The Rules We Break 9 - New Things

Sage awoke before Jeremy, his tattooed arm covering his eyes as late morning light poured in through the slats of their wooden window blinds. She gently moved out of bed and into the bathroom. As she stared at herself in the mirror, it finally began to sink in everything that had happened the night before.

The first, and most apparent memory, was the fact that she had actually sucked off their neighbor.

But the second, and more important, was that she had found a part of Jeremy she’d lost long ago.

And, in turn, she’d found a part of herself, too.

Sage remembered distinctly the words she had said before falling asleep in Jeremy’s arms.

“Go knock them dead.”

And he would. She always knew he would. And it terrified her now just as much as it did then. But she wouldn’t let the terror win this time. They shared a common energy now. An awakening she didn't realize could exist. And while it was still only dreams, those dreams were bearable.

She would take the journey with him one step at a time.

Bit by bit.

Until it finally ended…

She brushed her teeth, put her hair into a messy bun, and carefully snuck past the bed. She cracked their door open and stepped out into the hallway, making her way downstairs.

There, in the kitchen, Amy was making coffee, wrapped up in one of the fine linen robes Sage had set out for her and Ryan the night before. When Amy heard the patter of Sage’s feet, she turned and gave her a polite smile.

"Morning, sleepy head," she said.

"Morning," Sage said sweetly. Sliding into a chair at the kitchen island.

"You want coffee?" Amy asked.

"Please," Sage said. Amy poured her a cup while looking out the large kitchen window with a sigh.

"It might be quiet out here, but the mornings are beautiful,” she said, turning to Sage.

"Aren't they?" Sage replied happily, taking the mug from Amy and letting it warm her hands.

"Minus the fact that you have to look over Peeping Tom’s house, the sunrise is out of this world. Plus, you have the river walk right by your subdivision. What a dream…”

Sage bristled at the mention of David’s home, but promptly brushed past it.

"You should see it after a fresh snow. The blues and purples are out of this world."

"Oh my god, I can only imagine." Amy looked out the window a while longer, her eyes trailing into David’s living room.

"So… where did you run off to last night?" she asked.

Sage froze with her coffee midway to her lips.

"Hmmm?"

"Last night, where did you go?"

"Oh," Sage carefully put her coffee down. "I just needed to step out for some air."

Amy turned, eyes filled with skepticism.

"That’s funny, Jeremy said you had run out for errands," she replied, slowly taking a sip from her mug.

Sage blushed and cleared her throat.

"Oh, yes! That's what I meant… no, I mean, yes, I was out doing errands to catch my breath." Sage laughed nervously, barely able to hear her own words. All the while, Amy stared at her knowingly.

"What?" Sage said nervously.

"What is this?" Amy said, motioning at her.

"What is what?!" Sage replied in a higher pitch.

" You're acting weird!" Amy laughed nervously, and Sage followed.

"Am I?" she said.

"Yes! You are acting very, very weird."

Sage tapped her nails quickly against the island and shrugged. "I don't know, maybe I'm in a good mood. Got the morning jitters…"

"A good mood?"

Sage smiled. "Maybe there's change in the air."

Amy rolled her eyes.

"Sage… you hate change."

Sage scoffed.

"I don’t hate change! Change can be good… so long as it’s planned," she said defensively.

Amy laughed and shook her head.

"Suuure…" Amy's gaze turned back to the window, and Sage let out a sigh of relief as she took a sip of her coffee. Then Amy groaned.

"What is it?" Sage asked. Amy turned to her with a look of disgust.

"He's looking over here again," she said.

Sage's heart leaped in her chest as she stood and made her way over to the window.

"Who, David?" she asked.

"Who else?" Amy said, before pointing out the window. "Look, right there."

Sage looked and saw David’s head peeking out of his sliding door. He slowly stepped out onto his concrete patio, staring directly at the back of her house with a bag in hand. Sage's fingers began to tingle, already knowing what was inside. And while she prayed it wouldn't happen, Sage watched in horror as David began walking toward her house.

"What the fuck is with this guy…" Amy said, glancing at Sage suspiciously.

Sage's body moved before she had a chance to think, speeding past Amy towards the sliding door and opening it.

"Wait, Sage!"

"I'm just going to see what he's up to!" She said nervously, "I'll be right back."

Amy looked at her for a moment. Then, slowly nodded.

"Alright. Scream if he tries to kidnap you."

Sage forced out a very loud, very fake laugh. Opened her mouth to say something, then promptly exited out the back. She slammed the sliding door behind herself and rushed across the lawn, stopping David halfway between their houses.

"Good morning!" he said with an overly bright grin. Her eyes glanced down at his outfit. A pair of grey cotton shorts and a baggy white hoodie. It was, surprisingly, attractive. And accented his windswept bedhead and growing beard well.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Sage hissed. David's smile immediately dropped.

"Hey, easy, don't go biting my fucking head off," he said, sounding far more hurt than angry. Sage rolled her eyes and took a long, deep breath.

"What do you want?"

David held up the bag with one finger.

"Your dress," he said, handing her the bag delicately.

Sage glanced at it.

“I can’t take that, David.”

“Look, I know I ripped it. But I washed it, plus, there’s something else in there for you too.”

“I can’t take that,” Sage said more firmly.

“No, listen, I got you a new dress,” David said. As if Sage didn’t understand exactly what he was saying.

“Yes, I know. But. I. Can’t. Take. It.” Her tongue cut on every syllable. David leaned in.

“Why. Not?” David’s tone was equal parts playful and annoyed.

“Because… my friend is standing right there watching US through the window,” Sage said pointedly.

David looked at the window.

“Don’t look at the window!” Sage hissed. David laughed softly.

“Oh my god, you think we made eye contact?”

“David…”

“It’s just a bag, Sage.”

“Yeah, a bag with MY ripped dress. You know, the dress I was wearing yesterday in front of everyone? And apparently, a new dress you bought me? What do you think is going to happen when I go into that house? You think she’s just going to smile and nod and not ask about the bag?!”

David smirked. “God forbid she asks about the bag."

And instead of getting angry, Sage found herself forcing back a smile. This bastard had nearly made her laugh.

“You need to take it back,” she said curtly.

“Come on. Really?”

“David…”

He rolled his eyes as the bag dropped to his side. Did she sense disappointment? A childish slouch to his shoulders. A pained glance of embarrassment? There was no way.

“Fine,” David said solemnly. “I'll keep the bag for now. Maybe I could swing by later and… drop it off?"

His eyebrows raised hopefully. Sage bit her lip and shook her head, stunned by his insatiable tenacity.

“They’ll be here later, David. They’re staying for the week.”

“Damn, well, you could always swing by and—“

“I’ve got to go,” Sage said. Cutting him off. “And please, in the future, don’t just walk over ok? It’s creepy.”

“Aw, come on, we’re neighbors after all, right?” David said playfully. She watched as David’s eyes dropped to her cleavage spilling out of her white tank top. She knew it made her breasts look huge, and when David's eyes lingered for far too long, Sage was reminded that she also wasn’t wearing a bra.

And that the brisk morning chill had stiffened her nipples beneath the nearly transparent fabric.

She didn't hide them. Instead, she pushed them out. David's eyes stayed there a little while longer, then slowly scrawled up her neck, and met her gaze.

“No more just coming over. Remember the rules…” Sage’s voice softened into sweetness. Sticking to the tension between them.

"I don't remember there being any rules about not coming over,” David said coolly.

"Once a month, remember?"

"Even if I just want to have a friendly visit?"

"You and I both know there is no world where all you’d want is a ‘friendly visit.’"

“Oh yeah? And what is it I would want?” David asked.

Sage nibbled at the bait.

“Me,” she said.

David smiled. Making no effort to correct her.

“Can I ask you something?” he said.

Sage sighed. “What?”

“Last night, after Jeremy and I both… did our thing…”

Sage gulped as her eyes dropped to the bulge in his pants. His very big, very obvious bulge. She snapped her eyes back to his, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

“Who tit fucked you better?”

Sage turned on her feet.

“I have to go,” she said quickly.

“You’re not going to answer?!” David asked playfully.

“Goodbye, David,” Sage said promptly.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll see you later!” He shouted after her.

Sage made no answer. Instead, she promptly stepped back into her living room and closed the sliding door behind her tightly. She rushed back to the kitchen island and picked up her mug of coffee. Drinking it in silence as Amy stared at her blankly.

"What the hell was that all about?"

“Oh uh… he just… wanted to drop off some… tools," she said.

Amy raised an eyebrow. "Tools?"

Sage nodded, then sniffed.

"Yep," she said.

"In a bag?"

"Yep."

Amy stared for a very long time. So long, in fact, that it felt like she was burning a hole through Sage's chest.

"Sage…" she said with soft concern.

Fortunately, Ryan stumbled down the steps before Amy had a chance to go where Sage didn’t want her to.

"Ohhhh lord! Did I sleep good!" Ryan shouted, farting loudly as he let out a burp.

"Ryan! How many times have I told you not to fart in front of people?!"

Ryan rubbed his belly as he stumbled into the kitchen and waved her off.

“Sage and Jeremy don’t count. They’ve seen my butthole.”

Amy pinched her nose. “Oh my god… not the butthole thing again…”

Sage covered her mouth as she laughed softly, grateful for the relief in tension.

"Soooo,” Ryan leaned against the island. “Why isn’t breakfast ready, ladies?”

“Ryan!” Amy snapped.

“What?! All I’m saying is I’m hearing the hens clucking, but I’m not seeing them cooking.”

Sage burst out into laughter as Amy rushed over to him and punched his arm. Ryan responded by wrapping her in his burly embrace and kissing her hair.

“You're a pig!” Amy said defiantly.

“You want eggs?” he asked her softly.

“Yes, please,” Amy replied as he let her go and kissed his lips.

Ryan made his way to the fridge.

“Sage, you want eggs?”

“As long as they’re scrambled,” Sage said, sipping her coffee once again.

“Golly… them pillows, Sage!” Ryan continued as he clattered his way through the cabinets.

Sage jumped in her seat. “Oh god, Ryan! Be careful! I have designer sets in that—”

“Are they goose feathers or something?!” He interrupted, pulling out several cooking bowls and catching a designer plate before it fell.

Sage covered her eyes.

“Oh my god… yes… yes they are. A very specific brand. Marcosi, from Italy…”

“You can feel the Italy in them,” Ryan said matter-of-factly as he opened the fridge and began cracking eggs.

“Ryan, slow down, you’re going to give Sage a heart attack.”

Ryan chuckled, causing his big, burly belly to dance.

“Are you two still planning on a girl date today?”

“That was the plan,” Amy said. “Are you and Jeremy going to be alright by yourselves?”

“Oh, we’ll manage,” Ryan said, flipping a frying pan and splashing egg residue all over the clean stovetop. Sage closed her eyes and took a very long, very deep breath. “I think he said something about checking out a golf course?”

“Did he say that, or did you say that?” Amy said.

“Ok, yeah, I said that,” Ryan said sheepishly, taking the pan off the heat and dropping it with far too much force on the opposite side of the stove. He then turned and began clattering through the cabinets again.

“Yo, Sage! Which plates are we allowed to use?” he asked.

Sage, not bearing the chaos a moment longer, sprang up from her seat and walked beside Ryan.

“Don’t you worry! I’ve got it, just get the eggs,” she said, ignoring Amy’s snicker as she pulled out her favorite blue plates she’d purchased at the farmers' market.

She then placed them carefully onto the table.

Neatly, evenly, and orderly.

She grabbed the silverware next as Ryan brought over the frying pan to the island and sat down next to Amy. As soon as he sat, Sage took up the frying pan and poured its contents into a decorative serving bowl, which she placed neatly in the center of the table.

Ryan whistled.

“Damn, Sage, you sure do know how to make a spread.”

“Thank you,” she said cheerfully, carefully pulling out several cloth napkins from an island drawer. They were neatly folded into squares, with a pocket for the silverware.

“Damn, Amy,” Ryan said, watching as Sage placed the napkins in front of them. “You should learn a thing or two from this.”

Amy punched him again, and he feigned terrible pain while squeezing his shoulder.

Sage then pulled out a large tray of seasonings. Chili crunch oil, hot sauce, pepper, salt, parsley, whipped butter, and jams. All of which sat in their perfectly curated jars and trays. Then she turned to the pantry and pulled out a loaf of bread, and began cutting slices.

“Sage, you don’t have to go crazy,” Amy joked.

“No, for real, I didn’t mean to make you do all this,” Ryan added.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help myself!” Sage laughed. Cutting the bread carefully into perfectly even slices before placing them in a six-bay toaster she’d purchased from an estate sale.

“Little Miss Perfect as always,” Amy said fondly. “I wish I had half your taste.”

The comment stung despite its kind intentions.

“Oh, stop… I’m just too high-strung,” Sage said before making her way over to the coffee mugs. “You want some coffee, Ryan?”

“Yeah, but don’t worry about it, I can grab it later,” Ryan said.

“Oh no, please, I insist. Actually, would you like a latte? I can—”

“God no!” Ryan said. “The eggs will get cold. Come on over here and eat with us.”

The toast popped up, and Sage bashfully took it. Carefully fanning the perfectly browned slices onto a plate and placing them on the island.

“Sorry,” she said shyly.

“Oh, sweetheart, don’t apologize,” Amy said. “We just want you to relax! Here, I’ll get the coffee. You want to serve us?”

“Yes,” Sage said eagerly, trading places with Amy as she sat down.

Sage moved the eggs, and Amy poured the coffee.

The three ate. The three laughed.

And all the while, Sage did her best not to look at the mess on the stove.

—

Sage did her best to move with Amy’s flow during shopping. She didn’t recommend going through the mall on her preferred route. Or that they avoid the areas that were too smelly. Instead, she proudly remained flexible. They explored a vinyl store, stopped at several clothing outlets, and all the while, Amy remarked on how nostalgic it all was.

They made their way into Sage’s favorite clothing brand, and she suggested a dress to Amy.

“Eh, that’s not really in fashion at the moment. I’m trying to go for the wide pant look these days.”

Sage blinked.

“Are… are you sure? This is a very good brand,” she said.

“Well, yeah, the name is nice. But you know… fashion moves fast in the city.”

“Right…”

“I think it’d look great for you, though! I can tell it's still a thing out here.”

And on it went.

The same patterns.

The same things.

The same routine.

All the loops Sage till ran.

But Amy had outgrown.

The fiery, red-haired tomboy she knew in college had grown into a confident, sharp, adventurous woman.

Sage knew not to compare. She told herself that everyone chooses their own life and that enjoying a simple one was ok.

But even Jeremy wanted to change.

By the time they stopped for lunch at the food court. Sage found herself barely present. Amy talked about her latest adventures and her life goals. And Sage barely listened to the muffling words.

“Anyways, that’s what Ryan wants to do now. I honestly think he’d be a great project manager. But I’m not so sure what we’d do with the kids if he had to go back into the office.”

“Right, yeah, that’s got to be so challenging,” Sage said with a polite smile.

“It is. But we'll figure it out," Amy crumpled up her napkin and clapped her hands. "Ok, I'm going to go throw this away and use the bathroom real quick. Did you want to hit up that old bookstore before we head back? What was it called again…”

“Lifters Books?” Sage said.

“Yes! That’s the one! Is it still around?”

“Yes, it is,” Sage admitted.

"Man, some things just never change, huh?"

Sage smiled dimly.

“Guess not.”

Amy walked to the bathroom, reliving old memories that Sage was living every day. Sage’s head slumped into her hands, listening to the sounds of strangers' voices as they came and passed.

Her phone buzzed on the table. Sage picked it up.

David: How serious were you about meeting later today?

Sage scoffed as she quickly typed a message.

Sage: I said we weren't??

David: Nope, you said you had to go. I figured that meant you needed to think about it. So now that you've thought about it, you want to come over later today?

Sage did, in fact, want to come over. The temptation was stronger than she dared admit. She twiddled her thumbs before typing quickly.

Sage: I can't. Plus, Jeremy has to be there. Remember?

She watched a couple pass, hand in hand, as David texted back.

David: Well how about you ask him if it's alright??

Sage: I'm not asking that David

David: Why?

Sage: Because those are the rules.

David: Fine, I'll ask him.

Sage: Don't you dare!!

There was no response after that. And before Sage had a chance to follow up, Amy was back.

"Ready to get going?" she asked.

Sage cleared her throat and nodded.

"Yeah, let's go,” she said, standing up from the cafeteria. “But actually, instead of going to Lifters, do you want to check out that new place that opened up off of West Street?”

Amy looked at her in surprise.

“But you love Lifters,” she said.

Sage shrugged. “Yeah, I know, but I feel like trying something new.”

Amy gave an affirming nod.

“Ok, Miss Adventure, let’s do it!”

Sage smiled as the two made their way out of the mall and on with their day.

--

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