Song I ended up listening to: Boo'd Up by Ella Mai.
* * *
If you can't do anything about it, let it go.
Don't be a prisoner to the things you can't change.
* * *
He's dozing off...
Sage took a glimpse over to Xander for the fifth time, watching him as his eyes sleepily drooped, before his thick lashes fully came down, closing pools of crystal from the world. Slumping in his chair, he leaned his head against the back of the comfortable red chair in which he was seated. Sage's lip pulled upwards in a small smile and he suddenly had the strangest urge to lean in and press a chaste kiss to Xander's cheek.
Or take the opportunity to touch his hair. A strand of his hair fell forward from the loopy onyx lot and rested on his forehead, which made Sage's hand itch to brush it away.
Though thankful for the minute break from his anxiety, it came rushing back to him as soon as his eyes found the broad screen again to the building action of the plot. Then, the protagonist, Abigail had to meet her student, Vance, at the school in the night to change his grade on the computer system or else he would kill her husband.
Sage was never a big fan of movies with gore and violence, but the suspense then was eating at him. Would Abigail die? What about her husband? And what would Vance try to do if she didn't change the grade?
It puzzled Sage how Xander could fall asleep in the middle of such a climatic movie. Maybe they should've seen 'The Nun' instead?
Sage's hands were trembling as he lifted the last chicken tender to his lips, barely able to chew once it was in his mouth.
It's just a movie, Sage! Stop being a baby!
The blond almost jumped out of his own skin when he looked over at Xander, to see his eyes open, focused on him.
"H-hi..." Sage awkwardly said, with an even more awkward wave.
"You're trembling," Xander noted, with a brief nod. Sage gulped down his urges when Xander's hand elevated to his own hair, flowing through it and ruffling it in the process. His square earrings twinkled in the fluorescence of the light radiating from the screen, the blue in his eyes then appearing to be occupying a light shade of cobalt.
Sage quickly looked away, hence preventing an inevitable occurrence of drowning in Xander's eyes. He couldn't handle it.
"I-I am?" he stupidly replied.
Xander closed his eyes for a split second, lazily nodding again. Blindly, his hand reached down, into Sage's lap.
E-eh?
!!
It didn't take long for Xander's hand to find Sage's in the dark.
"X-Xan—" his voice box shut down once he felt Xander grip his wrist, lifting his hand from his lap to look at him. Sage almost yelped at how cold Xander's hand were, and the wetness accompanied with the hold. Sweaty hands?
Surely enough, Sage's fingers were shaky, completely betraying him. Whenever he was nervous, they always vibrated, hence why he usually settled for holding onto something to conceal it. But, it was dark. How could Xander's have seen that they were shaking?
"U-um...?" his voice broke with nervousness as he got out. Then, he couldn't decide whether he was shaking because of the movie or Xander's hold on him.
"Stetch your fingers, yeah?"
"Um ... o-okay."
Albeit nervous, he did as he was told.
Suddenly, Sage became even more hyperaware of Xander's hands as they shifted between his, to the base of his fingers. A thrill shot through him when Xander gently began pulling and twisting each finger in turn, until he was through and went onto the next step, which comprised of squeezing the fleshy part of Sage's palm between his right thumb and index finger. Moving from Sage's wrist to the base of his thumb, Xander could feel the gradual termination of his hand tremors.
Nevertheless, he continued, massaging the web between Sage's left index finger and thumb several times, searching for and soothing any tender points.
It ... it feels nice...
Sage's breathing hitched once again when Xander's hand glided beneath his, caressing his palm in a way that tickled and sent thrills shooting from each fingertip. Applying firm pressure, he used gliding strokes from the wrist to the base of each finger as his final movement. Even as he was done, he didn't release Sage's hand.
Brushing his thumbs over Sage's knuckles, Xander's eyes flitted to meet his. "Better?"
Sage quickly looked away, swallowing harshly as he nodded. Though he wanted to speak, he couldn't trust his voice, especially then.
Ah, Xan? Y-you can let go of me now...
At least one good thing came from it: his hand stopped trembling.
But as for his heart ... he would need a massage for that later.
After what seemed like an eternity, Xander looked back to the screen, boredly allowing his eyes to flit over the screen that displayed the movie he'd seen too many times to count. He was soon to realize that besides Sage, nothing greatly interested him. However, once Xander looked back at his object of interest, Sage paused the gesture of lifting three kernels of buttery popcorn to his lips, tensing.
Xander's eyes dropped back to where their hands were linked, and surprisingly, he didn't feel anything besides comfort. As Sage's hand relaxed, Xander relished in how small his hands were, and the warmth exuded from his slender fingers. Fingers Xander wanted to take between his lips, into his mouth.
His mind screeched at him to release Sage — that what he was doing was wrong and disgusting — but, for once, he wouldn't listen.
Instead, he shifted his fingers just beneath Sage's, to the soft skin of his palms. For that, he was awarded sweet gasps, followed by the curious stare of his large eyes. Sage's hands were so teensy compared to Xander's.
As his fingers coddled down from the base of Sage's hand to the center, Xander was pleased to see Sage's eyes droop, and the reddening of his lightly freckled cheeks. Moving at a constant slow pace, a small smile gradually grew on Xander's lips as he gauged Sage's adorable reaction. The blond's eyes slowly slid open, and a blush like wildfire spread across his cheeks once they'd met eyes.
An unforeseen desire bubbled within Xander, one that urged him to brush his fingers over Sage's lips.
Then, to lean in, slowly, carefully;
To kiss him.
Suddenly, Sage's eyes widened, snapping to at something behind Xander.
"Blaze?"
Xander visibly tensed.
The girl that stood just in the aisle was oddly familiar, with her flawlessly straight hair swept upwards into a ponytail, with some of the golden brown locks spilling out of place, around her heart-shaped face, dipping before her azure eyes. The ones that eyes gleamed with delight as her eyes found, locked, and stayed solely on the black-haired boy of the two.
A wave of nausea engulfed Sage.
Jennifer's glossy red lips doubled in an immense smile that showed off a perfect row of pearly whites, her perfect smile, and of course, the deepest set of dimples. "I thought I saw you come in, but I wasn't sure. Never would've expected to see you at a cinema, of all places."
Discreetly, Xander disentangled his hand away from Sage's and stuck it into his pocket. Sage didn't know why he expected Xander to keep holding his hand, but the obvious realization that he wouldn't and didn't made Sage's heart break.
Just a teensy bit.
Embarrassed, he pulled his hand away too, resting it in his lap. A part of Sage told him to look away and mind his own business, but the other part of him just wouldn't have him took away from that which was taking place next to him.
What did the girl want?
Jennifer's eyes shifted from Xander's to fall onto the person next to him. Confusion quickly revealed its ugly head on her perfect face. "Oh? I thought you were alone? Are you here with someone?"
Yes.
Sage's eyes quickly darted away when his eyes met Xander's. He was terrified to hear his response.
Needless to say, it shouldn't have surprised Sage, but it did. Xander's voice was colder than liquid helium as he replied to her prying question in a voice that never shook, broke, nor portrayed any emotion.
"Not really."
Shatter.
Sage didn't remember how to breathe for a few seconds. His brain played its part by trying to wrap itself around what Xander said, but none of it seemed to make sense. He didn't understand what Xander's response meant, why he said it, nor how he said it. It may seem illogical, but at that moment, nothing made sense; nothing besides the Cheshire cat grin that transformed Jennifer's right then and there.
"Awesome. In that case," she focused her eyes to Sage, whose eyes were trained on his lap, hands curling there. "Blondie? Hey, blond, kid!" stupidly, Sage glanced up at her. To save himself from further embarrassment, as well as the disgruntled murmurs from some people around him at Jennifer's shameless disruption. "Do you mind ... moving? There's a seat ... right over there. Thanks."
Sage's eyes snapped in the aforesaid direction, to see a vacant seat next to a man, next to him. He could look back at neither Jennifer nor Xander. With a shattering heart, he obediently offered a nod, standing with so much haste that his food items almost toppled over from his lap and met the floor. Quietly, he shifted past the slumbering man to occupy the vacant seat next to him.
Somewhere along the time, the sleeping man awakened and took his leave, gaining Sage a clear view of Jennifer and Xander. She was leaning against the armrest, one leg over the other as she spoke to Xander — whose face Sage couldn't see.
To reduce the weird feelings choking him as well as the distinctive stinging behind his eyes, Sage channeled his focus back to the screen. He tried eating, but everything became arid and tasteless, as well as impossible for him to hold down without the potent urge to throw up.
Soon, he discovered that he was unable to focus on the movie, so he played with his fingers, thought about something random, fiddled with his clothes; anything to distract himself while he waited for the girl to leave. Surely ... Xander wouldn't leave him ... right?
His answer came when Jennifer turned to him and gestured for him to come closer. Hesitantly, he moved over a seat, until he was next to her. Her eyes blazed with recognition as she surveyed his face.
"Oh my gosh! I'd thought you were a girl, but turn's out, you're that little gay sophie, aren't you?" Jennifer didn't wait for a reply, only laughed prettily. "Well, I don't know why or how you ended up sitting with Blaze, but I won't ask. I mean, who wouldn't want to sit next to him. He's hot."
Sage couldn't have sunk lower than he already did. His hands became cold and numb from the poor circulation of blood, which went solely to his face and neck. Clueless about how to respond to Jennifer's commentary, he remained mute.
"You know what it's like to like someone, right? So you'll understand me now. I'm gonna steal him for a minute, so you can find another hot guy to sit next to. Oh, there's one right there." she pointed to a caramel-haired boy sitting in another row, who had a girl's head on his shoulder, who was obviously his girlfriend.
Sage's stomach painfully churned.
Xander would never leave him. He couldn't.
He agreed to go there to watch a movie with Sage. The movie wasn't over as yet. Maybe in 5-10 minutes, give or take. No harm would be done by waiting for it to end before he eloped with some girl, right?
Surely, their evening wasn't that horrible, right?
Jennifer stood, easily sliding out of the row and into the aisle, where she stopped. Her eyes lingered on Xander, as if she was waiting for something
But, what? Leave.
Please leave...
She didn't.
Xander?
In the dark, Sage's questioning gaze desperately met Xander's. The previous warmth in the senior's eyes was gone, replaced by his normally icy, detached look. His voice was even colder than that when he deadpanned, "I'll be right back, yeah? That fine with you?"
That wasn't really a question right?
Sage prevented Xander from seeing his glossed-over eyes by averting them. His gaze fell down to his trembling hands, the ones that were still coated with butter.
No.
Please don't leave me.
Xander wouldn't give a damn about his thoughts or feelings anyways, so if Sage cried, it would be no different. Either way, Sage had to stay strong. He knew he had to be.
Randall was right.
Therefore, Sage kept his head down as he somehow managed a mechanical nod.
He won't leave—
"Cool."
Will he?
Sage looked up. His heart dropped lower.
He's leaving.
Jennifer gratefully clutched his arm as they exited the auditorium.
He left.
The tears didn't seem to want to wait. They swam with tears, fogging his vision. He bit down into his lip, trying to distract himself again.
Xander would come back. Soon, hopefully.
He never did.
* * *
With quivery hands, Sage managed to fill out the form he was given, starting by rating the customer service. His hands swiped at his eyes, but it was no use, trying to keep them back.
"Are you okay?" the receptionist asked him. Ashamed, Sage swiped his cold fingertips beneath his eyelids again, offering the woman a nod.
"I-it's J-just my a-a-aller..."
"Oh! I understand. Here, then." she handed him a napkin, which he received and used to dry his endless stream of tears.
"T-thank you." he precariously whispered, folding the form four times and handing it to the woman. "What t-time is it?"
The woman hummed as she peered at the time on the computer. "It's two minutes until six. Here you go."
Sage glanced up to see a keychain dangling from the woman's finger, with a small Rilakkuma at the end of the chain. At his confused expression, the woman clarified. "We sometimes give away these trinkets to those kind enough to leave reviews. Will you accept it?"
Sage eagerly nodded, accepting the small item as it was laid onto his palm. Soft and small, it was contained in a durable material, stuffed with squeezable material, and even though it didn't resemble skittles nor any of the ones he looked at earlier, he couldn't help the sudden glow of happiness within him he felt from peering at the bundle of cuteness. Smiling, he lifted his parka to hook it around his waistband, where it fit like a glove. "Thank you!"
"No problem, dear. Have a nice day!"
At the second part of the woman's statement, Sage felt the recurring onslaught of pain and rejection. He tried his best to brush it away. For that, he slid on his glasses to reduce the evidence that he'd been crying.
Full on the intent to leave, he came to a stand-still when he turned, only to make an unfortunate, instant eye-connection with a familiar person from school. For a split second, Sage's heart stopped working at thoughts it was Xander, but on a closer look, it was none other than Carter.
He appeared to have just been flirting with the redhead behind the concession stand; the one who'd flirted with Xander an hour before. When Sage locked eyes with him, he quickly ducked, praying that Carter didn't see him. Unfortunately, he did, and Carter felt no sense of humility as he called out to Sage.
"Oi, Trem-Trem!"
Sage spun on his heels so his back was to the senior, just so he could swipe at his eyes one last time before engaging in any form of eye-contact. Clearing his throat, he took a few breaths to clear up his voice. Once Carter was close enough, Sage responded to the horrible shortening of his surname. "Hi, C-Cart..." it came in a wobbly voice. Sage cleared his throat again.
As Carter's steps came to a standstill, his eyes searched the vicinity, apparently to discover who Sage was there with. He cocked a brow. "You here alone?"
Sage bit his lip, nodding. It was no use saying that he had been there with someone, right? It wouldn't make a difference, only by reviving the incessant urge to cry. In all honestly, Sage regretted neglecting to listen to Randall, and his own ultimate stupidity.
Looking away from Carter's fake blue eyes, Sage gestured for him to answer his own question.
A coy grin blossomed across the senior's pierced lips as he lifted two golden tickets from the pocket of his light wash denim jacket, waving them nonchalantly. "I jus' stopped by to get some papers. Gonna ask Randie out." he revealed.
On a normal occasion, Sage would be jumping for joy, but right then and there, his heart only constricted in his chest — painfully.
Carter was deviously attractive, friendly, sweet and charming. Randall was so lucky, yet he didn't even realize it yet.
Sage could only imagine what that it could be that way with Xander.
Meekly, Sage could only muster enough strength to give Carter a weakened thumbs-up. The senior didn't even realize the sophomore's melancholy as he gleamed at the tickets in his hands, wondering how he would get Randall to actually agree to hang out with him for the day.
Soon, Carter's eyes fell back to Sage, who gazed down at his hands like they were the most intriguing things in the world. Just as he was about to speak, Sage beat him to it. "Um ... I have to go."
Carter nodded. "Sure thing, bro. You u goin' to TB? Or you goin' home? It's a school night, boy, so there ain't gonna be no partying under my nose." he warned, jabbing a finger at Sage's nose for emphasis.
"I wasn't!"
"Alright. Either way, c'mon. I'm drivin' you."
Sage shook his head, trying to be modest. "Ah, Carter, t-that—" his protest was silenced once Carter gestured for him to stop talking. The smug senior took a bold step forward until he towered over Sage, just so he could poke at his face again.
"Na-uh, Trem. It ain't workin' with ol' Ally here. You," he pointed to Sage's chest. "and me," he jerked his thumb at his own chest. "Are inseparable for the night, whether you like it or not. I mean, it wrung me to come here alone, and now I got company and I should let'cha slip? Naw. It's either you comply, or I'm gonna have to take the good ol' classic route."
Sage didn't want to discover what the 'good ol' classic route' was, so he gulped, nodding to show his agreement. Carter grinned. "Right on. Le's go."
Sage had completely failed to acknowledge how much Carter could talk until they sat in his flashy Honda Civic. The more they spoke (the majority being from Carter), Sage warmed up to Carter's attractive personality, as well as the dangerous hand gestures he did ever so often. Soon, Sage found himself relaxing in the comfortable passenger seat, making himself more and more snug.
"...then the whole f*c king microwave just exploded! I was like, 'holy fuck'." at Sage's gasp, Carter's lips curled into a lopsided grin. "Forgive my lang. And it didn't exactly blow up. Just ... sorta stopped working after the door flew off."
Ambient music drifted between them as Sage gazed at Carter through lidded eyes, chuckling. "W-well, that's what normally happens when you try microwaving an egg, Carter." he softly remarked. "What happened after that?"
"I bailed, bro. As far as I know, I was at football practice with Blaze. Eh, still got a zero for that presentation, though, and the chick's pissed with me 'till this day." Carter's smile stretched wider, as though he couldn't be fonder with the horrid memory. A sigh of content flowed out of him, followed by a wistful look. "What 'bout you, sophy? You e'er blew up the kitchen?"
Carter laughed at the terrified expression that adorned Sage' s previously sleepy face. "I-I couldn't! My mom makes me watch c-cooking channels, a-and when I do cook, she supervises me."
"Damn, yo momma sounds like a pain in the arse. But she's your mom, so you'd better love her and listen to her while she's 'roun, you get me?" Carter smiled when Sage eagerly nodded, watching him with those attentive eyes. Perky music began playing through his speakers, which had Carter tuning it up a bit to mouth along to' New York City' by the Statler Brothers. He shot Sage an apologetic look. "I'm an ol' soul, see? Country and Western music kicks ass."
"Never would've guessed! I like it too."
"Whoa, I could've sworn you'd lean more some shit like into J-pop or souls."
Sage tilted his head to the side, clearly perplexed. "J-pop?"
"Yeah. Some Japanese music." Carter said. As though a thought clicked in his head, he started on the topic of Xander. "Y'know, you never really told me why you like Blaze. Is it 'caz he's hot? Because I ain't see nothin' more to the ass."
On cue, Sage's stomach lurched. "Um ... I ... I-I don't know."
"Psyche!" Carter abruptly yelled. "Just joking. He's a good asshole. Different from what he used to be, but good anyway. Too bad I have to be on his fuckin' back 24/7 about his grades and takin' care of himself, though." then, he went on to say, "He's one piece of irony. Imagine, the dude's name is 'Love', yet he ain't believe in it. Wait!" he drawled, lifting a finger to his lip with a thoughtful look. "So technically, that means he ain't believe in himself, huh? Makes sense!"
The pit of hopelessness then became bottomless for Sage. Of course Xander wouldn't believe in love. Combined with the fact that he was straight, it couldn't have made Sage's situation darker.
Then it hit Sage.
He didn't even know anything about Xander.
Sure, he was aware that his favourite colour was pink, he smoked, he frequently tilted his head to the side and had such an intense gaze and that his mother passed away, but, how? When? Why?
And what else did he know? Because Sage began thinking into it on a deeper level, the coils twisted tighter in his stomach at the barefaced fact that he knew absolutely nothing about Xander. Xander didn't tell him anything, nor ever spoke of himself or what he wanted. Sage didn't even know how Xander felt about him; whether he still disliked him or considered them to be even something close to friends.
Xander was a shrouded person. He had walls. He'd probably never tell Sage anything, how he really felt, nor confide in him.
Yet, Sage continued to wait for the day he did.
The sophomore remained without commentary as he sat, hands curling around the bag in his hand, listening to Carter's rant. Now and then, he'd nod to indicate that he was paying attention.
Like Carter's attention span, the conversation was swift to shift again. This time, he pulled out the tickets from his pocket, wearing a worried expression as he continued focusing on the road. "You think Randall gonna accept? I mean ... he hates me."
Sage shook his head. He sat up in the seat. "N-no, he doesn't—"
"He doesn't? Awesome!" Carter chirped. "In any case, maybe his boyfriend gonna come whoop my ass for takin' Randie out." his expression and tone dropped as he uttered his last sentence.
"No." Sage quickly interjected. "R-Randall's not d-dating anyone. In fact," his voice then dipped into a murmur. "I — we think he's lonely."
"Lonely, huh?" Carter echoed. "Well, he ain't gonna be when I start beggin'"
Just then, the car came to the imminent stop before their destination, Taste Buds. By then, only a few people still lingered I side whether with their friends or family, which calmed Sage to a great extent. The fewer people, the less embarrassed he would feel waltzing inside after being stood up at his own party.
* * *
"Cinnamon? Are you sure you wanna do this? I mean, you got the day off today for a reason."
Nothing Vera said could deter Sage in his mission to work for the rest of the evening. After he finished tucking locks of blond hair into the sides if his hat, he grabbed the cleaning cloth and a disinfectant spray. He turned to Vera with a faint smile. "I'm fine. I want to work for the rest of the day."
Nyx then walked in. "Yeah, about that. I don't know who you think you're fooling, but it isn't me." he then leaned against the nearby counter with hands crossed over his chest, giving Sage a knowing stare. "Where's this Xenger dude, huh?"
"It's Xander, Nyx. I'm impractical with names too, but I at least know the name of Sage's boyfriend-to-be." Vera interjected, causing her twin to indignantly roll his eyes, after which he waved his hand in dismissal.
"Whatever. All I know is that after a typical date — especially when it isn't even night yet — the two would go do something, whether at home or some gaming arcade. Not go back to work after he'd clearly been crying."
Well, there went Nyx's keen perception skills. Sage shook his head.
"I-it's nothing really ... He just had to l-leave early, that's all." Sage tried to explain, evading eye-contact by fiddling around with the pages of his notebook.
"Right." Nyx snorted. "Randall's right. The bastard probably ditched you to go get laid."
Sage opened his mouth to offer a response, but none filtered out in his state of shock and disbelief. Instead, he changed the course of his gaze to his hands, silently willing the tears to not fall. Not in such a candid moment.
Thankfully, Vera came to his rescue by throwing her arms around him, pulling him against her in a motherly embrace. Over Sage's shoulder, she glared at Nyx.
"No way. No one could ever resist such an adorable face."
Nyx still didn't buy it. "Anyways, just know that if anything, I'm ready to kick that dude's ass. And I'm sure Randall know who he is and would gladly assist me."
"No." Sage quickly said. "I-it's ... it's fine. C-can we just get b-back to work now?"
"As you wish." Nyx finally complied, dropping the issue. However, by the mere look on his face, Sage knew that the matter was far from over. "By the way, Sage, we have training tomorrow, so don't be late.".
Sage did the salute pose. "Aye, Captain."
"Great. Now excuse me while I attend to that miserable puppy at the counter."
While Nyx went on to discuss matters with the pouting Carter outside, Sage gathered his supplies for the cleaning mission he was going to embark on. Once outside, his eyes jumped from table to table, marking which ones were empty and dirty so that he could properly do his job without disturbing anyone.
Little by little, his mind returned to a more subtle state as he busied himself with something besides mulling over what happened hours before. Sage hummed a light tune, squirting just enough blueberry-scented disinfectant to the tables, followed by delicately polishing them with the cloth in his other hand.
That was exactly what he intended to keep at until Nyx returned to drop him home, but what transpired next ruined Sage's plans. As he ducked to go behind the 'Employees Only', he caught sight of a familiar, tall boy stepping through the front doors. His hair was messier than usual, eyes disinterested and half-lidded as they surveyed the area, until they fell on—
Sage disappeared behind the door just in time. He leaned against it for support, trying hard to calm the erratic beating of his heart; the painful aching.
Why was Xander there? Didn't he run off with a live doll for a reason?
Maybe he simply stopped by for food, since he didn't eat much than the pack of nachos and drink half of his drink back at the cinema. When Sage had offered Xander some of his food, the senior only agreed to some of the pie and tenders. Either way, Sage couldn't have felt happier that he got Xander to eat something — as miniscule as it may have appeared.
No. Stop thinking about him.
Sage squared his shoulders, adorning himself with a small pep-talk to convince himself and his heart that he didn't care whether Xander was there or not. He didn't care that Xander left him. They weren't a couple or anything, so he didn't have any control over Xander or his opinions.
If so, then why did Sage find himself peering out between a small space in the slightly ajar door?
Thankfully, Xander didn't see him — because that, of course, would be completely, and utterly unbearable — due to his back being to the door, face facing a girl significantly shorter than him.
Vera's semblance was skeptical as she stared directly at Xander, not breaking eye-contact nor displaying any form of intimidation as they exchanged words. Xander seemed to have said something to her that had her completely veer in a different direction of thinking, and so, she mulled over his words — or something. Suddenly, she glanced past Xander and caught sight of Sage peering out at them like a timid mouse.
Sage knew that he should have immediately made an escape through the backdoor, but no. He stood there, conducting all sorts of gestures and facial expressions in indication for Vera to tell Xander that he wasn't there. How would Xander have even known that Sage was there anyways? It didn't make sense, and Sage's plan was genius.
Merely by the smile that stretched Vera's lips, Sage knew that he had been betrayed.
"Oh, he's here alright. Treat him like the cinnamon he is, or you'll be hearing from me and both my two other best friends, capiche?" Vera sweetly told him, with that expected bit of malice in her undertone. Xander raised a quizzical brow, though he most likely wasn't be fazed in the slightest. "I'll go fetch him for you."
Sellout.
Sage neglected to hear the rest as he slammed the door, sprinting towards the kitchen. In his desperate attempt to hide, he completely froze, causing Vera to spot him as soon as she rounded the corner. She grabbed him by his shirt, hauling him back towards her.
"Cinny, you know who that is?"
Sage could barely focus on Vera's question amidst his mental meltdown. Thankfully, she didn't await his response in order to say her next words. "That's the model you've been 'hanging out' with? He looks like the future kid of Elijah Haider and Yaya Dacosta — if she ever got knocked up for him. How, Sage? How?!"
"W-what?" Sage barely got out as he struggled to get out of her grip.
"I'm loyal as a knight to Brandon," she paused. "so as long as I never encounter Elijah Haider. But there I was, face-to-face with his future kid! Please, Sage. You have to tell me how you nailed that hottie. Oh my God, I'm not boy-crazy, but come on. I'd even go gay over Ariana Grande."
"Let me go, you s-sellout!"
Vera pouted. "How am I a sellout? Elijah said he wanted to see you, and his wish is my command. Now, you're going to get out there and nail him for yourself — straight or freight — then tell me your experience of him taking you in his equally sexy car. Details, son. I want DETAILS."
The blond's eyes widened. "T-take? W-well, I've been in his car before, so—"
"Let's not corrupt your innocence." Vera silenced him by saying. "Run along now, son. He's waiting outside."
Attempting to soothe his weakened state of mind, Sage gulped. His hands began shaking at the mere thought of being within 5 feet of Xander. As the recollection of their horrid date flowed back to him, another thing he had to fight back was also the tears resurfacing in his eyes.
But he wouldn't let them out.
Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths to regulate his discombobulated state of mind. What changed between them? Nothing. What would he go out there and say? Nothing. Xander requested him, so of course, he obviously needed something to say.
Nothing changed between them, so Sage could simply talk like normal. It was simple.
Simple.
Simple.
If it was, then why did Sage's hand layer itself with sweat? Why did he feel nervous?
Deep down, he knew the reason.
Then, Xander would end it all. Blatantly tell Sage that it had been a waste for him to like him, and that he was straight. Albeit already aware of all that, Sage couldn't prepare himself enough for the splitting pain he would experience, hearing it directly. Already, his heart throbbed. Achingly.
"O-okay." he told Vera, stepping away from her. "Tell Nyx that I'll be w-waiting at the truck, please?"
At Vera's nod, Sage took one last, shaky breath before leaving the room, tentatively taking the long walk to outside.
* * *
Another chapter split due to length.
Anyways, I told ya'll that I'm evil, so I don't think you would be so surprised as to how it turned out haha xD
Are you surprised that Xander really left him? Or had you forseen it?
Next, you'll see what happened with Xander and Jennifer, as well as the hang rest of what'll happen. Stay tuned❤️