The Prince Bought Me

F I F T E E N

The following day came into a blur and before I can realize it we were already saying our goodbyes as we hop into the car. I was feeling drowsy from last night since the kids decided to keep me up all night with a game of twister. My muscles are still aching from all the twisting I've done.

I'm still feeling a little awkward with Sage and I can feel some tension inside the car. His revelation from the party kept bugging me. When I heard what he said I just stood there gaping at him. I didn't know how to react and no matter what I did, no words came out of my mouth. Well actually, there were some that came out but those were incoherent words. While I blabbered on and on, Sage was just there listening to every nonsense that I said.

I only stopped when Annie pulled me away and introduced me to the others. When I turned to look at Sage the girl from earlier was already talking to her. The sight of them actually stung. I'm not in love with Sage but I do like him. He's cheeky and a little cocky but he never fails to amuse me when he does things I wouldn't expect him to know. Since then we didn't have the chance to talk since he was always with James and the kids always pulled me to play with them.

The tire arrived yesterday afternoon and James managed to change the old one so we decided to leave today. The thing is we don't know where to go next. Sage and I were back on the keep-on-driving-until-we-find-something routine.

I stared at the window all throughout and the silence was making me drowsier and before I can realize I was already falling asleep.

The pitter patter on my window woke me up from my deep sleep. I tried to get up slowly when I noticed that I was lying. The seat has been reclined and a jacket was draped over my body. I peeked at Sage who was busy focusing on the road he probably didn't realize I was already awake. I pulled myself up harder and stared out of the window. The rain was pouring down and the road was starting to get wet.

"You're awake." My attention snapped at Sage's voice.

He didn't turn his attention away from the road but a small smile was formed in his lips. "How long was I asleep?" I asked through a yawn.

"About two hours." His voice laced with amusement.

"That long?" I stifled another yawn before I pivoted my attention back on the window. The place we were in was probably a town. There were different buildings and shops were scattered. There were some people who were still walking on the soaked street. All were carrying an umbrella but what caught my attention the most was the man on the sidewalk.

The man was sitting on the wet pavement with a guitar in clutch. His head was bowed down and water was dripping from his hair and clothes.

"Sage, park the car on the side." I ordered Sage. He looked at me curiously before he followed my order. I struggled to rush out of the car as soon as he cut the engine off. I rushed to the man with Sage in tow. I didn't that we were already getting wet from the rain. "Excuse me? Are you alright?"

The man in front of me held his head up and focused his eyes on me. They were puffy red. He sniffed a little before he nodded and turned his eyes back on the pavement. I looked around and found a tin can on the side. I peered down at it and found some coins inside. Right there and then I realized what he is.

"Sage, do we have an umbrella?" I asked Sage who was standing closely behind me.

"I don't think we have." I nodded at him and crouched down on the man. "Can I help you with anything, Sir?" He didn't reply and kept his head down. "Maybe we can take you back at your house?" At this his head snapped up and shake his head frantically.