Dean seemed insistent on hanging with Sage and Tyler, but he had learnt quickly to ease up on the flirting after Sage rammed his head into one of the rubbish bins in the canteen. No-one was entirely sure how she managed that considering he was at least a foot taller than her and twice her weight easy. Nonetheless, it had been the talk of the school for a week.

With Dean behaving himself, Sage was less temperamental and only threatened to kill Tyler- he took that as her way of showing affection.

The only thing that annoyed Sage was that Dean would not leave Lilly alone. He was seemingly smitten with her, flirting more with her than he did other girls.

Tyler knew his pick-up lines were cheesy, but Dean's were horrendous. They made Tyler's skin crawl, but he somewhat relished in Sage shouting at Dean in front of other students.

"How many times do I have to tell you to leave my sister alone?!"

"As many times as you want, doll." His eyes slid to Lilly and he gave a flirtatious smile. "She's gorgeous." Lilly couldn't go any redder.

Tyler decided to step in before Sage started clawing Dean's eyes out.

"Time out, people. We all know if Lilly had to choose someone, she'd choose… me." Tyler smiled. "Or a fictional character, hard to tell." He shrugged. "But she's way out of your league, Dean. And I'd definitely leave her alone if you value your life." Dean stared at him for a moment, eventually nodding. He said nothing, shining an assuring smile at Sage.

Tyler sighed, relieved. He placed a hand on Sage's shoulder and directed her away. As they walked past Lilly, he tucked his arm about her shoulders in a brotherly fashion. "Come on, I'll get you two hot chocolate." Lilly smiled gratefully, looking relieved to be taken away from Dean.

Hi Charlie. I've another rant for you.

It's Dean. He's so frustrating! I wish he'd leave Lilly alone; she's so nervous and jittery lately and he's not helping!

And I wish he'd stop following me, like some hopeless puppy. Yes, he's not as annoying as he first was, but I could still kill him. His excuse for being so forward was that he was just trying to 'fit in', but I personally have not seen him talk to any other guy, besides Tyler- he's always flirting with this girl or that, but pays particular attention to Lilly. She's two years younger than him! He needs to leave her alone, before he loses something vital!

Oh, I forgot to tell you. I was at Camp last month, wasn't I? And I told you all about Alvie warning me 'not to upset Tyler'. I haven't worked that out yet, but I'm working on it. Anyway, some idiot thought it would be a good idea to trip me up, just as I was leaving the dining pavilion. I had the copies of these letters and they all went in the brazier! Burnt and gone and now I have to sweet-talk that pathetic receptionist at school to photocopy the letters again!

I need to calm down. Writing this has helped a little, but I'd feel much better rearranging Dean's dental work. How can he not understand 'leave my sister alone'? She's terribly shy as it is and he's just making that worse!

On a lighter note, Mom and Dad managed to hire a tutor for me. I know, extra work and all, but school is so boring! All my usual rants about stupid teachers that are limited with what to do with me and homework that is so simple!

I've got to go. Dad's calling me. Apparently I have a package from the mailman. I wonder what it is. I'll let you know!

Love Sage xxxx

Sage concealed her letter journal and hurried from her room. Her father stood at the bottom of the stairs, holding a mildly thick package that was roughly the size of A4 paper.

"Hermes bought it. Any idea what it is?"

"No." Sage took the parcel from him and turned it over in her hands. It wasn't that heavily and it hadn't been wrapped all that neatly. Percy watched her carefully, a childish excitement lighting his eyes.

"Open it!" He grinned. Sage tugged at one of the messy folds and saw that Hermes had bought her a wad of lined paper. Percy made a face at it and went off to the kitchen, most likely in search of blue cookies.

Sage made to remove the rest of the packaging when her phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Hi, Tyler."

"Who gave Dean my number?!"

"I didn't."

"He keeps texting me and won't leave me alone!" Tyler despaired.

"What is he saying?"

"He keeps asking about you and Lilly."

"What have you said?"

"Nothing. I'm not texting back, but it's every five seconds!"

"Just tell him to bugger off."

"I have! Like six times!"

"Alright, I'll text him and-"

"You have his number?"

"Yeah, why?" Tyler didn't reply instantly and she heard voices in the background. "Tyler?"

"Nothing." He mumbled. "I've got to go. Mom wants me to go shopping with her."

"Have fun."

"Mmm… bye, Sage."

"Bye." Tyler cut off and Sage stared at her phone, puzzled. Why had Tyler gone quiet when he had found out she had Dean's number? Most of her friends were guys and she had their numbers- don't tell Percy- but Tyler seemed fine with that.

Maybe he was going through a funny phase.

Tyler chucked his phone on his bed, retrieving his jacket from the closet.

"Tyler, come on! I haven't got all day!" He hurried downstairs, waving at his father who was sat on the couch.

"Be good, Tyler. No surprises." Andrew smiled.

"Ditto, Dad." Tyler made a face at his dad, hopping about as he pulled his trainers on.

His mother, August, looked at him curiously. "I thought you didn't have all day?" He quizzed cheekily. She shook her head at him, smiling.

"Is everything alright?" She asked as they wandered down the hall. Tyler didn't reply until the elevator doors opened.

"Just stuff at school, I'll be fine."

"Who was texting you?"

"That new kid that stalks us."

"Oh…" August wrinkled her nose. "He doesn't sound very nice."

"He's alright, he's just always there. Like a boomerang." August smiled again, pressing the ground floor button.

"He might just be looking for friends, Tyler. Invite him over for dinner."

"Sage too?"

"Of course." Her smile brightened. "How dare I think of not inviting her around this weekend. You two are inseparable, it's sweet!"

"Mom…" Tyler warned.

"Have you talked to her?" August asked as the doors opened again, emitting them into the lobby of their block of apartments.

"About what?" Tyler knew full well 'about what', but he was hoping for that miniscule, slim chance in a million that his mother was talking about something else.

"You know…" She teased, her eyes shining cheekily. "Your secret."

"She's just my friend, Mom." Tyler muttered, feeling heat rise in his cheeks.

"Mm-hm." She had that knowing look all mothers got- the one that annoyed Tyler to no end. Why were mothers so nosy? Things were private for a reason!

"Can I drive?" He questioned, desperate to change the subject.

"Definitely not!" August laughed, waving him to the shotgun seat. "And I think you should tell her."

"No."

"Why not?" Tyler sighed. "Tyler, it'll be nice!"

"She's a friend, Mom. That's it."

"Oh, Tyler…" Her look was sympathetic, but Tyler didn't respond, staring out at the window as his mother started the engine and headed off towards the supermarket.

Sage set the package on her bed and tried calling Tyler back. Something was bugging him, that was for sure.

Normally, he answered on the second or third ring, but it rang and rang until it reached voicemail. She rang him a few more times and realised he was either doing the impossible- ignoring her- or had left his phone lying around and on silent.

That latter was more likely. Tyler wasn't brave enough to ignore her completely.

Setting her phone down, she looked back at the package.

Paper.

Fantastic.

She pulled the rest of the brown wrapping away, balling it up and throwing it easily into her waste bin.

The stack of paper wasn't just paper.

It was letters.

Signed by Charlie;

Hi Sage!

Im flaterd ur ritin to me! I feal luved! I will tri + rite to all the letas u sent me but it mite tak me a wile. I mis u too + I wood luv to c u but we wood need Niko 4 that + I cant get letas to him. Too busee, aparentlee.

Aniway, how r u? Hermis sez u sulc moor + that u r veree sassi, I fink he sed. Atetude.

Eliseum is nice + ther r lots of peepull to anoy but I wood lik to come home. I cant steel ur boocs here allthow Alfe-Joe is fun to teaz. Stephin helpz too sumtimes + we gang up on the ofurs.

Im goin to repli to ur letas now. Hope u all OK.

Luv Charlie xxx

Sage stared at the first letter in amazement.

Charlie had written back! And this was no prank! That was his untidy writing, his bad spelling and definitely his smiley face in the bottom right corner.

Tentatively, Sage tucked her thumb over the smiley and flicked the pages, smiling broadly as that familiar flick book presented itself: the face stuck it's tongue out, spontaneously combusted and finished with 'Sage + Charlie r awsom' above a smoking pile of ashes.

Charlie had replied to all her letters!