Chapter 5: "I Can't Believe You've Done This!"

I sighed deeply and rolled my eyes. "I know what you're going to say. Sage, why didn't you say anything? I'm a guy; I could've carried you, blah, blah, blah." I rolled my eyes a second time and looked out the window of Jason's car in which we're currently driving. "Well, I got a couple of reasons for you, Buddy. One, I don't want to be touched. Two, it would ruin my image, you carrying me through the halls. And reason three, listen carefully here because I'm only saying it once." I crossed my arms in front of me and looked Jason directly in the eye. "I. Am. Fine."

"No, you're not!"

"How come? Huh?"

"I can see it, Sage. I'm not blind! You're not fine. I can see it."

"Then stop looking!" I burst out. "Stop looking. I'm fine. Even if I'm not. Just mind your own damn business!" Jason's grip around the steering wheel tightened what caused his knuckles to turn white.

For a few minutes, none of us said a word. The only sound in the car was our breathing and the music that was playing softly in the background.

"I'm sorry, okay?! I'm sorry I came for you and took you back to this hell-hole. I'm sorry that I took you back to the place you hate the most—the place where everything reminds you of them. I'm sorry. I truly am, Sage. I just didn't have a choice." I swallowed and continued looking out the window.

"Everyone has a choice," I said stubbornly knowing damn well Jason didn't, and that it was the right thing to do to take me back. Even though I hate that place more than anything.

"Well, I didn't. You know how Dad is. I wouldn't have cared if he'd kill me, but he would've done far worse. I didn't have a choice. If I did, I would've left you be free."

"What did you do with that dense cabbage who shot me?" I changed the subject.

"Let's say he stays out of your way. After Dad found out he shot you; he sent him on a mission. You may not believe it, but he didn't want to risk getting all his bones broken by you."

"Because?"

"Chandler is actually a really skilled assassin. We didn't want to waste his talent."

"Bummer," I muttered.

Jason chuckled cheerfully at my response. "Yeah, a real bummer. It's a total shame, really."

***

I sighed deeply. I had nor the energy or was I in the mood to deal with the four assholes who call themselves my roommates. I took in a deep breath and opened the door only to be greeted by the yelling of one of those four bitches.

"Sage Everly! I can't believe you've done this!"

The fawn haired and grey-eyed boy called Mason stood in front of me with his arms crossed in front of his chest. His usually happy the peppy face looked angry. I rolled my eyes and walked past him without saying a word.

Or at least, that was the plan.

"I don't think so, Young lady! Get your ass back here!" Mason called after me.

"No, thank you! I'm good."

"Yeah, don't think so." I groaned annoyed when my three other roommates stood in front of me like a wall, barricading the stairs and the only way towards my room. "You, own us an explanation, you cold-blooded bitch," Luca continued while running a hand through his medium-length blond hair. His mismatched eyes were staring straight at me.

"Can't we just get past this?" I asked hopefully.

"No, we can't! You just left us! We had no one to cook for us for three whole months!" Luca said in the most dramatic tone I ever heard in my entire nineteen years of gracing these lands.

"Our little, dead flower just left us like we were nothing more than… than… roommates!" Denver yelled out. I rolled my eyes.

"That's exactly what you guys are to me. Nothing more."

"Ouch there, Sage. You hurt us deeply," Mason said with a pout. His hand resting on his chest. The only one who hadn't said anything was Delano. The 'leader' of our house. His curly brown hair was messy and hanging in his eyes as always, and his cold stare was aimed directly at me. I stared back into his dark blue eyes.

"Aren't you going to yell at me too, Delano?"

"No." The answer I got back caused several disapproval cries from the other three boys to fill the room. "It's good to have you back, Sage." Delano nodded at me and walked away. Something that allowed me to walk up the stairs. An opportunity I took before the other three could react.

"Get back here, young lady! We're not done talking!"

"Then talk to each other!" I yelled back annoyed. I walked up to my room and slammed the door shut behind me. I let myself slide down the door, leaned against it, and closed my heavy eyes.

I didn't know if I could handle being back here. But I had to. I had to. There was no other way. I had to be strong. I sniffed my nose and stood up from the ground. A groan of discomfort escaped my lips as waves of pain shot through my body from my sore wounds.

I walked to the window and looked outside. "I can't believe I found my butt back here."