The Secret.

The Summer Night.

New chat from: alex-bossman-fitz (online)

A: Hey, you up?

S: yeah :) hey

A: hey :)

S: hey :)

A: lol, you already said that.

S: :) so did you. <3

A: lol. listen about tonight?

S: yeah?

A: i loved it. <3

S: so did i. <3

A: I am so glad that we are at that level now. <3

S: yeah. listen, I have to go. mom is making me get off early because, i have summer reading but, can we talk tomorrow? in person?

A: yeah. <3 ice cream at 7?

S: yeah. pick me up?

A: it's a date. :)

S: it's a date. <3

A: I love you.

S: I love you, too.

alex-bossman-fitz is now offline.

Saige takes a deep breath and slowly closes her laptop. There is a faint knock on the door and then it opens.

"Saige, come on. You only have one week before school starts." said a soft spoken voice.

"I know, mom. I know."

"What's eating you, love bug?"

"Have you ever felt like you made a terrible mistake, but the other person that the mistake was made with, it meant the world to?" sighed Saige. Afraid to make eye contact with her mother, afraid that she would know, she looked down and drifted deeper and deeper into her bed set.

Jennifer, a loving mother with short auburn and sincere grey-blue eyes, sits down next to her daughter. She wraps both arms around Saige and holds her.

"Let me guess?" she started. "You slept with Alex?"

Saige looks at her mother and tears just start flowing from her eyes.

"Please. Don't be mad at me and please, don't hate me." she wept.

"oh, honey." fretted Jennifer. "I am not mad at you and I certainly don't hate you."

Between her sniffles, Saige managed to mutter out, "You don't?"

"How could I ever? Sex is normal. Sex for kids your age is normal. Is it right? Most likely not. I think you are too young and not mature enough, but if you think you are ready then-"

"No that's the point." interrupted Saige. "I'm not ready. I don't want to do it again. Ever. Well, maybe not ever, but not anytime soon."

"But now he is expecting it more?"

"Yes. I think so."

"Well," she started, "I think you need to tell him the truth."

"I asked him if we could meet up tomorrow. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. I'll be at work, but I'll leave $40 home, will that be okay?"

"You don't have to. I have allowance money left."

"You didn't dip in to your college fund, did you?"

"Nope. I just saved."

Jennifer freed her arms from around Saige and sat up a bit to kiss her head. Her lips brushes against Saige's blonde hair as she ran her fingers through it.

"I love you my girl and so does Alex. I'm sure he will understand."

Saige smiled. "Thanks, Mom. I love you too."

Jennifer rose from the bed and began to walk out the door. Halfway out, she turned to her daughter and said;

"Have a goodnight." She smiled and shut the door.