Chapter 6

Sage

I woke up to my phone ringing, I groan putting the pillow over my head but it continues. Getting it, I look at the screen, why was Adrian calling me at this hour, it's midnight, I swipe the screen with a yawn, "hello?" I ask sleepily, "Happy?" Ari's small voice asks, "Ari, what's wrong, are you okay?" I ask immediately, first off, how does she have Adrian's phone?. "I had a bad dream, can you make me hot chocolate?" Ari asks, "Ari, I'm at home"I tell her, "please" "okay, I'll be right there", I hang up then fall on the bed, taking two minutes, I close my eyes then I got up and took my hoodie from the chair, I grabbed a pair of jeans and my phone, I text an Uber to pick me up, I picked up my bag and my blanket then left my room.

The Uber driver snapped his fingers and I wake up, "you're here"he says, "thank you"I say paying him, I got out and looked up at the tall gates, there was no one in sight so I climbed it, good thing I'm athletic right. Once I'm over the gates, I walk to the house, I was so tired, I need sleep. I ring the doorbell, no answer, I ring it two more times before the lights flicked on and the door opened, Adrian looked down at him, his grey eyes giving me chills.

"Sage, what're you doing here?" Adrian asks, "I don't know, you called"I say walking passed him, he closed the door, "no I didn't, and why-....." "you're here!", we both look at Ari as she beamed at me.

"Ari, you called Sage?" Adrian asks, "yes, I want hot chocolate"she says nodding, I walk off to the kitchen, "but it's midnight"Adrian tells her, "shhh, it's never too late for hot chocolate"Ari says pointing at him, I chuckle, she's something else. After I make her hot chocolate, I watch her sip it, "party in the kitchen?" another voice asks, I look at Adi and Aiden, oh great, "might as well, what can I get you two?" I ask rubbing my eyes, "whatever she's having, it looks great" "you want a shot Adrian?" "I guess", I make four more mugs and we all reside to the family room.

The three kids talk about stuff until they felt tired, it's two in the morning now, I was tired!, I needed so much sleep. "Will you be here when I wake up?" Ari asks sitting on my lap, "yes"I replied, there's no way I'm going home right now, "and the day after that?" Aiden asks, "and everyday after that?" Adi asks, I can't promise them that, "how about I sing you guys a song, my best friend sang it to me before I left for college"I say and the nod, Aiden and Adi rest their heads on my shoulders and Ari laid on my chest.

Adrian

I watch and listen to Sage singing Count On Me by Bruno Mars, the kids close their eyes as she sang further into the song, I've never seen them drawn to anyone so much in four whole months, they started talking to me like we used to and they laugh alot more. Sage brought a strange energy with her, even I've been drawn to it, even though she's rude, if she makes them happy, I have no problem being a little nice to her.

Sage yawned then continued singing, the trio already fell asleep, then Sage's eyes closed, they're going to be in so much pain in the morning if I don't move them. I let out the couch bed and lay them down on it, still snuggled up, I pull the thick cover over them, Ari snuggled closer to Sage, gosh, she loved the attention, typical six year old.

I was getting ready for work when Sage walked into the office, "I should get a million bucks for my job", I turn to her, "you don't say, who said you were getting paid?" "I can take you to court" "I have great lawyers", she doesn't reply, probably thinking of a great comeback, "alright you win this one, what's the schedule for today?" "you're the babysitter, figure something out", "you're the worst boss" "if that was supposed to hurt my feelings, I'm wounded", she rolled her eyes then left, another long day at work I guess.

"Good morning Mr Prince" Timothy says walking into my office with a bunch of papers in his hand.

"Timothy" I acknowledged leaning back into my chair.

He walked to the desk and put the papers on it, pushing them towards me slowly, obviously knowing I've been busy all morning and I could do without all these papers.

"Will you be having lunch in office today?" he asks.

"Not sure, I'll probably leave early today" I say glancing at the papers. "Put those inside my car will you" I say motioning to the papers.

"Sure" he replies getting them from the desk. "Is that all Sir?" he asks about to leave.

I went deep in thought for a few seconds, maybe I should get something for my kids, they've been in a happier mood these days. Thanks to that mouthy babysitter of their's, could be welcome back gift.

"Yeah, go get something for my kids, you can buy yourself something also" I tell him.

"Okay Sir" he nods before leaving.

I always tell him to buy himself something but he never does. Timothy is a just a quiet person, I don't even remember when I hired him but he can be relied on, no matter what.

I walk into my house hearing little giggles coming from the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen to see Adi and Aiden laughing whilst being covered in flour, there was no sign of Ari nor Happy, my heart leaped just by the sight of their faces, it's been so weary here these past months, I'm happy to see them laughing.

"You guys seem to be having fun" I state catching their attention.

Their faces beamed when they saw me, I smile at them in response. They run over to me but stopped before they could bump into me.

"We were making pancakes" Aiden grins and his sister nods.

"For lunch?" I ask them, it wasn't supposed to come off in a bad way.

Thankfully they were in a good mood, so they ignored my question.

"Ari wanted it" Adi replies with a shrug, her eyes drifting to the bags in my hands.

"What're those?" Aiden asks pointing to the bags.

"Could be yours" I say casually, they start to smile even more. "But first, where's Ari?" I ask them.

"Happy took her to clean her up, she started throwing the flour" Adi replies motioning around the kitchen.

I look around the room, there was flour on the covering the counter and the floor, they really went to work in here.

"How about you two clean this all up, I'll put these in your rooms" I tell them.

"Okay!" they reply hurrying to get cleaning supplies.

I go upstairs and put their guys inside their rooms then I walk to Ari's room to see her. Happy had her inside the bathroom, the door was half open as they talked.

"Will I be as pretty as you are Happy?" Ari asks, her inquisitive soft voice was so cute.

I smile when Happy answered her question, at least she's good with kids.