SAGE

Chapter 17

Sage Miller

"What the fuck are you doing?" He boomed from the outside of the ring. "Your left side is opened."

"I'm tired I need a break." I whined throwing a punch at my opponent.

"What was that? You called that a punch?" He scolded.

Since I told Styles I wanted to fight on Saturday. He's been pushing me to practice and I'll tell you. It

ain't fun. Not one bit.

"Your ribs are wide open. If I was in that ring you'd be on your way to the fucking hospital with a broken

rib." He fired harshly.

"If you were in this ring my fist would be in that big fucking mouth of yours." I fired back without

thinking.

He was getting in my nerves and it wasn't even ten yet.

"I think I should get in there." He said angrily.

"I think you should." I fired not one bit scared of him. I know we've fought before but that was then.

Before. Now I'm much more stronger.

"Your fucking smart mouth will get you in a lot of trouble." He warned.

"Oh I ain't afraid of you." I replied without skipping a beat. "Get in here so I can beat your ass."

Im my mist annoyance, the fact that he is the Godfather and that he can end my life in a heartbeat, had

slipped my mind completely.

The guy I was training with had left the ring a while ago and I didn't even notice because we were

bickering.

"Watch who you're talking to." He threatened but I scoffed. I didn't even care. "You're an asshole but

not this much. What crawled up your ass?"

He asked frowning.

"You. You fucking woke me up at 6 fucking clock. I mean who fucking does that. Then you do that shit

and yell at me this early. On top of that I gotta be at the mall at 12 to fucking shop."

By the time I was done. I was breathing hard and I looked at Styles and he was amused with my

annoyance.

I'm not a morning person. At all. I hate waking up before I necessary have to. I like sleep way too

much.

"You're going shopping?" He asked amused and I groaned. "Obviously you hate it so ditch it."

He purposely ignored the part where I mentioned how he woke me up early. Very early.

It reminded me if Eve and when we were staying together, before she moved in with Styles and before

she moved in with Wren.

I remember being so fucking irritated everyday when she'd wake me up at six thirty.

"I fucking can't. Even if I wanted to I can't." I told him. I didn't even know why I was telling him in the first

place.

He hummed in some sort of understanding.

"You know what? I'm out of here." I murmured jumping down from the platform of the ring.

I already knew I was going to have a long fucking ass day at a fucking mall. I need sleep. As much

sleep as I can get.

I was quickly regretting agreeing to come to the mall with Eve. I was too exhausted and we wouldn't

stop even for a second. The bags in my hand were heavy and I was hungry.

Actually they weren't heavy but they were too many.

It's been three hours. And I was tired. Too tired.

Between training this morning and roaming the mall, I was beat.

"What about this?" She picked up a pink sparkling dress. "Or this one?"

To me they all looked the same with different colors. And why would she need so much clothes.

She didn't even give me a chance to answer before she went on and I had to follow her.

"Here Miss." The shop assistant gace her a dress she asked for a while ago.

"Thank you. Do you have a black version of this dress?" She asked her but I couldn't take it anymore.

I groaned and both their eyes turned towards me.

"I'm hungry and tired. I've been on my feet for three hours." I whined like a bitch.

"You just ate." Eve pointed out. I couldn't be blamed if shopping made me hungry and when I'm hungry

I get grumpy.

"That was three hours ago." I told her grunting.

"Fine." She said with a huff. "I'm sure we can find somewhere to sit down."

Thank fucking God. I couldn't take any shopping without food. I know why men hate it.

When we go to the mall we know exactly what we want. We go in, get it then we're out.

But with women it never easy. They go to the same store six times each visit is thirty minutes and they

end up buying nothing.

I don't know when she started liking shopping. We've got a bunch of bags some are even in my car.

"Since when do you like shopping anyway?" I asked when we walked out the store.

"I never hated it." She shrugged walking ahead.

"Yes you did." I argued.

"I never hated it. I just didn't have the luxury of doing it so saying I hate it was easier than saying I didn't

have enough money."

She explained and once again in reminded that she's rich now. Before we were barely paying bills

because she was always stubborn to use the money Aunt Lauren left her.

"Besides, Wren gave me a credit card. So why not abuse it." She beamed.

"Well, you could've asked one of your girlfriends." I grumbled.

"I wanted to hang out with my brother." She reasoned.

"If you wanted to hang out. You would've taken me to that theatre over there or invited me to brunch

not drag me through this whole mall."

"Where's the fun in that? Besides Alora said she was busy and Toria is in Paris." She laughed at my

annoyed expression.

"Whatever let's just get food?" I looked away and my eyes caught something I wish I never saw.

My whole mood changed in less than two seconds. It changed from annoyed to sour.

I just wish I never left that got damn store because I'm barely hanging on.

I just wanna march over there and ruin her whole fucking relationship.

Smurf.

She laughed at something the dickhead said. She looked... happy. Like she belonged in his arms and

that fucking pissed me off.

I barely heard Eve calling me since my ears were ringing until she shook me.

"What?" I almost snapped at her my eyes not leaving the red head. Alora's boyfriend.

I was willing my mind to blow up his fucking fat head.

"What are you looking at?" Her voice trailed off and I somehow knew shit was about to get crazy.

"Oh no she didn't." I heard her say.

The red head left her standing in front of a store. After hugging her and kissing her.

Somehow that got to me in a way that I couldn't explain.

"I'm gonna go over there and give her a piece of my mind. She fucking lied to me." She said angrily.

I was surprised and taken aback by the anger in her voice.

"Eve wait..." I called after her snapping out of the daze I was stuck in.

But of course she was gone. I jogged go catch up to her but her short legs were somehow faster.

How in the world is she faster?

"Please don't cause a scene?" I asked her nicely when I caught up to her.

"No I won't cause any scene." By the way she said it. I knew she wasn't going to do what she said she'll

do.

Fuck.

You can see that Alora wasn't expecting to see either of us her by the way her whole face paled.

"What the fuck Alora?" Eve called out as soon as she was close enough.

I winced at her tone and Alora flinched.

"You're such a lying scum." Eve's peptide figure was beyond scary and whenever she was angry she

cussed.

"Eve it's not the place to cause a scene. Calm down. You said you wouldn't cause one." I tried

reasoning with her but she gave me one glare that had me almost sinking to the floor.

Holy shit.

"I wanna give her a piece of my mind." She said like that justified her actions.

"You said you weren't dating him that you were still with my brother. I told you to stay away from him

but you didn't but now because Axel is giving you his two cent attention you forget my brother and

leave him miserable. You're such a-."

"Don't you dare finish that." I surprised the three of us by saying that. "Let it go. And I'm over her."

Alora was avoiding my gaze.

"Don't defend her and I'll call her whatever I want to call her. Axel told me, he told me that she's been

throwing herself on him since the beginning but she lied and told me they were dating. I didn't ask her

because it didn't matter much. And don't tell me you're over her when I just saw your face just now

when you saw her and let's not talk about you drinking because of her.... yeah I went to the house the

other day and found you passed out drunk and Connor told me. He told me how miserable you are

because of her."

I'm still mortified that Alora hasn't said a word to defend herself. If this was two weeks ago, she

would've let Eve have it.

"I'm not miserable." I raised my voice. We already had an audience and some people taking videos.

"Lets go." I grabbed her wrist and tried walking away but she pulled out of my hands.

"I'm not going anywhere. I told her if she hurt you in anyway. Me and her are done." She told me.

"Do you know how crazy you look and sound right?" It's the first time Alora spoke. "Sage and I never

dated."

Well she wasn't wrong. Eve is being ridiculous right now.

"I'd rather look crazy than be a slut who seek attentions on sixteen year olds. Stay away from him, you

here me? Stay away." She warned dangerously.

"Enough! You don't tell me who to see and who not to see." I fired angrily. She crossed the line.

"I can and I will. I'm your big sister I have to protect her from the likes of you."

I heaved a humorless laugh.

"Big sister?" I taunted. "You never played that role. I'm always the one to protect you."

"So you're defending her now. Didn't she ditch you as soon as a better offer came along."

That hit a nerve. A very sensitive nerve. Hearing someone else saying it made a different impact.

"Alora go." I firmly said ignoring the lump in my throat.

I saw exactly what Eve wanted to do the moment she took a step forward. I tugged her hand and

stopped her from slapping Alora.

Alora's face was pale and hurt was evident. It killed me to see the amount of hurt she was feeling. I felt

very protective of her.

"Just go." This time I didn't meet her gaze. I saw as she hurriedly push past everyone like her ass was

on fire.

I grabbed Eve's hand and led her away from the crowd to the mall's parking lot.

And now that we were alone I could tell her off.

I knew my sister, in her eyes there was black and white, no grey. She see what she want she wants to

see and there's no changing that.

"What the fuck was that? Causing a scene like that, that was very immature of you Eve. I expected

more from you. Honestly that was low and you calling her names. That was low don't you think?"

"Low? Me low? Low is what she's doing. Sleeping with you then Axel. I'm you're big sister. I should

protect you from the likes of her. I should've done that from the start."

"Big sister?" I scoffed. "Protect me. How could you have done that if you we're busy fucking Styles. And

let's not talk about who she's sleeping with."

"Why are you even defending her?" She asked angrily.

I didn't even know why I was defending her. All I knew was that I couldn't stand Eve insulting her.

"Because you're being unreasonable." I defended myself.

"Why are we always fighting over her? Was she important to you?" She exasperated. "It seems like

everytime we fight it's because of her."

The use of was made the matter more real. I couldn't fuck her anymore.

"God no. We were fucking. She wasn't important at all." I felt the need to say.

"So why are you defending her so much?"

"I just hate how you belittled her just now." I didnt even know why I kept on defending her when Eve is

right about everything she said.

"Belittle her? I didn't belittle her. I just said everything she already is. She didn't even say a word

because she knew I was right."

"Can't you just let me make my own mistakes?"

"Yes but not with her. Someone your own age would be fine. She was just using you and you let her do

just that."

"You know who was using who? Styles because the moment he found something better he left you."

The words made it out of my mouth before I could catch them.

I didn't even know why I said that because that's far from the truth.

Her palm connected with my cheek before I could do damage control.

"Leave." She flared.

"How are you-" I started but she cut me off. She raised her voice more than before.

"I said leave."

I couldn't leave her. We came in my car. How is she gonna get home. No matter how annoyed I am at

her. I'm not that much of an asshole.

"I wish she ruins you because that's what she'll do. You deserve it." She sneered.

I knew it was her anger speaking but that don't justify anything.

What she just said is fucked up.

Without thinking twice I walked off to my car before I changed my mind.

Her words running through my mind. That's what she'll do but I knew the truth.

She won't ruin me. I'll ruin her.

As I pass by her I see her talking on her phone. I willed myself not to stop because I can't fight with her

anymore. I'd rather leave than say more hateful things or here her say hateful things.

I'll call her tomorrow when she's calmer.

I looked in my review mirror and saw her willing herself not to cry. I know she won't cry. Not in public

anyway.

I almost turn around but her face when she said I deserve to be ruined flashed through my eyes.

This shopping was a fucking disaster.

I sat on my sofa bouncing my leg anxiously.

Eve has to apologize. She started it after all.

I twirled my phone in my hand. It's been hours now. I'm sure she regrets everything she said by how.

I heard pounding on the door.

Ignoring it, I watched the mute box in front of me but the pounding wouldn't stop.

It was late to have visitors. I was in no mood for visitors.

Connor wasn't here so I couldn't make him get the door.

Groaning I stood up walking to the door.

I'm lazy. I can't be blamed.

For a moment I think it's Eve but that thought soon escapes my mind as soon as I laid my eyes on the

drunk peptide figure of Alora.

"Smurf." I breathed out. She giggled and stumbled.

"You're drunk." I exclaimed. Why is she drunk anyway?

"No shit Sherlock." She rolled her eyes.

I didn't know how I felt about seeing her drunk. She was quitting alcohol. She wasn't drinking this heavy

anymore.

"What are you doing here?" I asked somewhat annoyed.

"Well..... I don't know why I'm here but guess what? I'm here." She hollered.

I groaned throwing my hands up.

"Are you gonna invite in or what?"

I snapped out of the gaze and stepped aside. She walked in.

Her presence in my house irritated me somehow. I was in a bad mood already and her being her

brought back a feeling I didn't know I wanted to feel at this moment.

"Why are you here?" I asked again following her.

"You already asked that Sage." She slurred her words.

I already did.

"I mean why didn't you go to your snobby boyfriend?" I spat.

"Don't call him that." She frowned defending him which pissed me off.

"Its my house and I'll call him whatever the fuck I want. If you don't wanna hear it you're welcome to

leave." I spat emphasizing the word leave.

"Geez, don't get your undies in a twist." She teased.

I growled. An actual animalistic growl.

"Why are you drunk Alora?" I asked firm.

"I like being drunk Sage. It's easier to be drunk than sober. It's easier to deal with stuff." Her voice

shook and she stopped.

They broke her again. Just like the first time we started hanging out. They broke her even after I fixed

her.

"What happened Smurf?" My voice soften so did my face. I knelt in front of her. "What did he do?"

She somehow knew who was the he I was talking about.

"A lot happened Sage. So much in one day." Her eyes watered but she was holding back the tears.

"Talk to me Al." I urged her.

We used to talk for hours and I'd listen to her vent about her troublesome life.

"You know you're the one who always saw me right?" She asked and I frowned. I wasn't understanding

her.

"How?" I asked softly.

"To my father I'm invisible. Everything else is important to him more than me. It's been months since he

last said one word to me. The my brother. Well all he does is work with father, drink and change

women. In my house I'm just another antique or furniture. At least a furniture gets polished every once

in a while. And with him, I'm a trophy. I gotta look a certain way, walk a certain way, talk how he wants

me to, laugh how he say to. It's exhausting."

"Why not leave him?" I advised her.

"I can't." She whispered. "I love him. What I'm about to say might sound deranged but to me it makes

sense. He's my first love-"

I swallowed hard.

"-I've loved him for as long as I can remember. You can say it's been my dream to be his girlfriend. I've

waited for a very long time to be his. And now that I am, I'm not gonna throw it away because all the

heart ache and tears were worth it. So I'll do, be anything he desires because I don't matter. He matters

now. That's what love is right? To put their happiness before your own."

No it doesn't. I've never been in love but what she just described isn't love. I'm not sure what it is but it's

not love.

"I sound deranged right? I'm crazy?" She desperately asked.

"No." I lied. I didn't have it in me to break her heart. To tell her the truth.

Even if she's not crazy but she is on her way there.

"Its just that I would've been his girlfriend a long time ago but Ever-." She started but I cut her off.

"Don't you dare involve Eve." I carefully warned but I could taste the venom in my tongue. "That has

nothing to do with her."

We might have been fighting but no one will talk trash about her.

"But it has something to do with her." She sighed. "I don't hate her or anything but when Styles

introduced her to us, everyone fell for her even me. Axel started ignoring me beca-" Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

"Just stop Alora. She's my sister. I don't wanna hear it." I almost snapped.

She stopped immediately after and we sat in silence. Well I was still kneeling in front of her. I got up

and sat next to her.

"I've told you how Eve was my first friends right?" She asked and I hummed in response. "Well you're

my best friend."

I didn't know how to feel or process that. I'm her best friend.

"I was listening to this song today and I thought of you." She confessed. "Well there are lines that are

true to you. Us."

"Oh Yeah." I mused. "What are those lines?"

"Tell me when my heart stops cause I might not know." She sang. "Will you tell me?"

Her question startled me.

"Tell you what?" I asked

"When my heart stops. Will you tell me if it ever does?" She asked.

"Yeah I will." I promised. "Will you tell me if mine stops?"

"Yes I will." She also promised.

After sometime she spoke.

"Will you ever tell me what broke you?" I was startled by her question. "I do notice. Our souls are the

same. Broken."

My whole body tensed.

After that she didn't speak. I kept on thinking to what she said.

Our souls are the same.

Our souls are the same.

Our souls are the same.

She noticed even though I never thought anyone would.

I stole a glance at her and realised why she wasn't saying anything. She passed out.

I relaxed and sighed. I'm surprised she lasted that long seeing how drunk she was. I forgot she could

hold her alcohol.

She's not like many women. She's different. Very different.

I started undoing her heels when I heard keys jiggling and door opened.

Connor was back.

He appeared in the living room.

"Look who's back." He said. His voice clear with disappointment.

She didn't like Alora and she made it clear to me. It maybe because of the issues with his mother I

don't know.

I didn't dignify his statement with a reply.

"Your mom was here." I told him and his whole demour changed.

"Mmmm." He hummed.

"She asked for you to call her." I continued.

This time he didn't say anything.

"Connor." I called out for him, lightly scolding him.

He glared at me and for a moment I thought he'd snap at me but he's not that person.

"Call her please. She's desperate."

"I'm not ready man. Last time I saw her I said some fucked up things. I'm just not ready to talk to her."

He never told me what he said that day he went to see his mom but I know it was horrible. Sebastian

confirmed it.

"Okay but call her soon." I told him.

"I will." He sighed.

"So how's work?" I asked him and before he could answer my phone rang.

I held my hand up for him to wait.

I fished it out of my pocket and I wished it was Eve but I saw the caller Id.

Wren. I picked it up.

"Hel-." Wren cut me off speaking really fast.

"I can't find her. She's gone. She ran out and drove. I've searched for her everywhere. Zac is all over

the place looking for her. I didn't wanna call you but I can't find her. She switched off her phone. I don't

know what to do or where to look for her. I'm sorry I lost here again. I'm gonna loose her again and it's

all my fault. I was just talking to her. I didn't know she'd lash out and run."

She was frantic and crying. I feared I knew who she was talking about.

"Calmed down Wren. Tell me what happened please?" I begged panicking .

"Evernly. She ran away."