SAGE novel Chapter 28

Sage Miller

"If I knew you were gonna be a wet blanket all of a sudden, I wouldn't have invited you." Styles said as he settled down next to me.

All the kids were having fun. Little Eva was having too much fun. I felt my heart swelling at what Styles did for the kid. It is so out of character for him but nice, the kind of nice that over rule all the bad.

The party was at an amusement park near by.

The little girl looked so happy. She never knew her parents, she is just another kid thrown into the system.

I can't imagine living in the system. I'm grateful Eve and I were never in the system. She wouldn't have survived.

"Its just....I just have a lot in my mind." I told him honestly.

"Well you better snap out of it because you have to entertain those little girl. I didn't bring you here to brood. I brought you here as back up." He lightly scolded.

I looked over to Bella who was running around catching the little girls who were on a rampage.

Styles was so good with Eva. It was like she was his daughter. I felt my heart break when I remembered how he lost his baby.

It must've really sucked. He was so good with the kid. He would make a great father one day. Much like my own.

"The other day you said something." I started when he was about to get up. He sat back down and turned to me. "You said I was a liability and my identity must be unknown. Then you said my protection is important."

He laughed which confused me more. I couldn't help but note how relaxed he was today. His always tensed shoulder weren't as tense. He scowl was non-existent. He was smiling.

"That what got you all serious and brooding. For someone who I thought was smart you sure can be dump as fuck. You're thinking about this the wrong way." He said amused.

"Huh?"

"That guy you saw, he's a hacker like me. I got into his system about two years ago and got ahold of all his secrets so he wants mine. I may have out hacked him but his one of the greatest minds. Seeing you there, he would've investigated you. Then he would've found out about Eve then he would've known who I am. Do you see were I'm going with this or you need me to explain more?"

I nodded even though I didn't understand much of what he said.

"So keeping you out of sight was very important. My real identity is everything to me, it's crucail that it remains a mystery. That's why I've been so successful in this business. And most important, keeping him away from Eve is important too, so that means keeping him away from you too."

I was starting to get it.

"Wow." That's all I said.

"Now get up and let's show this girls the time of their life." Again I was stunned by this side of him.

If I didn't know better I wouldn't imagine he can kill without batting an eyelash.

"Let's do this." I said standing up dramatically.

I mentally chuckled because I could practically hear Sebastian's words. He always said I was dramatic. I guess he was right.

"Beasties." Eva exclaimed running towards Styles.

He didn't look awkward or weird out at the show of affection from Eva. He was very affectionate with her.

He picked her up.

I learnt a while back how affectionate Styles was. I use to watch him and Eve- not in a weird way or creepy- he was very affectionate with her all the time. Even when they were arguing he'd want to hold her while yelling at each other.

I always wondered how he did that. I mean when I'm shouting at someone I don't want them near me much less touch them.

I watched as the pair talked while we walked back to Eva's friends and Bella.

I wasn't on my right minds earlier to give a good thought about Bella. I mean she is beautiful but I want to know what's inside that beauty. She wouldn't be the first older girl I liked and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be the last.

"Would you win it for me?" Eva asked Styles and she gave him the puppy eyes.

"No need to take out the big guns." He chuckled. "I'll win it for you."

We reached Bella and she gave us a smile but her eyes were on Eva and Styles as they talked.

The sight was really sweet and mushy.

"Sorry I didn't introduce myself." I told Bella. "I'm Sage."

"Yeah Harry told me. I'm Bella." My eyes shot to Styles but he didn't seem to notice the look I was giving him.

He didn't allow anyone, I mean anyone to call him by his first name. Eve was an exception.

Wow.

"Yeah...." I trailed off and suddenly Eva joined our conversation.

"Beastie told me he is Kittie's brother." She told Bella. "You remember Kittie right Bella?"

I looked at Styles as Eva talked. He didn't seem to mind. In fact he smiled to my surprised. I thought he'd grimace at the mention of his pet name for Eve. Or maybe his jaw would tick but nothing.

His eyes met mine as I asked if Eve had met Bella and Eva but his eyes told me no.

"Remember when he said he was going to his Kittie and I thought he was talking about a kittie kittie but he was talking about his girlfriend." Eva giggled as he told the story.

At the corner of my eye I caught Bella's reaction. She wasn't happy at all.

I almost snorted, I didn't have a chance with Bella. She already have her eyes on someone else and unfortunately if I'm correct, she'll be greatly disappointed because Styles will never see her that way.

"Didn't you want that big teddy bear?' Bella asked and I didn't miss how she wanted to change the topic.

Lucky for her Styles didn't notice and Eva went on about the teddy bear.

At the end we found ourselves against each other as we tried to win Eva the big teddy.

It was official the game was rigged. Both of us were very competitive and the game was kicking our ass cause we just couldn't suck this much at throwing rings.

"Go Beastie." Eva and her friends cheered.

"Hey what about me?" I pouted at them and they giggled.

"You're just jealous they love me more than you." Styles joked as he nudged me and I missed.

"No fair. I had that one. I was going to win. You're a cheater." I whined pushing him and he missed as well.

"Hey, all is fair in love and war and games." He raised his hands in surrender.

At the end we both sucked. We were not getting enough rings on the hops to win the teddy bear.

"Okay man, I'll pay you to just give me the bear." Styles said annoyed. He was about to blow a fuse. He's a sore loser.

"Sorry man. You have to shoot ten rings to get the bear." The guy said and I knew he was just irritating Styles.

"I get that but as you can see we can't. I'll give you five thousand dollars. That's more than the bear and more that you earn." He proposed. "If it was targets then cool, I can do that but this, this dump game must be ridged or something."

"Sorry I'll get in trouble. They'll fire me." He said looking around.

"It's a lot of money man. Take it." He said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry I really want to but I can't"

"You're such a fool." Styles mumbled loud enough for the guy to hear.

He turned to Bella and told her something.

Bella took the girls and I saw that Eva was close to tears as Bella dragged her away.

"I promise I'll get you the bear little princess." Styles promised and Eva nodded.

As soon as they were out of sight he turned towards the guy and his demeanor changed.

"Listen here you little shit." As soon as Eva wasn't here he started cussing.

It amazed me how both of us haven't cussed the whole day. More so Styles, he cuss like his father was a sailor.

"You made the princess cry, I don't like seeing tears in her eyes. What are you gonna do to fix that. You fucker." His voice was cold, menacing.

"I'm sorry man. I'm sorry." He apologized again and again. I could see the fear in his eyes. Styles has that effect on people.

Anyone in their right minds would be scared of the person next to me so I don't blame him for it.

"You know you should've taken the money ang went on with your life. You're foolish because then you would've gained something but right now not only are we gonna get you in trouble but we'll get the bear you'll probably lose this dump stupid thing you call a job."

Before either of us processed Styles's words, he unhooked the bear and yelled run to me.

The guy yelled for someone to stop us but we were too fast. We ran and I was laughing so hard at what Styles did. Never in my life would I have ever thought I'd see Styles stealing something.

We jumped the gates and we were outside.

"You stole that." I said as we tried to cool down. Adrenaline was too high in my blood.

"That fucker was being so fucking difficult." He said like that explained everything. "Besides I haven't stolen something in a long time."

"This was fun." I said as we were walking back to our cars.