Growing Fires with Old Ashes

35 - Drama

Tate.

When I went to check on Atlas, I didn't expect him to be accompanied. In fact, I expected him to be lying down, completely exhausted from all the recent events that have been happening lately, but no.

He was having fun with a girl.

Don't be surprised, I wasn't shocked that he was with a girl.

I was shocked because the girl was Sage. The girl of all his recent heartaches.

I get that they are like childhood best friends, but I know Atlas pretty damn well too and this girl is killing him. Literally.

Antonio knows it too, why else did you think he put a hit on that girl anyway, she is a distraction and a parasite. A virus that is messing with all our plans.

And no, this isn't jealousy, I'm 100% lesbian. But that doesn't mean I can't be concerned about my best friend. Not to forget, the heir of my family.

So, I mentally calmed myself down and looked at the two sets of eyes, one curious, one glaring.

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth, "Where the fuck were you?" I had been calling him for hours now. "You are fucking stupid, do you know that?"

Atlas sighs, ashamed of my little lecture. "My phone was off, lost track of time" he answers in one breath. He then turns around to the girl and mouths a 'sorry' to her.

I see her smirk and it's annoying. I look between them and then fix my gaze back on Atlas. I huff, "Yes, you bet you're sorry." I am so done with both these children.

He turns back to me with wide eyes, as if he didn't expect this comment. "Jeez Tate, calm down" he says in this childlike tone.

I point my finger to his chest and take a few stops closer to him. "No, you don't get to 'calm down Tate' me. You were gone for fucking hours, no screw that, for days! Nic almost died and you had me believing I lost both of you. So, you can shove your 'calm down' up your ass and behave like we expect you to. Not like a fucking 3-year-old."

Sage looks down to hide her smile. I turn to her annoyed. "As for you, you can smile your goddamn ass somewhere else off. You should've known better, you knew that he was missing. You should've done better than letting him wander around the city in his state of mind and condition." She actually looked kind of taken aback by my comment. Almost as if she were drenched in guilt. "What are you waiting for? Fucking move already!" I know, I maybe let my emotions control me.

Atlas looks at me and sighs defeated, "Sage, maybe it is best to leave." Sage looks between Atlas and me, then nods. She left the room without saying anything.

And Nysa said she was this feisty person.

Once I was sure she left I turned back to him. "She is bad news, and you know it."

"Shut up" Atlas says as he falls back on the couch. I go to sit next to him.

"No, I won't. You need to listen for once. This girl is going to be your end. Ever since she is back here, you are obsessed. Fucking obsessed." I keep my voice pointed.

He only sighs in response.

"Are you really going to do this? Because I can go on for years" I challenge him.

He turns his head to me and opens his eyes, "Tate, just leave it, I'll be fine." And he turns back to his previous position.

Alright, you have me irritated now.

I huff once again, and a humorless smile appears on my face. "God Atlas, this is not only about you. What do you think will happen to all of us, your family, when you get another fucking drinking problem huh? You ever thought about that?" He only stares at me.