step of the way.

We went to see movies and visited boring museums. We went to the beach and arcades. We dressed

up and went to many dinners. Sometimes Wren, Zac, Ben and Alex would join us.

She made it a point to get her grades up again much like there were before she met Styels and he

turned her world upside down.

She made a new friend in school, Victoria. And I didn't sleep with her mainly becaise she isnt my type

amd i don't like her nor do I find her attractive but Eve seems to like her so what the hell.

Sometimes Eve would invite her to join us. Her and Alora were on good terms considering and

everything was okay.

Time flew by fast And before we all knew it, it was Eve and Alora's graduation day. Alora said she

barely graduated and she thinks she'll repeat senior year.

I don't comment on that matter because it's her choice and my sister. How proud I am of her. She's the

valedictorian. She was also giving a speech she's been working on for the past couple of weeks.

One thing came out of her breakup with Styles. She picked up on her studies and studied hard to

distractions.

I'm very happy for her. She's making me proud and actually wanna graduate high school.