Page 24 of Rough Night

Mia had enjoyed spending time with Sage. Not only was the beach the perfect place to spend some time alone together but it was so beautiful too. She wished she had had a canvas with her so she could have captured the moment when the sun set and the colors in the sky changed. It was breathtaking, and as an artist, it was something she could never forget.

She knew that when she had the chance she would paint it. It wasn't just because it was beautiful but because she had been able to share a wonderful moment with Sage after they had been missing each other. Even with living together, sometimes they wouldn't spend time together. Mia hadn't realized how much she had missed being with Sage. She had worried that maybe he had started to pull away from her for a reason, but she had also been sneaking into his room at night which he hadn't complained about, so she knew she had been overthinking it in the end.

Being with him had reassured her of the feelings she had for him. He opened up a little to her, and she was grateful for just that little bit of trust he showed to her. They hadn't really spoken about their lives besides the night they went out of the city back in Pine Hill, so it was good to have the chance to talk openly again.

The time they had spent together was also almost magical. It felt as if they were in their own world as they sat on the beach and talked. They opened up to each other about a few things, and Mia wanted to tell Sage how she felt. The words had almost slipped out of her mouth at one point, but she knew better than to say them then. She knew Sage wasn't ready for that yet, but she was happy he had made an effort with her. She also knew that because she hadn’t loved a man before it was a huge step for her too, she wanted to be extra careful that he showed that he could feel the same before she said the words she had been dying to say. They had been so separated lately that she had hardly seen him awake most days since they had gotten back from Pine Hill so she hoped they could spend more time together so she could truly see how he felt about her.

There hadn’t been much for her to do though, so she had spent a lot of her time painting and watching TV which she didn’t mind so much. It gave her the chance to unwind after everything that had happened recently. She also started shopping online for groceries and for paintings and things she could place around the house. Sage had taken it upon himself to do a lot of work. It was clear he was trying to make up for the two days he had been out of action although no one held it against him at all. They had told him to slow down a few times because he had been pushing himself, but he refused to listen. Mia didn’t bother trying to tell him what to do.

The day at the beach wasn't just perfect because of all of that but also because they went to bed together, both awake and aware of the time they got to be together. It had been more intimate than sex. He held her as they slept, their bodies intertwined as they dreamed. Her feelings for Sage were stronger than ever, and she believed Sage felt the same. They had slept together a few times, but mostly when one of them snuck in during the night while the other was sleeping. It seemed to be an unspoken rule that they would constantly just want to be with each other at night. They had talked a bit before they had fallen asleep, laughing and snuggling against each other as the day came to a close. Mia slept better when she was with Sage.

"I'm so proud of you," a gentle voice said from behind Mia. She knew instantly that it belonged to her mother, and when she turned to face her, tears welled in her eyes. Her mother looked older, fragile, but still as beautiful as she had when Mia had last seen her. She was a bit confused as to what her mother was saying, but as she took a look around her, she noticed some of her paintings on the walls.

She was in an art gallery, and she was exhibiting her work. Mia was shocked because even with her passion for painting and art, she never pictured herself being part of an exhibition.

Her paintings looked different compared to how she had been painting. They were more detailed, and all of them were of Sage. Some were just his eyes, and others were just different areas of his body, one of his arms, his shoulders, his jawline. As she turned around the room and took in all of her work, she spotted Sage in the far corner of the room. Nervously she walked toward him. Her cheeks went red as he looked at her and smiled. She felt exposed and slightly embarrassed by her work.

"This is amazing," he said as she stood next to him. He took her hand and laid a kiss on her palm.

"You don't think it's too much?" she asked as she saw Sage in all angles around them.

"It's not about what you capture, it's about how you capture it, and I must say you captured me extremely well," he replied with a small squeeze of her hand. Mia smiled as she was relieved he didn't find it overwhelming.

"Well, you've captured my heart," she said as she looked into his eyes. Leaning forward, he gently kissed her cheek.

“You've captured mine, it's all yours," he replied. She could tell he was telling the truth, she could almost see through his skin and saw how his heart beat for her.

Mia smiled in her sleep. The day at the beach had made her feel connected to Sage more than ever. They had talked openly about things, and she didn't feel like he would judge her for what she said. Her dreams revolved around Sage that night, playing out different situations in her head that always had him confessing his feelings toward her.

She woke up feeling refreshed and more alive than she had for a long time. She felt as if anything was possible. She was in a daze most of the day as she attended to the house and found herself painting more of Sage. She didn't paint him as she had in her dream, but she decided to paint his face. It was after all her favorite thing about him.

It didn't take long for that to come to a halt when she received a call from the Hell Kats in the late afternoon.

Lorraine was back at the club, drunk and shouting things at people. Mia knew she would have to go down there herself and sort it out. She couldn't believe Lorraine was back after they had told her to leave. She was clearly asking for trouble, practically begging for it. Mia couldn't understand why she would act like that. No one in their right mind would want people to see them in that way. She was making a fool of herself, and her behavior was not only unwanted but unnecessary. The Screaming Demons club wasn't for people who just wanted to get drunk, it was a community place where friends who were family would get together. Lorraine was unwelcome if she wasn't going to act like a normal person.

"I have to go to the club and sort something out," she told Sage as she was heading for the door. "I shouldn't be too long." She was frustrated and irritated that her peaceful day had been ruined. It was clear that Lorraine was a bigger problem than she had thought.

"What's going on?" Sage asked. She didn't want him to worry, but she couldn't lie to him either.

"Lorraine is back, drunk and causing a scene at the bar," she replied.

"Do you need me to come with you?" he asked. She liked that he worried about her, but she could handle it without having him getting involved. After all, she had been the one that had been called, which made it her responsibility.

She couldn't believe that taking care of a drunk person had become her duty, but she knew that because she was a woman, it would be easier for her to solve the problem.

"I've got this covered. If I need you, I'll give you a call," she replied. She knew she wouldn't call him, though, she could handle it on her own.

"Okay, be safe," he called as she headed to the door.

"I will," she called back. She knew that the only person who should be safe was Lorraine. Mia could look after herself. She was strong enough to handle whatever was placed in front of her.

She called a cab and made her way to the club. She really didn’t want to have to deal with Lorraine again. The task had been so taxing the first time she had tried to talk to her. She had had a feeling when she first met her that she would be a problem, but she really didn’t want to have to go back and forth from her house and the club to deal with her.

We really need to get a car, she thought to herself. As much as she loved riding the bike and she liked that Sage had given her permission to use his, she didn't want to ride it all the time, but neither of them had gotten around to getting a car. She would have to do that as soon as possible if problems with Lorraine kept happening. She really hoped this would be the last time she would have to deal with her though.

Mia couldn't understand why Lorraine had come back. Everyone knew that the Hell Kats meant business and because Mia was also a Screaming Demon that should also mean something. No one should think they can just come into the club and cause problems. It had to be stopped and the fact that she had already been told the first time just made the situation worse. She was not doing what she was told, and she underestimated Mia. Mia would eventually have to show her that she wouldn't stand by and just let her do as she pleased.

She arrived at the bar and entered through the doors. She noticed all the Hell Kats were standing around the bar, crowding around someone. As she got closer, she could see that they were all standing around Lorraine who was slurring and yelling at anyone who paid her any attention. She didn't have any real sense of herself as she swayed on the barstool, hardly managing to stay seated as she turned this way and that way while she yelled at people near her. She was looking for attention, which she clearly wasn’t getting as her voice rose higher.