Upsurged ( Protection and safety unit Book 2)

Chapter 3

Nathan

I didn't want to wake anyone when I got home; Sage would be asleep just like Grandma, so I snuck into my room and lay down to sleep. I had just been able to rest for a couple of hours when Sage stormed into my room and woke me.

"Nate... Nate, wake up," she called out happily.

I was already awake when the door creaked open but pretended to be asleep.

"Nate?" Sage came closer to my bed.

I opened one eye and looked over her face, which instantly lit up.

"You're not going to let me rest, are you?" I asked wearily.

"I'm glad to see you too," she replied when I threw my pillow at her, and she burst out laughing.

"You're still too slow," I laughed when I hit her, and she staggered back.

"You look like crap," she said, "but I missed you," she added.

"Thank you... I missed you too, little ass-kicker," I replied, smiling softly at her this time.

"Come on, get up; Grandma is making breakfast," said Sage.

I could smell the freshly fried bacon and eggs and grinned.

"Give me a minute," I called to her as she walked out of the room.

Grandma's laugh was huge as I strolled into the kitchen, and she hugged me.

"How are you, boy? You seem to have lost weight," she said, making me laugh.

"I'm fine, Mama Mae... I just miss your pancakes and bacon with eggs for breakfast," I replied.

"You're lucky I just made them," she replied. "I know what my boy likes most," she added.

I sat down next to Sage and began to eat, not taking my eyes off her.

"What problems do you have at school?" I asked her.

Her mood suddenly seemed sad, and she looked at her grandmother.

"You have to tell him," she said to Sage, who exhaled deeply.

"It's Jamal again," Sage replied, making me put down my fork.

"What did he do?" I asked, looking from her to Mama Mae.

"Show him," Grandma commanded, letting Sage slip her shirt over her shoulder a little until I saw the purple bruise on her.
"Fucking prick," escaped me.

"Nathan Dylan!" came from Mama Mae immediately, making me hold my hands up in the air as if I were surrendering.

"Sorry, Mama Mae," I said immediately.

My sister lowered her head, and I grabbed her hand.

"Did he do that to you?" I asked angrily.

"No... his sister," she explained to me.

I took a deep breath, calming the rising anger inside me.

"Nate... it's still a few weeks until she finishes her senior year. When high school is over, we'll move to Laguna Beach with you. Then this craziness will be over," Mama Mae said soothingly.

"It's been going on for a while now... She should have told me sooner," I replied, nodding at her.

"I know, baby... she's young..." Grandma defended Sage.

It hurt me that my sister was being bullied and I didn't know about it. But what hurt me most was the police not doing anything about it, even though I reported it a few times. When we were kids, she used to come to me when someone teased her, but apparently that changed over the years.