Song recommendation: Mary Magdalene by FKA Twigs "Yes, I learnt you needed me. Yes, I'm here to open you; yes, I know that your heart is blue (So cold)"

     The hype behind the "kickback" made perfect sense, except this was more of a party full of wild banshees. The strong aroma of alcohol and sweat attacked Sage's nose as she posted her body up against the kitchen counter. The function was located at one of Jay's normally empty brownstones in Spanish Harlem and Sage could understand why now, it was crowded and the music was loud.

     "You want this?" Ella asked pushing a big blunt in her hands. She was already mingling with who appeared to be two goth chicks from their school.
     Ella's outfit:

     Sage's outfit as a reminder:

     "I never hit one of those in my life." Sage said admittedly. She never smoked but she also never partied like this before, so there's a first for everything.

     "Girl I just tried it. Put it between your lips and inhale." Her best friend instructed. The goth chicks nodded their head encouragingly while Sage put it between her lips like Ella ordered. Sage began coughing as the smoke filled her lungs.

     "Shit!" She pulled the blunt from her lips and handed it back to one of the girls.

     "That was a good pull," one of them laughed.

     "Is it bad I feel different already?" She was a little drunk from the shots they downed not even an hour earlier. They managed to gulp them in their rooms before they had the driver take them to the location.

     "Nah, we're just lightweights with little everything," Ella replied matter of factly. The pair of girls just sniggered, waved and walked off. "Gosh, we're so not cool."

     Sage shrugged and folded her arms, "We had to start somewhere."

     The two set up their phone cameras, rapping along to all the trap music that was being played for the remaining hour, until Sage felt a tap on her shoulder.

    "Hey Jay! I was gonna look for you." Sage felt her lips were going numb and her voice slurring. Fuck. She totally meant to find him before he found her.

     "Oh, it's fine. I'm glad you two made it." She could smell the alcohol on his breath when he spoke. Something was odd about his demeanor, he was more laid-back and cool.

     "Fuck, Aubrey's blowing up my fucking phone," Ella mumbled, slapping her forehead for dramatic effect, "Hold on guys I have to take this."

     "Be safe!" Sage called out after her. She knew her best friend was not in the right state of mind. "I have your location!" The last part was really for the people around them so they know not to fuck with her. Ella disappeared into the bathroom down the hall, instantly spazzing on "Aubrey" who Sage has yet to meet. It annoyed her because she normally knew or met all her friend's flings, boyfriends or otherwise.

     Jay entrapped her between his two arms and bent over a little, "I need to talk to you.'

     "I--"

     He lifted his pointer finger and put it on her lips to signal for her to be quiet. "Outside."

     The two managed to weave in and out of the crowd of people in his brownstone. Sage followed behind Jay without a choice because he had his much larger hand wrapped tightly around her forearm, leaving her no way to escape.

     The air outside was a relief to the pair as the wind picked up. It was October now so the temperature was cooler at night, but they didn't mind since it was extremely hot and stuffy inside. After walking further down the block to separate themselves from the scatter of people outside the party, he stopped suddenly.

     "Y-you're hurting me," she stammered peering up at a very inebriated Jay. His body was swaying back and forth. He released her arm and shook his head. "I need my shit."

     Sage watched as he dug in the pocket of his jeans coming up with a tightly wrapped joint and a fire engine red lighter.

     "Jay..." She trailed off, her voice getting caught in her throat. Her mouth felt dry and her head was spinning, she no longer wanted to be here or even back at the party he was making her nervous.

     Maybe I'm high...or am I "crossed" like Dave said to me that one time. Sage giggled at the thought of her boyfriend. Oh shit where he at?

     "Are you even listening to me?" She felt cold hands gripping her arms and a small shake. She was scared and paranoid but she didn't want to show it.

     "Jay what the fuck?" Good, I found my voice?

     Her thoughts were confirmed when an angry Jay dropped his grip but he still towered over her real close. He's high too. His eyes are red as fuck. She wasn't sure if she said that in her head or not, she was really losing track.

     "You're not listening to me, I should fuck you up." Sage eyes widened at his words as she finally snapped out of her daze. She looked past him though as she caught a glimpse of what she thought was Dave. Is it him?

     "Jaaay," She dragged out the 'a' as her words started becoming unrecognizable. The panic and substances were definitely setting in. She rolled her eyes and pouted up him, "Maybe we should talk later? Please?" Thinking her pleas would snap him out of it.

     Before Jay can answer a large body blocked her view and pushed the young man on his back on the concrete. "Yo fuck outta here!" The man declared as he looked over his victim earnestly and Sage immediately recognized the voice, even in her intoxicated state. David. He wasn't alone though as another man that looked to be his age was standing in front of him trying to calm him down and lead him from further charge at the boy. Jay didn't just take it though, he sat up on his bottom ranting and yelling back. He was smart not to physically retaliate as David was obviously much larger. It sounded like the argument was centered around her of course and she groaned knowing she wasn't in the right mindset to diffuse the situation herself.

     "East, man, he's just a dumb lil nigga, just put yo piece away." The man that showed up with him commanded. He sounded like the guy that Ella was always on the phone with and she thought he looked pretty familiar. Sage only got glimpses of his face when her best friend would facetime him, so she wasn't sure if it was the 'Aubrey.'

     Tears filled her eyes at the sound of Dave possessing a gun, what Aubrey called his 'piece.' She quickly grabbed David's face, staring into his eyes "B-baby, what's he talking about? What's going on? We have to find Ella!" Even in her heels he loomed over her much smaller body. She saw that his face was becoming more calming and at peace at the sight of his girl.

     "I'mma take you home," was all he whispered to her before dipping down and pecking her soft lips.

     "Bro, you take ya girl to the car and I'll take care of this nigga and get Ella." Aubrey butted in.

     "Babe?" She didn't have to say anything really. She knew that when she felt frightened in the short time she knew him, more times than not he was the only one that can calm her. In the midst of all the chaos she didn't see anyone but him. The people around them becoming blurs and she didn't know if it was because she was drunk or the fact that she only found comfort at the sight of Dave but she didn't care.

     "I'm here now." With that David put his 'piece' away at the side of his jeans and scooped Sage. He turned towards his brother and nodded signaling for him to handle his business, leaving a belligerent Jay to confront Aubrey.

     Sage sat in the car face to face with David with both hands holding her thighs. "You okay, baby?" His voice was raspier than normal but she knew it was because he was just shouting at Jay.

     "I should've listened to you." Sage replied in a small voice. She did everything all wrong starting with the close proximity to Jay.

     Dave didn't respond, just untied the shoes on her feet because he knew they were causing her pain. At this point he couldn't stop her from situations with boys like that all the time, just 'save' her from it as much as possible. In his eyes, her novice was conflicting to him. He felt as her boyfriend now he needed to protect her from the bullshit she might get into but this was something he's never taken the time to do that for anyone before and it just takes some getting used to.

     He tossed her shoes in the back and bent down to capture her lips with his. He deepened the kiss when she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I trust you." He didn't know if it was because he felt unbound from anything else, just feeling her warmth radiating in that moment or the sound of his heartbeat racing to meet hers, or the combination of the two but he just had to let her know.

End note: Anything y'all content or indifferent about so far? What y'all think about Dave and Sage? Jay?