Gideon laughed and Camden kept telling him the shitty jokes that happened at the bar. "And the fuck we were doing there standing like statues. I almost pissed in my pants when I saw the buff man pull out his gun and started firing everywhere. It hit the chandelier above us."

"The confession guy must've really pissed him off," Cyrus said.

"He did, he cried for mercy, man. I don't ever think he would go around the bars and ask for a college confession."

"That was shit," Gideon said, shaking his head as he laughed.

Gideon turned his head when he heard someone call Sage. He watched as Sage stopped walking and smiled brightly, hugging the guy. There was a surprised look on her face and she started speaking with him.

"That's Elwen, he transferred three days ago," Cyrus said.

It's been two weeks since the party night. Two weeks since, Gideon pumped himself in the common washroom thinking about Sage. Two weeks since, he touched Sage.

They ignored each other. There were tons of photos and videos of them on their campus board on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. He downloaded a few pictures and one video which had clarity. He loved the pictures and videos of them.

"She is going to Lacock this week," Camden said.

"How do you know?"

"She posted on her Instagram saying she would be uploading the train journey." Gideon snorted, not understanding why she was obsessed with her camera and Youtube.

"With her friends?"

"That's inside news which I don't have any idea of," Camden says, looking at his watch.

"Time for swimming class, boys." Camden and Cyrus got up with their bags.

Gideon glanced at Sage once before leaving with the boys. He needed to go home for the weekend to attend the family dinner. On weekends, the seniors are allowed to go out or visit their homes and return on Monday morning.

*

Sage watched the screen while Tariq worked on the editing. "What do you think?"

"It's good, I like the base," Sage said.

"Yes, we will do a bit of editing at 009-023."

"Sure."

"Congratulations on 600k subscribers," Sage greeted him and Tariq smiled.

"Thank you. I'm throwing a party this weekend. I will send an invitation to the Snapchat group."

"Ugh, I'm afraid I won't be able to join you guys." Tariq tilted his head to look at her. "Why?"

"I'm going to my grandparents' village, to meet them."

"Oh, you won't be back on Sunday night?"

"No, I will be returning on Tuesday," Sage says, crossing her arms. "Next time, we will go to a pub."

"Okay."

*

Gideon got dressed in black trousers, a knitted black sweater underneath he wore an ironed white shirt. He put on his watch and brushed his hair while he waited for his sister to answer his call.

He would be leaving school and catching a bus to meet them. His father would've asked him to catch a cab, but Gideon would much prefer bussing over a taxi.

When she finally answered his call, he sighed. "Hey."

"Hey, Gideon. How are you?"

"I'm good and how's everything going on?"

He heard shuffling. "Hectic, we are running to finish this shoot. We missed the scene yesterday and today we are trying to wrap up."

Gideon's brows frowned in confusion. "You guys aren't in London?"

"London? We are in New York, darling. Didn't dad tell you?"

Gideon's smile vanished and a dark cloud started clouding him. "Tell me what?"

"We are staying back in New York for another month to wrap up the shooting." Liara massaged her temples when she understood. "Dad didn't call you to inform you about this and you got ready for the family dinner?"

Gideon didn't say anything. He hasn't seen them for three months. He spent his summer in their house all alone. He was excited about meeting them and spending his weekend with them in their home.

"I'm so sorry, honey. You know dad and mum, they are walking on eggshells. Things might've slipped their minds."

"Okay, Liara." Gideon couldn't say anything. He got habituated to this and he couldn't blame anyone.

"Why don't you go out with your friends and have fun? I'm sure dad wouldn't mind if you threw a house party."

Gideon closed his eyes, sitting down on the bed. "Nah, I will be alright."

"I'm sorry, baby."

"You don't have to, Liara."

He heard someone call Liara. "I will try to call you in the night. I'm sorry, I have to go now."

"Okay." He was about to tell her bye and take care when the call ended. He huffed and fell back on the bed looking at the ceiling.

Cyrus and Camden went home. They invited him but he didn't go, thinking he was going to meet his parents and sister.

He looked at the time. '9:07 am.' He could go on a solo date and try some new cuisine for lunch. He doesn't have to be upset and spoil his day.

He got up, picked up his phone and the backpack he had packed. He stepped out of his room and left the building after locking his room.

He walked to the bus stop and slowed down his steps when he saw someone under the bus shelter. A smile started playing on his face as he watched Sage. She wore a thick coffee sweater and denim jeans. Her hair is tied in a messy bun.

Sage texted her mum saying she would stop by to have her breakfast and then catch the train. She tensed when someone stood before her. She looked up to see Gideon smirking at her.

"Going somewhere?"

"No, staying here for the night. Wanna join?"

"Touche." Gideon took the seat beside her, knowing the next bus was in ten minutes.

"Going to Lacock?" Sage snapped her head towards Gideon.

"Your friends mentioned it, didn't they?"

"Yes, why would you block me though? I could simply create a fake account and follow you."

"I wouldn't be replying to your messages and you couldn't tag me on your stupid stories."

Gideon chuckled, shaking his head. Sage took her time checking him out. He looked cute. "What about you? Going to meet someone? Date?"

"Why? Would you be jealous if I said I was going to meet my date?" Sage blinked her eyes and her ears warmed up.

"Never mind." Gideon leaned closer to Sage's ear. "Don't be, I'm going to the city to roam around."

Sage didn't say anything and they waited for the bus. Once the bus arrived, they got in. The bus was occupied but the back seats were empty.

Sage took the window seat and thought Gideon would be taking the other side, but to her surprise, he took the seat beside her.

Sage exhaled and pulled her phone out and started recording. Gideon didn't say anything, knowing too well about her vlogs.

He doesn't want to accept this, but her videos are comforting. She makes beautiful aesthetic and vintage videos.

"You had your breakfast?" Gideon asked after comfortable silence.

"No, you?"

"No, hmm join me for breakfast." Sage didn't give him an answer and Gideon didn't expect an answer.

The drive to the city was an hour's journey. Sage recorded the videos while Gideon read the book he had bought with him.

Sage discovered a new thing about Gideon. She didn't know that Gideon loved reading. When he pulled the book out of his bag, she thought he was showing off, but not once did he care to talk with her.

He didn't care what was happening in the surroundings, or when someone got off the bus. Sage is tempted to include him in the video, but she knows how to respect privacy.

*

They reached the mimos cafe bar. The waiter told them that the tables inside were occupied, so they took the outside table.

"I will have an Americano coffee tea and chicken escalope, please," Sage said without looking at the menu.

Giedone raised his brow but didn't say anything. "I will have a full English breakfast, espresso and a cherry cheesecake." The waiter repeated their order before going away.

"You have been to this cafe."

"Yes, I have been coming here since I was a kid." It was Sage who suggested the cafe when Gideon asked her.

"You have been here?" Sage asked.

"Once."

"So how long are you planning to stay in Lacock?"

"Three days. I will be returning on Tuesday."

"Three days? You never visited Lacock?" Gideon asked. The last time he went to Lacock, one day was enough.

"I have... Plenty of times."

"Then why three days? You could've planned to visit another village." Sage's brows frowned, hearing that, but she understood.

"This is not a trip or vacation."

"Then?"

"I'm visiting my grandparents..." Gideon made a face and nodded his head.

"I thought you were from Texas."

"Texas?" Sage asks and says. "Aria is from Texas but her roots are in England." Then they fell into a comfortable silence, watching the bypasses and travellers.

"I heard that you were going home. What happened to that?" Gideon smiled upon hearing that.

"Awe, keeping tabs on me?"

"Like you aren't."

"Yeah, I was going home but my parents aren't here. They forgot to inform me that the plan was cancelled." Sage nodded her head and decided to keep quiet.

The breakfast was served and Gideon shared his cheesecake with Sage. They spoke about random things before finishing their breakfast. Sage never thought she would be having brunch with Gideon. They shared the bill and stood up to leave.

"You have to catch the train now," Gideon said. He suddenly felt sad and lonely. It felt good having brunch with Sage.

"Yes."

"Okay then, see ya."

"Bye." Sage started walking towards the train station but felt bad knowing how it must've been for Gideon. Though they fought all the time, she knew about his family a bit. The reason why he was sent to boarding school. She turned her head to see Gideon standing in the same place looking down at his boots with his hands pushed inside his trouser pockets.

'Fuck it.' She knew what she was going to do would change everything between them. There's a great chance of them becoming friends.

"Hey, Gideon."

Gideon instantly smiled when he heard Sage's voice. He looked up at her. "Yeah?"

Sage walked back to where Gideon stood. "Do you want to come with me to Lacock?"

Gideon felt like a kid being asked what he wanted for Christmas. "You sure? You might fall for me." He didn't miss his cockiness.

Sage rolled her eyes. "I don't have much time. You in or not?"

"In."

"Come on then."