Life Match

Day Twelve

Alright B**ches! I'm back (for at least one chapter a book)! Here you go!

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Briiiiiinnnnnnggggg!!!!

I snap awake, and groggily grab for the phone. It's pure dial tone. A wake up call. I notice Riah's half of the bed is made and all of his things are gone. He's left me. I look over on the pillow next to me and read the note.

"Sorry... Will return to you, My Love."   -Riah

I get dressed and check out of the Empire, heading into the street. Maurice is surprisingly waiting for me.

"Ms. Sage," he opens the door and I slide in. "To school or home?"

I look myself over and glance at the clock, "Home to change for school."

He nods and follows my directions, dropping me at school for another one of Jaycob's lectures. I don't listen as intently this time, vaguely pondering Riah's decision to leave before I was up. "It was probably work..." I tell myself repeatedly. Class ends and the rest of the school day drifts by in a haze. 

"What if it isn't...?"

At the end of the day I walk out with the rest of the eighteen or something year olds, wary of the future. For the first time in a long time, I pause and notice things. Off by the side of the school, a boy is noticeably upset at a girl. I recognize the hushed fighting going on between them, and scan to where the boy is gesturing, which happens to be at another girl. Oh...

I continue watching my classmates, some kids I've grown up with, some older kids who's marriages were invalidated with the rest of us, and think. All around me, men and women are falling in and out of love and I'd never bothered to notice.

"Hey!" I accidentally bump into a solid chest topped with neat blond hair. Jaycob.

"I'm sorry," he picks up my things and hugs me, "No problem. How are you doing? Do you have a moment?"

"Always for you," I smile and Jaycob and I walk to his car, "How's Rye?"

"He's waiting for his Auntie to come home," Jaycob smiles, "Last I spoke to him he told me, 'Tee doesn't belong there, Daddy'."

"That's sweet," I reply. I mean, I really don't. Riah and I don't belong in the Match system, even the system tried to kick us out.

Jaycob opens the door for me and I wave Maurice off in the distance. He nods and drives away as I duck into Jaycob's car.

"Yeah," he smiles, "He really misses you guys though. You should visit."

"I'm not sure how your father would feel about that..." I trail off. I sound like Riah.

Jaycob chuckles, "Look who you're talking to. I'm pretty sure he asked me to teach here because he wanted to watch me too."

"I've always wondered why you came back."

"His answer, because 'I'm a good and pure example of love prevailing'. My answer 'I need to monitored, now that he knows I'm in contact with you guys'."

I don't say anything as we pull up to a small diner, "What is it with you Daniels' boys and your diner fetishes?"

Jaycob chuckles, "When the worlds' watching, you gotta learn to hide in plain sight."

"I don't understand why you guys let him control you like that..." I mumble, "I mean, he controls everything you boys do..."

"That's because he does," Jaycob sighs, "We're all just puppets in his play. He says dance, and we dance."

"How can I help you all today?" our waiter appears next to us and I jump at the recognition of him.

"Hey," I shake his hand, "You're that guy from the party right? Rio?"

He takes another look at me before flipping a lock of his electric hair from his eyes, "Hey- Sage, yeah? How have you been?"

"Good."

Jaycob clears his throat and I introduce him, "Rio this is my original matches brother Jaycob."

"I remember you. You were only a couple years ahead of me in school. Didn't you steal the Elect's private jet?"

Jaycob chuckles, "You call him the Elect. I call him Daddy."

Rio nods, "Right. So what can I get for you two?"

He takes our orders and disappears back into the kitchen.

"He's a cutie," Jaycob comments once he's gone.

I shrug, "I guess. It's not anything I've ever paid attention to before."

Jaycob looks at me oddly, "So you've never even thought another man was handsome besides Riah?"

I think about it, "No it's never even crossed my mind really. I only have eyes for Riah."

"Sage, don't make the mistake of loving somebody too much," he notices I don't comprehend, "Sometimes, even with the best intentions, people will hurt us. And when you're too strongly in love with someone, and they hurt you, it'll feel ten times worse because you love them so much. And with men like my brother, they can use that love as a power play."

"Are you saying that Riah's going to abuse me?" I question.

"Hasn't he already?"

"That was different," I brush it off, "Jaycob I thought you were supportive of us."

"Sage I am very supportive of you guys. Of love everywhere. But too much of a good thing is sometimes a bad thing. Look at me-- I stole and crashed my father's jet in a foreign country for a boy and he still didn't want me."

"But Riah does want me."

Rio returns with our food and smiles at me before leaving. He has really cute dimples that add to his boyish appearance.

"Of course he does," Jaycob sighs, "You know what-- Just forget I said anything. Let's eat."

We enjoy the rest of the meal, talking about less important things, and at times, uncomfortable silence.

When we're done eating Jaycob drives me to my apartment and I invite him inside to see it.

"Little brother did well by you," he comments, "Stole a lot of my decorating techniques but I love it."

He peeks into the bedroom, "I don't need a black light before I go in here do I?"

I blush, the annoying full body one that turns me into a tomato, "It's okay Jaycob."

He walks two feet into the room and glances at the handcuffs on the vanity before blushing himself, "Is it?"

He retreats immediately and we head back to the door.

"Sage, I know I said I was going to drop it but my aunt once told me don't be with someone who excites you. Who increases your heartbeat. Makes you anxious. Be with someone who soothes you. Who makes you feel at home. Who makes you feel at ease. It means you've love will last longer."

I hug him, "See you tomorrow Jaycob."

"You too," he disappears and I file the information in the back of my mind with the rest of the things from class.