Playing with Fire: Sage Learns About Love and Consequences

Kyle! Do you seriously believe I could be juggling another guy and still juggling you at the same time? Don’t you have any faith in me?”

“Is that Sage with another frat guy?” Said the girl poking her head out of the fridge.

“Yeah that’s her again” answered Lavender “ Poor guy doesn’t stand a chance.”

At that very moment, Sage storms into the apartment.

“ Can you believe this guy thinking that I’m seeing someone else? Why doesn’t he trust me?”

“Well, looks like you've upgraded to a new boy toy already! Wasn't James the leading man just three days ago? Unless my calendar is wrong. Oh, the drama!” Briar said handing a drink to Lavender on the small sectional.

"James and I are so done, and I'm totally into Kyle and this thing we have going on. But seriously, is it my fault that there are so many cute guys around. Those college guys can be so intense. I thought we were all just having fun, and now he wants to get all serious. I just don't get it."

“Maybe if you were really honest about what you were looking for, and told these guys that you don't actually want a solid relationship, then maybe they wouldn't feel so upset when you date other guys," Lavender suggested skeptically.

“ Why would I take advice from you? You always have your nose in a book. You guys never on dates. Always on this couch judging me. Can't a girl get some sympathy from her roommates? ”

“ I was just trying to help”

“Well, you're not helping at all, you're just making me feel awful about something I didn't even do. I always feel like I'm being singled out, and I don't get why. We can't all be a little perfect like you two.”

Briar rolls her eyes.

"Being Sage is such a tough job, you know? All those guys falling at her feet, it's exhausting! Meanwhile, Lavender comes to the rescue with a tissue, ready for a good cry session over Sage's hard life!"

“Whatever, you guys are no help. I don’t even know why I’m talking to you.”

"Oops," exclaimed both girls at once. "Are we slacking off?" "I'm giving it my all," they both quipped. "Are you?"

For the next couple of days, Sage tried to stick to one relationship, but man, it was tough. She never had a problem getting asked out by dudes, but the struggle kicked in when things got serious. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a boyfriend. It was just hard to settle down when you've got so many options. It's like going to a buffet and only trying one thing, you know?

On her way to the mall, she spotted the hottest guy. He played for the college football team and had some serious charm. She thought she could hit it off with him, even though she was with Kyle. She was set on asking Mark out because, come on, he was seriously good-looking, and Kyle would get it.

On the night of the first game of the season, Sage rocked her best outfit that covered all the important bits. She was determined to catch Mark's eye, even though she was going to the game with Kyle. She had to figure out a way to keep Kyle occupied while she made her move on Mark.

“I don’t know why you want us to come to this football game we don’t even like football,” said Briar

“Well, you will like it tonight. You girls are always in the house on Friday night. It's time to get out and hang with people your age. Anyways, you are not coming for the game, you are coming to help a sister out.”

“We are not sisters. And why should we help you? You’ve been mean to us all week.”

“ Well, I'll be nice to you all week if you do this for me."

“Well, it would be fun to get out. You know I’m cooped up in that apartment all the time reading my books so maybe going to a game won’t be so bad.”

“You are not going to watch the football game you are going to watch Kyle to make sure that he doesn’t get in my way when shoot my shot with Mark.”

“ Aren’t you tired? it’s only been like a month since we’ve lived in this apartment. How much dating can one person do”

“More than you know honey, more than you know,” Sage said wisely

Kyle was the sweetest when they got to the game. He was so attentive to Sage and her friends. The stands were full and the game was super exciting. When Sage excused herself to go to the ladies' room, she left her roommates to take care of Kyle.

At halftime, she waited for Mark at the edge of the field before they ran off to the locker rooms. In his uniform, Mark looked even hotter. He said he would see her after the game and that she should wait for him at the back lot fence.

Since Sage was gone for a long time Kyle went to look for her. He saw her talking to Mark and the strapping football player, giving her a kiss, on the cheek. Kyle was furious and hurt. He had a feeling that Sage could not be trusted, but he wanted to make things work with her. Kyle left the game.

“Hey, what took you so long?” said Lavender "Kyle went to look for you, did you see him?"

“I was just talking to Mark and I’m so excited. I’m gonna see him after the game. She shoots, She scores!” Sage said not paying attention to Lavender.

“ Where is Kyle? I thought he came to look for you.” Briar chimed in.

“ I thought you guys were watching him. Whatever, he's probably around somewhere” nonchalantly Sage said. "I'll see you guys back at the apartment. I have to go meet Mark."

After the game, Sage headed to the back lot where Mark told her to wait, but Mark never showed up.

When she went back to the general parking lot Mark was leaving with another girl. Sage was crushed. How could he do that to her? That girl had nothing on her.

She then thought of Kyle and texted him:

• Babe, where are you? the game is over and I've been looking for you

• ...Unread

• Honey, why are you not in the parking lot? I've been looking all over for you.

• ...Unread

• Tell me, where you are so we can meet up and hang out.

• ...Unread

Sage went back, to her apartment, feeling totally awkward and alone, after not getting a reply from Kyle. Why was everything going crazy? Is this like the Twilight Zone or what? I've never lost a guy to another girl before. And what was Kyle's deal? Didn't he get how lucky he was to have her?

The next day after texting Kyle all night with no reply, Sage was perplexed. She needed retail therapy ASAP. When she got to the mall, she ran into Mark.

"Hi Mark, I thought we were supposed to meet up after the game." She said sweetly. He must have mixed up the time. "We can still hang out now, I'm not doing much."

Mark gave her a questioning look "Who are you again?"

"What? I'm Sage you said that we would meet after yesterday's game remember."

"Yeah, you are the girl that was dating my boy Kyle. We are in the same frat house. We all told him that you were a man-eater. That was messed up what you did to him. You know he really liked you."

When a beautiful redhead came out of the store, Mark took her hand and they walked away, looking back at Sage whispering.

Ding:

• Text message from Kyle:

  • So, apparently you've been on a secret mission to date Mark behind my back? Congratulations, that's a bold move. But let me make something crystal clear - I have zero interest in being with someone who doesn't value me. Keep your niceness to yourself, because your sneaky actions speak otherwise. And if by chance you happen to spot me on the street, save your breath. We're not friends, and we'll never be.

In the book, the subtle art of not giving a fuck by Mark Manson. He states that trust is the most important ingredient in a relationship for the simple reason that without trust the relationship doesn’t actually mean anything.

The problem wasn’t that Sage wasn’t interested in Kyle. It was that sage could not be trusted.

A week later, Sage saw Kyle walking with another girl in the mall. She felt horrible and lonely for the first time. He didn’t even look in her direction, even though she knew he saw her.

Getting back to her apartment Sage fell into a deep despair and self-pity.

"You know that you broth this on yourself," Said Briar matter of factly.

" I don't that's what she wants to hear" Said Lavender standing next to Briar at the door frame to Sages' bedroom.

"Will you two go away?" Sage said in bed.

"You have dated so many guys. Why are you acting like this now." Lavender asked stepping into the clean room. "Wow your room is niccceeee"

"Hands off my stuff, you rat," Sage said

"I thought you were supposed to be nice to us for a week?" Briar said sitting on the Queen size bed.

"Your sheets are so white," Lavender said " and soft"

"Please leave me alone"

"You know we can't do that, you are our roommate and you are, hurting," said the chocolate-skinned beauty. "And you have all the good snacks in here"

"Guys, what did I do that was so wrong?" Sage said with a sob.

"Well, you were not honest with the person that you were seeing. And you tried to play with two friends. And also tried to cover it up." Said Lisa matter-of-factly.

Briar & Sage stared at her.

"What? You did"

"You need to take responsibility for how you made someone feel. If you apologize and the person wants to have nothing to do with you so be it. But you have to clear the air. And not over text." Lavender said absently.

"He hates me"

"Then you have nothing to lose by apologizing," Briar said

In the next couple of days, Sage pulled herself out of bed and made her way to Kyles's frat. he was just coming in.

"Kyle, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for treating you so poorly."

"Save it" as he walked past her to the frat's front door.

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