SAGE novel Chapter 8

Sage Miller

Taste like soft berries on a summer evening

And it sounds just like a song

I want more berries and that summer feeling

It's so wonderful and warm

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"What have you been up to Sage." She asked eying each moment skeptically.

"What?" I played innocently.

We were sitting at The eat. A diner I discovered on one of my late nights on the Job.

"You've changed...... I can't put a finger around it.... I feel like I don't know you anymore." She said thinking thoroughly over each word.

"Silly you." I mused. "You know me better than anyone."

Honestly, she knows more than anyone but she doesn't know all of me. No one does.

"You seem more matured and rough." She continued. I watched as she looked at me like a mystery she needed to solve.

I don't want her to solve me. I like that she knows the goods sides only and I want to keep it that way. I want her to be proud when thinking about me.

"Enough about me. Let's talk about you." I popped my elbows on the table and supported my head on my hands. "Tell me what about your Summer."

Her face immediately lit up and a grin spread across her face.

"Summer is awesome and it just started." She beamed and my heart grew warm. I absolutely love this woman. "Last weekend we were at the Bahamas. It was glorious but I hated the plane ride."

I listened to her with a huge grin on my face. She told me every details. I couldn't help but though how much she was born for this life. She seems happy.

"We had to come back because Wren had a big meeting yesterday and Zac is suppose to tag along since he'll take over the business."

She adds an eye roll which caused me to chuckle. I love brunch date with her.

"Enough about me. How is your Summer so far?" She asked.

"Nothing interesting. Parties here and there. Hanging out with Sebastian." I told her.

"And Alora." She rolled her eyes when she said that.

I arched my brow at her.

"I called her last weekend and she didn't pick up and when she did I heard kissing and Ew." She cringed.

My lips immediately turned a thin line in attempt to keep smiling.

I fought the urge to clench my jaw and storm over to her house and demand an explanation because I'm sure as hell haven't seen her in a while and that wasn't me kissing her.

But I don't own her. We agreed that there were no strings attached, no jealous and our relationship was never exclusive. And I can't demand that of her because I don't think I'll ever be her boyfriend even if she asked.

"Are you okay?" I heard Eve ask and I force myself to smile and I realised that in my attempt to not look angry I ended up looking like I stuck a stick up my ass.

"Yeah, I am." I lied and my eyes drifted out the window. "Just saw something that that made me angry out the window."

She turned around to see the non-existent thing that made me angry.

"They passed." I rushed out and she turned back to me.

"Oh." That's all she said.

I quickly thought of a new topic. I don't want to discuss Alora right now.

"So what are going to do after the summer?" I asked even though I knew she's going to study psychology.

It fascinate me how she has her life all figured out while I think I'll just follow dad's foot step.

:Play college football and study law.

That's the whole plan. I don't know how that will work out. We'll just see.

"Uhhhm...... I don't know." She looked away.

"Why?" I couldn't help but raise my voice and I saw her flinch like she expected it some how.

"Why Evernly?" The anger just rolled off each word. "What happened to studying Psychology and becoming a psychologist or therapist or that shit?"

She looked away not replying.

"I mean you had everything planned what happened?" At that moment I was downright pissed at her.

"I have all Summer to figure something out." She mumbled.

"To figure it out?" I asked her not really believing her.

We talked so much throughout the years what she wanted to do. The answer was always the same. She had it all figured out. She even took that class for smart kids. That AP shit for second years student.

"Make me understand Evernly." I said through gritted teeth.

I ignored everyone's eyes in the diner.

"Wren wants me and Zac to take over the business. So I thought I'd major in business." She muttered under her breath.

"And that's what you want?" I asked still pissed.

She looked away giving me my answer.

"Are you going to do it?" I stared at her silently waiting for her answer and her silence spoke volumes. "So what do you wanna do Evernly? You don't wanna do psychology anymore, you don't wanna do business. So what do you wanna do?"

God fucking help me. People might see my anger unjust but I have every reason to be angry. I don't want her to throw her future away.

"Sage please calm down." She whispered looking around. I know for a fact that she doesn't like public humiliation and what I'm doing right now is that.

"I don't know what I want anymore and don't pressure me because the past year has been hard on me. So excuse me for not knowing what I want anymore. It hasn't been a breeze or walk on the beach. It's been hard."

The sarcasm dropped in each word but she got her message across.

In my pissed state I forgot everything she went through this year. Of course it would be too much for anyone. I seem to forget how fragile she really is because she seem to be okay all the time and I forget how she pretends sometimes.

My heart clench and I dropped my face and looked at my lap.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled feeling ashamed.

"It's okay. I understand." She reached for my hands and squeezed them. I'm suppose to comfort her not the other way around. "I may be confused now but I will have it figured out by the end of the summer."

She told me and I nodded amd we stayed silence for a while just thinking.

How could I have been so delirious than to forget that she's so fragile. I'm so pissed at myself ri__.

"It's okay Sage." She reached for my hands again and I lifted my head and met her gaze.

It so warm and it forces me to focus on her again. I nodded at her again.

"Now I gotta finish this milkshake." She beamed like a new person. Not a trace of what we just talking about evident in her eyes.

She took a huge sip on her milkshake and groaned muttering 'so good'. I smiled and shook my head. I forget how she can change moods before I could even blink.

"Now you have to tell me how you found this place. I thought the milkshakes at the diner I worked at were good but this one are heaven."

She rambled and I chuckled. We talked for a good ten minute. Soon she had to get back because she promised to babysit today.

I didn't complain and I accompanied her to her car which was parked next to mine. I opened the door for her and she giggled.

She's so cute. "Same time Sunday?" I asked.

"Yes." She beamed and broke a huge grin. "I love you Sagie."

"I love you Evie." I teased her and she frowned then shook her heard and smiled brightly. Weird.