Chapter Sixteen.

The drive to the diner was filled with the sound of classic rock blaring through the speakers. Sage, one hand on the wheel, the other tapping against her thigh, sang along with Dream On by Aerosmith, her voice confident and effortless. Harlow couldn't help but watch her, utterly captivated by the way Sage's dark hair fell in waves around her shoulders, how her eyes flickered with excitement as she lost herself in the music.

"You're so beautiful," Harlow murmured, half to herself.

Sage turned her head slightly, an eyebrow raised. "Damn, you're really out here simping for me this early in the morning?" she teased, though there was a hint of pink dusting her cheeks.

"I'm serious," Harlow insisted. "You are."

Sage rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smirk tugging at her lips. "Whatever, simp."

By the time they pulled into the parking lot of Macy's Diner, Harlow had accepted that Sage would never just take a compliment without throwing some sass back. But that was part of why she loved her.

Inside, the diner was warm, the scent of coffee and syrup filling the air. It was one of those places frozen in time, with vinyl booths, checkered floors, and an old jukebox in the corner. The two slid into a booth near the window, and Sage immediately picked up the menu, even though she already knew what she wanted.

"Pancakes," she said with confidence.

"You get pancakes every time," Harlow pointed out.

"Yeah? And I've never regretted it," Sage said, raising a brow. "You over here acting like you don't order the same boring-ass omelet every time."

Harlow gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "I like my omelet."

"Mm-hmm," Sage hummed, clearly unimpressed.

When their food arrived, Harlow stole a bite of Sage's pancakes, humming in satisfaction. Sage, in retaliation, took a bite of Harlow's omelet, making a face as if she had just tasted cardboard.

"See?" Harlow said, laughing.

"Tragic," Sage muttered dramatically.

They talked as they ate, tossing around ideas for what to do next. Sage suggested hitting the mall, saying she wanted to find something cute for Harlow, which made her girlfriend blush.

"I don't need anything," Harlow said, but Sage just shrugged.

"Did I ask if you needed anything? No. I said I'm getting you something. End of discussion."

Harlow rolled her eyes but smiled, feeling warm all over at how effortlessly thoughtful Sage was.

Just as they were finishing up, Harlow's phone buzzed on the table. She reached for it absently, but the second she saw the name on the screen, her stomach dropped.

Jessica.

Harlow's heart rate spiked as she hesitated before opening the message.

Jessica: I miss you, Harlow. I miss how things used to be. We had something real, you know? All those nights we spent high as hell, just the two of us. Don't you miss that? Don't you miss me?

Her hands trembled slightly as she read.

Another message came in.

Jessica: Come on, babe. You can't run from me forever.

The air felt too thick to breathe.

She slid out of the booth without a word, needing space. Needing air. She barely registered Sage calling after her as she walked swiftly to the car, unlocking it and sinking into the passenger seat.

Her chest was tightening, her vision slightly blurring at the edges.

Not now. Not now.

The car door opened, and Sage slid in beside her, eyebrows furrowed in concern. "What's wrong?"

Harlow shook her head, trying to steady her breathing. "It's nothing," she lied.

Sage gave her a pointed look. "Try again, I'd take a bullet for you love, so you can tell me anything."

Harlow swallowed hard, then reluctantly handed over her phone. Sage read the messages, her expression darkening by the second.

"She's high," Sage said immediately, her jaw clenching. "She's gotta be."

Harlow just nodded weakly.

Another buzz. Another message.

Jessica: I saw you today. You think I don't know what you're doing? You're always so predictable, Harlow. But that's why I love you. And I always will. But this thing with that emo freak? You know it's a joke, right? We both know you'll come back to me in the end.

Sage's grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"She's watching you?" Sage repeated, her voice deadly calm. "What the actual fuck?"

Harlow felt sick.

Another message came in before either of them could respond.

Jessica: If you don't talk to me, I'll start talking for you. You know what I mean.

Cold dread settled in Harlow's stomach. She knew exactly what Jessica meant. There were things in her past—things she had confided in Jessica about—that could ruin her life if they got out.

Sage's anger was palpable, radiating off her in waves. "Oh, hell no." She immediately started typing back.

Sage: Listen up, you strung-out bitch. You ever threaten Harlow again, we WILL pull up and handle it. You don't own her. You never did. If you so much as breathe in her direction again, you're gonna regret it.

Harlow's anxiety spiked. "Sage—"

"She needs to back the fuck off," Sage snapped.

A reply came instantly.

Jessica: Ohhh I see. You're letting your little emo freak speak for you now? Cute. What are you gonna do, Sage? Put a curse on me? Lmao. You don't scare me.

Harlow's breath hitched. "She's not going to stop."

Sage exhaled sharply, jaw clenched. Then, more softly, she turned to Harlow and took her hands. "Hey," she said, voice firm but gentle. "She doesn't control you anymore. I promise you, we control what happens next."

Harlow looked up at her, feeling torn between fear and comfort. Sage had this unwavering confidence that was almost intoxicating.

"Would you really take a bullet for me?" Harlow asked, trying to lighten the mood, though her voice came out small.

Sage smirked. "Babe, I'd gladly take a bullet for you. Cussing out some strung-out hoe is nothing."

Harlow let out a small, shaky laugh, but her chest still felt tight.

Another buzz.

Jessica: So? What's it gonna be?

Sage's eyes darkened, and she turned to Harlow, voice low and serious. "We're not running from her."

Harlow swallowed, nervous but trusting Sage with everything she had.

"…Then what do we do?"

Sage's smirk returned, but this time, it was sharper.

"We pull up."