｡ﾟ𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 | 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 ﾟ｡

nine, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧

"So, if you don't mind me asking, what's the reason you needed a drink so bad? I mean you know I'm always up for one but if this has something to do with last-" The two girls were sitting by Shayla's pool, red solo cups in hand.

"No I know why you might be concerned but, it's not anything like that.  It's just that, we've been here for what? Like around 3 days and I don't know. Nothing feels right this year." Saige paused for a moment. "Conrad's keeping something from me, Jeremiah apparently has feelings for me, and fucking Nicole was making out with the guy that I've been in love with-" She had started ranting. 

"I'm sorry? "Love"?" Shayla grinned. 

"I-well, I think so, yeah." Saige smiled to herself.

"I knew it!" Shayla exclaimed.

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh come on! Most people wouldn't be able to tell, but you know, it's me. I knew you were in love with him the minute I saw you two together. And I don't think it'd be crazy to assume he feels the same." 

"You know it's not nice to lie?"

"I'm not! He's literally drooling whenever you're close Sai, I don't know what he's doing with Nicole but I know that he's not into her the way he's into you."

"I don't know." Saige's mind instantly flashed back to her makeout session with Conrad. The passion in his lips, like he craved her, like he needed  her.

"Yeah okay." Shayla picked up on the expression Saige was trying to hide. 

"What!" Saige laughed. 

After spending the afternoon at Shayla's, Saige had gotten fairly tipsy. The joint the girls had shared didn't help it either. Saige walked back home, expecting an interrogation. So she was surprised to see her mother fairly calm sitting at the dining table with everyone, and Taylor.

"Welcome back Saige." Laurel stated calmly, not even making eye contact with her eldest daughter. 

"Hey?" The girl replied suspiciously. 

"Dinner's almost done. You're lucky you got back when you did." 

Saige sat down in her spot beside Conrad, who immediately could smell the weed radiating off of her. 

"Aige, have you been smo-" Conrad asked concerned. 

"Shhhh" she laughed.  

Holy fuck, the boy thought to himself. What is going on with her? 

"Saige and I can bring the food in here." Conrad volunteered, hoping to question the girl. 

"I don't really-" Saige started to protest.

"Come on." Conrad stood up and grabbed her hand, leading her to the kitchen.

"Saige, what is going on with you? Why do you smell like weed right now?!" Conrad questioned the girl.

"Conrad, Conrad, shhh. It's not that big of a deal. I mean you smoke. Why can't I?" 

"It's not about that, it's the fact that you've spent the whole afternoon out day drinking."

"It's nothing. Don't worry about me. Just go talk to Nicole or something." Conrad's face dropped.

"I thought you were fine with that- I mean, the beach-"

"Conrad, just because all that happened doesn't mean that I forgive you. I poured my heart out to you and told you all about what she did to me. Even before that night you knew that it was Nicole who led all this stuff and you still chose to be with her. I'm not fine with it. I don't know why you'd expect me to be." 

For the first time that night, Saige could think clearly. Although her night with Conrad was long awaited, she was still hurt about him and Nicole. The moment Saige found the two together played over and over in her head, a new wave of pain coming with each recollection. How could she see her moment on the beach with Conrad as something special when he was doing the same thing with Nicole an hour prior? Was Saige just 'another girl' to him? Because he's not just 'another boy' to her. He was everything, and nothing all at once. 

Conrad was at a loss for words. He expected their makeout session to count as some sort of forgiveness from Saige. He didn't know she still felt angry about it. It's not like it's that big of a deal, right? Of course he remembered the chaos and hurt Nicole caused but, she was his distraction. From his mom being sick, his father's scrutiny, and his own feelings for Saige. He needed someone to take some of the pain away, and the girl he really wanted to help him, wasn't available to him.

"Well I just want you to know-" Conrad started before getting interrupted. 

"What's taking you guys so long?! We want to eat, hurry up!" Steven complained from the dining room. Saige rolled her eyes and grabbed a dish. 

"I just- I don't think she deserves someone like you." Saige said softly, almost like a whisper. Almost like she didn't  want Conrad to hear her. The girl didn't need any more pain in her life, and didn't want hers to spread to anyone else.