after a long, dreadful weekend back at home we made it back to Florida.

I never thought I’d be so happy to leave home. But after everything that happened with my brother and Kaden I couldn’t wait to get on the plane.

i dropped all my bags out the beach house before making the decision that I needed to go out.

I needed space, air and time to process what had happened.

after I assured Kaden that I would be okay in public by myself, I finally made my way into town. Kaden offered his car but I insisted on walking. I needed to be able to freely think with no worries.

I stop in at the coffee shop that I always go to, the same one Gio works at and I’m instantly greeted by Gio. “Hey Saige” he says dryly, acknowledging my presence.

normally Gio is pretty upbeat and happy, something must be wrong. “Hey Gio, are you okay?” I ask a bit concerned by his gloomy mood. Gio was one of my first friends here, he’s genuinely such a down to earth person and I do care for him.

“yeah.. I heard about you and Kaden” he replies with low emphasis in his voice.

oh god, please tell me this mood of his wasn't caused by my relationship with Kaden.. I can’t lose another friend because of it.

“oh.. um yeah I’ve been wanting to tell you” I look down fiddling with my fingers as he puts my coffee in front of me.

“yeah.. you must’ve forgot, is he the reason you’ve been ignoring me?” He asks sounds a little hurt.

i can feel my face glowing red. I didn’t intend to hurt his feelings.. “no it’s not.. um what time does your shift end maybe we can catch up a bit?” I ask hoping I haven’t lost him already.

he looks back at the clock for a few seconds and then tells me his shift ends in fifteen minutes and he can meet me outside the shop.

I nod my head agreeing to do so, as I grab the coffee and make my way out.

I really need some more clothes, I feel like I don’t have enough so I walk around towards a boutique which is just right around the corner.

not paying much attention I accidentally bump into someone- not just someone but her. Jade.

“watch where you’re going you bitch!” She shouts

”I-I’m sorr- Jade?” I cut myself off not wanting to even apologize anymore

”well well well if it isn’t miss little perfect Saige” she taunts

”don’t get to comfortable with Kaden he’ll get bored of the good girl act pretty quick and then he’ll be mine again” she says eyeing me and emphasizing some of her words

she sounds so sure, as if it’s happened before..

don’t let her intimidate you saige, I think to myself

“we’ll see about that Jade“ I spit back making sure to emphasize on her name

she walks away with a scoff and I make the corner standing there in shock. That really just happened. I’m normally not a mean girl, I never even stand up for myself but I just acted as if I wasn’t even threatened by her words.

should I be threatening by what she said? I start to question and overthink everything she said

“he’ll be mine again” “he’ll get tired of the good girl act” her words replay in my head over and over as tears form into my eyes

no no no, this can’t be happening I cannot be crying on the sidewalk in public.

I quickly wipe my tears and walk inside the boutique trying to get my mind off of what just happened

i search through the rack of clothes and find a few dresses and jeans that I like

i look at the time and see Gio should be getting off, I head to the checkout and purchase the few items I picked out.

I head back towards the coffee shop where I see Gio standing on the sidewalk

“for a minute there I thought you may have ghosted me” he says with an awkward smile

“never!” I exclaim, i hate that he thinks I’d do that

we walk across the street where there is an area with benches and surrounded with trees

“Gio, look I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about me and Kaden sooner but I promise I haven’t been blowing you off, I just got back from visiting back home in Colorado. On top of that I’ve been super busy with assignments and getting settled in. I’m really sorry” I apologize to him feeling like that worst friend ever

“Saige calm down, it’s okay really I just didn’t see Kaden being your.. um type?” He says almost as a question causing a laugh to escape from me

“yeah.. none of us did it all happened so quick..” I admit

when I came down to Florida I had no intentions on being with Kaden. I was simply down here for school but being with him has made it so much better.

as I sit talking with Gio, what Jade said keeps haunting my thoughts. I’m trying to focus on what Gio is saying but I can’t.

thankfully, he digs in his back and hands me a piece of paper “here’s that application you wanted if you’re still interested, I have to go now but if you wanna hang anytime you have my number” he says with a smile

i nod acknowledging him “thank you Gio for understanding” I smile giving him a hug

we both walk in opposite directions as he heads to his car and I walk back towards the beach house.

“he will be mine again” her voice repeats over and over as my eyes swell with tears once again, this time I can’t hold them in

tears are rolling down my face as I walk into the beach house, Kadens standing in the living room hollering about some sports game when he turns to me seeing the state I’m in.

he rushes towards me trying to wipe my tears away but I swat his hands away and run up the stairs

I make my way to my bed and flop down crawling under the soft duvet. Tears are flooding my eyes and they won’t stop. It’s embarrassing. After a few minutes go back my door creeks open and Kaden sits next to me on the bed

”saige did something happen, talk to me what’s wrong” he pleads

I look up at him barely able to keep eye contact, my face is red and puffy I can feel it, I probably look a disaster.

“j-jade” I stutter barely managing to say her name

kadens face turns stone cold with a tint of red.

“what did she do” he sternly asks

I can’t even answer him, the words, the thoughts they’re all jumbled.

he wipes my tears from my face and wraps his arms around me. “Bella you have to tell me what happened” he says softly but still stern

I manage to pull myself together and explain to him what happened, leaving a few parts about me and Gios conversation not thinking it was really important to add in.

“baby look at me” he whispers in a low tone while tilting my head up towards him

I manage to make eye contact with him before he kisses me

“saige, I’m not going anywhere, i choose you above all of them” he assures me, his eyes meeting mine

I lay my head against his chest and feel immediate comfort.

when did this happen. when did I fall for him. when did he become my comfort?

I must’ve fallen asleep, because now im waking up but he’s not here.

“Kaden? Kaden?” I desperately call out but he’s no where in sight..

Kadens POV:

Why must she feel the need to fuck this up. Saige doesn’t deserve this. I will not tolerate it either.

Saige had fallen asleep in my arms, so I laid her in her bed covering her with her blanket making sure she was comfortable. Before I leaving the room I placed a kiss on her forehead.

i hate leaving her alone but I need to make something clear to Jade.

I walk up to the house, where I knew she would be and I pound on the door yelling her name “Jade, Jade Karrington open the fucking door”.

the door swings open “stop fucking screaming you psycho” she scolds

“let me guess princess saige told you everything and now you’re here to punish me?” She smirks

this is what she wanted. she wanted to get my attention. it worked because I’m standing in her door way.

Jade may be a bitch but she’s obviously not stupid.

“well Kaden here’s the deal, I have a tow year old daughter, with no help, I’m going to propose this to you once and once only.. come back home to me, live the life you always wanted with me or else I will make sure your little girlfriend knows every detail about what happened before I left” she smirks.

I know exactly what she’s talking about.

I went through a rough patch after losing one of my best friends to a drunk driver. I dabbled into some drugs and gangs not thinking clearly of the consequences.

I’m surprised Saige hasn’t noticed the cuts and bruises I periodically come home with.

“Jade.. don’t” I warn her

“oh Kaden I would hate to see your little Saige get hurt when the los rabidos find about you’re new little toy..” she says with a sigh while playing with her fingers and smirking

my jaw tightens, I feel the urge to beat the shit out of someone. The thought of someone hurting Saige, especially them hurting her flashes through my mind as I glare at Jade.

“I’ll give you five days to decide” she finalized shutting the door in my face

fuck, fuck, FUCK

I storm down the driveway to my car. This can’t be happening. I can’t leave her, I just got her finally. Why was I such a fucking idiot.

I drive back to my house, when I walk inside I head straight to her room.

she’s sitting on the bed staring at the wall. What the fuck?

“saige?” I ask quietly

“where were you” she says emotionlessly not looking at me

“I went.. to the gym” I lie hoping she doesn’t notice

her eyes dart towards me and her body relaxes before her voice breaks into small cries

“you.. left me”

no. no. please don’t cry again. Fuck I hate seeing her like this.

i rush to the bed wrapping her inside my arms. “Baby I’m sorry, I won’t do it again” I assure her.

did I just lie to her? Twice?

if I stay with her.. I risk getting her hurt. I can’t let that happen.

We settle back into the bed finally she stopped crying, I don’t mind the crying but I don’t like hurt being hurt.

I watch as she sleeps, admiring the peaceful look on her face as she snuggled up to my body, relaxed but not letting go.

im her comfort. she’s at peace with me.

I can’t ruin this for her.. but I need to protect her.