The Howl That Saved

Trust Me

Zachary

Ok Zachary, here it goes....

Thump thump

I hear her running down the steps and get that weird feeling again. What's wrong with me.. Maybe it's something I ate today, the triplets are always messing with my breakfast.

"Oh hi..." 

What was I thinking?! I am here trying to prove my dad wrong but I can't get a single word out! I take a deep breath and take a step closer to her.

"Hi uh we didn't get to know each other back at school and I was uh pretty bummed about that so I searched everywhere to find you" I watch as her cheeks go pink, making me feel all weird.

"Wow, that's uh pretty cool. You wanna come in?" I nod and she gestures me inside. "I'm Sage."

"Zachary..."

*****

Sage

What was I thinking?! I let a boy I just met who seems pretty sketchy into my house and now is sitting on my bed!

"So um where are you from?" I finally speak out.

"Oh, uh I've been here all my life. I just haven't gone to school in a while."

"And why is that?"

"Family reasons..." he gets up from the bed and walks over to my desk. He seems to focus on a certain photo on the desk and picks it up. "Um, do you have a dad? This guy doesn't look too alike to you." He walks up back to me, sitting a lot closer. I notice the picture he was looking at and sigh. It was my family picture with my mom, Toby and Mom's boyfriend.

I hate retelling the story of my dead family but I guess that's how you get through it.

"No, my real parents are dead. That woman is my foster mom and that's her boyfriend." He looks at me with somewhat remorse but then smiles.

"Your life isn't so bright, is it?" I chuckle.

"Yea, you could say that...but I manage to get through it."

Man, why am I lying?

"She isn't one of those mean foster moms who make you--"

"No, she's too young to be one of those moms. She loves me and is the one person who keeps me sane."

"I know this is a little personal, but I was wondering, how long have they abused you?"

How does he know about that?! No one should know about that! 

I stay quiet and ignore his question. He turns his body towards me to look at me.

"Sage, come on! You can trust me I won't make fun of you."

I continue to ignore.

"Sage, I'm talking to you!"

I can hear the anger in his voice and startled, I move back. Is he ok? I see his eyes go red a little and he starts breathing hard. He notices my fear and cools down.