Chapter 20

This chapter is dedicated to MillionLaughsAMinute. I freakin LOVED her story Sleeping with the Enemy, Niall(definitely not from 1d) and Evie are soo adorbs together.

I'm on the second page of the category Romance, and the sub genre Humor list! Omg thanks sooo much! But his name is Blaze, lol not Blake. I wanted his name to be close to that, but different, I mean his mom's name is freakin Aurie!

Oh and one more thing. I dont want you to feel as if Sage has to be one particular race. The character list of to the side is just for fun. She can be Black, White, Latino, Asian, African. Any race you imagine her to be.

Dont forget to COMMENT AND VOTE!

And it's good enough to make me wanna fall in love

Hear the sound of your voice

We're screaming, "Why can't we just be friends?"

It's not that easy, but it's half of the fun

To see you throw the first punch now

Artist:Pierce the Veil

Song: First Punch

Blaze’s Pov.

I can’t believe my father sent Marnie and Stacy to crash my vacation, but he was right I was loosening up too much and I needed to focus back on work. Yes, Sage was a distraction, but she was a nice distraction. She tried to make me have fun and I actually liked it. She—whoa no, I don’t catch feelings and I’m definitely not going to catch feelings with a business transaction. She deserves someone who could love her whole heartedly.

Lana being back would definitely help distract Sage from trying to help me, and she would also be a great re-addition to the company here. She’d keep Zac in line at the office and help bring a little more order since Sage can’t come to the office anymore. It was easy to ignore my friends. But Sage, not so much.

My face was buried in my hands, and my father was down my throat about Sage being a distraction. He had no reason to dislike Sage other than her background. I knew it wasn’t because he didn’t think she was good for me, because my parents don’t care. My mother tries, but not hard enough. Honestly I could care less about them though.

When Sage came out of the walk in, she only glanced my way and made her way out of the room. What’s wrong with her? She usually tried to comfort me or try anything to get my mind off of things.

I blinked at the door that Sage has just walked out of and decided that she’d get over whatever was wrong with her. I walked to the bathroom, and took a quick shower, and when I emerged Sage was back in the room, slipping on some shoes.

“Where are you going?” I asked because she usually let me know when she wanted to go somewhere, because I would go with her.

She gave me a bored look and said “I’m going to my mom’s house.” I raised an eyebrow at her response and how she was acting.

“Do you need me to drop you off?” She stood up from the ground and thought for a second.

“No, I’m fine. Don’t you have to work or something? I will just get a ride from Lana or someone.” She replied walking away. I grabbed her arm and stopped her. As girly as it sounds I felt something in my chest, and tingles in my fingers. I looked into her eyes and she stared back into mine like she always did; like she was looking into my soul, as if she could understand me, but I know she couldn’t, no one could.

Life is funny that way. At one moment you could be happy and then the other you could be sad. I don’t mean to be so hard on everything all the time, it’s just I see no point in being happy all the time.

But there’s something about Sage that makes me want to be in her presence. She’s a good girl; innocent and happy. She always tries to make me feel better and she manages to sneak her way into anyone’s heart by just being herself. But I won’t let that get to me. She doesn’t need me in her life, she’ll be happier without me, and I’d be better off without the distraction of a girl with attachments on me all the time.

She sighed and took my hands off of her, “Sure, well we have to get there quickly. I have to watch Cory while my Mom goes out with some friends.” She walked out of the door ahead of me and I followed closely behind. I wanted to know what was wrong with her.

“Where are you two lovebirds going?” Aubrey asked, her loud voice carrying all the way from the kitchen. Mark was next to her eating marshmallows, Zac was on the couch with his head on Lana’s lap and Lana was watching the TV ignoring him. I rolled my eyes at her question and headed towards the door, I looked at Sage and saw her shoot me an annoyed glance.

“He’s dropping me off at my mom’s. I have to watch Cory; I’ll see you guys later or tomorrow.” She told them in a soft voice.

“I didn’t know you had a little brother. I’d love to meet him one day” Lana told her and she smiled at her. But Zac had to go an open his big mouth and make Lana mad, it was very amusing and Lana wasn’t one who gets mad easily, but he pushes her buttons quite often.

“Lana you don’t have to get them younger. I’m right here ripe and ready for a spanking.” He gave her a bright smile and she just glared down at him for second before flipping him off her lap onto the floor. She muttered something in Spanish that I couldn’t catch, nor did I try to because I didn’t know the language.

Sage was suppressing a laugh and it made my mouth twitch up a little. That was the closest to a plain smile anyone was going to get. I’m not saying I’m depressed, I love life and I’m glad to be alive, I just don’t see a point in smiling about things. I’m not unhappy, I’m just content. I don’t see anything wrong with just being content, people always have to go searching for more and I’m happy where I’m at. If I’m going to smile it’s going to be about something that will make me happy for a long time, not just for the moment.

I walked out the door not saying a word and made my way to the car with Sage in tow. Her big brown eyes were low and her face was blank. It reminded me of me, and I didn’t like that look on her. She’s not that type of person and she shouldn’t be. But there was nothing I could do about it; I don’t even know what she was mad about.

“You have to stop being so—” But she cut herself off and just went silent, staring out the heavily tented window. I started the car, put my hands on the stirring wheel but turned to face her.

“What we were you going to say, Sage?” I mumbled, but I knew she hear me because she rolled her eyes.

“Your friends are the ones that care about you, but you’re mean to them. They care about you! I’ve never had close friends like that, but they accepted me easily. You treat them like they’re disposable. I understand if you’re mean to me, but it’s unfair to the people that been there your whole life.”

I didn’t want to talk about it. “They know me, this is how I am, and I won’t change. If they stuck with me this long, then they must be okay with it. It’s no point for you to get too close to them when you’ll be leaving in a couple months anyway.” I growled. After I said the words I immediately felt bad, she wasn’t trying to do anything but help me, but I’m not something that has to be fixed and she shouldn’t try. I didn’t like to be mean to her, it made me feel like I was a villain. Like I was a bully and I pushed a kid down and stole their toy.

She looked taken back, but that look quickly turned into a look of disgust, “You’re right, silly fucking me to forget.” She cussed, and I don’t think that’s a good thing. Sage was not a person who used hard cuss words so the fact that I pushed that out of her mad me feel disgusted with myself.

“Yeah of course they stuck with you so why wouldn’t they be use to your attitude. I don’t even know why I even try with you, all you do is stop my attempts and throw them away. I might as well stop trying to befriend you because obviously it won’t work. Just take me to my mom’s house.” She leaned as far away from me as she could and slumped against the door and window.

I made no attempts to talk to her again, she’d cool off and everything would be okay again and back to normal.

As we came to a stop sign a bum was on the sidewalk begging for change. Now I do my fair share of donating to foundations, but I couldn’t trust random people on the street, I assumed they only wanted to buy drugs or alcohol and I didn’t want to support their addiction. But Sage was willing to help out anyone, and that’s another thing that I liked about her.

She rolled down her window and reached her wrist out holding out a twenty dollar bill to the young woman with the child next to her. The woman gave her grateful smile, and whispered a “God bless you,” backing away from the car.

I could Sage’s face light up and that made my heart feel proud. I have no idea why, because it’s not like I have feelings for her, or that she’s really mine. I try not to dwell on that fact because it brings up foreign feelings and it makes me feel like a girl, thinking about feelings.

When we pulled up to Sage’s house she practically ran out of the car, like she was a hostage. I rolled down my window and asked “Do you want me to stay?” I knew it was a dumb question but I was hoping that she forgave me already.

“No just go home. I think we need some space from each other.” Before she could knock on the door, it came open and out sprung Cory running towards the car.

“Blaze are you coming in to watch more SpongeBob and maybe Grojband this time? Oh and I have lots of math homework this time.” I didn’t want to say no to him, because I won’t lie I had a soft spot for the little boy, and he actually was a cool little kid.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. See your sister’s mad at me.” I tried to explain, but I forgot he was a kid; he wouldn’t care about what his older sister thinks.

“She’ll be fine. Now come on, Ninja Turtles is almost off.” I got out of the car; because that was something I couldn’t refuse. I hated to disappoint the little boy. I hated disappointing his sister even more, but it was the only way she would try to get close to only get hurt. I—I liked her too much for that.

Sage was at top of the stairs with her arms across her chest and was tapping her foot. She closed the door after all three of us were in. Sage’s mom greeted me on her way out with a soft smile.

I spent most of my time with Cory, and Sage didn’t bother us except to make her brother a snack, and even when she did that she called him out to grab it and sent him back.

It was around ten o’clock when her mom came back but she practically forced us to stay. Sage walked up the stairs and into a room, and I followed because I didn’t have any other choice. She took off her shoes and reached into a chest at the bottom of the bed and got some clothes to change into. I just shrugged off my shirt and took off my jeans. Sage walked out of the door and went to change. I didn’t like her giving me the silent treatment; I wanted her to talk to me.

I put my hand on the knob to find her, only to stop when I heard her and her mom talking.

“Sage, if you and Blaze plan on doing anything, I have protection in the drawers.”

Sage gasped before replying, “Mom! Noo, it’s not that kind of deal, none of that is happening.”

“Oh, well with the pictures I’ve seen that could’ve been easily mistaken.”

“No mom, it’s all an act, trust me.” She laughed and I heard the door knob get touched. I bound back over to the bed and laid down. I pretended as if I was already asleep and she got in next to me, her back facing me. I pulled her closer to my chest like I do when I’m asleep, but this time she didn’t accept it.

“No Blaze,” she pushed my chest back and scooted over closer to the edge. She must need more time to cool down.

Even when we went home the next day she didn’t talk to me; or for the whole week actually. She still made me breakfast and dinner, but whenever I said something to make conversation she would give me one word answer.

When Aubrey, Mark, Lana, and Zac were around they could even tell. Though she’d sit right next to me her lack of attention towards me caught their attention.

“Is our little couple in a fight?” Aubrey asked jokingly, but it had a bit of concern etched into it. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes, because Sage said I was too hard on my friends. And I guess I was, they were just a playful bunch.

“We had a little argument, but it’ll pass.” I tried to shrug but the look Sage was giving me, told me otherwise, and it contradicted my words.

Once we were in our room, she made her way to the bathroom but I stopped her.

“Sage I’m sorry for what I said. I know sorry doesn’t always make it better but I don’t like you giving me the silent treatment. I know you’re just trying to help me, but you can’t just expect me to change who I am. You can just undo habits that have formed over the years.”

She stayed silent for a minute but it felt like an hour. “You’re right; I can’t force anything on my friend. That was selfish of me wasn’t it? But Blaze compromise is a key part of relationship, whether it’s platonic or not.” I nodded but then a small smile grew on her face.

“So you couldn’t take me not talking to you?” My silence only made her smile grow wider.

“Yes, I could. It’s just I don’t like to see you mad. It’s just not you.” She still smiled; it was smile that I’m sure she got from being around Zac so much.

“Mhm, I’ll let you say that but I know the truth, now move I have to pee.” She playfully pushed me out of the way, which didn’t budge me at all. She was a small person and I was sure I almost had a foot over her.

I’ll admit I did like her company, she was growing on me; but it was something that I would have to get over like I get over everything else. Once it disappears or goes away, it’ll be like it was never there. And right now I wasn’t sure if that was a good attribute to have or if I even wanted it.

I've got so much to give, but

I would kill just to feel less invisible

And you've got so much to learn about gravity