Lunch time

  CASSIA FIGURED THE HARDEST PART OF HER DAY would be finding out where to sit at lunch. She was right of course, being the new girl wasn't exactly the easiest, and with people staring at her so intensely, she couldn't help but get nervous. She figured maybe they knew her secret? Maybe she was just fooling herself into believing she could start over.

Maybe she was just going to be that girl that everyone stared at every once in awhile because she had done something they deemed "gross".

"You dropped this." A boy spoke beside her, making her glance up to see him hold a small penny in his hands.

"I dropped a penny but you still told me?" Cassia laughed slightly, gently taking it from his hands. "That's sweet, thank you."

"Maybe it's my way of making some friends, it's my first day and I have no idea where to sit." The boy admitted, keeping his hand extended. "My name is Miguel."

"Cassia, also the new girl. You can call me Cassie, or Cass, it's honestly whatever." The Rinaldi girl shrugged lightly, shaking his hand before they both picked up their lunch trays. "It can't be too hard to find a table, right?"

"Right." The Diaz boy nodded along as they made their way into the cafeteria, both teens eyes widening at all the options yet, the lack-thereof. "Maybe we should sit at different tables? And report back to each other later which is better? I pick that one."

Miguel pointed at a table two boys sat at, their heads practically stuffed into books.

"Yeah, go ahead, pick the easy option." Cass joked, elbowing the boy with a laugh.

"Meet you after lunch?" The Diaz boy questioned, laughing slightly.

"You got it." Cassia nodded as he walked off, looking around the cafeteria so that she could find her target.

Just then, some girl pushed passed her, making her jump back slightly. She then felt a gentle hand wrap itself around her arm, startling her even more as she faced the source. It was Sam who was smiling at her, making the Rinaldi girl smile right back.

"You have to come sit with us, I really want to catch up." The Larusso girl spoke up, practically dragging her towards their table.

"I—... okay..." Cassia nodded along as they made it to the table, Sam directing her towards the seat directly next to hers before she pulled it closer. "Hi, i'm Cassia."

The brunette looked between the two girls that were with her old friend, one scowling at her while the other looked happy to meet someone new.

"Yasmine, Moon, this is Cass, my friend from middle school, and Cass that's Yasmine and Moon." The Larusso girl introduced them all, the Rinaldi one shaking hands with Moon.

She went to greet the blonde, Yasmine but, she didn't even shake her hand, the girl simply stared at her a few moments before glancing in the opposite direction.

"Oh my god, guys. Look, do you see the guy over there? That looks like he went down on a lawn mower? He's literally wearing the ugliest sweater i've ever seen." The blonde commented confidently, making Cass roll her eyes.

"That is so wrong." Sam replied, awkwardly digging at her food.

It was obvious that she was uncomfortable with the cruelty of the comment but too afraid to say anything.

"I actually love it, I might have one like it. Looks comfortable to me." The Rinaldi girl lightly shrugged her shoulders. "Plus it's vintage looking."

Cassia had had enough of mean girls for a lifetime at her old school, and while she wasn't ready to ruin the patriarchy or whatever, she was going to change things in small ways.

"You are so right, it is vintage." Moon noted with a smile. "Good catch."

Cass smiled as she noticed Yasmine's smile fare into a glare, the blonde letting out a loud huff.

It was safe to say she'd probably be sitting with Miguel during lunch.

CASSIA HAD NO IDEA HOW SAM HAD MANAGED TO convince her to come to her house for dinner. It was supposed to be so the Larusso's could meet her boyfriend Kyler but, she didn't want it to be a huge deal. After practically begging, Cass finally said yes.

... but she was seriously regretting it as Kyler glared at her from across the table.

"So, Cass. How is it being back in the valley?" Amanda questioned with a smile on her face.

It was already obvious that Kyler wasn't impressing the Larusso's so, as a way to diffuse the tension the woman decided to go to the Rinaldi girl for some help.

"It's nice to be back home, I was feeling a little separated from my mom and it's just good to be back in her old house." Cassia smiled lightly as she nodded her head and ate her sushi, Daniel smiling proudly that someone Sam's age could appreciate good food like that.

"She was a good woman." Amanda leaned forward, putting a comforting arm on the girls shoulder.

Cass smiled gratefully at the woman and nodded her head yet again as Kyler awkwardly cleared his throat.

"I think i'm gonna go home, i'm kinda hungry." He spoke, pushing himself up from his chair. "Come say goodbye?"

He looked at Sam who glanced at the other three at the table before getting up and walking out of the room with him.

"So, how do you feel about him?" Daniel asked quietly, motioning his head towards the direction his daughter and her boyfriend had gone.

"Oh—... uhm, I don't want to pry or anything." Cassia shook her head and waved her arms lightly, eating another piece of her meal.

"Nonsense, I really want to know too." Amanda cut in, moving her hand in a way that signaled the girl to speak.

"Okay." Cass let out a simple sigh. "I'm just not that sure he's a nice person. Sam needs nice, she deserves nice."

"What's nice?" The young Larusso girl came back to the table, a mixed expression on her face.

The Rinaldi girl couldn't tell if she was sad Kyler had left, or excited to see her again, either way part of her was just happy the guy had gone when he did.

"Your dads cooking, it's really nice."

  SAM AND CASSIA STOOD OUTSIDE AFTER DINNER just a few centimeters away from each other. Cass couldn't exactly think straight while they were so close but, she tried her best to keep the conversation going. Well, going and not weird because, she was weird, and so was the way she talked.

Or at least she thought so.

"There's this Halloween dance coming up and, I know you are a cheerleader so I figured you'd love this." Sam revealed something from behind her back, pressing it lightly against Cass' chest. "One of our friends bailed on us but it's a Laker's girl costume, we can match."

"Dance? I don't remember agreeing to go to a dance." Cassia smiled lightly, making the girl across from her grin widely.

"Yeah, I was thinking you could come with me, only if you want." The Larusso girls eyes widened slightly before she decided to correct herself. "Me and the girls, Moon, and Yasmine."

She let out a deep breath and laughed awkwardly, reaching forward to place a hand on the other teens shoulder.

"Yeah, i'll go." Cassie cleared her throat. "Cheering is my thing, I guess this costume isn't too far off."

"If you became a real laker girl, i'd totally be your cheerleader." Sam spoke, her eyes quite vulnerable as she looked into the other girls.

"I'd love if you were my cheerleader."

AUTHORS CORNER—
Bye they make me soft and i'm a simp for their future relationship.

Thoughts on Cassia?

Hope you enjoyed!