SAGE

Chapter 24

Sage Miller

Never have I been this excited for summer to be over so I can get back to school.

The thought of going back to school in just three week made my knees wobble just thinking about it.

And I still felt like three weeks was a long time. I wanted to back to school tomorrow.

Of all this excitement because I'd be going to school driving a Hennessey Venom.

Hennessey Venom. I sighed in excitement just thinking about all the eyes that would be on me.

Never in the history of our school has any student driven a Hennessey and all their cars don't cost even

close to what my car costs.

The only other person I've seen driving a Hennessey Venom is Styles but his is black.

And so is everything of his. My conscious mocked. True. I admitted. The guy doesn't wear any other

color than black.

I'm beginning to think his soul is black but I'm not there right now. I'm on the Hennessey Venom case.

I'll be the envy of the student body. I'll be popular than the seniors.

Maybe I can even be the captain. That would be history. A captain that isn't a quarterback.

I'll be legendary.

Even the teachers don't drive cars that cost too much. They all drive Sedans. It's sad really.

Of course before I can get back to school, I have to leave this goddamn forsaken city.

I'm still in Toronto. At least we're leaving for the airport but still. I'm still in Toronto.

I've told everyone I know of course that I'll be driving a Hennessey Venom.

I've sent pictures. Of course non of them really believe me but that's alright because their jaws are

gonna hit the floor when they see me driving a Hennessey Venom.

I just have to wait a few days for it to be delivered. Grandma wouldn't let me just drive it across the

border.

"I can't believe five days are over." Micheal said in an overly dramatic manner.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"Yeah. It was really good knowing my brother's kids." Andrew agreed.

Just like how they picked us up, they drove us to the airport.

"I had fun. I really love grandma." Eve said and I was happy she was happy.

That's all that matters.

"Yeah Miranda is...." Micheal tapped her chin thinking of the right word to describe her.

"Something else." Andrew finished for her.

That all got us laughing because she truly was something else. Something else entirely and I'm saying

that in the most respectful way.

"Time truly flies when you're having fun." Micheal commented with a sigh. "Promise to visit soon.

Miranda was really happy to meet you."

"Yeah she was. I guess Mike and Lauren have been gone for long than you filled that space for her. It

doesn't help that you too behave like both of them."

"How so?" I asked looking at Eve.

I knew she wanted to know but she'd never ask because dad and Aunt Lauren has always been a hard

topic for her. She doesn't wanna acknowledge them in her life.

"Your bond. I use to be so jealous of how on sync they always have been. She moved and he moved.

Just like the both of you." He explained and I look at Eve again. "It's like the reincarnation of both of

them. It was no surprise when we realised they left together but it didn't stop it from hurting any less."

After what he said. Everyone in the car seemed to be deep in thoughts.

I found myself thinking of what I could remember about both dad and Aunt Lauren.

They ran away together. I realised that both Eve and I could do that.

Aunt Lauren was always at our house. I remember thinking that both dad and her were having an affair.

But knowing what I know now, that thought looked ridiculous.

They were just siblings that really loved each other. Just like Eve and I. Yes, just like Eve and I.

I didn't even realised the car had stopped until they called me to get out.

"Don't wanna leave Toronto yet?" Micheal joked as I got out.

Out of the pair, Micheal was the easy going. While Andrew was quiet and polite.

"Mom said your cars will be in the states in one day and delivered in two. We already shipped them. So

thats good." Andrew told us as they walked us inside the airport.

"Thank you Uncle. I had fun in Toronto. I'm just sad Damien couldn't come."

The little shit picked up his attitude after I talked to him and the last couple of days he treated Eve

better and they were best friends.

"His friends got back from their vacation and he couldn't wait." Micheal made an excuse for him.

"Please visit soon."

"We will." Eve said hugging her.

I don't know about her but me, It'll be a while before I return.

"I love you kiddos." Andrew said hugging her then pulling me in.

I felt Micheal wrap her arms around us.

"We love you too Uncle." Eve said. "You too Aunty."

I was surprised how quick she gave them her love yet she still refuse to call Wren mom.

I wouldn't be surprised if she never said those three words to Wren.

The flight home was uneventful. Other than a text from Wren letting me know they'll be waiting for us in

when we land, I spent most if the flight watching some romcom that was on.

I still don't like airports. Dealing with baggage claim is a nightmare. Still waiting for my luggage I got a

text.

I opened it I was almost not surprised who it was.

I'm here to pick you up. You know the car.-S

I laughed then replied.

You missed me that much-S

Within seconds he replied. I haven't talked to talked spoken to him since Monday.

Pipped down fucker, the fact that now you own a Hennessey Venom doesn't mean shit-S

What the fuck? How the fuck does he know that?

I never told him shit. The people I told aren't even in his circle.

After we got our luggage we went to meet Wren. Well I wasn't about to leave with them but I needed to

make sure Eve got to Wren before I left.

"Bye sis. My friends are picking me up." I told her hugging her.

"So that's who you were texting just now."

"Erh.. yeah."

She sighed.

"It's okay. I'll tell Wren. Be safe Sage. I love you."

"I love you too Eve." I kissed her cheek and left.

I flung my duffle bag as I walked the opposite direction of where Eve was.

I easily spotted the familiar black SUV. I'm used to it now.

I wonder why he doesn't drive his cars anymore. If they were mine. I'd drive each everyday.

Lately he drives his bikes or come with SUV.

I opened the door and got in and didn't even bother with greetings.

He smirk proved that he mention my car because he knew I'd come if he did. But I would've came even

without.

"And how the fuck did you know about the car?"

"Your Uncle used Jane's shipping company to transport the cars." He shrugged.

"You say it like it's suppose to explain how you know about it." I deadpanned narrowing my eyes at him.

"It's my sister's company." He shrugged again.

"So? That still doesn't explain how you know about it. It's your sister's company not yours." I grumbled.

"I don't appreciate you tracking me."

"And who said I was tracking you?"

"Oh my God that's even worse." I groaned.

"Well." He trailed off.

"Are you aware how much of a creep you are?" I asked with my brow raised.

"I'm well aware."

"You're hopeless." I give up. This guy is hopeless. "So you wanted to pick me up because you missed

me."

I teased with a little pout. He rolled his eyes then ran a hand through his hair making it messy.

"Actually... erh. " he started not quite sure if he should continue. "I want your help with something."

Okay. This sounds exciting.

"Who are we killing?" I beamed rubbing my hands together.

"We're not killing anyone." He deadpanned amused.

I have no idea why does helping him kill anyone excites me this much.

"So we're gonna torture them?" I asked again. It's still good.

"We're not gonna torture anyone." He rolled him eyes.

Okay. I don't know what else would he need my help with.

"Are we gonna spy on anyone?" That could be fun I guess.

"No." He said dryly.

I absolutely have no other idea what else.

"What then?" I asked impatiently.

A thought then crossed my mind and my eyes widen-

"I am not helping you get back with Eve." I said a little louder than necessary.

His head whipped to me his eyes wide a little.

So he doesn't want help with that so what does he want me to help-

"Well now that you mention it." He trailed off smirking.

"No. Hell no. Obviously no. Absolutely no. Nada. Zinch. No. No fucking way. Dead no. N-"

"I get it. Sheesh. I didn't know someone can say no in that many way." He told me very amused.

"Yeah well I wanted to get my point across." I muttered under my breath but I knew he heard me.

"Back to what I was saying." I nodded for him to continue. "There's this gir-"

I immediately got my knees on the car seats and frowned.

Well shit!

"Fuck no. I'm not helping you get any girl. Trust me I'll burn that stupid girlfriend of your alive."

No fucking way!

"Would you shut the fuck up for a minute." He said rather irritated and annoyed. "You don't want me

dating your sister, you don't want me dating another girl. What the fuck do you want?"

Well Fuck!

"Actually let me make something clear to you, who I wanna date is non of your fucking business but

that's not what I wanted to ask you."

I don't know what I want. Whoever he dates is non of my concern. Yes, I don't want him getting back

with Eve because of his dangerous lifestyle but I don't think I can't stand seeing his hand on another

woman other than my Eve.

I'm crazy right?

"So what do you wanna ask?" I murmured embarrassed.

"Well..." He started. "There's this kid I met about a year ago. She from an orphanage downtown. It's her

5th birthday next week and I wanted to surprise her. I wanted your help with." He finished.

I stared at him dumbfounded. Well shit. I do say that a lot lately.

I didn't even know what to say to him. I was just mind blown. Styles doing charity work.

A kid from am orphanage.

"Wow!" I exclaimed.

"You gonna help or." He trailed off.

"I don't have much of a choice but still, wow!" OMG.

OMFG.

OH MY FUCKING GOD.

"Yeah I thought maybe a party would do." He suggested but I was still starstrucked.

"That's a good idea but still wow."

"You say wow one more time I'll fucking cut your tongue off." He threatened.

"Um." I stuttered not sure if he meant that. "I won't."

Wow. Who else is shocked?

The car stopped then I realised we were in front of my house.

"Um so... I think the party will be fine but I never had to plan a party for a five year old. So you handle

that?" He asked unsure of himself.

This is a rare sight. Usually he's so sure of himself that when he tells you something it's backed up with

a million facts.

Even his back up plan has a back up plan for the back up plan. So seeing him like this is unsettling.

"Ok. Sure. I'll get back to you when I have something?" I meant to tell him instead it sounded like I was

asking him.

"Alright sure. Now get the fuck out the the car. I have places to be important people to see." He leaned

forward and opened the door.

I smiled and got out. I saluted him and closed his door. Soon the car was gone and I made my way to

the house.

For the first time since I've landed in Miami, I thought about what I said to Connor a couple of days ago.

He's still condemned in his decision to leave once I get back and I still wanted to convince him

otherwise.

It's nice to have company and the ghost of Clara haunt the house a little less when he's here.

When I got in I noticed that he was out. I sighed and went upstairs and turned on the AC.

I felt tired and jetlagged. I wanted to take a long shower and sleep.

It was already late.

Surprisingly I didn't feel the need to drink. I guess Toronto was good for another thing.

I threw my duffle bag somewhere in the room and went to shower. The sooner I shower the sooner I

sleep.

After my long, relaxing shower I chose basketball shorts to wear.

I was drying my hair when I heard the door close with a loud bang.

Startled and alert, I went to check it out only to stop at the top of the stairs as I heard very familiar

voices shouting.

I'm extremely noisy. So I sat down on top of the stairs and listened as they yelled at each other.

"I don't know why you keep coming back here." Connor said.

"Because you need to come home Connor. You can't keep doing this." His mother tried to convince

him.

"Just stop mom. You say you'll do anything for me to come home but you still refuse to tell me anything

related to my father. Why mom? Please tell me why?" He cried out yelling at her.

I couldn't see them.

"Because you don't need to know." She explained and I heard Connor scoffed.

"You can't tell me what I need or don't need mom. I definitely didn't need you sleeping with my friend

but you did it anyway so you aren't I'm the beat position to tell me what I need." Connor told her bitterly

and I heard myself suck a breath.

"He didn't want you Connor. He left you. He wanted me to abort you. Don't think he'll want you now."

Ms Simpson fired back even more bitter.

"God Barbra. I didn't say I want recognition from the man. He's nothing but a sperm donor and you a

surrogate. I want to know who he is." He shouted at her and I heard her wounded whimper.

"Why are you so heartless? Everyday you resemble him more and more. How you behave, how you

talk, how you look. I tried so hard to raise you not to be like him yet at the end your words prove me

wrong everyday. I failed." Her voice croaked like she was crying.

My heart clenched and I wished my own mom loved me that much.

Connor had it all and he didn't even realise it. If my mom was like her, I wouldn't be mad at her for more

than an hour. I'd always run to her arms.

The were both silence for some time.

"I just want to know mom." Connor said slowly.

I heard Barbra sigh loudly and her tone wobbled.

"I don't know why you want to torture me this much." She sighed.

"Have you ever thought that not knowing is torturing me little by little. It's not that I want his recognition

mom. I just want to known his name. I... it's just that."

Maybe I shouldn't be eavesdropping on this conversation. But it's just getting interesting. I can't stop.

"You wanna know so bad. You don't even care how that could affect me. You wanna know so bad?"

She rhetorically asked.

"Yes I wanna know mom. Yes I want to know." His voice was so desperate.

"The name is Jonathan Styles." He said dryly and my heart stopped.

Maybe there's another explaination. Maybe its not the same man. Maybe they just have the same last

name.

I mean I don't know who Styles' father is. It doesn't mean anything right? Styles could be a common

last name.

I'm not jumping into conclusions. I won't jump into conclusions.

"It's not enough. I need more. Where was he from?" He cried out angrily. "Don't be selfish."

"I am selfish?" Ms Simpson scoffed. "I'm selfish, the nerve you have. I kept you when I was disowned. I

didn't abort you when everyone said I should. I raised all alone even when my family said I should give

you up for adoption. I worked four jobs so I could feed you and send myself to school so I can I have a

stable job and provide for you. Then you call me selfish. I could have easily aborted you and I'd still live

in luxury but I gave up luxury for you."

"Maybe you should have aborted me because clearly I'm a burden to you." Connor shouted. " I have

never denied the sacrifice you made for me. I get that but this isn't about it."

"What is it about Connor? I'm dying to know." She sarcastically said.

"It's about identity mom. To know where I came from. I know about you yet I still want to know about

him. I should know about him don't you think. I don't want his love or recognition. I just want to know

who he is. Where he comes from. His background."

"Fine." She said. "He was one of my father's business partner. He was young to be in the business but

old to be with me. He was fresh out of England with his thick English accent. He had a lot of money for

someone his age. I guess the naive me found that intriguing. He did business with my father so he was

around the house a lot. From mom I found out that his wife died not so long ago. I pitied him and found

myself spending more time with him. A few weeks before my sixteen birthday I found out I was

pregnant. When I told him he told me he was married and has three children and that I should abort

you. He said he's gonna go back to his hometown and family and I should forget about him and if I told

anyone he would deny it. Of course I couldn't bring myself to kill an innocent baby."

Her voice was dry and voice of any emotions.

I belived her when she said she couldn't bring herself to kill a baby. I believed her because she's so

kind and has so much compassion for others.

"Mom-" Connor started but his mom cut him off.

"You wanted to know so I'm gonna tell you... when I told mom she was furious. My father didn't even

speak to me. She demanded I abort the baby right away but no matter how much they pushed I didn't

budge. They screamed and yelled at me. They wanted to know who the father is but I never told

anyone. I was ashamed and what good would have it done me except more shouting. If the pregnancy

came out it would've ruined the family name so they gave me a choice. Either get an abortion or I was

out on the street. Two days later I stole some money and ran away. Took a bus to Miami. They were

gonna kick me out anyway. I rented a place and got a job since I wasn't showing. I saved and got

myself through school. One day mom showed up in my doorstep. You were almost two, she said I

could come home but only on one condition. They could forgive and forget. I jumped up on that

because I was tired of working. I had just finished high school then. You were so little. Only 18 months.

She said they'd let me come home if I gave you up for adoption. Right them and there I realised they

hadn't changed. They were still selfish and only thought about their image. So then I raised you alone.

Didn't ask for help. I worked my butt off so you could have a normal life. I'm so sorry I made mistakes

along the way. I'm so sorry I wasn't enough for you."

Throughout her whole statement. That's when I heard an emotion. She was in pain.

Then everything went silent followed by the loud bang of the door.

I sat there on top of the steps and replayed Ms Simpson's words. I let every word sink in.

She sacrificed a lot for her son. I've never witness a mother's love but Connor's mom loved him. He

was too blind to.

Sure she made one mistake but that doesn't mean she loves him any less.

I'd give anything for Clara to love me half as much as Ms Simpson love Connor.

Hell I'll give anything for Clara to love me just a bit.

"Fuck." I heard Connor screamed followed by what sounded like a fist colliding with the wall.

I winced as I imagined how painful that could be.

That reminded me of Styles whenever he was angry. He made a sport of punching walls when he was

angry.

Could they be half brothers?

Or maybe cousins. Or maybe it's just a simple coincidence of similar last names.

But then Styles has that English accent. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Connor froze when he saw me on top of the stairs. His whole body tensed and he became guarded.

Just like Styles.

He ran angry hand through his hair making it messy. Like Styles. I'm

His eyes twitched and just as I was about to say something. He raised his hand up stopping me.

"Don't. Just stop." It was above a whisper and mixed with an angry growl.

Like he was controlling himself. Holding himself together as not to blow.

I nodded. He walked up the stairs and passed me without another word.

I sat there thinking about all the possibility.

Then I realised that I don't know who Styles' father is. Actually I didn't even know his mother. The only

family of his I know is his sister Jane.

I groaned when I realised I couldn't even ask him who his father is without telling him what I know.

He's crazy about keeping his private life private.

I sighed and got up and went to my room.