LIFELINE

if you feel you're sinking i will jump right over into cold, cold water for you and although time may take us into different places i will still be patient with you and I hope you know i won't let go i'll be your lifeline tonight.

[perksofsage-blog]

It was time for lunch and the small brunette had settled at a table to eat her food. She was hoping that she would spot some of her close friends and be able to call them over to sit with her. Sage had taken a bite of her sandwich as she gazed around the room. It was a never ending cycle of young people having their lives taking away far to soon and it she couldn't get out of the never-ending loop of sadness. Sage sipped on her drink as she looked up at the sound of a familiar voice. "Hey." She muttered offering a small smile to the other who had hovered over her.

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Noah was frozen. At first he’d been angry, really, really angry. Riley had never done anything to anyone, Riley was about as innocent and kind as a person could get. Riley hadn’t cared that he was a loser, that he was an outcast, Riley had seen him as a person. If anyone in this town hadn’t deserved it, it was Riley. Why would anyone ever hurt her?

He felt lost now though. The anger hadn’t subsided entirely, but it was replaced with an emptiness he knew any doctor would tell him was grief, but which felt like it needed a better, stronger word. Grief sounded mundane. This was hollowing and pervasive.

He had been trying to get into his workplace, to open the door so he had somewhere to hide, a place he and Riley had been together, but with shaking hands, the keys slipped through his fingers and clattered to the ground. Noah found himself trying to pick them up, but ended up dropping his head against the door uselessly, futility settling on him like ice on his heart.

Sage had gotten to know Riley quite a bit recently. She had seen her spending quite a bit of time with Emma. The girl was nothing but sweet. She had a huge heart and she didn’t deserve what had happened to her. She felt horrible and she had an ache in her chest. No one deserved to have this happen to them. But especially not Riley.

Sage found herself wondering out of her place to try and get some fresh air. She felt like if she didn’t she might just pass out or something from the sudden news. She couldn’t get that horrible feeling out of her chest no matter how hard she had tried.

Sage had been walking past the place that Noah had worked at to see the male at the door. She watched as he keys fell to the ground and she was quick to make her way over. “Noah?” She questioned as she moved down to pick up his keys for him placing a very light hand on his shoulder. “I’ll unlock the door for you.” She said with a small frown.

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“So uh, none of this is really going in anyone’s favor is it?” Jake sighed, scratching the back of his head as he glanced over at the person next to. For the first time in his life he was at a loss for words.

“It really doesn’t seem like.” Sage replied back with a frown as she ran her hand through her brown hair. “I just can’t wrap my head around why this is all happening.” She said with a shake of her head.

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“I almost did volunteer to be the ‘parent helper’ since they’d totally let me since I am the one who is basically raising them.”

“I’m sure that would of been a lot of fun. Why did you end up not volunteering for it?” Sage questioned simply because she was curious.

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Lux hadn’t known the girl that was recently murdered than again, he had just arrived back in town after visiting his sister in Georgia and came back to the murder spree. To say he was a little weary of everything going on was an understatement that’s why he was installing a security system in his shop and making sure it worked. “ You know taking a picture would last longer, mainly around this place since people seem to be dropping like flies around here. “

Sage had been headed back home when she decided to stop by at a close by shop for a moment. She was watching as the male had started to install a security system. “Sorry. I was just going to say that it seems like a smart idea to do that.” Sage walked to the door. “I’ll leave now.”

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“it’s too much. there’s so much damage already done that we can’t ignore or leave it behind. we have to figure out what’s going on.” emma bit her lip. she was a little afraid but it had to be done. “very soon.

sage nodded in agreement. “i know. we really do. it just makes me feel sick that this is all happening. you know? like it’s very difficult to stomach.” she said with a small shake of her head.

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“You aren’t inside my head,doll. You don’t get the nasty stuff.”

“Well that is why I am here is it not? To be a little bit of a good influence?” Sage jokes about it more then anything.

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“i guess you’re right.”

“am i?”

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“Leave it to mindless impulsive teenagers I guess.” Winnie shrugged, uncomfortable with the fact that some people seemed so normal and nonchalant about the death of Nina, and then Rachel. “I understand, I just wanted to let you know. In case you didn’t.” She over explained as she contemplated what she really wanted to do. “I don’t care really, just trying to figure out something to cheer you up and I’m sick of studying.” 

Sage frowned and she nodded at Winnie’s words. “I guess so. The word had just gotten out so fast and a lot of people just thought there was a party happening.” Sage said as she looked at her best friend. “I really appreciate that so much.” She said with a soft smile. “We could go out somewhere where we can just kind of take it easy maybe?”

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“Probably, I’ll see how this lab goes and if I get an A, then I’ll be in the clear.” She nudged her friend, dropping back to her notes as she scribbled some nonsense to at least feel like she was working. “That’s true. Why, were you upset earlier or something?”

Sage smiled softly. “Well I’ll send some good vibes your way. I know that you will do great.” She said nudging her back just a little bit as she wrote down a free more things. “I have just been all over the place because everything happening. How about you?”

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“True,” Adina nodded. “The fire station, I think. It’s going to be fun. I wish I could go with them instead of going to class.”

“That sounds like so much fun. I would rather be going to that field trip then to class as well.”

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“Yea, it’s weird that it ended up being a party. But honestly Nina and such would have done the same ya know? Or, I don’t know.” Winnie rambled, turning away as she tucked a blonde strand behind her ear. “You won’t overwhelm me, I mean it’s not like I have tons of more friends talking to me all the time.” She laughed, but cut it short as she glanced back at her friend. “But I won’t push you or anything. Did you want to do anything today?”

Sage nodded and bit her lip in agreement. “Some of the people there didn’t even know the original purpose of the event. They didn’t know that it was supposed to be a vigil.” Sage frowned at the thought of that. “It’s just.. I don’t want you to get in the middle of it.” Sage commented. She wasn’t sure what would happen if she told people. “I was planning on staying in the house but we could go out if you want?”

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“Too each their own I suppose. Though don’t think the parents will be very impressed with my grades in the class recently.” She grimaced just thinking about it, but decided not to say anything else. “Decent is better than nothing, I could say I’m about the same?” Winnie nodded to confirm her own question.

“Yeah, that is true. Maybe you could get a tutor to help you with the class? If you are struggling it might really help you.” Sage offered with a soft smile. “That’s true. I guess being decent is better then being upset.”

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“you’re not wrong.”

“so i came to the right place.”

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“wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true.”

“okay good.”

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   Alex had made way to the kitchen where he began to unpack the bagels onto it’s own individual plate. To merely HEAR Sage mention about her emotions about the recent events caused Alex to worry – who wouldn’t? She was his best friend and it would be impossible to ignore the sensation of it. He had brought out a knife to cut his own bagel in half to make it easier to consume.  ❝ Well, I don’t blame you. People we knew were killed, Sage — ❞ Alex said to her, the placed down the knife. He was finished using it. ❝ You know you can tell me anything, right? ❞

Sage trailed after Alex into the kitchen and watched as he unpack and place the two bagels on their own plates. Sage felt a sense of relief that he had showed up at her place. Otherwise she wasn't sure how she would make it through the day. "I woke up feeling sick to my stomach for a moment." Sage moved to take a little bite of her own bagel before looking up at her best friend. "I just can't wrap my head around why this is all happening." She said with a shake of her head. Sage shook her head and she dropped her gaze down to the ground. "I just want to keep you safe.. I feel like if I tell you this it's not keeping you safe." Sage said with a frown on her face.

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❝  no,  and  i’m  not  sure  how  you  knew  that.  emma said  they  were  trying  to  keep  everything  on  the  DL.  probably to  prevent  the  town  from  flipping  their  shit,  ❞  she  explained  looking  back  down  at  her  phone.  ❝  could  you  imagine  this town’s  reaction  to  another  killing  spree  ? they’d  either  go  hysterical  or  try  to  pretend  they’re  not  living  in  murderville.  ❞

“someone figured it out somehow and i happened to overhear it on the way to class.” sage admitted with a shrug. she wasn’t snooping around. she was just around and happened to overhear it. she wished that she didn’t hear it. “it’s a smart idea. but i feel like everyone is going to figure out about it sooner or later.”