Sage thought he knew what longing was, but he was wrong. He finally understood what it meant to long for someone—it is a thought that plagues your dreams, a feeling in your chest that you can't yet rid of, and where your thoughts eventually travel to when you think no one is looking.

He thought he knew, what longing would have felt. That was what he strove for wasn't it? Every lover he took every person who was willing to give him something he needed, something he got for everything he gave. He wasn't supposed to be so caught up. But how he remembered the shape of Zach's shoulder, the nape of his neck and the sound of his voice against his ear, and the beating of Zach's heartbeat.

And now, that was gone. What he had foolishly thought would last forever, lasted how long? He wanted to laugh. but that was his fault wasn't it? Zach's red-rimmed eyes, his hiccuped breath, the flush of his shoulders, Zach Zach Zach ...

"Sage!" this shout awakened him from his thoughts.

It is one of Sage's classmates. What was her name again?

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"Yeah of course, why?"

 "Sage..." She looks towards her friend and they exchange worried glances. "You're crying." 

Instinctively, he touches his cheeks and his hand comes back wet. He has been crying--for how long? A sudden fear wells up in him, and he rises from his seat in a hurry. But he still pulls off a smile. "Sorry about that.." then he leaves for the restroom.

"Is he okay? I've never seen Sage sad, nevermind cry."

"A girl maybe?"

"What kind of girl would a no to Sage?"

They laugh.

Sage washes his face in the restroom. "I can't be doing this...I have more important futures ahead of me. fucking forget it, Sage." But as he looks in the mirror, he's not so sure if this is something he can quite get over. 

--

Sage knelt to the ground beside his desk--there was no hope left. He hoped and hoped that Zach would be the one but he abused it--he abused everything. The walls seemed to close in on him and he imagined that it might be what takes his life--puncturing his organs, cracking his bones and skull, until he popped with a sickening "splat". 

Of course--who would love someone like him? Someone who was imperfect and ugly--of course Zach would never stay. Sage would just have to move on--"move on" a word that for the first time, tasted foreign in his mouth. He can't move on without Zach, can he? Even if he was reduced to the sidelines, even if he could only ever watch from afar-- it would be worth it. It would be what he deserved. It would be--

--

Out of all the possible ways they would eventually meet they had forgotten about the annual sports meeting for fees. 

Sage tries his best to hide behind a smile. This is great. It's fine, it's completely fine. "Okay...this is our fees for this year to distribute..." as he continues to explain, Sage occasionally steals glances as Zach, who sits there pretending to be absorbed by the form in front of him. But he can feel Sage's gaze and he hopes he's not too red. 

But Sage can tell through the flush at the back of Zach's neck. 

"Sage, what are you doing." Someone hits him across the back. It is from Tina. She whispers to him while the meeting is taking a small break. 

"Sorry?"

"Don't pull your fake ass smile with me." She is the only one besides Zach who knows Sage for who he is--they both have secrets on each other's hands. She chews a piece of gum and pops it. "I know you're looking at that guy over there." 

She smirks rather devilishly. "Don't worry, I'll help you, but you'll owe me."

"Sure," Sage replies but doesn't really think much about it. 

Soon, the meeting is over and Zach is nearly the first one out the door, except someone calls him to stay. Shit really.

That person is Tina. 

"Hey Zach, sorry for making you stay a little longer, I swear it won't take long..."

Zach tunes out, sneaking a glance at Sage, who is carefully organizing the papers collected. 

"Is this the expected fee for the club? Is that a 3 or a 5," Tina can't keep herself from chuckling at her own stupidity. But this was fun.

"It's a five." Zach tries his best to keep his temper.

"Ah...then it's my bad...Oh look at the time! I still have a meeting after this! Gotta go," she laughs--she can't hold it back. "See you soon!" She says, flinging her bag over her shoulder.

She is out before Zach can stop her. 

Sage and Zach are left alone. 

A/N

Hey everyone!! I can't believe that this book is reaching 1k reads soon (even I've been so busy that I don't get back to writing for weeks at a time--please forgive me, it's just been a very chaotic couple of months.) I'm so grateful that people are enjoying the book and people sticking around for the stories of Zach and Sage. 

Since it will reach 1k soon, I will probably write a 1k word count special. So I wanted to ask what do you guys want to read? A complete smut chapter plus thanksgiving special(or maybe a Christmas special)? Or maybe a Q&A with Zach and Sage? Please comment and I'll do my best to fulfill them!