Love, Ian Somerhalder

Chapter 8

I recovered from my shock before the agent noticed and I cleared my throat to make my voice sound stronger.

"Yes, I am adopted, so what? You're the FBI were'nt you supposed to know that already?" I say harshly into the phone.

"Then why hide it, Sage? We'll expect you to be in New Orleans on the first week of December for interrogation... You're officially a suspect."

The line went dead and I stood frozen in place. How could they accuse me for the murder of my adopted parents.

"Sage!" I turn around and see Ian coming towards me with a small box in his hand.

"I lied, I wasn't in the bathroom. I went to find this..." Ian opened the small box and I felt my jaw drop and tears were about to spill. The emotions were overwhelming me.

"Ian I--" I try to protest but he cut me off.

"It's a promise ring in the shape of an infinity sign. I got it embedded with emeralds 'cause of your eyes, onyx for my favorite color, and topaz for Riley... Is it too much? Too early? You don't like it?" Ian got worried when I started sobbing and I just shook my head.

"No,no. It's perfect, Ian... Put it on." I managed to control myself and Ian grabbed my right hand and put the ring on my middle finger.

I'll keep him out of all this mess if it's the last thing I do.

***

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

I jump out of my bed when the alarm went off at 2:30 in the morning.

I quickly change into my warm, green sweatpants and my blue, hoodie. I checked on Riley to see her sound asleep and tip toed downstairs where I called Ian.

"Are you ready?" I ask when he answers.

"No." Ian replies annoyed.

"Good. I'm coming to pick you up now." I say and hang up.

I drove to his place and I arched my eyebrown when he got inside the car. He was completely dressed in black with a hoodie but that wasn't what shocked me.

"It's almost 3am and it's freezing outside and you're wearing sunglasses?" I ask in disbelief.

"Yes, I am, because unlike you I'm famous... Why do we have to go to Black Friday? You own McDonald's for goodness sake! And I have more cash than I can deal with!" Ian whined while I rolled my eyes.

"My mother used to say, 'Never miss on a good deal', plus it's only one store. We'll be out in no time..." I drifted off when I saw the line as we got to Best Buy.

"Sure. No time at all." Ian says sarcastically.

We pratically snuggled in the line to keep us from freezing while listening to Ian protest the whole time.

We were relieved when we finally got inside and started looking for Riley's PC for Christmas. We were at the computer aisle but they were sold out.

"Well, we tried. Let's go." Ian says but I pull him back.

"No, we haven't." I say and point to the place where they stored the computer boxes and I could see the one I wanted but It was a few feet too high with no ladder.

"Nope, I'm not doing this,Sage!" Ian protested and just push him down to a crouch.

"Just shut up, Somerhalder, and lift me up..." I order him and I put my feet on his shoulders and he lifts me up.

I almost had the box when something caught my eye. I look down and in the next aisle, I couldn't believe it was... Josh.

"Hurry up, Sage!" Ian grunts from below, making us lose our balance and we both tumble unto a tower of boxes.

"IAN SOMERHALDER!"

Ian's hoodie and sunglasses must've fallen off.

"Shit! Run, Sage!" Ian yells. I grab the computer box that fell with us and ran with Ian through the whole store, fleeing from a stampede of girls and women.

"Ian, here quick!" I say and pushed him behind a TV box display. The stampede ran past us and we survived by exchanging our hoodies before we left.

"We're alive!" I cheered once safely inside my car.

"Barely." Ian retorts and I just laugh.

My laugh dies when I realize I haven't asked Ian yet.

"Ian?"

"Mhm?" Ian says while running his hand through my hair.

"Can you take care of Riley while I go to New Orleans next week? It's just for a few days." I ask shyly and he pulls back, looking at me in confusion.

"Why?" He answers with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Business trip." I shrugged, hoping he didn't notice the lie.

He leans closer to me. Our faces only centimeters apart. I grab his soft, raven colored hair and kiss him.

It was sweet and it made me feel safe and warm. I knew I could never survive without these lips. I jump making my elbow hit the car's horn when he put his hand on the skin on my hip.

"I'll take care of Riley." Ian says with a chuckle as I awkwardly drove out of the parking.

The image of seeing Josh totally forgotten.