Cass couldn't help throughout the meeting to keep glancing at her phone. She was nervous all to hell about this meeting with her new manager. She texted Nat this morning who told her she would do fine and just to be honest. She's never not listened to Nat's advise and did just that. She could see his frustration at the fact that she has a release coming up and has no idea what to write about. 

All her thoughts kept going to Nat. After the meeting ended, Jackson told her he would be reaching out to her in a day or so to discuss ideas. Cass gave a head nod and made her way to Clifford. The older man seemed to be gleaming today as he grinned at her. Cass raised a brow approaching him cautiously. 

"What's going on Clifford?"

The old man let out a gentle laugh at her worried tone. He knew what awaited her when she got home and he was excited to see her reaction. Shaking his head, he opens the door for her as she continues staring at him like he has grown a second head. 

"You're acting strange Clifford."

He closes the door and jogs to his side slipping into the driver seat with his smile still intact. Checking the rearview mirror, he can see Cassandra is still studying him. He chuckles lowly before speaking. 

"Ms. Lyndel, I have a feeling today... is going to be an excellent day."

"And what makes you so sure old man?"

"Just a feelin' Ms."

Cass continues staring at him for most of the ride back to her home. Pulling into her neighborhood, she reaches into her purse to find her phone. The urge to call Nat and just talk it out with her coming naturally. Clifford stops the car and glances back to find Cassandra's head down casted to her phone. He smirks getting out to open her door. He can see standing on the front step of her home the dark raven hair of his employer. She crosses her arm leaning against the pillar of the porch. Clifford makes his way opening her door while Cass presses one on her phone. 

Getting out of the car, she places her phone to her ear before looking up. Her body freezing as her phone falls from her grasp. It can't be?! The girl standing on her front porch reaches in her back pocket pulling out a sleek phone. Nat plays along looking to her phone to see 'Cass' lighting up her phone. 

"Hey Cass, you're calling me"

That was enough for the blonde girl to find her feet and run to her best friend. Nat giggled and opened her arms as the girl flung herself into her. Clifford standing back with a wide smile and glossy eyes. He knew how much these girls cared for each other but timing was not their friend. To see the love after years of working for Ms. Lyndel... it was magical. He watched for a moment as Nat held her firmly while the blonde beauty crumbled before bowing his head and getting in the car to park it. 

Nat could feel the moisture on her shoulder as her friend's facade finally fell. Cass was gripping her as if she was her life saver and Nat held her refusing to let her fall. After a few minutes of bracing her Cass slowly pulled back with red eyes and fresh tears on her cheeks. Nat gave her a reassuring smile before tugging her back into the safety of her embrace where Cass relaxed into her shoulder taking deep inhales of her friend's comforting scent. 

Cass couldn't believe her luck. She wanted so desperately to see Nat but didn't want to pull her away from her own life. Finding her here... at her home. Cass pulled back wiping her tears away seeing her friend for the first time in years. 

"I-I can't believe yo-your here."

She sobbed and laughed through her words. Nat could tell she wasn't expecting this but it was exactly what she needed. Her to be here, in person and not on the phone. 

"I missed my pain in the ass"

At this Cass laughed wiping her nose before Nat turned allowing her access to the front door. Cass stepped forward to unlock it before catching a glimpse of blue to her side. Turning her head she squeals loudly before abandoning the front porch to jog over to the familiar blue metal parked in her driveway. Nat laughed seeing her so excited for her truck. Especially when she collapsed over the hood hugging it as if it was a person. 

"Aww, I missed you Luke!"

Nat through her head back laughing watching her friend mindlessly 'pet' her truck. Brushing her hand over the hood as her upper half remained lying on it. Nat walked over pulling her friend upwards before she screamed again and lunged at her. 

"God, I've missed you Nat.." They come down from the excitement as Clifford walks out of the garage and Cass sees him. "Clifford come meet my other half!"

Clifford gave a wide smile walking over and wasn't sure if Nat wanted to her know. Nat could see his hesitation so she decided to come clean. Turning to the bubbly blonde attached to her hip. 

"Cass, I need to tell you something... I know Clifford."

Cass' brows furrowed in confusion glancing back and forth between the two. Clifford steps forward with an outstretched hand to Natalia. 

"It's good to see you again Ms. Thornton."

Cass turns to her awaiting an answer. Nat sighs before answering. 

"I hired Clifford a few years ago to keep an eye on you." Cass' eyes go wide at the realization before turning to the guilty party. Clifford giving her a sheepish smile. 

"You weren't hired by the label?!"

"No Ms. Lyndel" 

Cass then turned back to her best friend who was smiling while biting her lower lip. 

"You've been paying someone to watch over me?... For years?!"

Nat could tell she wasn't upset with her, just shocked. She turned taking both Cass' hands into her own. Cass continued gawking at her. 

"I couldn't leave my only pain in my ass alone all this time." She gave a side glance to Clifford before turning back to her. "I hired him about three years ago. Do you remember the night that you and that rapper... I can't remember his name."

"Machine Gun Kelly."

Nat shakes her head at the ridiculous name. Cass smiled gently seeing her disgusted face. 

"Anyways, that night he told you that you weren't worth his time. You called me-"

"From the party, I called you crying from the bathroom."

Cass cuts her off remembering that night perfectly. She had won her first award and the label wanted her to make a duet with the upcoming rapper. He blatantly turned down the idea due to Cass' status at the time. She was also an upcoming artist but apparently not good enough for him. Cass took it hard because she thought she finally getting recognition for her work. It felt like a knife in her chest that she wasn't important enough to collaborate with. 

"I felt horrible for not being there for you. Dad's health was practically gone and I couldn't leave the farm." Cass nods her head listening to her friend. "Clifford was a friend from years ago and I knew I could trust him." 

Cass stepped away to look at the old man that has been by her side for her high and low moments. He then surprises him by wrapping her arms around him. He stiffens momentarily before relaxing and hugging the girl back. 

"Thank you Old Man." At this he chuckles and pats her back before she pulls back to look at him.  "Always knew you were my guardian angel."

"Oh no Ms. Ly-"

"It's Cass..." 

"Cass, I am no such thing."

"Old man, you have always been mine."

Clifford sighed with a soft smile on his face. He has always cared about Cassandra and he knew on some level, she cared for him as well. She walked back over hugging Nat's waist while her arm slung over her shoulder. 

"Clifford, I got her. Take the rest of the day off."

"Of course Ms. Thornton." 

"Clifford"

Her tone had a warning which he just chuckled while walking towards his personal car. Both girls waving as he took off to head home. Cass then turned back with a wide smile on her face. All earlier stress vanished. Her anchor was here...

"Let's get inside Cass"

Cass nodded walking hand in hand with her best friend. They make it into the house where Nat drops her bag near the entrance and the girls walk into the massive house. Cass giving her a tour showing her the extent of the vast house that she still hasn't used. They ended up on back patio furniture allowing the sun to rain down on them as they sat down giggling. It was as if no time had pass as they began talking about stories of their times apart. Cass talked about her music and the tours. Her smile growing when they talked about the fans. Nat was telling her about the farm which led back into the good ole days. 

"COME ON NAT!"

Cass says trying to reach for her phone. Nat keeps snatching it back trying to hide it. Cass is adamantly wanting to see a photo of Keith. Cass surprises her when she lunges for her making both fall back on the couch as Cass fumbles for the phone. 

"Cass, are you kidding me?"

She grumbles trying to get up but can't. Cass sits down on top of her as Cass leisurely scrolls through her phone. Nat huffs and relents. 

"HOLY SHIT NAT!"

Nat rolls her eyes as her friend continues to gawk at her photo. Her brother was known as a the sexiest bachelor in her town. She cringes at the way the girls would flock to him. He would give sweet smiles and turn on the charm before leaving them to trail behind him like a puppy dog. The only thing she was truly grateful for was the fact that he never seemed to bring them home. He didn't allow his 'flings' to come near her. 

"Cass, don't-"

"Good lord Nat, can I keep him??"

"He's not a dog Cass"

She grumbles out shifting but Cass keeps her pinned looking at her photos. 

"Hey you got a text" Nat furrows her brows and rotates her body so Cass is sitting on her stomach and not her back. She holds her hand out as Cass puts it in her palm. "Who's Jax?"

Nat smiles gently looking at her phone. 

Jax (3:23 pm) Dinner?

She chuckles and rotates as Cass gets up to sit beside her again. 

"He's a guy I met on the side of the road. His car broke down and I helped him get here. He was... attractive."

"Oh. My. God.... You gave him your number?!" 

"He was innocent enough Cass, don't worry."

"I'm not worried, I'm shocked you actually showed interest. Get you some girl!"

Nat rolled her eyes playfully as Cass laughed before getting shoved over. Her laughter continuing at her friend's expense. 

"He was... something."

Talia (3:26 pm) Sorry, catching up with an old friend

Jax (3:27 pm) Coffee tomorrow? 

Nat grinned at her phone making Cass squeal loudly. Nat gave her one more good shove before standing up to text him back. 

Talia (3:29 pm) Alright Jax, you win. Where and when

A few minutes go by before she gets a message back with a time and place. She couldn't help the smile that left Cass dancing around and going back into the house. The rest of the night filled with laughter and dancing around to music. Cass had not felt this content in years and it was all thanks to the only true family she has.