GAGE

39| d a r k

"I think it's about time I actually live again and go in public alone." I turn to look at Gage leaning on the counter.

Things have been significantly calmer and idle for the past few days, thankfully. I haven't really gone anywhere except for Target with Gage which I had to drag him to.

Everything that was purchased was for me of course; unnecessary items that I didn't need.

Gage won't let me go anywhere without him claiming that it's too dangerous to be on my own. He also ended up getting me a new phone considering my previous one was literally thrown out of a window.

The only contacts I know are Hailey and my friend Kelly and my other friends don't text me anymore so that's a lost cause.

"Not today." He doesn't look at me, continuing to do whatever he's doing on his phone.

"Why not?" I sit up from my position on the couch. I already know the answer, but I don't want to hear it.

"Because I said so." His tone is edgy as he glances at me briefly.

I guess that's not the answer I was expecting.

"Okay, well I've been sta-" I begin.

"I said no and that's it." He's now glaring at me with hard eyes.

"But-"

"That's it." He interrupts again.

"Are you fucking psycho? Actually, don't answer that. You are a psycho. You can't tell me what I can and can't do." I say firmly, keeping my voice steady.

Gage is still typing rapidly on his phone.

"Hey! Listen to me!" I get up and cross my arms tightly over my chest.

"You're still talking?" He sets his phone on the counter.

My brows shoot up and I scoff heavily, "Excuse me? What is wrong with you?"

Gage runs a frustrated hand through his already tousled hair. "Would you just listen to me?" He breathes out.

"I've been living to your discretion for the past- I don't even know how long! Everything I do is because of what you say and it's like you control my life! You know what, I don't even have a life anymore. And I know I sound ridiculous right now getting all worked up about you just not letting me leave here, but it's more than that. I just can't even do it anymore. I feel like I'm tied down to a pole or something! I have nothing, absolutely nothing and the fact that none of-" My rant is interrupted again by the one and only.

"Do you not want to be here anymore? You have nothing, huh? Am I nothing to you?" Gage says angrily.

Like I'm something to you. I chuckle to myself lightly. "Why don't you talk to me when you're not being a belligerent dick." I falsely smile.

He ignores me, "You know that I'm not a good guy... and I don't associate with good guys. You know I can't have you going out alone, especially after what happened before." He says firmly. I know that he's referring to the time Rich's men took me.

"You're not a bad guy, Gage, and I know that there are probably people after me, but I can't keep doing this." I furrow my eyebrows in distress.

"Doing what?" His eyes widen slightly and a concerned look washes over his face. "You can't leave me, Josie." He shakes his head lifting himself from his position on the counter.

"You don't understand what it feels like to be me right now. You don't understand what it feels like to lose everything and n-" I begin another rant.

"I don't know what it feels like? You don't know what it fucking feels like. Do you know what would happen to me if something happened to you? Fuck, I don't even know what I'd do," his hands knot in his hair, "I don't have anything, Jo. It's you. That's all I've got. You don't know what I do every-"

I interrupt him this time, "That's just it though. You control every fucking move that I make and I can't know where you're at and what you're doing all goddamn day." My breath quickens.

"Don't curse at me, Josie." He warns scowling.

"I'll talk to you however the fuck I want," I spit. "And of course if something happened to me all you'd think about it you. You don't even give a shit about me!"

He clenches his fists so his knuckles turn white, "You know that's not true." He says through his teeth.

"Actually, I don't. You don't show it, you don't say it. How am I supposed to know?" I tilt my head.

"Because I'm telling you right now." He moves to the island and rests his palms.

"Okay but you can't only tell me when it's convenient. I honestly just don't know." I turn around and face the wall.

"Don't know what?" He says shakily.

"About this." I gesture to the both of us. I know I couldn't leave him, but I can at least act like it for the sake of my sanity.

I hear his heavy breathing more clearly which scares me.

As I approach the stairs and make it halfway up, a heavy bang followed by he sound of glass breaking travels through my ears, "Fuck!" Gage shouts.

I've never seen him this angry.

I don't know what his problem is and I don't have time for this. Actually, I have all the time in the world considering I'm stuck in here all day.

I already know that it was the bottle of alcohol on the counter, courtesy of me. I was going to drink that.

I just want to let him hold me and tell me that everything will be fine, but I can't. I'm just frustrated because I don't know anything at this point and my life is basically over.

I don't really know what just happened or why there was just a huge blow up. He's been weird and distant lately, but this takes the cake. Something might be wrong but knowing Gage he'll never tell me.

The next few hours are spent laying in Gage's empty king bed analyzing my life that is slowly but surely deteriorating.

Darkness from the night sky has taken over the bedroom leaving me in the dark.

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A/N: It's been mellow lately, but prepare for some shit to go down.