Chapter 29

Weirdly enough this is the longest chapter, I've ever written. Ha! It's mostly about Aubrey's sister, and less abotut Blaze and Sage. Not too proud about this chapter, but hey you all asked for it, here ya go. Comment and Vote!!!

Don't even touch me my hands are cold as ice

And as a toy soldier in my life

Have nothing left to give and all this fighting hurts

The more I yell at you the less you seem to learn

No, no, no, no, no

I take it back all I've ever said

All the things I never really meant

Take me back I want my toy soldier

Artist: Charlotte Sometimes

Song: Toy Soldiers

A poison victim, look of steel

The coldest heart you've ever felt

The coldest hands you've ever held

Take him down, all his way

A million miles, still no headway

Has his love truly blown?

In his mind I'm proud to roam

Artist: Lianne La Havas, Song:Elusive

Sage’s Pov.

Christmas was now over and Blaze was as normal as he could be with a couple smiles thrown in there. He did as his father said and went into the office the next day, but I didn’t complain. I knew that it’s what he had to do, but there had to be a reason why he was so compliant. His dad had something over his head preventing him from saying no and I was going to figure out what.

Well anyway, Christmas was just an overall fun day. My gift for Blaze was simple, what could you get for someone who was rich? Nothing that costs money. So I did something from the heart. I put together a scrap book of the couple pictures that I had over the couple months. I’m glad I planned this out beforehand. It was only 10 pictures but they meant a lot.

There was one I secretly snapped using a lowlight camera, of Blaze laughing with The Sitter on the screen; another was of Aubrey and Zac arguing with a laughing Mark in the background. There was another with Lana and me, smiling at each other with all teeth in front of the Colton building, another picture was of Blaze working in his office, there were some more random ones of his friends, my family, and his. But the last one is the one Blaze stared at the longest.  It was the Christmas pictures we took as a group with him staring down at me with a smile on his face.

His face twitch but he didn’t smile, but I didn’t take that as a bad sign. He just hugged me not saying a word, and to me that hug was more than words. It was longer than his usual hugs; we sat there for like 6 minutes.

It was now a days before New Year’s Eve and I was waiting for Blaze to get home so I could tell him about the party we should go to.

He came in at about 5:00 pm, and walked right pass me into the bedroom, and honestly that could mean anything so I decided to just leave him. After about thirty minutes later he walked out in a t-shirt and basketball shorts, so I assumed he took a shower. He plopped on the couch next to me and sighed. I opened my mouth to speak but he silenced me with his hand coming up and making a ‘one minute’ sign.

“I’m going to need you to pack a bag. No we can’t go to any New Year’s parties here. We’re on the first flight to New York to set up some arrangements with the branches there.”

I slapped his hand down from in front of my place, and frowned a bit. “Okay, well can you at least take me out once in New York?” I pouted a little for effect. He thought about it for a second and hesitated to say something but I guess I’ll never know what he was going to say.

He sighed and replied, “Yes Sage, but only if I get done with the required work, on time. If I’m not done before eight o’clock then I can’t go anywhere with you and everyone else.”

“Well at least I won’t be so lonely now that everyone one else is coming, and oh my New York is like the biggest place for New Years! They’ll drop the ball the New Year’s kis—well it should be an interesting experience nonetheless.” I cut myself off because I knew I wouldn’t be getting a kiss this year. I bet Blaze was going to find any kind of way to get out of going. Work is always top priority, and I’m not his real fiancé so my feelings don’t matter as much.

After forty-minutes of packing, Blaze decided to come help me to make me go faster.  He shooed me out of the room and made me go prepare some snacks.

In less than five minutes Blaze came out with both of our suitcases packed and ready to go. He looked at me and pointed his head in the direction of the door. I grabbed the snacks in the baggy, put on my shoes and walked out the door before Blaze.

We picked up Lana on the way down, and it was a short drive to Lana’s where Zac was at also. When we got there, Aubrey didn’t say a word, she was on the couch and silently staring at the wall.

“What’s up with Aubrey?” Lana asked Mark, who was dragging his and his fiancé’s luggage towards the door. He looked up shaking some of his hair from his face.

“Samantha is her problem. Looks like you’ll be meeting the fucked up sister, Sage.” I was confused, what was so wrong with her? I never mentioned her to Blaze, but I’m sure he knows.

“What’s so bad about Samantha?” Aubrey shot me a death glare, and replied icily.

“You’ll see.” Cryptic but I guess I could accept it.

We once again got into Blaze’s private jet for the long flight across the country to New York. Blaze seemed to be affectionate today with the constant hand holding and the whispers of ‘It’s gonna be okay’. I guess Blaze seemed to remember my fear of flying. I embraced it of course; because it’s not often I get affection from Blaze that is simple.

Aubrey sat in her seat not saying a word, silently steaming for her sister’s intrusion on our trip. What could be so bad about her? And why wasn’t Zac so bitter about her?

“Hey Aubrey, why isn’t Zac so bitter about Samantha coming?” I asked her tilting my head in confusion. When I looked in Zac’s direction, he was choking on whatever it was that he was drinking.

“WHAT?” His outburst was so loud that Lana took off her earphones and looked to the immediate right of her, where Zac was sitting.

Aubrey sighed and slipped on her earphones as if she knew what was coming next.

“Why is she going to be there? Why didn’t anyone tell me? She knows how to fucking ruin shit doesn’t she?” Zac remarked with a grimace on his face, I regret saying anything about her, but it made me even more curious on this sister.

“What’s wrong with her?” I asked quietly, hoping Zac wouldn’t snap at me. His eyes found mine, and his anger simmered not trying to take it out on me.

“She’s just bad news, little one. She has a thing for fucking everything up. She tried to ruin our friendship, she has our parents wrapped around her finger, and she just loves trouble and unneeded drama.” Zac’s voice was hostile and full of built up anger, he didn’t like his older sister, and from what I know, it was a good reason why.

I looked back to Blaze and his face was blank. His green eyes seemed to be cloudy and distant. Did he and Samantha have something together? Or was his mind on something else. I looked over to Mark who seemed to be uncomfortable and trying to talk to Aubrey, who looked annoyed.

Once we touched down in New York, the turbulence started and that’s when I freaked out. I screamed lowly as if I was one of those stupid girls in a horror movie. That jolted Blaze, the only person not wearing headphones, or wasn’t a heavy sleeper awake.

He grabbed me in the seatbelt and shushed me. I could tell he was still drowsy; he had been up all night working again. He patted my hair and sat his head on top of mine. I closed my eyes tightly and just breathed in Blaze’s scent until the plane landed.

The trip to the hotel was a blur, and I didn’t pay attention to it. But when we got to the hotel I was so amazed. It of course was a Colton branch and huge. The glass windows showed the inside, and I’m sure it would be a beautiful experience to watch the rain from there. It was close to Time Square, and I’m sure some couple who wouldn’t make it to the countdown would just watch from their windows or balconies.

It had the same theme as the hotel in Hawaii; gold and burgundy. It was so nicely made though, with nice paintings but not too many to where it wasn’t family oriented.

I saw blonde hair that looked familiar. It was a family trait that all of them must have gotten from their dad.

“Aubrey and Zac! How are my little sister and brother?” The girl squealed and she bound over to them with a car seat on her arm and a baby in it. The little boy I assume was in the seat wide awake with innocent eyes and head with a little tuff of blonde hair. The blonde hair must be a strong gene for their family.

“Why are you here Samantha?” Aubrey said cutting right to the chase, she was never one to not speak her mind, and this wasn’t going to be the first time.

“Well that’s not the greeting I was expecting little sister. Don’t you want to meet your nephew?” Aubrey eyed the baby warily. Samantha practically shoved the baby at her younger sister and bound over to me and threw her hand out. “Hi, I’m Samantha, but call me Sammie. I’m those dweebs older sister, and that’s my son Matthew.”

I shook hands with her and smile, “I’m Sage, I’m Blaze’s fiancé.”

She looked to the right of me, and looked Blaze up and down. “So Blaze here finally decided to settle down huh? Well she’s cute, that’s a plus for you. But how is she in the bedroom? That’s more of a question for Blaze picking.”

Blaze blushed but covered it with a cough and replied “None of your business Sam. So I guess I’m paying for your stay here?”

“It would be the polite thing to do, unless you want me to crash with you little sister?” Sammie said batting her eyes at the now fuming Aubrey.

“Hell no! I would never let you near Mark alone, ever. I don’t like you and I don’t want you here, but you have to intrude like you always do.” She grabbed Mark’s hand, who was silently waiting for this moment of dramatics to be over with. So what Sam did had to do with Mark, that’s what almost broke their friendship, and with Blaze it was always money.

“Oh Aubrey, you still haven’t let go of that. That was four years ago, get over it.” She rolled her eyes and Aubrey walked away.

“You’re still as fucked up as you’ve always been Sam, get some help. I feel bad for the kid.” He said and followed after his sister.

Lana stood there for a second but looked at me and I nodded my head at to go comfort Zac. Samantha just turned picked her baby’s car seat up and looked up at Blaze.

“So what’s my room number?” She asked with a nonchalant voice.

“Same one as always,” Blaze sighed and walked away with me in his shadow. But Sam called out my name.

“Hey Sage! Would you be a dear and take care of Matthew for a minute. I’d hate to leave him in the room by himself while I shower and everything. I’ll stop by your room to pick him up, I promise.” She pulled a puppy dog eye trick but I would’ve said yes anyway.

She gave me a hug and pushed the baby into my arms. As Blaze and I got settled in the best suite in the place, I couldn’t help but look at the baby who was quietly sleeping on the bed. Was Samantha a bad mom? Or was he the one thing she cared about?

“You shouldn’t have taken that baby, Sage.” Blaze mumbled.

“Why not? I have nothing better to do while you’re at work and he’s innocent, thought his mom isn’t all that good, he still has it in him.”

“I guess that’s true Sage, but be careful. Sam still has that way of manipulating people, and I don’t want her to take advantage of you.”

There was a knock at the door and I assumed it was Sam to pick up her baby, but I was surprised to see Aubrey and the rest of the gang.

“I’ve decided to give you a little clear up on why I don’t like Sam, and also to not let her disrupt my fun vacation.” Aubrey announced as I let them in. She saw her nephew and hesitated but picked him up anyway. “And I can’t be mean to you, you can’t help that you have a stupid mother.”

“So when I was eighteen and it was my nineteenth birthday, I decided that my sister was the queen of screwing up. Of course she was a ‘bad girl’ got into trouble, fights, hung with the wrong crowd, drank, that didn’t bother me, and she was my sister. But it was my birthday and she stumbled into the house drunk so I decided to let her sleep it off in my room so that the parents couldn’t find her. I always covered for her stupid mistakes. But this time my boyfriend whom I knew most of my life was in there. I trusted Mark, but my sister was notorious for coming on my boyfriends.  So when I left the room I listened through the door, trying to figure out how she’d get them all to leave me for her.” She took a breath and looked down at the baby who was grabbing her finger. She gave a small smile, and handed him to Zac who looked amazed at the little creation.

“Who would’ve thought that the devil could spawn something so cute and innocent.” Zac voice observing the small child, next to Lana who was smiling at him.

“Anyway, I overheard Samantha giving Mark ‘talk’ which was a whole bunch of bullshit consisting of the things she could offer him that I couldn’t.  Of course he was saying good things about me, and how he loved me. And she said, and I quote ‘I can make love to you, like no other. My sister has been holding out on you, I can tell.’ I quietly opened the door and found my boyfriend uncomfortable backed into the corner trying to fight her off without hurting her. I knew he was definitely the one, from that day on.”

Wow, okay that was definitely understandable. I can see why they don’t like her, she was a liar.

“And I won’t go into details, but she blamed four wild parties on me, and almost got me in trouble for a MIP, thank god I got everyone out before the cops showed up. But that didn’t get me out of getting in trouble by the ‘rents.” Zac said to me, making eye contact.

“I actually witnessed the parties. They were filled with drunken college students; we don’t know how she even knew them. She didn’t go to college.” Lana shrugged, going back to playing ‘peek-a-boo’ with the baby.

Blaze stayed silent the whole time, and once the stories were done he took that as his pass to leave.

“Have fun Sage,” he told me and kissed my forehead. I frowned; I didn’t like how he said that at all. We all decided to go out shopping while Blaze was handling business. When I got back it was about 8:00 pm and that meant Blaze wouldn’t be able to go with me.

At ten Zac knocked on the door, I opened it up and him and Lana were all dressed up and looking great.

“Why aren’t you dressed? Aren’t you coming to watch the ball drop with us?” Lana asked concerned.

I smiled sadly, “No guys, I think I’ll sit this one out. I feel bad that Blaze isn’t coming and I don’t want to be the third wheel.”

“Zac and I aren’t in a relationship, chika. There will be no third wheeling.” Lana laughed and smiled, Zac just pouted, but she ignored him.

“I know, but I’m fine. Believe me.” I replied waving them off. I wanted to go, but not without Blaze. I wanted to experience as much as I could with him.

“Where is Sam and the baby?”

“Well Sam never showed up, so Aubrey and Mark decided to just take him with them. And Sage, don’t let Blaze make you missed life experiences. He’s my best friend, but even I know, he’s a lost in work type of guy.”  Then he grabbed Lana, shot me a smile and left. I knew what Zac was trying to say but I loved Blaze and I would always wait on him, even if it meant missing out on life.

It was another hour before Blaze came to the suite and saw me on the couch. At first he walked in and didn’t even notice me he started to take off his tie and he removed his shirt, then he did a double take at my small form on the couch.

“Sage, what are you doing here?” He asked coming closer, confused.

“I decided to wait for you. Since you are not going, I’m not going.” I smiled softly at him, and he looked at me in disbelief.

“Sage, that is unfair to you. You didn’t have to wait on me, I was at work and you’re gong to miss a big experience for you.” He looked at me as if I was crazy; something else was behind those green eyes though.

“If you weren’t going to be there then there was no need for me to be there.” That time I had accidentally spoken from the heart.

“Sage we're not a real couple you don’t need to me to be there for everything.” And that’s what I was waiting on the rejection. It stung I wasn’t going to lie, but that wasn’t going to stop me.

“Blaze, I care about you. This might not be a real relationship, but that won’t stop me caring about you. Yeah I’m the one who’s poor but you’re the one with no life. I’m just trying to help.” I said standing in front of him.

“Well don’t need your help, I’ve been fine on my own for all these years, I think I can manage without you always trying to but in, it’s been nothing but a pain.” His eyes lit up in anger, and I knew that look anywhere.

“Fine, Blaze, fine! You want to be alone, then fine! I’ll leave because you know what, it’s gonna be a New Year’s in less than 10 minutes, and I want to spend it around strangers who are somewhat happy. Not a mean guy who pushes out everyone and is fucking up everything.” I stormed out of the suite in a pair of Levi’s and an off the shoulder shirt, I was angry at him. I slammed the door on my way. How could he knock me for just caring?

I can’t believe Blaze, I was only trying to be a good fiancé—friend, that’s all. I was looking out for him, and I guess Zac had been right. Or maybe he just didn’t want to go with me. Maybe he didn’t want to remember on New Year’s since it is a really big holiday.

I caught a taxi, and it drove me two minutes away to the ball drop. The celebrities were at the top near the ball talking on MTV, and I was one of the people who looked like a tiny ant, and the entrance.

I hugged myself; it was definitely cold in New York at this time of year. The wind blew past me and away, kind of like how I wanted to be. I wanted to just float away from this whole mess, if I wouldn’t have ever got fired  I wouldn’t have been in this situation. But I don’t regret falling in love, it’s a very moving experience trust me.

The countdown started:

10, I looked at all the couples around me, hugged up

9, I smiled because this was a weird last half of the year for me.

8, I accomplished the goal of helping Blaze

7, I’m living a life I never thought possible

6, I wonder if everyone else is having fun

5, I wish Blaze was here

4, my hand was grabbed and I was turned around.

3, I was pulled into a tight hug, still not seeing who it was.

2, Blaze looked into my eyes.

1, He kissed me to welcome in the New Year, even though it changes nothings. Blaze still won’t be mine, this was just another ‘sorry’. But I’m looking on the Brightside. I’m in love and I’m kissing the source of that.

What do you think of Sam?

A reckless night, he hears me breathe

Cursing the skies of this company

You've lost the wisdom deep inside

His bitterness shows it's side

If it's true I'll doom

What more is there to hold onto?

Strength of head is all I own

If to me this sorry's whole-Lianne La Havas