Finding Sage (Young Adult)

Nineteen: The Breaking Point

Kellan

Sage is not talking to me, and I have no idea why. I don't know what I did, but I'd like to take it back. I'd apologize, but I have no idea what the hell to apologize for. I try to talk to Adam, but he's bound to Gillian, whom is entertaining Sage.

"So, Kellan, tell me about yourself," Sloan asks as the small crowd of Smash workers walk down the sidewalk to Greg's apartment. I know that talking to her will only make matters worse with Sage, but at the same time, she is interested in talking to me, so where is the crime?

"Umm, well what do you want to know?" I ask, moving myself behind Sage, so she can hear the conversation.

"What do you do when you're not expertly waiting tables?" While she is speaking to me she is pulling her hair out of her long braid.

"I'm...in a band," is all I offer. It's very sexy the way she is pulling her hair out of its braid and fanning it across her back.

I look at the back of Sage and see her turning her head, listening to us. Sloan notices this too; therefore, she starts to speak to me in French, "Oh really? Anything I would know?.

I don't answer in French, I know if I do it will just make matters worse between Sage and I. "Maybe, I don't know what you know. It's not a big deal really. How about you? Is there something else that interest you?"

Continuing in French she says, "I am finding you interesting, at the moment. Other than that, I do some film editing on the side, but I find it boring and it only pays the bills part of the year."

"Well Sloan, you should know that I am kind of sort of taken, at the moment," Sage's step stutters for a moment. I look back at Sloan, whom switches back to English.

"Where did you learn to speak French?" she changes the subject.

"In Paris, I spent my last year of University there. I love Paris, I miss it. How about you? You look Greek to me, not French, and your accent says the same." She smiles and pulls her long hair across her shoulder.

"I am Greek, but spent most of my childhood in France. I am fluent in Italian and German too. My father was a diplomat and all of his children had to learn at least four languages. It has served me well. So tell me, Kellan, what does 'kind of, sort of taken at the moment' mean? In this case, I fear my English is not so good."

"Well, in English, French, Italian and probably German, although, I could not be certain... it means that I have given my heart to a beautiful girl." That is currently stomping all over it. "And until she gives it back, or breaks it in half, my interests are primarily for her."

Sloan raises her hand over her heart and speaks in French, "Ah, a beautiful man, with a beautiful heart. How I wish someone would speak of me that way you speak of her. I hope she knows that she is very lucky girl."

"I am the lucky one," I tell Sloan, and I look at Sage's face from the side. She is so beautiful and so...damaged. I need to be more understanding and patient with her, not two virtues I claim to have mastered.

In the elevator up to the apartment, Sage is standing in front of me. I cannot take her silence for another moment. Slipping my hands around her waist, I pull her to me. She begins to protest, but I bring my lips to her ear, "Please stop being mad at me. I want to be more understanding, but I need you to help me. I don't know what is going on in the beautiful mind of yours."

I feel relief when I feel her relax into me, resting her head on my chest, and wrapping her hands around mine. I kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear, "Thank you."