Chapter 28

                                Cassandra’s Point of View

                The walls were closing in on me. Everything was coming closer and closer towards me, and I couldn’t help but feel slightly claustrophobic. My hand flew up to my chest as I began to gasp for air. I found myself unable to breathe, eyes staring down at me. I leaned my back against the wall, no longer able to support my weight. My legs were feeling wobbly under me, rough pants escaping my lips. “I should go.” I said in a voice so low, I wasn’t sure if anyone could hear me.

                Riley’s eyes casted down at me with concern, and her lips parted slightly. I knew she was going to question me, and I just wasn’t able to control the pressure that was building up inside me. I narrowed my eyes, stealing a glance over at Max, who was avoiding any eye contact with me. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach, tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

                “I really don’t need you.” Max’s words constantly replayed in my mind, only making my mental stability worsen.

                Before anyone else got to utter a word, I pushed pass Riley and Everett, making my way towards the exit. I stumbled upon a few couples making out, muttering an apology as they stared down at me with murderous glares. A hot tear finally made its way down my cheek as I pushed through the front doors. A whiff of cold air overcame me, sending shivers down my spine. I collapsed at the driveway, my knees scraping against the concrete. I ignored the stinging pain at my knees, knowing that blood was gushing out of my skin at any second now.

                “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I repeatedly cursed, burying my face into my palms.

                I didn’t know why I ever listened to Katie and followed her demeaning scheme. It was a spur of the moment and I just had to go along with it, or else my sister’s secret would’ve been exposed. I regret it now, and I would do anything to take back hurting multiples of people. Why should I protect my sister, who hasn’t even bothered to contact me since she did a hit and run on Everett’s mother? Celeste was a coward, and she could be dead for all I know.

                “Cassandra,” a voice that I grew to love whispered, “what are you doing out here?”

                I sniffled, quickly wiping away my tears with the back of my hand. I pushed myself off the concrete, trying to balance my weight onto my two feet. My knees were burning with pain as I turned around to face Max, laughing bitterly. “Nothing!” I lied. “I was just enjoying the fireworks. New Years Day fireworks are never as good as the ones that are up on Independence Day, but its okay! I love fireworks, nevertheless!”

                I must’ve sounded like a rambling idiot, because my lips were trembling the entire time as I spoke. Some of my words came out muffled, and I was almost a hundred percent sure that Max didn’t catch anything I said.

                “Cass,” Max sighed, keeping a distance between us. My heart began to beat against my chest at the sound of his voice calling my name, “you and I- we can’t.”

                I must’ve looked like a complete idiot right there and then. My lip was quivering uncontrollably, and black tears were streaking down my face. “Why not, Max?” I asked, letting out a bitter laugh. I was a complete and utter maniac. “I said I was sorry! I’m human, aren’t I?”

                “This whole time, you were using me, Cassandra!” Max suddenly shouted. “Don’t you even wonder how big of a fucking idiot I felt when I found out that what we had wasn’t even real?”

                My vision blurred. My fists suddenly rose as I began to beat my hands against Max’s chest. He stumbled back, but just a few tiny steps. Max caught my fists in midair, stopping me. I felt weak as he held me. “Cassandra, what the-.”

                “Congratulations Max.” I laughed weakly. “What we had might’ve not been real, but you managed to make me fall for you. There you go, congrats!” Max stared at me sternly, his jaw clenched. I let out a frustrated groan, angry at myself for thinking about how great he looked when he was mad. “I just wanted to protect my sister, Max.” I whispered, my breathing ragged. “Was that such a crime?”

                “To hell with it.” Max muttered under his breath, grabbing me towards him by the waist.

                It was just a few minutes after New Year’s Eve. We stood outside of a house party, at the driveway. The night was cold and lonesome, the cold air causing the hairs on my back to rise. But despite all of that, nothing, absolutely nothing, stopped me from kissing Max back.

*

                “Cassandra, can you go out during lunch to grab me a skinny latte?” Katie asked- no, demanded. She was filing her nails for the tenth time today, not paying any attention to the lesson that Mr. Golden was teaching us.

                My eyes narrowed up at her with much hatred as I clenched my fists around my pen tightly. Pursing my lips, I shook my head. “No.” I said bluntly, avoiding any eye contact with her icy blue eyes.

                There was a short silence among us before Katie let out a laugh. “Not funny, Cassandra.” Katie said harshly, glaring at me. “Get me a skinny latte during lunch, okay?”

                I closed my eyes for a brief moment, black dots appearing before my eyes. I took in a deep breath of air, preparing for Katie to snap at me for what I was about to say. “No, Katie.” I tried to keep my voice calm. “Get your own coffee.”

                Katie’s head immediately snapped up, raising a thin eyebrow at me deviously. Her lips, coated in a thick layer of cheap gloss, were pressed into a tight line. Her eyes flashed dangerously over towards mine; sending a shiver down my spine from her icy, cold stare. “Do you even know, for a minute, who you’re talking to?” she hissed under her breath, leaning closely towards my side of the desk. “Don’t forget what I know about Celeste.”

                Anger boiled over me in my veins as I bit down on my lower lip from screaming. My heart was beating rapidly against my chest, my breathing becoming harder and heavier. “I don’t care anymore, Katie.” I said lowly. “Whatever ‘friendship’ we had, I want out.”

                I’ve known Katie long enough to know that she was stubborn and she threw a misfit whenever she didn’t get her way. I’ve seen her temper tantrums before, and let me say now that they were not appealing. Katie was scary when she was angry, and she was giving me that same murderous look that she gave to her mother when she refused to buy her a three thousand dollar handbag.

                “Cassandra, look at you.” Katie said, not so quietly. Immediately, she caught the attention of a few students, including Riley and Maria, who were seated a table over from us. “You’ve grown up, haven’t you? But, that doesn’t mean that you get to call the shots here. Say one more word against me, and your sister’s secret will be out.”

                I could tell that Riley heard every word that Katie said, because her face had morphed from confusion to panic. She was staring over at Maria with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted. I licked my lips, feeling adrenaline pumping through my veins. Everything that Katie put me through to keep a secret that wasn’t even mine was hell. I was so sick and tired of being used and hurt, and doing it to the people I love as well. It wasn’t worth it- none of it was anymore.

                Just as Katie thought she won, I began to speak. “I’m tired of your bullshit, Katie.”

                Katie froze in her spot, obviously not expecting me to say anything. She regained her composure quickly, but I could tell that she was nervous. Katie always touched the tips of her hair when she was nervous, and that was exactly what she was doing now.

                “Is everything okay back there?” Mr. Golden raised an eyebrow from the front of the room, crossing his arms.

                No one replied to him because they were all engaged into me and Katie’s argument. I was beginning to get stirred up, thinking back to all the crap that Katie put me through for her own satisfaction. “Count me out of whatever you want to do from now on.” I said. “Better yet, count me out of your entire life. I want nothing to do with you anymore.”

                Katie stood up on her heels, slamming her manicured nails down on the desk. “You think you’re so tough, don’t you?” Katie snarled. “Last chance, Cass.”

                I stood up, sliding my seat back. I slammed my fists against the desk, ignoring the complaints that were coming from Mr. Golden. “Go screw yourself.” I hissed.

                Katie gave me one last look, her ears turning red with anger. She turned away from me, facing the entire class, which had their focus on us. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s my fucking pleasure to tell you all that Cassandra’s sister was-.”

                “Katie got Chlamydia from Cooper Daniels in sophomore year!” Riley suddenly shouted, silencing Katie.

                Cooper Daniels, who was sitting near the front section of the class, turned crimson red as his eyes went wide with disbelief. All eyes snapped over to Cooper, who was trembling in his seat. “B-But,” he began to stutter, only adding to his level of stupidity, “Katie gave it to me!”

                Sounds of laughter and snickers filled the classroom, and even Mr. Golden had to bite back a smile. Katie was fuming with anger, her face flushed red. Her lips were pursed as she sent daggers over to Riley, who was staring down at her desk. The teasing laughter wasn’t going to die down any time soon, and Katie knew it. She let out a scream, kicking her desk over. “A-All of you are little fuckers!” Katie squealed.

                “At least we never had Chlamydia.” A guy coughed under his breath.

                Katie’s eyes went wide as she stormed out of the classroom, slamming the door behind her.

                I caught Riley’s gaze, giving her a small smile. She gave me one in return before turning to her side to talk to Maria.

*

                                Riley’s Point of View

                At five in the morning, my phone vibrated beside me against my nightstand. It took me a few rings to wake up, but when I finally did, I pressed my phone against my ear. Rubbing my eyes tiredly, I managed to muster a, “Hello?”

                There was breathing on the other end before a voice spoke. “Riley, are you awake yet?”

                I let out a low chuckle, burying my face into my pillows. “I am now, Everett.” I grumbled. “Why are you calling me at five in the morning? We have school in a few hours.”

                There was a low rumble in the background, and if you didn’t listen closely, you would hardly notice it. “I want to see you.”

                I smiled slightly, my eyes still closed. There was a warm feeling in my chest as I spoke. “Everett, you can see me in two hours.”

                “But, I’m already here.” Everett said, making me frown. “My car is parked around the corner of your street.”

                I sat up, blinking a few times to get my vision clear. “What?”

                “Meet me there in five minutes.” Everett said.

Before I got to protest, he hung up on me, the line on the other end going dead. I rolled myself out of bed, going to my closet to grab a light coat off a hanger. I quickly shoved my feet in a pair of warm boots, carefully tip toeing my way down the stairs, trying my best not to wake my mother up. I pulled my front door open, stepping outside. There was a thin layer of snow on the ground, the soles of my boots leaving footprints on the pavement. Just like Everett said, his car was parked on the corner of the street. The car’s engine was on, and from the distance, I could see Everett leaning back in his seat, his eyes closed. Walking towards the car, I tapped on the passenger door’s window lightly, waking Everett up. A faint smile appeared on his lips when he spotted me, unlocking the car for me.

                “You came.” Everett said softly once I closed the door.

                “Of course I did.” I laughed lightly. “There must be some special reason as to why you’re calling me to come out this early in the morning.”

                Everett smiled, starting up the car. “I wanted to be with you.”

                I stared out the window as Everett drove, trying my best to conceal the blush that crept up my neck. I crossed my fingers, praying that Everett couldn’t see my face turn this red in the dark. “So, where are you taking me anyways?” I asked, rubbing my cold hands together.

               Everett’s eyes glanced down to my trembling fingers. He took one hand off the steering wheel, placing it over mine. His warm palms immediately made the numb feeling I had in my hands go away. “We’re going to watch the sunrise.”

                “The sunrise?” I questioned. “What’s so special about that? I could see it whenever I want, I just need to wake up an hour earlier than usual.”

                Everett chuckled, giving my hand a tight squeeze, making my cheeks go warm. “I’m trying to be romantic, Riley.” He said lowly. “Just go with it, would you?”

                I bit back a smile, nodding slowly. “Just go with it,” I repeated, “okay.”

                Everett drove us to the local beach that was on the opposite side of the town. Because it was winter, the winds from the waves were even stronger than usual. I shivered under Everett’s hold many times, only causing him to wrap his arms around me even tighter. We ended up sitting on the cold sand, side by side. The sky was just starting to turn orange and pink, and the peak of the sun was just making an appearance.

                “It’s beautiful.” I whispered under my breath, not intending for Everett to hear me.

                Everett glanced over at me, licking his lips. “You are.”

                I blinked before chuckling nervously. “The sunrise, Everett.” I poked his shoulder. “I’m saying that the sunrise is beautiful.”

                Everett raised an eyebrow, shrugging. “What’s your point, Riley?” he whispered. “I’m telling you that you’re beautiful.”

                I was in a state of shock while Everett stared down at me, his eyes so warm and loving. He looked at me like no one ever had before- like I was the only thing that mattered. “E-Everett, I-.” I stuttered, unable to speak properly.

                I love you.

                “Yeah?” Everett whispered, his eyes drifting down to my lips.

                I gulped, choking on my words. “I-.” I stopped myself from speaking again, not wanting to make a fool out of myself. Instead, I wrapped an arm around Everett’s neck, pulling his face towards mine. I bit on my lower lip, catching Everett’s attention before firmly pressing my lips against his.

                I closed my eyes, getting lost into our kiss.

                I love you.

dedication goes to tinker_bel for the amazing banner on the side bar :) thank you!