Chapter 3: The Night Before The Terror

SAGE

There was no doubt about it.

I could feel the sense of familiarity on those pair of ocean eyes. As if I'd known her all my life if that was making sense at all. Valkyrie and I were walking down the hall side by side and it astounded me to the core that I was able to initiate a conversation with her which was really rare for me to do. She was like a magnet, pulling me into her and bringing me out of my zone. 

Her long blonde curtain resting on her shoulder looked so smooth that I nearly ran my fingers through them just a while ago. Her skin was like rare ivory of the world and all I wanted was to touch her. Val was fashionable in her own right as she wore a long sleeve turtle neck, black skirt, and oxford lace-up heels showing off her curves and height. I wanted to squish her cheeks but I stopped myself because that would be too creepy.

When I set my eyes on her in the cafeteria, I swore in my life that we had this connection I couldn't figure out. If only Cayde weren't being an aśs and Gwen didn't drag me out with her, I would have approached her that instant. Luckily, we were in the same class.

"I heard you just moved in. So how's the town going with you?" I asked, leaning closer to her unintentionally. Apparently, the school hallway wasn't that spacious for all the students who were walking their way out of the building.

Val glanced at me briefly. "It's cool, just having trouble adjusting."

"Oh, how about I give you a tour all over the town?"

"All over the town?" she accentuated, raising a brow.

I giggled. "Yes. I've been here since the beginning if that isn't obvious yet."

"I-I don't know. I'll think about it."

"Hey, Sage!" one of my friends, Bren, appeared out of nowhere with a warm smile, causing Val to put her arm around my waist rather protectively in my surprise. "Happy Birthday, our sweet bean!"

Forget Bren! I could feel my cheeks burned at her sudden touch and Val seemed wasn't aware of the effect she had on me at the moment.

"Thanks! Don't forget about the tent for later," I reminded him, leaning over to give him a light hug. "Oh, by the way, this is Valkyrie. Val, this is Bren."

Bren stepped away and looked at her, expressing a welcoming smile. "Ah, one of the new kids. I heard some students call you Aphrodite. I thought that's exactly your name but I guess it's a compliment. And they definitely aren't wrong about that."

I didn't like the way Bren scanned her from head to toe so I immediately stepped between them, but Val still kept her arm around me. "Anyway, see you later."

Bren nodded at me. "Yeah, see you. You should invite her later though. And nice to meet you, Val."

Tossing him a nasty smile, I paced backward and held Val's hand boldly before she could even keep it to herself. I yanked her away from Bren and we both headed out of the building, walking toward the parking lot.

I could feel the warmth of her hand through my own skin and Val looked like she didn't mind at all as she walked with me by my side.

"So it's your birthday today."

"Yeah," I said, tightening my hold on her a little. "And speaking of, would you like to join us later? We're gonna go camping near the woods to celebrate my seventeenth birthday. There are barbecues, campfires, and s'mores."

Val narrowed her eyes. "The woods? Is that dangerous?"

I chuckled at her worried tone. "Don't worry. I'm with my parents and a few of my close friends. You should tag your brother and his girlfriend along. Although I have to warn you that Cayde will also be there."

"Right," she muttered, retracting her hand off from mine. "That's why I shouldn't come. I don't want to make any trouble."

That's nearly two rejections for today, Sage.

I bit my lower lip dejectedly as we stopped in the middle of the parking lot. I'd notice that her brother and his girlfriend, Esther, were waiting for her from a distance. "Yeah, you're probably... right. So see you tomorrow?"

Val nodded reluctantly. "Yeah... see you tomorrow. And happy birthday."

"Thanks," I said with a wide smile.

When she turned and walked away, I felt a sting in my heart and I couldn't believe that she made me feel a lot of emotions already in just one day. I should probably control myself because it appeared I was being too strong in here. I haven't known her yet at all.

Spinning away, I ran towards where I parked my new Ford Fusion which my parents had given me this morning as a surprise. I instantly spot Cayde and Gwen beside my car and they looked like they were debating again.

"Why can't you be just discreet?" I heard Gwen hissed, her back was facing me so I couldn't tell what her expression was right now. But she sounded frustrated about something.

"Discreet?" Cayde snickered bitterly at her words. "They must know——"

Strangely, he stopped halfway, clenching his jaw. Gwen turned in my direction and grinned happily at me as if they weren't about to scream at each other a while ago. "Sagebean! We are waiting for you. Why did you take so long, birthday girl?"

I looked at my two best friends suspiciously. "Are you guys arguing again?"

Gwen walked over to me, draping her arms around my shoulder. "As always because he's a jerk twenty-four seven. But we should probably get going. Mom said they are just waiting for us."

Cayde seemed to relax as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll drive."

I bulged my eyes out to my best friend. "No, Cayde! There's no way I'm gonna let you drive my new baby."

"Your Mom wants me to drive you," he insisted, gesturing for me to give him my key. "You're still an amateur driver and the roads are steep going there. She said I should give you a few points while I drive you."

I rolled my eyes, slapping my key on his hand in annoyance. "Why did they give me a car if they don't trust my skills anyway?"

Gwen giggled, ushering me in the passenger seat before hopping on the back. "Gosh, I'm excited. It's been so long since our families got together. Is Mr. Voss coming?" she asked Cayde once he climbed into the driver seat.

"Yeah, Dad will join us much later," Cayde answered, igniting the engine of my baby. "Listen, Sage. Owning a car comes with responsibilities. Always follow——"

Putting my ear pods on, I rudely tuned him out and settled on staring outside the window as we drove off the campus. My mind instantly wandered to the pair of ocean eyes. Somewhere within me, I knew that I was connected with her but somehow, I just couldn't explain it. And I wished I could because it was freaking the hell out of me a bit. I mean, we just met a while ago.... and I was missing her already.

I wasn't really spiritual but Gwen once said that all of us have a soulmate and you're lucky enough if you meet them in your lifetime because some rarely do. It was a complex idea but maybe that was it. Maybe Val was my soulmate. When she put her arm around me, I felt so calm and safe, like I was floating on the ocean without turbulent. When she looked into my eyes, I felt naked but a soul and she could see the entirety of my existence.

I know, so weird and too sappy for my taste. But that's how I could put these feelings into words.

Almost thirty minutes later, we already arrived at the base of Maelstrom Hill, the highest hill of the town. And it was one of the famous campsites here but the hill was not hikeable though because the trail had been blocked years ago from a landslide. 

As Cayde parked the car, I checked the digital clock on my dashboard and it was still four in the afternoon. I could see my parents were already setting up outside, earning a thrilled smile on my face. Of course, they would rent an RV car just for this day to make it special for me and our guest. They've been spoiling me too much all my life and I couldn't be more thankful that I was being loved.

Once I climbed out of the car, I hurried towards my Mom, hugging her tightly. She was still wearing her dark blue police suit so she must drove here directly from the office. Flora Sullivan was one of the sheriff's captains of the town and if that isn't a badass for you, you are living in a different world. 

"You know that your Momsta will likely get jealous if you're hugging me this tight, right?" my badass Mom muttered, placing a kiss on my temple.

"Sage!" I heard my other mother called, making me giggle when Mom's eyes widened playfully.

We both turned to see my Momma hopped out of the RV and expecting me to embrace her too. Of course, I would love to so I rushed towards her and squeezed her just as tight.

Ava Sullivan wasn't really a badass like my other mother but she could be a walking magma which would always put my Mom around her finger every time. My parents were obviously part of the gay community and I was proud of being their only daughter because they loved me so much. I was brought up in an environment full of happiness so there was no doubt I would spread the same in the world.

"Happy birthday, love." Momma couldn't stop greeting me since this morning. "Look at you, you're getting taller. Please, don't get married earlier than your thirties."

"Enough of that, babe. Help me with the campfire, okay?" My Mom laughed at her emotional wife, unfastening both of us away. "And Sage, please accommodate your guest."

I nodded before scurrying away towards Cayde and Gwen who were fixing the banner and lights on the RV. But I saw Mrs. Laveau sitting on the setup table, gesturing me to come to her.

"Mrs. Laveau, I'm glad you came," I said, letting out a wide smile.

"Sage, how many times do I have to tell you that you can just call me Ingrid? Please sit with me, my dear," she said, pulling out the chair beside her and I happily obliged.

Gwen's mother was always kind to me and whenever I hang out with her daughter in their house, she would always cook my favorite brisket of hers. She would always make me feel special like I was her second child. My best friend looked like her mother with their fair complexion, defined jaw, high cheekbones, thick eyebrows, and charcoal pair of eyes. The only difference was their long black hair because Gwen dyed it in black-pink ombre with dreadlocks underneath.

"I hope my daughter is not giving you a hard time," Ingrid stated, staring at me warmly. "You know she's sassy and would always complain about almost everything." 

My eyes shifted to her daughter and I let out a chuckle seeing that she was arguing with Cayde already. "No, not at all. She's the best friend I could ever have."

"Of course, I gave my best to brought her up that way. And I can really see that your mothers love you so dearly."

My eyes focused back on her. "Yes, and I'm thankful. Whoever left me behind their front door seventeen years ago made the right decision. If ever I have a chance to meet them someday, I will gladly bow down my head to them, whether they are my biological parents or someone else."

Ingrid leaned forward, reaching for my hands and holding them together. "What if fate brings you back where you came from, would you accept it in your heart and forgive those who have abandoned you?"

I blinked from her sudden question and believe me when I say that I would always ask myself why they had abandoned a child so innocent at the footstep of strangers. I was just lucky enough to be tossed away in a home full of love and joy.

Looking down at our joined hands, I answered her sincerely, "As long as they have a valid reason on why they have deserted me, I will forgive them with all of my heart. I can't ask for more anyway."

Ingrid's smile softened, lifting her hand to caress my cheek. "You are a kind soul, Sage. I hope the path that was set for you won't tarnish it."

For some reason, her eyes looked sad and I couldn't help but think about her words. But before I could even ask her what she really meant by that, familiar faces arrived at the campsite so I excused myself to welcome them warmly.

"Why is she here?" Gwen mumbled to my ear, regarding the brunette who just came out of the car with her father, along with Bren and his girlfriend from another car behind them.

Of course, my Mom had invited the town sheriff as respect but it was nowhere in my mind that her daughter, Primrose Russel, the infamous school cheerleader captain, would tag along. As far as I knew, she hated me and Gwenette for some unknown reason. Maybe because Cayde was here and she wanted him back after they'd broken up at the end of the summer. For a reason I didn't know yet.

Sheriff Russel greeted me with a happy birthday before joining my mothers who were currently grilling barbecues. Bren nodded at me, leaving his girl, Julia to bump fist with Cayde. Then the great Primrose herself approached us with a nasty smirk on her face with Julia trailing behind her. I was expecting the co-captain of the cheerleading team to come because of Bren but it was really a surprise that Primrose came with her father.

"Hey, crochet, happy birthday. I wish you burn in hell," she said, trying to provoke me... again.

"Really, bitch?" Gwen sassed, crossing her arms to intimidate her. "Of all the places, you chose to be here just to ruin my best friend's party? Why don't you go back to your mother's womb and ask yourself why you should be born into this world?"

Damn, they both couldn't really help but to say something harsh to each other. 

Primrose flipped her coffee hair, her hazel eyes turned to Gwen sharply. "It's not like I want to be here, you useless piece of shit. I was just forced to see your pathetic face."

"Woah, stop with the profanities. We are here to party." Cayde interposed between the two who were about to stab at each other. "Prim, I know why you're here so don't try anything or else," he then said, trailing his words off and giving the cheer captain a knowing sneer. And I didn't want to know what he meant by that.

"Shut up." The brunette rolled her eyes, pushing Cayde while scowling at Gwen before tossing a hateful glare at me. Then she walked past us along with Julia, who scoffed at us.

"Those bitches! Sage, are you really going to let her treat you like that?" Gwen tossed me an accusing look. "You better not let her wreck your own party."

"Exactly, that's why I'm not letting her get to me. She can't act like that all night anyway. You should try to be more patient, okay?" I responded, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

Gwen released a heavy sigh and I yanked her with me, knowing this was going to be a long night. Yeah, better than no night at all.

And I just wished Val was here with me to complete everything.

.........