Devil's Eyes

Chapter 15: 5th Dimension

Song Recommendation: Saturn by RIZ LA VIE "All of the space we don't leave, filled with the things we don't need; All that we built, all of the land that we filled swallowed this planet like pills"
Family dinner hasn't happened in a long time. Mr. Baglio was getting busier with his wine endeavors, trying to expand it and set up in more locations. Mrs. Baglio was always flying out to European countries and getting heavily into interior design work. Sage's parents being preoccupied meant an easier time seeing and spending time with Dave so she wasn't complaining. But now, Mr. Baglio insisted on everyone in the family eating together because he had a lot to discuss.
"Sage, what is this report card? All B's except for the one C?" Mr. Baglio asked. He raised an eyebrow towards her. Mrs. Baglio set the rest of the dinner on the table with the beverages.
Sage sighed, knowing where the conversation was going already. Mr. Baglio poured a glass of wine and clinked the glass with his wife beside him. "Well," She started moving the sauteed vegetables on her plate around with her fork, she wasn't really hungry, "senior year is harder." She muttered quickly.
Sage knew it was a lame excuse but she couldn't come up with anything better fast enough. The real reason was the very obvious distractions that have been plaguing her for months.
"And that's why I have tutoring set up for you! I don't understand." He paused from the wine and looked at his daughter waiting for her to give him something to work with. That was the problem, she wasn't going to those sessions as much as she should've, if at all.
"I don't know, dad." She was exhausted and wanted so badly to go to her room.
"Well, it has to be all that time you're spending at Ella's..." He shook his head, "You are grounded which means no more going to Ella's house or anywhere, not until these grades are up. They're unacceptable."
Sage gawked at him as what he said registered in her head. Banning Ella's house actually meant less time with David and she refused to let that happen since that was her alibi. "Dad, you can't be serious right now..."
"Oh I'm very serious! I might have to pull strings at Princeton for you to get in, maybe Cornell..." He shook his head and muttered the last part to himself.
I don't even care to go to those schools so who gives a fuck!" She spat slamming her fork down on the plate. Mrs. Baglio looked up from her magazine at the sound of the fork falling and glanced between the two. It was very obvious tensions were high but she didn't foresee the tantrum Sage just threw.
"Is that anyway to speak to your father, Gege?" Ezra took in her daughter's appearance. The same person was there in front of her physically but her energy was disparate. Whenever conversation about her future came up she was emotional but she never snapped like this.
"Look, there's no reason to have this conversation...I already applied to the schools you wanted me to." She felt defeated as usual when talking to her parents.
The conversation Ezra had with her daughter a few weeks ago raced through her head. She cleared her throat and set the magazine down, "Gege, what exactly did you want to do?" Her tone seemed so earnest and gentle. Donati twisted his face in confusion, he didn't expect that to be the question his wife asked. His heart felt a twinge of betrayal as he shot her a look of bewilderment.
"That's not--" He began but Ezra raised her hand to signal for him to be quiet. For once.
"We should hear her out. We always talk and expect her to listen, babe." Her voice omitted a wave of tranquility and peace. The fire and passion at the table was no longer a blaring hot flame, everyone felt the shift.
Sage was surprised as well to say the least. She expected her mom to be there only to echo the words of her father like she normally did. In fact, she felt for so long that her mom didn't have any real thoughts of her own. But this sudden change opened her heart a little.
          "I've always loved photography. Actually...Mrs. Paisley, she helped me put my work in her art gallery opening! She says I'm really good..." She exclaimed proudly. She was still cautious because she knew her dad was internally punching the air at this confession.
Mr. Baglio chewed his food slowly just looking between his wife and daughter, the two women he cherished and loved more than life itself. All he wanted was for things to go his way because he knew his way meant security and fulfillment. For him, it was more than just creating an image for outside folks but providing the best of the best. He didn't like fighting with his daughter but he had to show her the facts of life.
"You see, Donati? She's good, you heard that?" Mrs. Baglio said, turning to him. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to respond. Sage picked up her glass and sipped her lemon water, scared of what was to come.
"Yeah, yeah... but this is why she's failing her senior year...Look, you still need to bring up your grades and the punishment still applies--" He began, frankly at loss for words by the way the conversation switched so fast.
"But?" Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"But you can take pictures. I guess. Oh mio Dio!" He declared letting out a sigh of relief at the sight of his wife nodding in approval. And at that moment, Sage let herself breathe too. He wasn't exactly over flown with joy about her knack but she felt her parents were more receptive. Baby steps, she reasoned.
"Thank you, dad..." She couldn't find the right words for what occurred but this time the dinner table was a little more bearable, her walls weren't as resistant and her heart more ajar.