Something In The Orange

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"That was delicious mom, I've missed your cooking!" Declan complimented, stretching his arms out, rubbing his belly. I rolled my eyes.

Mamas boy.

"Let me help you clean up," Zoey said, standing and helping gather everyone's dishes, before following my mom into the kitchen. "I'm going to go upstairs and take a shower," I said. Declan and Sage both looked at me. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow with all the family here," Declan said. I nodded with a small smile. "I can't wait to see Josie." Declan rolled his eyes, "She's the only cousin you even care about." We both started laughing.

I looked back to Sage, who still seemed pretty upset. "You coming to bed?" I asked and he shot me a glare. "I'm going to hang out down here for a while." I furrowed my brows at him, but he ignored and started talking to D. I shook my head.

Whatever, asshole.

I went upstairs, grabbing some shorts and a t-shirt, before going to the shower. A part of me is excited for tomorrow, and the other part just doesn't even want to be here. I feel like coming back home is just going to make me go backwards, and start being who I used to be... and to be honest... I hated that girl.

I quickly finished my shower, stepping out and wrapping a towel around my body. I brushed my teeth and pulled my hair into a messy bun, before putting on my clothes and walking down the hall to my old bedroom. Everything was just how I left it. Bed neatly made with my black silk sheets, music posters hanging on the walls, my jewelry box on top of my dresser, it was all the same... All of it, except me.

I shook away my thoughts, climbing into bed, scrolling through tik tok, before plugging in my phone, laying it under my pillow, and going to sleep.

-

I suddenly heard a loud noise, and I instantly sat up, alert. "It's just me." I quickly switched on the lamp and see Sage standing at the door. "Go back to sleep, I was just making sure you were okay." I gave him a weird look. "Are you not coming to bed?" I asked and he shook his head. "I'll see you in the morning." Before I could even say another word, he walked out and closed the door behind him.

What is his deal.

I laid there, contemplating whether or not I wanted to get up and go talk to him....

God. It's going to bug me all night if I don't.

I got up, tip toeing down the hall, passed D's room, to see the light peaking under the closed door of the guest room. I walked up and tapped on the door, before walking in. Sage was laying on the bed, his hands covering his face. He seemed stressed. "Are you okay? Are you mad about the whole thing with my mom earlier?" I pressed and he let out a taunting laugh.

"Peyton, you need to figure out what this is," He said, dragging his hands down his face, staring up at the ceiling. "What's that supposed to mean?" I shot. "You wouldn't even tell your mom, you didn't want to tell D, you hated me, then used me, then you wanted me," He pushed. "If you don't want me, there's plenty of other girls dying to take your place."

I stared at him, if my stare could've drilled a hole through his head, I probably would've done it. Is he serious right now? He's acting like a child, all because I didn't want to be public about us and everything. I'm sorry, I thought we were adults, not middle schoolers.

"Then let them." Those words are all I could think to say, because deep down I still believed, he didn't actually want to be with JUST me. He still wants his freedom to do whatever, just like I thought he would. So I should just let him. 

His eyes widened, in disbelief at the sentence that just escaped my lips. He looked over at me, before standing up. "You really want me to do that?" He asked, staring straight into my eyes. My body chilled at his gaze and his words. "You can do whatever you want," I mumbled. He took a few steps closer to me, "Whatever I want?" He looked me up and down. I could feel my cheeks turning red. "What I want is for you to want me just as bad as I want you." He said, finally standing directly in front of me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I do," I reassured. "I want all of you." He smirked, "Then prove it." "How?" I asked, my tone barely a whisper. Suddenly, his hand wrapped around my throat, he leaned down beside my ear. "Let everyone know, you're all mine," He whispered. I couldn't help what happened next. 

Maybe I was wrong, he doesn't want his freedom back at all, he just wants me to prove that I'm worth him giving it up.

He just wants us public.

I quickly kissed his lips, pushing us to walk back to the bed, falling down on it.

"Let me show you, how much I want you."