Ivy by Frank Ocean "It's quite alright to hate me now when we both know that deep down, the feeling still deep down is good"

Sage was quiet for most of the ride and so was Jay. He didn't want to say the wrong thing and was being cautious of what he said for once. Jay's hand tightened around the steering wheel because thinking too deeply about what he was going to say stressed him out.

"Look, I appreciate you talking to me after that one night..." He began but he didn't know where he was going with this. Sage turned her head slightly and waited for him to continue but he didn't. For a while she didn't have anything to say. She was mainly hurt by David and his behavior at the moment, so what she really wanted to do was cry herself to sleep.

Finally, Jay made his way to the front of her building and waited for her next move. She took a deep breath and covered her face. He just stared at her waiting for her to either leave the car or say something but she just sat with her face in her palms. "Jay," she looked up and turned her body towards him fully, "I'm not even--I just think..."

Admittedly, Jay was growing anxious and her loss for words didn't help either. For once, Sage was the unreadable one and it left Jay wondering what was weighing on her mind. "It's okay, I'd hate me too." He shrugged his shoulders and leaned back.

"But that just it, I don't even hate you, not even close." Suddenly she laughed but it wasn't a genuine "haha that was funny" it was more of a "what the fuck is life" laugh. He raised an eyebrow at her as she continued to giggle. "'Cause it's like, what the fuck was that? We were friends and you fucking ruined shit with your feelings and all. And then, you tripped me out on my high," Sage sighed and sunk her body lower into the seat and closer to the car ground. She didn't care, she had a lot to say that he needed to hear if he ever wanted a decent conversation.

Jay wanted to understand himself too but he couldn't explain why he wanted to kiss her, protect her and have her all to himself. He thinks it's really the only thing he cares about, the only thing that can fill the void in his heart is if he gets one chance with Sage. And if he did get that one chance he wouldn't ever ruin it. He gazed at her just lost in his thoughts about her and what they could potentially be as she went on and on.

Sage suddenly appeared in his face and puffed a curl from in front of her own face, "And it's like why do you want me? 'Cause of our parents? Are your feelings even real?" The last question snapped him out of his daze.

"Of course," he whispered, his eyes pierced her soul and suddenly she wasn't so talkative anymore. She was quiet again, too busy staring back at him. She was speechless because what else was there to say. His sensitivity was new to her and she preferred it better than regular Jay, even if it didn't mean anything romantically for them.

"Well, I appreciate your honesty." She plopped back down in the passenger seat and huffed. She noticed her phone stopped buzzing as much and she looked at it. The screen had 15 missed calls from David and 10 text messages, the last one stating: "u kno i have ur location right??" Her eyes widened before she turned back to a confused Jay.

"Jay, I gotta go. Thank you for the ride." She said the last part with a small smile she managed to muster before opening the car door. He softly tapped her hand before saying her name. "Sage..."

"And yes, you're forgiven," she replied and stepped out of the car. Jay half grinned, knowing she was a typical smartass. He loved it. He started his car and drove off as Sage watched with tears streaming down her eyes.

As if the night wasn't long enough, Dave's car came zooming down the street. Sage cursed herself for not making her way into her building fast enough. He stepped out of the car and charged right at Sage.

Sure she's seen an angry David before but never towards her and never like this. He smushed her face between his fingers and stared down at her in bewilderment. "What the fuck? Niggas talkin' bout they seen you hop in that boy's car?"

"You're hurting me," she was in pain and that's all she could think of. He never scared her like this before, her body temperature was rising and her anger was coming back again. She hated to admit it but she preferred talking to Jay at the moment than David. "Babe, let go of me!" She snapped. His eyes were cold and for a minute he got lost in her. Not because of her beauty like normal but he saw red and he couldn't help himself. His hurt turned to anger and he felt hurt after he heard who she was with. No, he felt betrayed.

"Please," she pleaded. She was trying to speak to her baby, wherever he was because this was not him. She didn't recognize him. David was gentle with her and loving and patient. Finally, he let go of her but he stayed in front of her not giving her any real space. She was trapped and not just physically either.

"Sage, you fucking with him?" He asked. His voice was laced with venom. She didn't like this one bit. She couldn't even speak because for once her being scared of him meant she couldn't run into his arms for protection. She needed protection from him. She just shook her head, hiccuping and tasting the tears that made it onto her lip.

He saw her shake her head, ignoring the fact that she was an emotional wreck. He was in love with this girl that's why he goes bezerk and that was justified to him. It's not his fault because he felt her slipping away that night.

She just hiccuped and waited for him to make the next move. She slid down against the building wall and squatted, her feet were killing her. Usually, he took care of it at the end of the night but she didn't think he was gonna do that tonight. "I hate when you call me Sage."

David looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed and his mind racing. He didn't expect to hear that but she was right, he calls her everything from baby to baby girl but never Sage. "'Cause you my baby, that's why," he responded. He stooped down in front of her. He took in her face, pretty as ever and it made him fall in love all over again. She pouted at him. "I want to still be yours, nothing else matters to me," she explained.

He chuckled and caressed her cheek. "You don't understand, you're always mine." He held out his hand and she placed hers in his. "I need to trust you, okay, baby?"

"You don't get that I'm not going anywhere. I don't want anyone but you." She retorted shooting him a small smirk. David smiled back taking her hand to his lips and kissing softly. He looked up at her while his lips were still on her hand.

"Okay, babygirl." He said simply.

***

David tossed a shirt to her across the room. She sat on his dresser just watching him prepare the bed for her and take out clothes after their shower together. His gold chain was like another part of him, he always wore it along with other diamond chains but today it was just that one.

She wanted to confront him about why she was originally irritated in the club but she didn't have the energy. She couldn't muster up enough to question him tonight, maybe tomorrow she thought. David patted the bed, nodding his head to the spot next to him. "Whatcha starin' at, cutie?" His eyes were warm again and his voice was playful. It's crazy how his mood did a complete switch.

"Nothing," she lied and smiled back at him. She hopped down and made her way towards the bed, crawling on to it. A loud smack was heard after he palmed her butt. Sage turned around on her back and giggled as he made his way on top of her, peppering her face with kisses and sweet nothings in her ear. Dave stared down at her after a while and captured her lips. "I almost thought I lost you tonight. Again." He breathed. He was looking deep into her eyes with either arm beside her.

"Again?" Sage said questioningly.

"Yeah," he licked his lip and turned his head slightly, "when we were being shot at." She didn't know that weighed on his mind but it made sense. That night she felt a shift in their relationship, a higher plane was reached. That whatever she went through, he did as well and vice versa. She didn't know how healthy that was but she couldn't bring herself to care, she was lost in his world. Their world.

Sage reached up and grabbed his face gently, searching his eyes for any trace of insincerity but she couldn't find any and he knew that because he was always real with her. He was one hundred percent all in and she felt it, that calmed her. Her breathing slowed and her hands fell from his face. David kissed her passionately starting the beginning of lovemaking all night.

Endnote: Thank you for all the feedback, I appreciate all of it.