Sage

Chapter Ten

Sage sat on the matted floor of the bedroom she shared with Letoya, copying the last bit of a graph from an open Economics textbook to the third page of an assignment.

She threw the pencil and ruler down then tucked her chin in before rolling her head clockwise slowly. An essay was all that stood between her and sleep.

Her ears picked up on shouting from the other side of the door. She assumed her stepsister just got home.

Sage tore her gaze away from the door to the window directly opposite. The curtain was still parted, displaying a pitch-black sky. She stood up and stepped towards the sight then she pulled the material together with both hands.

She turned to her bed and picked her phone up, soon after she held it at face level and the screen lit up. The first thing she took note of was the time. It was a few minutes shy of nine.

Sage rubbed her right eye and plopped down on her bed. She then saw four notifications.

A yawn escaped her as she navigated to her messages. Water instantly formed in her eyes. I am tired!

A chuckle could be heard as Sage read the three memes Ashley forwarded, she sent back a laughing sticker. Afterwards, she went to the one message from an unknown number.

She stared at the two words that were sent over an hour back. Immediately feeling a tingly sensation at the pit of her stomach.

"Wassup Maa," She read it aloud, imitating the sender's accent. "Wassup Mau, wassssup Mah."

With a titter, she started tapping on the keyboard. She started with a hey but deleted it. She followed with a hello but shook her head and pressed down on the backspace button. She then typed out good evening and sent.

She placed her forehead in the palm of her left hand that was propped up on her thigh, resting her head whilst reading the two messages.

He won't reply right away.

Sage sighed and closed her eyes, massaging her temples.

She almost dropped her phone when it started ringing. She shot her eyes open and looked at the unknown number on the screen. She sat up as panic gripped her. Is it him? What do I say?

Her thumb hovered over the green button as she cleared her throat. She then pressed the screen gently.

"Hello." Her voice came out cracked. Didn't I clear my throat? Her left hand massaged the frontal part of her neck.

"About time, how are you?" A feminine voice shouted with the loud music in the background. Sage's heart sank and her shoulders sagged.

"Zoe?" Sage removed the phone from her ear to look at the screen then placed it back.

"Yes bish - wait, you deleted my number?"

"No, I just can't hear you well." she lied.

"Yeah I am at my boyfriend's place, chill session vibes," Zoe yelled, "Wait, let me go upstairs."

Sage listened as the music faded and flip-flops hit tiles.

Letoya barged in looking angry. She slammed the door shut, flung her backpack towards the wardrobe, and threw herself on the bed.

"Sage?" Zoe spoke.

"I am still here," Sage said looking down at her feet.

"How're the townships? I heard y'all don't have running water." Zoe asked amusingly.