I am so sorry for not updating for so long. I was super busy then I had major writers block and I am truely sorry! I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. :) Plus the video on the side is of Brad and Sage's duet. 

Chapter thirty-six

“He’s awake.” We all looked up at the nurse shocked.

I’d been here for three days and was told that I could be discharged tomorrow.

“What?” Hailey asked quietly.

“Your friend Zane…he’s awake.”

I flew out of bed so fast I ripped the IV from my arm. I hunched over holding my arm. “Oh my god!” I said through gritted teeth.

“Sage?” Aaron said being wary.

“Holy fu-“ I said cutting myself off. “How do people do that in the movies? That hurts like a bitch!”

The nurse almost looked scared. “We’re going to need to put that back in…”

“Can I see him first?”

“Alright.” She nodded but put a band aid over the scratch I’d created before she let me go anywhere.

I jogged to the room Zane was in.

A huge grin spread across my face as I raced for the door. “Zane!”

He put a hand up stopping me a few feet past the door. “If you’re going to jump on me or tackle me or physically touch me in anyway, I am begging you to stop.”

I made a pouty face. “Aw…no hugs?...How about a careful hug?” I said opening my arms hopefully.

He laughed. “Sure.”

I walked over and carefully gave him a hug. “I’m glad you’re ok.” I said smiling and sitting on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry-“ I started to say before he cut me off.

“Sage stop…don’t even start.”

“What?”

“Don’t say it’s your fault, don’t apologize just say ‘Get better soon Zane’ ‘I’m glad you didn’t die Zane’ but no apologizing.”

“I’m glad you didn’t die Zane…get better soon Zane.” I said with a small smile.

He smiled back.

“Zane!” A high pitched voice from the doorway squealed. Hailey ran towards us but Zane held up a hand.

“No physical contact please. My stomach hurts when I breathe and even though you must only weigh like a hundred and five pounds, I’m sure it would hurt.”

She stopped but walked over to him and stood beside me. “You’re awake.” She said grinning.

“Yeah thank god.” Nate said as he, Aaron, Kalina and Brad walked in the door.

“Brad!” I said smiling.

“Hey.” He said before giving me a gentle hug. “Sorry I couldn’t be here sooner.” He said leaning against the wall because all the seats were taken.

“That’s ok.” I said still smiling.

“I’m glad you didn’t die.” Brad said making Zane sit up straighter.

“See it’s a common thing to say!” Zane exclaimed making us all laugh. He winced as he leaned back into the pillows.

*******************

I rushed home from school two weeks later because it was the day that Zane was allowed to leave the hospital.

I unlocked the front door and walked inside only to see Zane and Hailey on the couch.

Embracing.

No, not embracing. Kissing.

“Oh god!” I squeaked clearly shocked. I spun around so fast my head collided with the side of the still open door.

I heard them spring apart as I groaned and rubbed my head.

“Sage?” Zane said clearing his throat.

“You guys should really put a sign on the door or something, I mean I’m still recovering from a head injury remember?”

“Maybe you should knock?” Zane said as I slowly turned back towards them. He gave me a lazy grin.

“Maybe you guys should take it to the bedroom?” I shot back while pointing towards the stairs. Both of them blushed but didn’t say anything. “Wait…” I said squinting my eyes and giving them a suspicious look. “Is this why you were spending so much time at the hospital?” I asked Hailey while giving her a knowing look.

She blushed harder.

That would be a yes.

I shook my head while silently laughing before heading towards the stairs.

“Where are you going?” Zane called after me.

“To my room, feel free to continue.” I said as I reached the stairs but I stopped and looked back at them. “But like I said, take it to the bedroom in case I want dinner or something.”

I didn’t wait for a response; I just bounded up the stairs smiling to myself.

Let’s face it everyone has been waiting for those two to get together.

I hadn’t even gotten the chance to throw my back pack on the floor before my phone rang.

I answered the phone to hear Nate’s voice. “What are you doing right now?”

“You’re not trying to have one of those kinky phone calls are you? Because those are creepy.” I said making him laugh.

“No, I wanted to know if you were busy or not?”

“Well that depends…”

“On what?”

“On whatever you’re about to ask me.”

“Do you wanna go out tonight?”

“Like a date?” I asked while grinning.

“Yeah…”

“Can’t I’m busy.”

“Really?” He asked and I couldn’t tell if he thought I was joking or not.

“No, I’m kidding.” I laughed.

“Ok…pick you up in half an hour?”

“Wait where are we going?” I asked while glancing at my closet already trying to decide what to wear.

“Dinner and a movie?”

“Can I pick the movie?”

I could hear him sigh. “Fine.”

I smiled before saying goodbye and hanging up so I could dig through my closet.

I slipped on a grey tank top before putting my black loose vest over it. I put on dark blue shorts and my black gladiator sandals before putting on my light blue dangly earrings. I looked myself over in the mirror and put on some lip gloss before walking down the stairs.

“Good,” I said taking in Zane and Hailey who were eating pizza at the dinner table. “You two aren’t all over each other again.”

“We’re just waiting until you leave.” Zane smirked.

“How’d you know I was leaving?” I asked while grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.

“Please, you always have plans with someone.”

I shrugged. “You have a point.” I heard a knock on the door and gave them both a small wave. “Continue on, Love birds.”

I walked out the door and hugged Nate before we got in his car and headed to the movies.

“So what movie do you want to see?”

“Les Misérables.” I said without hesitating.

He groaned. “Isn’t that movie horribly sad?...And a musical?”

“It’s good!” I insisted.

He sighed again. “Fine.”

The movie was good, just like the first time I had seen it. I was also proud of myself for not crying at any of the sad parts. I also had to resist the urge to sing along to the songs knowing that Nate would just give me a weird look.

Plus my singing isn’t good. At all.

We got back to Nate’s house where we were eating sandwiches and chocolate milk.

We were just finishing up when I realized his dad was nowhere to be seen.

“You’re dad isn’t here? Again?”

He shrugged. “He’s never here.” I must have given him a sad look because he quickly added, “But I don’t mind. In fact I like having the place to myself most of the time…it’s calming.”

I nodded. “That’s how I used to feel at my house.”

Once we’d finished dinner I complained about being too tired as I rubbed my hands down my face.

“You can stay here if you like…we have a guest bedroom.”

“As long as you don’t mind.” I said being hesitant.

“I don’t mind having company occasionally.” He said grinning. “Especially beautiful company.”

***************

Before Nate dropped me off at my house the next morning he had told me to get together with Brad and make ‘the best dance’ we could ever come up with, in the next week.

He’d been extremely vague but promised it would make sense later, and that I would thank him for it.

And when the week passed and Brad and I had perfected our dance it turns out, I would be thankful for it.

Nate stopped by once we had finished running through it a final time.

“Let’s go!” He said as soon as he stepped through the door. He’d ushered us out the door and into his car barely leaving me any time to put my shoes on. “Ok, what song are you two dancing to?” He asked as he merged onto the freeway.

“Heaven is a place on Earth by Katie Thompson.” I said while gazing out the window.

“Is it good?”

“Sure?” I said laughing.

Brad handed me a small packet and I looked it over. It looked like an audition form.

“Before you argue or say no, just fill it out.” Brad said before I could say anything.

“It’s an arts school here in California. They have a great dance program and they’re auditions are today…I called and got you two a spot.” Nate continued.

“But we made a duet…” I said seeing the flaw in his plan.

“Today is the duet auditions, if they like you they call you back for single auditions.”

“You couldn’t have told me before now because…?” I said as Brad handed me a pen.

“I thought you might say no.” Nate said shrugging.

“But you told Brad!” I protested.

“We have a bond.” Brad said causally as he filled out his own form.

“I always knew you two had a secret bromance.” I mumbled.

Once we got there we had to wait for nearly an hour before Brad and I were called back. I gave Nate a nervous hug before walking onto the auditorium stage with Brad.

“Brad and Sage?” A woman’s voice called from somewhere behind the bright lights.

“Yes.” Brad answered for both of us while I smoothed out my black dancing dress.

“You may begin.”

Our music started and I just let myself get lost in it.

“See that went well.” Brad said while patting my shoulder as we all were on our way back to Nate’s car.

“I almost tripped.” I pointed out.

“You were amazing, like always.” He said grinning at me before racing me to shotgun.

He won, so I was stuck in the back by myself.

About half way home I got a call from Aaron.

“Hey.” I said as I answered the phone.

“Hey can you come babysit Zoe for a little while? I have to go to a job interview.” He said but he continued in a quieter voice. “She’s not getting better and the doctor bills are adding up, I’m trying to help my mom pay for them.”

“Yeah, sure. No problem. I’ll be there in half an hour?”

“That’s perfect.”

I hung up the phone and told Nate to drop me off at Aaron’s so I could watch Zoe.

Aaron said a quick thank you before dashing out the door leaving me with Zoe.

“Hey.” I said grinning at her as I set my jacket on a chair.

“Hi Sage!” She said before hugging me.

“So what do you want to do?” I asked as she pulled away.

“We could watch a movie? Or color?”

“Whichever you want to do is fine with me.”

After watching Peter Pan and eating some Mac and Cheese we were coloring in some of her coloring books on the kitchen table.

“Sage?” Zoe asked without looking up at me.

“Yes?” I mumbled as I colored in a My Little Pony.

“Why don’t you love Aaron anymore?” I nearly dropped my crayon along with my jaw as my head snapped up to look at her. Before I could say anything, she continued. “He loves you, and he’s sad now. He’s sad all the time. He tries not to show it but I can tell he’s sad. He wears this necklace around his neck, but he won’t let anyone see it. Not even me, and he never used to wear necklaces at all.” I scrunched my eyebrows thinking that was weird. “I wanted to go to your wedding.” She said quietly.

“You can be my Maid of Honor.” I said smiling at her.

What I didn’t say was that I didn’t think it would be mine and Aaron’s wedding that she could attend.

She beamed before looking down at the princess she had been coloring. “You’re like his princess, Sage…what is he supposed to do without his princess?”

“I don’t know.” I whispered. “Maybe he can find another one.”

“You can never find another princess. True love is only found once, you can’t lose it.” She said as if she knew everything about love. “You’re his true love.”

I just got love advice from an eight year old.

What is happening to my life?

Shortly after that I tucked Zoe into bed and was just sitting downstairs finishing the My Little Pony picture when Aaron came home.

“Really, Sage?” He said grinning. “You’re coloring?”

“Don’t judge me! I just babysat for you.”

He held up his hands in defeat. “Alright. Alright.”

“How was your interview?”

“It went well, I think.”

“That’s good.” I said while standing and getting ready to leave.

“Thanks again, Sage.”

“Anytime.” I said automatically.

He gave me a hug and it wouldn’t have been weird except for the fact that when we pulled away he kissed me.

It was a quick peck but it caught me off guard.

“Sage-“ He started when he saw the look on my face.

“Aaron, please don’t.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not fair to you or Nate. I can’t kiss both of you whenever I feel like it.”

“Does that mean you feel like kissing me sometimes?” He said with a smirk.

I ignored his comment. “I can’t do that to you guys.”

“Then make a choice.” He said stepping closer.

“It’s harder than that.” I said taking a step away.

“Why?” He asked again.

“Because I like you both! And I’m horrible and selfish and I wish I didn’t like both of you, but I do. I’ve tried not to. It’s not fair to either of you and I know I have to make a decision because I’m leading you both on…it’s just hard.”

“What do you want?”

“I don’t know.”

“I know what I want. I want you.” He said looking me in the eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

He sighed. “Don’t apologize, Sage.”

“But I am.” I said anyway even though I knew he didn’t care about the apology. There was an awkward pause where I debated about saying something else that was on my mind or if I should just leave. “What’s on the necklace around your neck?”

“Why do you ask?” He said cautiously.

“Because I never noticed it…and Zoe mentioned it earlier.”

I thought I saw him think it over before he sighed again and pulled it out from under his t-shirt. “I just always wear it now…” He said almost like he was embarrassed. It was the black diamond heart necklace that I had thrown back at him, and a diamond ring. I had no idea what to think and I was glad he said something otherwise we could’ve been standing there for a long time. “I got it for you.”

Ok maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. 

Ok, I tried to put a little bit of Team Nate and a little bit of Team Aaron in there for everyone. 

Also I realize some people were Team Zane but I'd been planning for him and Hailey to get together for a while and a love triangle is hard enough to write I don't think I could handle a love square at the moment. :P 

And for those of you who wanted Nate and Hailey to get together, sorry. :) 
I'll try and update soon! Love you all!

-Kami.