Leo's Gold

Twenty Nine | Party Crashing

"This isn't going to end well." Sage groaned, brushing down her dress to eliminate any wrinkles that dared to show up. Leo breathed out a heavy breath and took her hand in his. "Why did I agree to this?" Leo looked down and sighed, "Sage, we're a couple, and from what I've seen in movies, the girl usually introduces the man to her family. I mean, you've met mine."

"I know, but my family is very different from yours, Leo. It's a fucking disaster."

Leo squeezed Sage's hand, trying to reassure her that everything would be alright while they stood outside of the large brick house that Sage grew up in. "Let's go, it will be fine." Sage nodded, a sensation of twisting and churning in her stomach. Leo had straightened his tie and ran his fingers through his hair. Sage brushed a stray bang out of her face and pulled up one of her dress straps. Sage looked at the doorbell and hesitantly rung it, trying to shake off the awful feeling that began to consume her.

In not even five seconds, the door opened wide revealing Sage's mother. "Hi, mom." Sage greeted her awkwardly, moving in to hug her. They both sighed at the same time, moving away from each other. Her mother looked at Leo, smiling while pulling him in for a hug. Leo's eyes widened as he awkwardly stood there, patting her back. Leo wondered whether to linger for a moment or pull away, and decided that the latter option was the best before she completely suffocated him.

There was an awkward silence in the air, as Sage looked her mother in the eyes. Her look was a mix of hatred, confusion and disappointment. Leo stood as a bystander, feeling the tension. He chuckled nervously, eyes darting to and from both of them. "Let's go inside, shall we?" He said, knowing they would go at each other one way or another.

He stepped inside, holding the door for the both of them. Sage's mother stepped inside and politely showed him another smile, but this time it was bit uneasy looking. Sage stepped inside, beckoning for Leo to come. The house was obviously old, but still well kept up with. It was filled with various nick-nacks, and from Leo could gather from the objects that held much culture within them, the family had traveled over many parts of the world before. It reminded him of a brick walled urban café, one much like the one that Celeste had worked in. He groaned at himself for even thinking about her, never again would he make that mistake again and let her inside his house. The rest of the house was filled with 90's furniture and decorations, with some mix matches of modern pieces thrown in. Leo being the artist he is, could easily find inspiration in a mid-century home like this.

Sage hated the house, all the pictures and little things showing what their family was once like - or at least what they pretended to be. For many years, Sage knew that the family was faking their happiness, obviously living in misery from being around each other. She hated the fact that she grew up in the house that tore her family apart, and she wasn't about to conceal it not for one second.

"Dinner is almost ready... I just have to finish cooking the pork. How about you two sit down until it's finished?" Sage's mother suggested, moving to the kitchen where the delicious smell of home cooked food floated around. Leo nodded, flashing her a grin just to be polite. He looked over at Sage as she leaned against a bookshelf while lazily looking over old pictures. Leo sighed, prowling over to her to wrap his arms around her from the back. He placed his lips against her neck and nuzzled into the crease of her neck.

"What's wrong?"

Sage placed the picture down loudly, almost hard enough to break the glass that held the printed photo. "It's hard to come back here and act like nothing is wrong." Sage shrugged, turning her body around to face Leo. "I hate it here now. It's so... different."

Sage turned and looked Leo right in his soothing green eyes, her hazel eyes dilating. The whites of her eyes were slightly red, as she was trying to suppress tears. Leo leaned and kissed her softly, keeping his lips against her's for just a brief second before moving away, "I'm sorry, baby. Tell you what, after this is done and over with, I treat you to a Milky Way with your name on it." Sage sniffled and blushed, breathing a heavy breath. "Let's just go sit down." Something told her that she would need that Milky Way later on.