Sage

Chapter Sixteen - Part Two

"Damn girl, you can dance!" A skinny guy whispered in Sage's ear.

"Thanks," Sage said as she looked around for Ashley who went to the bathroom.

"May I have your number?" The guy put his hand on Sage's lower back and Sage removed it promptly.

"No."

"Don't be like that." He spoke into her face, his breath heavy with alcohol and tobacco.

Sage moved away from him but he caught her arm and pulled at it aggressively.

"Please let me go," Sage said as panic started to rise.

The light-skinned guy gave her a sinister smile revealing crooked teeth. "Not until I get those digits."

Sage tried to wiggle her arm free from his hand but he only tightened his grip. Her eyes frantically looked around for anyone to assist but everyone was focused on dancing and interacting with each other.

Her eyes brimmed with tears as the guy pulled her closer to him, "Or are you too good for me?" He growled lowly.

Sage caught the image of Vanessa smirking from the corner of her eye before looking into the beady ones that belonged to her captor.

"P-please..."

"Is there a problem here David?"

Her arm was let go and relief washed over her along with stinging pain on her upper arm. She rubbed it as she looked on to see who saved her.

"No, shorty and I were just talking," David spoke with respect towards a Junior who walked up to Sage and hugged her from behind before placing his head on the crook of her neck.

Sage instantly felt safe. Junior's scent enveloped her.

"Is it?" Junior questioned the stunned guy.

"Sorry JR, if I knew she's yours I wouldn't..."

"Now you know. Get." Junior said in a calm tone. David rushed off into the crowd leaving Sage with questions.

Junior turned her around to face him.

"Thanks," she said meekly looking at their feet.

Junior raised her head with a finger under her chin, "No worries Mami. Follow me." He then intertwined his fingers with hers as he led the way and Sage followed.

...

Sage was on Junior's lap as they sat outside under a Lapa. There were guys around them drinking and smoking.

A familiar boy walked up towards them. "Wassup Sage." he smiled.

"Hey, you're the guy that gives me food at school?" Sage pointed at him.

He nodded with a grin, "The name is Wade."

"That's my little bro," Junior said against her ear. She shifted on his lap as her body reacted to his touch and voice.

"You good Ma?" She could hear his smirk.

Sage nodded and cleared her throat.

"Sage!"

Sage turned her head towards the direction of Ashley who looked relieved. She rushed towards her.

"I've been looking all over for you."

"I'm here. You took way too long in the bathroom." Sage shrugged.

"I went back to where I last left you and didn't see you," Ashley was trying to catch her breath, "and got more worried when Vanessa and them said they last saw you with some guy." She said as they walked towards Junior.