Don't blame me

7/11 dates

Before Saige could respond, a hand clamped down on her shoulder, and she was yanked back. Heather stood behind her, eyes flashing with anger. "What do you think you're doing, Saige?"

Saige shrugged off Heather's grip, her own eyes narrowing in defiance. "Just talking, Heather. What's the big deal?"

Heather's gaze shifted to JD, her expression filled with disdain. "Stay away from him, Saige. He's not the kind of person you should be associating with."

JD remained calm, his eyes meeting Heather's without flinching. "Nice to meet you too, Heather," he said dryly.

Ignoring JD, Heather turned back to Saige, her tone icy. "Come on, Saige. You don't belong here."

Saige stood her ground, her frustration boiling over. "And where exactly do I belong, Heather? Stuck in your shadow forever?"

Heather's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly recovered, her expression hardening. "This isn't about me, Saige. It's about you making smart choices."

Saige laughed bitterly. "Smart choices? Like pretending to be someone I'm not just to fit in with your friends?"

Heather's face flushed with anger and embarrassment, but she didn't back down. "Saige, you don't understand."

"No, Heather," Saige interrupted, her voice firm. "You don't understand. You've never tried to understand me or what I want. You just want me to be your carbon copy."

Heather opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Veronica, who had been watching the scene unfold, stepped forward. "Hey, she's right Saige. He is bad news."
Heather looks at Veronica with a looks of thanks.

Saige took a deep breath, her voice steady as she turned back to JD. "I'm sorry about that, JD. My sister doesn't speak for me."

JD smiled warmly. "No need to apologize, Saige. I get it. Family dynamics can be... complicated."

Heather, sensing she was losing control of the situation, made one last attempt. "Saige, please. Just come with us."

Saige shook her head, her resolve unshaken. "No, Heather. Not this time."

With that, she turned away from her sister and back to JD, feeling a surge of confidence. "So, JD, you were saying you prefer to go to the lake with a girl ?"

JD's smile widened, and he leaned in closer. "Yeah, I think I'd this certain girl  and I just met her I wouldn't want to go to lake with any other girl."

As they resumed their conversation, Saige felt a sense of liberation. She was no longer content to live in the shadows of her sister's expectations. For the first time, she was forging her own path, one that felt truer to who she really was. And as she sat with JD,
Saige knew she had finally found her place.

As Saige and JD sat on the curb, sharing stories and laughter, the bell above the 7/11 door jingled. Saige glanced up and saw Veronica walking in, her posture tense and her gaze scanning the shelves with purpose. She made her way to the snack aisle, quickly grabbing a couple of bags of CornNuts.

"Looks like Veronica's on a mission," JD observed, following Saige's gaze.

Saige nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy for Veronica. Despite her entanglement with the Heathers, Veronica had shown her kindness and support. "Yeah, probably getting ready for another one of Heather's parties."

Just as Veronica was about to head to the counter, she spotted Saige and JD. She hesitated for a moment before walking over, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Hey, Saige," Veronica greeted, her eyes flicking between Saige and JD. "Hey, JD."

"Hey, Veronica," Saige replied with a smile. "Stocking up for the party tonight?"