Page 27 of Sage

“So, don’t eat it,” Hans bratted back at her, sticking his tongue out and giving her a cheesy grin.

“God, you’re such a pain in my ass.” Marcy grabbed a couple of slices and put them on a napkin for Sage. “What if she wanted the whole pizza?”

Hans shrugged. “Then she could pick it off.”

“But the pineapple juice would still be there!” Sage chimed in, adding her two cents to the conversation.

“Alright, look you two, I didn’t come here to get ganged up on.” Hans reached over and grabbed a slice of his prized possession.

“Well, no one is keeping you here.” Marcy squinted and smirked at him.

“Hey look, Hocus Pocus is on!” Sage quickly changed the subject and switched the TV to the correct channel. “Oh my God, it’s my favorite part!” She was pleased at the timing.

Hans remembered when Hocus Pocus had originally come out, it was all she had ever wanted to watch, instantly winning her over and becoming a favorite. They had even gone to see it in the theater several times. When they had initially been kidnapped by the old lady in the forest, he remembered feeling like he was almost living the movie, only in real life.

“It’s been awhile since you’ve seen this, huh?” Hans asked.

Sage nodded her head, but she could still quote the movie almost verbatim. “I guess some things never die.” Hans placed his hand on Sage’s leg, she looked over at him and smiled.

Marcy laughed, looking over at Hans and Sage, but there was something about all of this that still left her feeling uncomfortable. “Does it bother you? That you were out there for so long being held captive?” Marcy inquired.

Sage replied with a shrug. “Technically, these last few years were my decision.”

Marcy couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would choose to continue living off-grid. “But why? You know you had people out here who had never given up their search for you.”

Sage lowered the volume on the T.V. and turned toward Marcy. “It isn’t like I had a job so that I could have a place to live. In the forest I had a home and I had all these skills that I had acquired over the years in order to survive. The old woman may have been evil, but she also gave me tools I needed to be able to thrive.”

Marcy’s eyes began to well up. “You had a place with me, Sage.”

Sage stared down into her lap. “I was scared, Marcy.”

“Alright, but you’re both here now.” It was Hans’ turn to be the voice of reason. “Together we can all live, grow, and support each other regardless of what it is that we all need support with.”

Marcy chimed in. “True. We’re all a little broken in one way or another. That’s why I believe that this relationship is going to be built to last. As long as we all communicate and are open with our feelings.”

“Speaking of communication…” Hans was still curious about the conversation that Marcy had hinted around at them needing to have. “What were you wanting to discuss earlier?”

Marcy paused, he could tell that she was struggling to find the right words to express what she was needing to say. After a moment of hesitation, Marcy explained that while she was fine with the relationship being the three of them, she wanted to ensure that it was clear that she and Hans were not to have any involvement with each other than just being friends.

“Marcy, I’ve known from the beginning that there wouldn’t be anything more between us other than taking care of Sage in all the ways she needs taken care of and us just being friends,” Hans assured her. Worry drained from Marcy’s face and a look of relief and content replaced it.

This could actually work. Hans leaned back against the pillows and rested against the headboard. “So, that leads us to the next question: where do we go from here?” He had been considering all sides of the relationship, including the fact that Marcy had a life built for her in New York.

Marcy cleared her throat. “Actually, I have to head back home tomorrow afternoon.” The news hit Sage hard and she looked upset.

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Sage whined, not wanting their time together to come to an end.

“For this exact reason.” Hans could tell that Marcy was upset over her decision to wait, but it also gave Sage less time to wallow, counting down the hours before the three of them were separated once more.

Sage stuck her tongue out at Marcy. “Wait, I have an idea!” She sat quietly for a moment while Hans and Marcy waited for her to finish her train of thought. “I could come with you!” ??

Marcy glanced over at Hans, at this point the two of them were at a point where they could read the other person's mind. ??“That’s actually not a bad idea, you know,” Marcy agreed. “What do you think, Hans?”

Hans sat there, unsure of how he wanted to respond. Part of him knew that it was the perfect opportunity for Sage to escape her self-created hell. The other part was a mix of uncertainty, not wanting her to leave when he was just getting used to her being around again after so many years.

He looked up and both Marcy and Sage were staring up at him awaiting his input. “I mean yeah, that makes sense, if Marcy has the space.”

“I do,” Marcy agreed. “And hey, you were wanting to get out of here too. Maybe you can get a job in New York...” Neither of them were aware that he had already submitted an application for a position there.

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