Finding Sage (Young Adult)

Five B: Franky's

Kellan

I've tried really hard not to think about Sage all day, but it's been impossible. We're loading the van for our show tonight at the President House.

I text Roxy and Gillian:

ME: *Hey. We're playing a show at the President House tonight. Come. Bring Sage."

GILLIAN: *How late are you playing? It's a school night.*

ROXY: *Okay. What time do you go on? Sage probably won't show, you know?*

ME: *10. Make her come.*

GILLIAN: *Okay, Kellan. We'll try to make it.*

Good, hopefully they will get her to come and I can try to talk to her before or after our set.

A few minutes later I hear my phone bleep with a message.

ROXY: *You were right Gilli. He's in to her. They would be perfect.*

GILLIAN: *I know, right. We have to make this happen. We'll kidnap her if we have to.*

Idiots, they don't realize that I am still on this group text.

ME: *Idiots, I am getting your careless texts. However, YES, Gillian, please help make it happen.*

ROXY: *Oops.*

GILLIAN: *Love you.*

I chuckle has we pull up to the President House and start setting up for our sound check.

******

I text Roxy and Gillian:

ME: *Are you guys coming? I want to let the door know. Its getting crowded.*

ROXY: * Mark and I are coming.*

GILLIAN: * Yes.*

Are they really going to make me ask?

I wait.

They are going to make me ask.

ME: *Sage?*

GILLIAN: *She won't answer her phone or texts. I don't know.*

Damn it!

ME: *Alright, I'll put her name in, too. Just in case.*

I spend the night looking at the door hoping Sage will arrive, but she never does. After the show, I talk everyone into going to grab pizza with me. There is a great place not far from here.

We arrive at the little place, we all pile around a table and sit down. I go to the counter and order us all some beers and pizzas.

When I return to the table I let everyone know that this place has the best pizza in New York. Adam looks around the place and says, "Well, hopefully the pizza is better than the artwork." I glance around the room and see he is right. We are surrounded by some of the worst paintings I have ever seen. Paint thrown on canvas, with no rhyme, rhythm or meaning. They all seem to have the same signature. "It's truly rubbish," I comment and Adam and Roxy chuckle.

"Hey! Isn't that Donovan?" Mark says, pointing to two guys standing outside the restaurant. They appear to be arguing.

"Yeah. That's him," Gillian says with loathing. It's clear she does not like the guy.

Our young waitress is outside talking to Donovan. His face is angry and his hands flail while he tells his story. She comes back in and I hear her say, "She's a little bitch, I've been trying to tell you...Donny."

"So, Sage never got back to either of you? At all?" I ask Gillian and Roxy.

They both check their phones. Gillian says, "No," and she looks at Roxy, who shakes her head, no.