Chapter 1 [Untitled]

Chapter 1-

Sage sat against the cold brick wall, outside of the most fancy restaurant in New York City, inhaling the delicious smell of all the array of food only a few feet away from her. She was cold, and tired. She wanted more than anything to be home again, to be in her warm, cozy bed, but she wouldn’t give up this fight. She would not let her parents win. She decided she would make them cry, feel so horrible for mistreating her and ignoring her, to a point of insanity, before she would come home once more. Torture them the way they had tortured her, she thought with a snicker. Slowly, she stood up, and stretched. She lost track after 2 hours to how long she had been sitting in the ‘gang way’ as some would call it. She had no watch and her cell phone was dead, one more misfortune of not being at home. She shivered as she walked down the empty streets, as the breeze brushed against her pale cheeks.

Sage was an A Straight Student, Goody-goody who just had enough. She was sick of her parents always putting her under so much pressure. It seemed as though they didn’t care about personal problems, just grades and appearance and stuff. She just wanted out.

Suddenly, a dark figure approached her, she gasped, not knowing what to do. She’d heard of these situations and knew New York City wasn’t exactly the best place to be in Sage’s shoes. Raping, kidnapping. Murdering. All of which went on at night in New York City, especially this area. Sage had rode the Dart out here, not knowing quite why, but assuming it was too far for both of her parents to want to come out here.

“Hey,” A voice said. Sage looked up to see a girl, maybe her age or a little older. Sage couldn’t help but yell, this girl was plain creepy looking. Her pink hair, frizzing out in multiple directions, wasn’t even the beginning. Her hazel eyes had mascara and eyeliner caked on so thick, it was a wonder to how she could ever even get it off. She had dark brown lipstick applied to her full lips, and was wearing the most ridiculous thrift store clothing ever. “You lost or somethin’?” She continued. Sage realized she had a very thick New York accent. She shook her head.

“No…” She realized how childish her voice had sounded, compared to the girls’ low raspy voice. “I’m sort of…running away.” She giggled nervously. The girl raised her eyebrows.

“You? Running away? Well, I’ll be.” She laughed to herself. She took a cigarette out of her left boot, and lit it. The light was very bright compared to the darkness Sage had seen in the past hours. “Me too. I’m Dana by the way. Excuse me for not introducing myself.” She paused. “Want one?” she offered her a cigarette and Sage shook her head quickly, not wanting to tell how she wasn’t even near ever smoking a cigarette in her life. Dana shrugged and stuck the pack back into her clunky boot. “How long you been running?”

“I’m Sage…and um…me? Well…this morning…I mean-“ Sage stopped herself. “What about you?”

“Me?” Dana asked sounding appalled at this question. She laughed it off. “5 weeks and counting.” Sage was definitely shocked. How could a girl not be in the comforts of her own house for 5 weeks, straight?

“Where have you been living?” Sage asked, obviously intrigued. Dana rubbed her cigarette against the cold gravel sidewalk the two girls were standing next to, and came back up slowly, observing Sage all the way.

“With my boyfriend, what’s it to ya?”

“I don’t know…I mean, I don’t have any place to stay…” Sage trailed off, hoping Dana got the message.

“I’ll let you stay with us, but ya gotta promise me right now, that you won’t go running home within the next 5 days, that’ll just cause crap back home, am I clear?” Dana’s hand was now on Sage’s shoulder, poking her vigorously. Sage nodded.

“Okay then, little one…why don’t I show you the place?”