Sage & Vera

3:40 PM

twenty-one
Sage|Vera

There were a lot of things wrong with the tenth floor. The layout, firstly, was completely different from the sixth. It felt somewhat foreign to Sage as he stepped out of the elevator and dragged his shoes against the beige carpet on the floor. It was the polar opposite of the black carpet Sage grew accustomed to on his floor, and he couldn't help but notice that the entire carpet was spotless, lacking any trace of foot tracks. He craned his neck next, eyeing the chandelier that rested right above his head. Everything was different. A different wallpaper adorned the walls, and weirdly shaped vases acted as the home for plants and flowers Sage couldn't recognize. This building spent too much time in effort in making each floor unique, different from any other, and Sage wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Vera opened her door without pants. This was the other thing wrong with the tenth floor. Vera lived here and had no shame in opening her front door in her underwear. She still wore the same blazer-jacket and bralette but was beaming at Sage as if she was doing nothing wrong. Her olive-skinned legs appeared freshly shaved, and like they were just rubbed with shiny body oil. Her toes, which were also bare, were painted white and there was some nail polish chipping away on her pinky toe. Sage wasn't trying to look at her underwear, because he felt like that was the worst way he could ever disrespect her. But his brain was yelling at him to look. To look, to look, to look. But he used all the remaining strength in his body to lift his hand to his eyes and block his sight. He thought it was already disrespectful enough to look at her legs for so long.

❝Why are you covering your eyes?❞ Vera's voice filled his ears, sounding soft and curious.

❝You're not wearing any pants.❞ he answered, swallowing as his mind began to replay the scene of Vera opening the door and revealing her beautiful skin to him. ❝Or slippers. Please put on some pants.❞

❝Are you five? Never had a girlfriend? Watched porn? I'm sure this won't be your first time seeing a female in her underwear. Come in, Sage.❞ Vera told him before she reached for his hand and lowered it, turning her back to him to lead him inside. Sage bit his lip and quickly looked up at the ceiling when his eyes dropped to study her body. He was able to see more than enough in those few seconds. Her underwear was a burgundy color, hugging both her hips and cheeks nicely. He felt like he was committing a crime, and didn't understand how she could live this comfortably. A part of him admired it, but another part of him felt terrified of the kind of person Vera was. ❝I had to wash my jeans really quickly. I suck at this adulting bullshit and always forget to do the laundry. I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable in any way-❞

❝You're not making me uncomfortable.❞ Sage quickly said, cutting her off. He couldn't even pay attention to how nice her apartment was, or well her parent's apartment, because his eyes kept darting from the ceiling to her ass, to the ceiling again. ❝I don't want you to feel sexualized. Or uncomfortable. Or you know, feel the male gaze. I don't want to be associated with any of that, Vera.❞

They were inside her room soon enough, and a dog was running up to Sage and jumping in an attempt to lick his face. ❝Apollo, down.❞ Vera commanded with a soft tone, but Apollo immediately obeyed and sat down at Sage's feet. He was a husky, and Sage fell in love with him the moment he saw him. ❝I'm sorry, he's too damn friendly. And it's also okay, I know you're not looking at me and just thinking about sex like other jerks in the world. I trust you and know you care about a lot more than just tits and ass.❞

❝ You have a dog? You never told me you had a dog! Hi Apollo! Hi! Hi!❞ Sage exclaimed, dropping to his knees to cuddle his new furry friend. He ignored what Vera said completely, holding Apollo in his arms. ❝You're the cutest, Apollo. Oh my fucking god-❞