Chapter 2 #2
“P! P!” Shy ran out the house behind Portia, trying to prevent her from leaving. She wanted to believe Portia was just talking crazy like every other time she tried to walk out on her, but she could feel she was forreal this time.
“You ain't leaving me, girl!” Shy yanked Portia up by her arm.
“Let go of me!” Portia yelled, trying to pull her arm back as her duffle bag fell to the ground.
Shy lunged her fist back and punched Portia in the eye. “I told you, you’re not leaving me!” Shy shouted, trying to take back control of the situation.
Portia had had it with Shy beating on her and instantly saw red.
Her eyes turned a dark crimson as she unleashed all the anger and rage she’d been carrying throughout their relationship onto Shy’s face and ribs.
Shy tried her best to defend herself, which led to them going back and forth blow for blow.
Back in the house, Sage and Salem had no idea what had occurred. On the way down the hall, they heard some commotion out front. Running out the house, they saw Portia and Shy fighting in the middle of the street.
“What the hell!?” Sage and Salem shouted, running over to pull them off each other.
Portia stood there out of breath with her braids disheveled all over her head and face. Sage had Portia’s arms locked behind her back, while Salem had his arm holding back Shy.
“What the hell is going on!?” Salem asked.
“I’m tired of this bitch putting her hands on me,” Portia spat out in anger as her fangs descended from her gums. “All these years I let you beat my ass, and today, I got my lick back!” she screamed. You could hear the pain ring from Portia’s voice as her irises illuminated red.
“Fuck you bit-” Shy couldn’t complete her sentence before Salem placed his hand over her mouth to muffle her words. Salem nodded at Sage as a signal she knew all too well.
“Portia,” Sage looked at Shy. “Go get in the car. We got it from here.” She nodded her head towards the car as she released Portia’s arms.
Sage wasn’t too thrilled about babysitting a grown ass woman, but at this time she felt the obligation to protect Portia.
Sage and Salem didn’t play about domestic violence.
They’ve run into this many times with their cousin.
Needless to say, her ex-boyfriend is no longer around and got what he deserved.
“You,” Sage directed her attention to Shy. “Where you get the idea that it's okay to put ya hands on somebody?”
Shy opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Sage’s fist connected to her face. Blood came seeping out of her mouth, as if she didn’t already have enough coming out of her nose.
“You like how that feels?” Sage pulled a white rag out her pocket to wipe the blood off her knuckles. “Didn’t think so.”
Shy snarled at Sage, gritting her teeth through the pain.
“Don’t come around her no more. Block her number. Forget you know her. Don’t even remember what she looks like.” Sage made herself very clear.
Shy spat out blood and tried moving out of Salem’s grip, hoping to reach Sage. “Who you think you are?” Shy yelled. “That’s my girl. I can have her and fuck her anytime I like.”
Sage chuckled and walked up on Shy and looked her dead in the eyes. “Not after today.”
“What are you, her new bitch?” Shy smirked. “You, Captain Save a Hoe?”
Sage smirked back. “Just know, when you see her,” she said, pointing over to the car with Portia inside. “You see me. And if I see you around her again, it’s over for your ass.”
Salem shoved Shy to the ground. “Next time, there won’t be a warning.” He kicked in her side and walked off.
After loading Portia’s bags into her car, Sage tossed her car keys to Salem. “I’ma take her home.”
“Aight. See you at the house.” Salem said.
“I’m taking you home,” Sage said to Portia, sliding into the driver’s seat.
“I can take myself home. Thank you,” Portia folded her arms.
“That’s all fine and dandy, but you’re too heated. I wanna make sure you get home safe, so I’m taking you,” Sage insisted.
“I know the way home. I’ll be aight.” Portia was not convincing Sage one bit.
“Nah, you good.” Sage placed her foot on the brake and pressed the start button on Portia’s white Mercedes. “We don’t have time for you making pit stops on the way home,” she said, looking over her shoulder as she backed out the driveway.
Portia sighed deeply. “You sound like my father.” Portia hated being lectured about her drinking by her father, let alone someone she barely knew.
“I’m not him, but I am here to protect you and make sure you get home in one piece,” Sage reassured her.
Portia blew air out her nose as she folded her arms and curled her body to look out the window. They sat in silence for a few minutes as they headed to the Denzel Estate.
For those few moments, Portia got lost in her thoughts.
She was tired of not having control over her own life.
Tired of dealing with Shy. Tired of arguing with her father about her drinking.
All she wanted was a drink to swallow up her pain until she felt numb and all she could hear in her head was the beat of the music blasting out the speakers at her favorite bar.
That’s what called her. That’s what soothes her pain and washes away her feelings of heartbreak and loneliness.
Sage looked over at Portia and could tell she was in her head. “You know you’re going to be okay, right?” Sage broke the silence.
“Whatchu mean?” Portia said as she continued staring out the window.
“That girl won’t be coming around you no more. With us around, you’re good,” Sage said, hoping to ease Portia’s demeanor.
“I appreciate you saying that, but you don’t know her,” Portia said. “That bitch is crazy. No matter where I go, she always finds me.”
“Not while I’m around.” And Sage made sure of that. “How you end up with her bum ass, anyway?”
Portia let out a slight giggle at bum ass and sighed. “Being young and dumb.”
“Don’t talk about yourself like that,” Sage said. “We all take Ls sometimes to become better versions of ourselves.”
“Well, my better version is delayed. We’ve been on and off for seven years since high school.
I thought it was love, but in actuality, it was all bullshit.
” Portia straightened up in her seat. “You think you know someone until they start cheating, lying, and manipulating you. And after so many years, there’s still nothing to show for it–just a ring and a raggedy ass promise from a bum who beats my ass. ”
Sage looked into Portia’s eyes as they welled up with tears.
“She told me we had something special. She told me we were in it forever. Now, all I’m left with is empty promises and a broken heart.
I don’t know what’s next for me,” Portia said through sobs as she placed her hand over her face to release the pain left within her.
Sage pulled the car over and embraced Portia into her arms as she cried. The sounds of her cries broke Sage’s heart. In between her screams, she could hear there was deeper pain underneath her hard exterior.
“Look at me,” Sage whispered as she placed her hand under Portia’s chin to meet her eyes. “You got this. And these tears..” she said, using her thumb to wipe them away. “Will water the new life you’re creating for yourself right now.”
“How can you be so sure?” Portia asked softly as her tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I know so.” Sage smiled. “Look at you!” she said, pushing Portia’s shoulder playfully. “You’re going to AA, following your pop’s curfew, and you left that broke ass bitch. That’s a step in the right direction.”
Portia smiled in between sniffles and wiped her eyes. “Thank you.” She embraced Sage in a hug.
“I don’t like seeing you cry,” Sage said, wrapping Portia in her arms. She pulled back and looked at Portia as she scanned the features of her face. “Those beautiful eyes deserve to be filled with nothing but happiness.”
“My beautiful eyes, huh?” Portia smirked as she released Sage from her hug. “Are you hitting on me, Sage?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, girl,” Sage said jokingly, knowing damn well Portia was the type of woman she craved.
“Mhm,” Portia hummed.
“Let’s get you home.” Sage chuckled and put the car in drive.
Once they arrived at the Denzel Estate, Sage helped Portia unload her bags from the trunk to bring them inside.
“You can leave them here,” Portia said, prompting Sage to drop the remainder of her bags in the foyer. “Duke will take them up in the morning.”
“Glad we got you home safe,” Sage smirked. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She turned around to head towards the door.
“Sage,” Portia said softly, stopping Sage in her tracks. “Thank you for tonight.”
Sage turned around as her eyes met Portia’s soft gaze. “It’s nothing. I’m just doing my job. Keeping you safe and making sure you get home in one piece.”
“Not that,” Portia smiled. “Well, yes that. But also… thank you for standing up for me, comforting me..” She walked closer to Sage as they continued holding each other’s gaze. “And wiping my tears,” Portia finished as she brushed Sage’s face with her hand.