Chapter 14
Sage Miller
Slowly I forced my eyes to open. My first mission was to find out where the hell I was. That is top
priority.
My eyelid were heavy like they were suddenly made of concrete. Relief washed over me as I realised
the room waspletely dark because my eyes were hurting like hell.
I looked around and realized I had no clue where I was and most importantly how I even got here.
I tried to get up, key word try. Everything part of my body was hurting. Moving felt like torture. I don''t
know what happenedst night but it was brutal.
The voices that woke me up weren''t in my head anymore. I realised that they wereing somewhere
in the house.
I lifted my head off the bed only for it to fall back down on the bed. At that exact moment, a full on
blown headache started. It felt someone was drilling into my skull.
I groaned and forced myself to get up, finding out where the hell I was is still my first priority.
I wasn''t even sure this was a house, it could''ve been a hotel because it was huge and luxurious.
My brain cells were having a hard time corresponding with my body.
I looked around the room and spotted a door which was opened ajar, it looked like a bath room. I know
I should''ve been more worried about theck of knowledge about my location.
I barely remember what happened yesterday but I knew it was awesome. My amnesia is testament to
that. It is legit proof thatst night was the best night of my existence.
I tried to think back to thest thing I remember doing which was a bust because the more I about it,
the more my head hurts buy I do remember drinks, girls and a whole lot of dancing.
I stumbled towards the slightly opened door with the thought of sshing my face with water so I could
think just a bit more.
After washing my face I drank the water to hydrate the desert that has be my throat.
The water tasted horrible, I gagged like i was gonna puke but nothing came out.
I raided the cabs for some aspirin or advil for my headache. Finally I found a box of aspirin. I drank
them before stepping outside the room.
The hallway seemed familiar but I couldn''t figure out how I knew that. Even the atmosphere and the
scent of the whole ce felt familiar.
I followed the sound of the woman shouting, The further away I got from the room I was in the closer
the voice seemed to get but the house was huge. I was even confused how I heard the voices because
of how far away the room I was in was.
I finally saw a staircase and it clicked to me where I was. I was at Wren''s house and now I recognized
the voice of the woman as Wren''s voice.
The back of my mind told me that I knew this house.
I descended the stairs listening in on the conversation below. Wren was scolding Zac aboutst night.
When I got yo the middle of the stairs I realise I could see the living room from there and not wanting to
join the lecture downstairs, I sat down.
Zac and Mason, I think, were sitting on the sofa enduring Wren''s scolding. They could barely keep their
eyes open much less pay attention but that didn''t discourage Wren in any way.
Wren had her back on me so she couldn''t see me. I was safe.
"My God Zac. You''re suppose to the big brother and be responsible. I''m suppose to give you my
furiously.
"And you Mason. I expected more from you." She turned to Mason. "You took a seventeen year old to a
club to get drunk."
She then back to Zac again.
"I leave for three days and you take your sister to a club and not only that you dragged a sixteen year
old with you and how in God''s name did you all get in?"
She asked and I could hear the pure curiosity in that but neither Zac or Mason where nning on
answering her.
I felt bad for her but it was just too amusing not to listen in.
"Oh Lord. Help this kids." She inhaled as if trying to calm herself. "Not only did you drag two under age
kids to a club but you two are also under age.."
She paused a little then her voice immediately went up an octave. "You see what you did to those kids.
Evernly looks dead. She was sick the whole night. Puking her guts out."
Both Zac and Mason flinched at the tone of her voice. I even winced. It was high, too high like she did it
on purpose.
"Mom." Zac groaned covering his ears which in return Wren scoffed.
"Oh! Cry me a river. Build me a bridge and get over it." She eximed and I snorted gaining Mason''s
attention.
He looked up and I smirked at him which he gave me a small nod in return.
"Now go clean up I''ll fix you something you something for the hangover. You smell." She said in disgust
before adding. "And see if Sage and Eve are up yet."
They both stood up at themand while Wren disappeared into what I assume is a kitchen. When
Zac noticed me on the stair his eyes widen.
They approached me and stop a step below to where I was sitting.
"How the hell are you up?" He asked me and I shrugged not really knowing what to tell him.
"You heard the Mrs, go clean up and meet us downstairs." Mason said to me as he was dragging
himself upstairs.
"I take it you remember the way to the room you were in." Zac added and continued to give me
instructions. "Mom and Eve put a few clothes in there for whenever you stayed over."
I nodded not sure if I still had a voice to begin with.
"I''ll check on sis." He said before leaving.
I scoffed in my heard making a note to check on her myself.
When Zac told me they put few clothes for me I thought he meant a few pants and few tees that
belonged to him or something.
Oh boy was I wrong. All of this clothes where new and not just a few but the whole walk-in closet was
full.
It had everything. From boxers to socks. Even shoes. Not just any shoes, expensive shoes. In fact
everything in here is expensive.
I smirked as I looked at everything. Mmm I mused as I chose ck sweatpants and a grey tee.
I exited the room and searched for Eve''s room. I still can''t get over how huge this house is. The few
times that I''ve been in here, I''ve only just seen a few rooms, the living room and the room that were on
Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.
the way to Eve''s room.
Eve once told me it has 22 bedrooms upstairs. A library, two offices, 12 quarters for workers, two
kitchens, 26 bathroom. A game room, a theatre, an inside pool and I think I''m forgetting most of the
rooms.
It''s was long walk from my room to Eve''s. Especially since I was hungry and hangover with zero
energy.
When I got to her door, I didn''t knock since it was basically opened.
I popped my head inside and I was stunned when I saw Mason of all people inside.
What the fuck is he doing? I waited to see what he was gonna do.
"You''re so sweaty." He said pulling the duvet off her. "I can''t believe Zac let you sleep in that, it looks
super ufortable."
He took off her shoes. I feel anger boiled inside me. I''m very protective of her.
I then remember what Zac said, Mason and Eve are pretty close and I saw thatst night.
Eve is notfortable around around most guys but yesterday I saw howfortable they looked her.
But.... He could be another Styles. He will break her heart just like he did. But I won''t allow it. This time
I''ll protect her more than I didst time.
Just as I was about to burst in, Zac yells for his friend.
I was quick to open the opposite room and hide before he saw me.
I heard his foot steps as he walked out of Eve''s room. I waited a few seconds before going downstairs.
As I neared the kitchen I could hear that Wren was still scolding them and they groaned. Or more so,
Zac groaned.
"Serves you right." She said as I walked inside.
They were sitting on the kitchen ind and Wren standing on the other side dishing up three tes.
I noticed three sses of water in front of each stool with what I assumed were Advil.
Wren finally noticed me and her face broke into a huge grin.
"Oh good, you''re up." She said. I was still not used to her caring. In a motherly way.
"Come have breakfast and get rid of that nasty hangover you''re feeling." She suddenly frowned which
made me frown too. "Are you okay?"
I was taken aback by her concern. It was...It was too much.
"Eh.. um.. I''m good?" I stuttered.
"I don''t approve with what they did. Taking the two of you to a club. It was reckless and careless of
them. I apologize on their behalf."
My eyes flickered to them. The moment went from ufortable to amusement.
I secretly smirked to them deciding to have some fun. I turned to Wren, Mason already realised what I
was about to do.
"Yes it was. Especially Eve." I said fighting the urge tough.
Zac looked horrified with my response and Mason was just amused.
"My one and only daughter. She could''ve gotten hurt or worse." She exaggerated. She turned to Zac
and gave him a hard look. "Do you realise that I could''ve lost her? For good this time. What if she''s got
alcohol poisoning. I mean she hasn''t moved since you put her there."
She stopped and I realised how worried she was but that didn''t stop the situation from being funny. I
had to bite my knuckles so I wouldn''tugh and Mason was holding hisugh too.
What was actually funny was Zac''s face. He looked horrified and scared. She was putting the me on
him.
"I''m very disappointed in you." She said low exiting the room but not before saying onest thing. "I''m
going to check if she''s alive."
We waited till Wren was out of earshot tough at Zac.
"Not cool dude." Zac said. "And it wasn''t even my idea."
"I know." Mason saidughing.
"It was her idea and I''m med for it." Heined.
"We know." I said trying to smother myugh.
"And you made it worse." He gave me a pointed look and I bursted outughing again.
After we ate Zac and Mason left to do spmething. I didn''t ask and they didn''t tell me. After all we ain''t
friends.
I was still waiting for Eve to wake up and Wren insisted I stay since I never stay in her house.
She even ckmailed me saying she thinks I don''t like her since I never spent time at her house.
"Pete went to get your car." I was startled by the voice.
I turned around and saw that it was Wren.
She chuckled nervously when she saw that I was startled.
"I''m sorry I scared you." She said and I brushed her off.
"It''s nothing." I breathed augh and saw that she wasing to sit down.
I immediately got ufortable. It''s not that I don''t like her. I like her, to much but it''s that we never sat
down, together. So this was new.
I can sense that she wanted to say something or ask but she was hesitant.
I suddenly had an idea to get out of this ufortable situation. I''m not very good with awkward
tensions. I wasn''t a fan of them.
"Hey Wren." I called and she turned to me. "Could you please tell me about my father."
I asked. I''ve always been curious to know more about him. How he was growing up. Aunt Lauren never
said much about him and they when they were both alive, they didn''t talk about our grandparents or
how they grew up.
They always told us our grandparents died.
Suddenly Wren chuckled and I frowned a bit.
I realised that this might''ve been a bad idea but before I could say anything her face lit up.
"Where should I start?" Wren beamed surprising me. "He was a good man with boyish looks, everyone
fell for him and his boyish charm. Like you."
I was surprised when she said that. My brows shows that.
"You look just like him, you know that." She told me. I knew I looked like him, I saw pictures before
ra burnt all of them. "I can''t get over how alike you two are. Not just looks but your personalities
too."
She brushed my left cheek and I pulled back feeling ufortable. Her eyes widen little and retracts
her hands mumbling a sorry.
She waited for a few seconds before continued.
"He was a true gentleman. A born gentleman. You''d swear he was British sometimes."
I remember that. Dad always taught me to be a gentleman. Even from a young age. He''d make me
practice with Eve.
Maybe that''s why I''m protective of her. I''ve been looking after her for as long as I can remember. I
learnt to lookout for her from a young age, it was forced into my DNA.
"So you''re saying I''m a charmer?" I mused throwing her a little smirk.
She surprised me when she bursted outughing.
"Yes. Yes, I''m saying you are." She told me with a little blush on her cheeks. My own cheeks turned
pinkish.
The tension between us suddenly felt non-existent.
I smiled at her. She said she can''t get over how much I look like dad but I can''t get over how much she
looks like Eve.
She''s identical to my sister. Maybe that''s why I like her. Even herugh sounds like Eve''s.
I can''t seem to understand why dad left her for ra. She''s way nicer and more beautiful than my own
mother.
"Do you have any pictures of him?" I asked hesitant. I didn''t want to open up old wounds but thest
time I saw his face was when I was 11 years. Even a picture of him.
ra burnt everything that reminded her of dad. She erased his existence and I hated her for that. I
was resentful to her for that and I still am.
Wren seemed confused then understanding shed in her eyes.
"Yes I do." She said. "They''re very old though but I can get them for you if you want."
"Yes I''d like that but can I ask you a question first. If you don''t mind that is." I said to her very cautious.
"You can ask anything?"
"Can you please tell me what happened between you and dad because Eve is younger than Zac which
means you had her after you got married. I don''t mean to be noisy I''m just curious that''s all and of
course you don''t have to tell me if you don''t want. I was just wondering but if you mind about me asking
I''ll shut up and never ask again but if you don''t mind I''d like to hear the story."
I vommitted everything as I was getting nervous because I realized that my question was out of line
and it suggested she cheated on her husband which I think she did or how else-.
"Sage." Suddenly Wren called me and chuckled. At first I was confused but I then gave her a nervous
"I don''t mind. I''ll tell you." My head snapped towards her. I didn''t think she''d tell me just like that.
"Have you ever heard that high school sweethearts neverst?" She asked and I shook my head. "Well
your dad and I were just that, high school sweethearts. Of course I''m still a little bit bitter that he left
me."
I gave her my full attention. I wanted to hear the story. I would''ve been her child if they didn''t brake up.
"As you know that your dad yed college football. He was a do it all. He managed to y football and
studyw. He excelled at everything."
"Of course he had fan girls and some from high school. I won''t deny that I''ve always been one of those
fan girls and of course your mom was one too but unlike all his fan girls I was never one for parties and
I was stupidly shy so I never went to his games, I didn''t attend parties with him, I always had my nose
buried in thested novel and I think that''s why he loved me so much. I wasn''t too much like all the
other girls and in high school it was fine that I was like that but then college came around and his
football career took off, he never indented to go to the NFL but he liked football so he yed it in
college and that''s when the strain started in our rtionship. I didn''t suppose him the was I should''ve."
"Your mom on the other hand did for him what I couldn''t. She supported him and a long the lines
support turned to gratitude, gratitude blossomed to love and I was left alone."
"I''m no saint. Of course I was stupid and heartbroken, my confidence was shattered but I think we
could''ve fixed everything but I foolishly started dating his rival, Zac''s father. To show everyone that the
woman left by the linebacker can move on."
"As time went on we resented each other and never talked through our issues. Years went by and I had
Zac with Brian, I married him. There was no turning back from that but months after I had Zac, Brian
and I were separated."
Sho took a shaky breath making me realise how hard it was for her.
"Then I met your dad again and after all those years our love never faded it toote. He was married so
was I. I knew I would go back to Brian eventually for Zac but that day I thought it would be good to have
drinks and catch up and one think led to another and Zac''s dad apologized but I was pregnant with
Eve. When he found out he was furious but he wouldn''t let me go, he didn''t want me going to his rival
so he gave me an ultimatum, if Eve stays with us, Mike can never go near her and if I leave I will never
see Zac again. So after a few months after I gave birth to Eve, I gave her to Miranda, Mike''s mom."
"Then you were born. I would visit Eve everyday after work then one evening I came around and you
were all gone. Miranda told me she didn''t know where you all were."
"At first I didn''t believe her but as time went by I saw the desperation in her eyes. She med your
mom for it. Never did it crossed my mind that they crossed the border."
"Years went by and I was devastated, desperate to see her even if it''s just one time. Then I had the
twins and I divorced their father and moved here. I didn''t even think she''d be here."
Tears were flowing down her cheek and she was sobbing uncontrobly. I didn''t know what to do.
She buried her face in her hands and I suddenly felt guilty that I opened up old wounds for her.
I should''ve stayed away from her. I remind her of dad. I reminded her of what could have been. She
said it herself, I don''t just look like dad. I''m his miniature.
I stood up and knelt in front of her. I pulled her to me and hugged her.
"I''m sorry." I whispered. "I didn''t mean to make you cry."
I don''t like it when ady cry. My dad told me never to let ady cry and right now all I want is to calm
her down.
"I looked for her. I swear I did." She sobbed.
"I know." I said.
"It''s hard sometimes. She makes me think I didn''t try hard enough. We were living in the same town for
three years for goodness sake."
At this point I didn''t know what say to her.
"I know I didn''t do right with her but I feel like she hates me. Every time she calls me Wren I''m
reminded that I chose a man over her."
She started sobbing harder than before and I didn''t think it was possible for her to do so.
"What I would give to hear her say mom even if it''s just once. Maybe i wouldn''t feel like she hates me."
I heard the desperation on her voice.
Her breaking heart was overwhelming.
"She doesn''t hate you. If she did she wouldn''t be here." She might resent her but she doesn''t hate her
but I didn''t tell her that. "We didn''t have it easy growing up. So it''s sort of hard for her to let you in but I
assure you. She doesn''t hate."
"What''s so bad because I don''t understand. She mes me for it but I don''t know what she''s ming
me for."
"It''s not my ce to tell you." I rubbed her back trying to soothe her and by her sniffs I could tell she
was slightly calm.
"At least tell me something about her. She never tells me anything." She begged and I felt bad.
I thought for a moment on what to tell her then remembered something. It''s one of our happiest
memories. Before dad died.
"Well..... growing up she wanted to be a princess. While every girl on our street wanted to be Cindere
she wanted to be Be. And of course dad treated her like a princess and bought her princess dresses,
shoe, tiaras. Everything to match a princess."
I chuckled remembering something.
"Of course she''d make me a prince and whenever I didn''t want to y she''d tell on me and dad would
always make me y with her. Boys my age would tease me and I didn''t care because I loved seeing
her happy was all I cared about."
I frowned as unwanted memories escape the grave I buried them in. Memories when dad died and
when I tried my hardest to make my big sister happy but fail.
Memories of ra burning her toys. Memories of her crying in my arm. Memories when I''d find her
curled up in a corner after a nightmare. Memories when she''d crawl in my bed at night because she
was scared.
I shook my head to get rid of those memories but their strong.
"I guess that''s why we''re close. We''ve always been together. We''ve always had each other. Good or
bad."
After those words Wren seemed to understand my mood. She didn''t ask anything else. I held her in my
arms, suddenly she wrapped her arms around me.
I stiffened not used to the kind of affection. Never in my life had ra hugged me. Not even when dad
was alive. She was never affectionate.
After a few seconds, I forced myself to rx in her arms.
She realised that I''ve rxed a little and she pulled me to her giving off more positive energy.
"Thank you." She unwrapped herself from me and stood up. I was still baffled by the affection.
"Pleasure." I whispered into the thin air.
"I''m trying to locate Miranda. Thest time I talked to her was five years ago. She moved from where I
She stood up and left.
A couple of minutester Zac said down where Wren was sitting. I jumped a bit startled.
He stared at the nk screen. His mood seemed to be as worse as mine.
He didn''t say anything and I appreciated the silence.
"Thank you." He suddenly said as my brain didn''t catch on.
"For what?" I asked. He stayed silence for a few seconds.
"I got here a while ago." He told me like I was suppose to know the meaning behind his words.
He took my silence as indication that I didn''t understand a thing he meant.
He sighed in relief.
"I could never find the right words to cormfort her." He started. "So appreciate you being here,
His statement made it seem like he went through a lot with his mother. Just like Eve and I.
I nodded in understanding and went back to staring at the staring at the nk screen.
Somehow I felt his pain. I felt it radiating from here.
Is it possible that he was hurting just like everyone of us? I stole a nce at him.
He leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.
My answer was yes, he was. In some fucked up was, he was just as messed up as us.