GAGE

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"So he's just there?" Hailey asks in disbelief.

"Well yeah!"

"What the hell is wrong with you, girl? He could be doing anything in there!"

I just told Hailey about everything that happened with Gage and me. Well almost everything, aside from this secret business and the sex details.

"I know," I groan, "but he just looked so hurt and helpless. I couldn't say no and you know he was basically drunk and halfway dead," I defend.

Hailey laughs, "Well, there's a fifty-fifty chance he trashed your house and I'm not helping you clean it up."

I shove her slightly.

"Tell me what he looks like or I'm coming over to see him myself." Hailey warns.

"How about I take a secretive picture and send it to you, deal?" I say even though I already obvious that's not happening.

"Deal." She smiles and we go our separate ways in the history building's parking lot.

Why am I taking this course again?

I just hope Hailey's not right and my house looks the same.

The car ride seems longer than usual and I have a migraine by the time I reach home.

Gage's car is still parked on the street by my apartment and I wonder why he's still here.

It's around three thirty and I pull out my key to the front door, twisting it in the knob.

When I step inside, nothing looks out of place and I sigh gratefully.

I put my keys on the kitchen counter and I hear Gage talking in my living room. I turn the corner and see him on the phone and he hangs up when he sees me, "I have somewhere to go, I can't stay."

"Never asked you to stay." I remark.

He smirks his famous one and I walk him to the door, "So let me guess, you're just gonna leave me again and then come back in three days?"

Gage laughs, "Something like that." He pulls me in for a quick kiss before leaving.

I watch him walk to his car and close the door before he sees me. I don't get him.

Before I know what I'm doing, I open the door back and close it behind me. My feet are taking me to his car and I open the passenger door, "I'm coming with you." I plop myself down in the seat.

"I have nothing else to do." I explain.

"I'd think you would." His raspy voice mocks me.

"What makes you think that?" I question and squint at him while he drives.

He side eyes me and doesn't respond.

I can tell he's not tipsy anymore because he acts the opposite of how he acted before my class.

He's clearly back to his usual self.

"Why are you so... secretive? Why don't you talk about things. You don't give complete answers if any at all." I burst.

"I don't like when people tell me about myself." He squints to the road.

"Okay, that's one the I can add to the blank list of things I know about you." I laugh.

The corner of his mouth raises slightly.

"I don't get you." I say.

"I wouldn't expect you to."

"Again with the short responses!" I point.

"Tell me something about you, besides you liking to kill people." I say after he doesn't respond again.

"There's nothing much to tell." He murmurs.

I sigh. I guess I'll just have to get it out of him myself, "How old are you?"

"Twenty." He briefly answers.

"Finally you answer something," I laugh and Gage watches me, then watches the road.

• • •

This must be the fourth random apartment I've been to with Gage and as always he tells me to wait in the car.

Just then, my phone vibrates in the pocket of my jean jacket. I look at my phone screen and see that I'm getting a FaceTime call from Hailey.

"So you still haven't sent me that picture. Wait, where are you?" Hailey's face takes up my phone screen when I answer.

"I don't even know..." I reply.

"Send me that picture!"She looks up from her phone and the camera moves while she walks.

"Where are you going?" I question.

"The damn gym! And you should've came with me this time, but no. You've decided to hang out with your random boyfriend that leaves you in his car for days at a time!" She laughs.

I snort, "Shut up."

"You have to come with me tomorrow though, and you have to let me meet this guy. I mean he could be a psychopath!" Hailey exclaims.

"No more of a psychopath than you or me." I lean further in the seat and chuckle.

"Sure, that's what they all say then they end up on Snapped talking about how their husbands tried to murder them!"

I laugh, "Well good thing I don't plant on marrying him."

"Good, because Gage sounds crazy and even thou-" Hailey begins.

"Gotta go, bye!" I say when I clear the door click open and Gage emits into the car.

When he sits, a few small bags with green contents fall out of his hand onto the console.

I snatch one of them an examine it. I can already tell what it is when he snatches it back.

I gasp, "This is weed! I was right, you are a druggie! Or you're a drug dealer, same difference."

He smirks, "Let's just say somewhere in between."

I laugh harder and cover my mouth with my hand. Gage glares at me and I close my eyes while laughing.

"You sell drugs?" I finally calm myself.

"It's a long story." He begins driving.

"I've got time." I beam.