~Disclaimer: I don't own these sweet and innocent characters that we've all come to shape and mold like clay... but, as always, they don't belong to me. Just have fun reading and enjoy the moment.

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The ride home was deathly quiet. Ryo sat behind the drivers seat, his blank eyes staring out the window. Kento was passed out right next to him, drool dripping off his chin. Cye drove slowly and took sharp corners. Sage could tell he was tired. But as for himself, Sage felt satisfied.

It was as if something inside him was complete, the hole inside of his heart had mended somehow. Gabrielle was one of the very, very few people in the world that he felt he could relate too. In those two hours that he sat by the fireplace with her, they connected in a way that Sage felt was ironic. Sometimes it felt as though he were talking to Rowen.

"What's that smile about, Sage?" Cye asked playfully, taking his glance from the road for only a second to meet eyes with Sage to show his interest.

Sage laughed to himself, "Just thinking about the party." His grin continued to shine as he glanced down at the piece of paper he was holding. It was Gabrielle's number.

"You know, that girl you were with was pretty cute. And I think I speak for everyone when I say what a surprise it was to see you with her. Or with any girl for that matter."

Sage laughed again to himself, "Sorry."

Cye shook his head, "Don't apologize, its just... different, you know?"

Sage nodded, showing he understood. "Yeah," he muttered, ignoring Ryo's snort, "I know exactly what you mean."

"So are you guys friends or something more?" Cye replied, making Sage blush a little.

He shrugged, "She's... she is just a girl that I can relate to in every way."

Cye smiled, then took a deep breath as they pulled into the driveway, finally home.

"Well, someone needs to help me carry Kento into the house." Cye said tiredly as he glanced back at Kento.

"I'll help," Ryo suddenly spoke up, clearing his throat.

Sage sighed and opened his door. He knew that it was close to four in the morning, but he didn't care. As he slipped into his covers, a smile of complete contentment passed over his lips. He closed his eyes, feeling as though he was in a dream or falling under some spell.

"Could what I am feeling, be real? Be true?" Sage said to himself. He buried his face deeper into his pillow and took another sigh. "I don't care. It feels so right."

~*~

The next morning, at around 10:30, the phone rang.

"SAGE!" Cye yelled from downstairs, "PHONE!"

Sage got up, grumbling about why someone was calling him so early in the morning, and walked himself over to the phone across the hall. He picked up the receiver, "Hullo?"

"Hey cutie."
Sage smiled, recognizing the voice, "How'd you get my number, Gabi?"

"I'm sneaky, that's how."

Sage chuckled, "Alright. So what do you want so early this morning?"

"You."

Sage raised an eyebrow, "Oh really."

"And some coffee." She laughed a little, "I wanted to know if I can come pick you up and we can go out for some coffee and maybe some breakfast."

"Sounds great. Give me like 20 minutes."

"You have 10. I'm already on my way."

Sage gave a whining groan, "But-"

"Go! Get in the shower and throw on some clothes! See you in ten!"

Sage couldn't say anything more before she hung up the phone. With a chuckle, he waved his hand through his blonde locks, oblivious to the fact that Ryo was right behind him.

About 15 minutes later, Sage came out of the bathroom, smelling good and dressed well. He ran downstairs and almost at the exact time he reached the last step, there was a knock at the door.

Cye ran to answer the door, not surprised to see Gabrielle in the doorway. "Hi," he replied, stepping to the side to let her inside. Gabrielle nodded at Cye and stepped inside.

"Hey," Sage said softly as his eyes met with hers.

"Ready to go?" She said, all smiles.

Sage nodded, following her to the door.

Ryo grabbed his upper arm, watching them leave as he chewed on the inside of his cheek.

~*~

"Do you know a guy named Rowen... Rowen Hashiba?" Sage asked rather softly as they sat together in the town coffee shop.

Gabrielle took a sip of her drink and ran her tongue underneath her upper lip, "No... I don't really recall hearing that name anywhere." She took another sip and made eye contact with Sage. "Can I ask why?"

Sage stared at his drink, stirring it slowly with a spoon, "No reason. You just kinda remind me of him. He was a good friend of mine."

Gabrielle raised an eyebrow, "Was?"

Sage bit his lip, "Yeah, something like that."

Gabrielle nodded softly, sucking her teeth. "So is it bad that I remind you of him?"

"No, no... nothing like that. It didn't end on a bad note or anything," Sage replied, lying. "He was my best friend."

"So its a good thing then." She responded, smiling.

"So, how's your coffee?" Sage asked, trying to change the subject.

Gabrielle nodded, "It's fine, how's yours?'

Sage agreed, "Its good."

A uncomfortable silence decided to come forward, diverting Sage's ears to the rest of the conversations that were going on in the shop.

"So what are the rest of your plans for today?" Gabrielle stated, quietly stalking Sage's eyes.

He shrugged, "Eh, nothing really. Sitting around the house and sleeping."

Gabrielle replied with a soft chuckle, "Sounds like you have a pretty busy day planned out."

Sage smiled, "Yep."

"And can I ask you something else?"

Sage smirked, "Anything."

"Are those contacts or is that the natural color of your eyes?"

Sage couldn't help but to laugh out-loud, "They're real. You know, you're the first person to ask me that."

Gabrielle blushed, "Well, they're beautiful... it's just rather odd to have that color natural."

Sage ran his tongue along his bottom lip, smiling, "Cut the small talk."

Gabrielle shot her eyes open, gawking into a laugh, "What did you just say?"

"What do you really mean to say?"

"Nothing! I just like your eyes!"

Sage cocked his eyebrows, "Is that all?"

Gabrielle closed her eyes and chomped on her lip, "Alright! I think you're hot!"

Sage laughed a whole-hearted laugh, leaning forward on his elbows as he leaned on the table. He looked back at Gabrielle, her face bright red. "I don't know what it is, but-"

Sage didn't have the time to finish his sentence, Gabrielle was too fast. Before Sage could think about what was happening, her lips where gently pressed against his, and he found himself kissing back. Gabrielle leaned back, their lips parting smoothly. Gabrielle was the first to open her eyes.

"Sage, I-"

Sage couldn't think straight. It felt right, but something inside him told him differently. He blinked a couple of times, realizing the moment.

"Sage?" Gabrielle almost whispered, looking at him desperately for a response.

"I... I'm sorry, Gabrielle. It's just...." he sighed, trying not to laugh. "It's weird." He nervously looked back up to Gabrielle, staring at a pair of confused eyes. He quickly thought up an excuse. "It's just been forever since I had a girlfriend."

Her confused eyes changed into a pair of amused ones. She shook her head, licking her lips. "Sage. You're a trip."

~*~

Back at the house, Ryo was pacing, trying to find any reason to walk into Sage's room. Every rustle and every giggle sent more adrenaline through Ryo's veins.

~*~

Sage sat on his back on his bed, looking at the ceiling. Gabrielle was laying on her stomach next to him, playing with his fluffy blonde hair.

"No offense, but..." Sage sighed, closing his eyes.

"What?"

"It's really awkward sitting here with you." Sage couldn't finish his sentence without laughing.

Gabrielle sighed and rolled over on top of him, pulling down her shirt. "Yeah and we're not even naked," she added with a laugh.

"What is with you?" Sage asked, a huge grin on his face, "Are you always so blunt with your statements?"

She smiled and bit her bottom lip, then crouched over him. "No, I just... there's just something about you." She focused her blue eyes on Sage's, staring into them without blinking.

Sage couldn't stop staring into her eyes. He closed his eyes again, letting all the stress in his lungs out with one exhale. He soon lost himself as he intertwined his fingers with Gabrielle's, moving from her palm to her forearm, smoothly and slowly. Like feathers, her fingers were soft and flowing, moving wherever she wanted them to.

Sage exhaled again, a lost voice finding itself in his throat. "You're so soft," Sage whispered, the tips of his fingers drifting over her arms.

Gabrielle smiled to herself and closed her eyes. She brought her hand up to Sage's face and motioned her index finger up and down the side of his face, tracing his eyebrow. She leaned up and kissed his closed eyes.

Something triggered in the back of Sage's mind. In that one moment, a memory brought itself forward. Rowen. Only Rowen kissed his eyes. Sage suddenly pushed his head up and kissed Gabrielle full on the mouth. He brought his hand behind her neck and continued his kiss, his mind lost in that memory.

Gabrielle smiled, happily kissing him back. Then she broke the kiss, waiting to lock her eyes with his.

Sage stopped, slowly opening his eyes. But Rowen wasn't in his eye sight. He blinked again, confused. "Gabi, I," Sage let out a uncomfortable laugh, bringing a hand through his hair. "Sorry."

"Why do you keep apologizing like you did something wrong?" she complained, her smile wide. She pressed her nose against Sage's and closed her eyes. "It's the total opposite."

Sage didn't need to reply, Gabrielle's lips had beaten him to it.