𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦
CHAPTER TWO!

〔 Season one, episode one 〕

𝑵𝑰𝑪𝑲 𝑻𝑨𝑳𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝑨𝑾𝑨𝒀 𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑨𝑵𝑫𝑹𝑨 𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑫 𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑶𝑵 𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑪𝑯𝑬𝑺𝑻, having missed the feeling of being this close to him. Having missed him in general, she traced little patterns on his chest which Nick loved it always calmed him and in a way it calmed her to

Cassandra was mad at him, she was hurt by him, the fact he always chose drugs over his family, over her. The sleepless nights she layed awake worrying for him, the days she would wonder if he was with another girl - but Nick never cheated on her, not once, not even with drugs in his system - but in the moment all she felt was happiness that he was with her even If he couldn't hold her and she didn't want to scare him off by being mad at him

But she was afraid that he would leave her again.

Madison came storming into the room, Alicia and Travis trailing behind her. Cassandra could tell she was mad but she knew it was more worry then anything

Cassandra sat up, looking at Madison knowing very well of the shouting Madison was about to do. She also knew Madison would want to see her son, they would want to have some time alone

Nick shook his head, looking at Cassandra with eyes pleading her not to leave

"Thank you for getting here so quick" Madison hugged the Parker girl, Cassandra sighed wrapping her arms around the blonde. Even without Nick being around she was still very close to the Clark family, they were her family to. Madison was the mother she never had, even a few times receiving one of her many 'lectures of wisdom' as Cassandra called it

"Always. I got rid of the police when I got here but be aware they may come back" Cassandra told her, breaking away from the hug, she looked at Alicia, she felt bad for the girl, she knew deep down she was worried for Nick but it was clear that she didn't want to be here, she didn't want to keep doing this. Having Nick walk in and out of her life and make promises he doesn't keep

She knew Alicia was more or less the forgotten child, she knew that was a big reason why she was so quite but Cassandra gave her credit, she used it to her advantage. Alicia did anything she wanted because of it.

"I'll be back" she told Nick, before grabbing Alicia and walking out the room. She wanted to give Alicia a break
So the both of them walked down to the vending machine

Alicia and Cassandra walked in silence, Alicia could hardly remember a time without Cassandra, to her she was part of there family. Since Alicia was 10 years old, Cassandra had always been her big sister, the person she went to when she had her first crush on a boy, when she had her first kiss and of course Cassandra always helped her hide it from Nick. Those were the good times before his drugs, Nick and Alicia always being close which in return meant she was close to Alicia

Alicia had no idea why Cassandra would chose Nick but she was greatful for it, because even though Cassandra was Nick's girlfriend. Cass didn't treat her like she was invisible.

When there dad died and everything got worse, Cassandra always tried to distract Alicia, she cooked for Alicia and Madison while they were grieving and struggling with Nick's addiction since that was when he truly hit Rockbottom, she practically lived with them during that time - as a sixteen year old it was hard but she did it.

She put her life on hold for them and they could never be more greatfull but that was also another reason why Elijah didn't like her being with Nick, he hardly saw his daughter during that time

But Cassandra didn't see anything wrong with helping them, she still managed to get good grades, she still manged to get into law school - all while helping people she saw as her family, people since the day she met Nick loved her as there own

"So..." Cassandra prolonged the o in the the word "How's your boyfriend?"

Alicia looked up at her an annoyed look already on her face but a smile breaking through slightly

"He's okay" she replied

"Just okay. Just okay if a boy can not only get the gorgeous Alicia Clark, but can get her to smile, he has to be more then okay"

"Alright, alright" Alicia laughed "I really like him okay, he's calm unlike this family"

Cassandra smiled putting some money into the vending machine and getting herself and Alicia a coke

"Are you going to stay with Nick?" Alicia asked, as she tucked away her headphones into her pocket

"Yeah I haven't got class today" Cassandra replied, handing Alicia the coke she had bought her

"That's not what I meant" Alicia whispered hesitantly, looking down at her feet - she was his sister, she was stuck with this, Cass wasn't.
She knew Cassandra deserved and could do better then him but Alicia's selfish side, knew Nick wouldn't make it without her and she would hate to lose Cassandra herself

"If he doesn't get clean this time, if he breaks more promises...I wouldn't blame you-"

"Alicia, I'm not going anywhere okay. I know not to get my hopes up with Nick, not to take his promises seriously but I can't walk away from him and let me tell you something even if it didn't work out with me and Nick. If one day I decide i want something better, which I don't see happening, you and your mother will always be family and I'll always be there. Okay?"

The younger girl wrapped her arms around Cassandra, hugging her tightly

"Okay" she whispered

♱

"Listen to your mother Nick" The two girls heard from outside the room

"You definitely can't help me" Nick replied

"Hey-"

"You can't do shit" Cassandra sighed at hearing Nick's words

"He's not wrong, it's not any of his business" Alicia said sipping on her coke

"He loves your mother. Which means he wants to be there for her, even with her shit talking kids" Cassandra side eyed Alicia a smile breaking out on her face

"And I'm not married to Nick, people could say this isn't my business either"

"It is" Alicia replied

"Why? because Nick loves me and I love him" Cassandra raised her eyebrows

"Okay, I get your point" Alicia sighed

"Really, none of you can. Can you just leave me alone, can you just let me go" Nick said his voice straining from the tears he was trying to hold back, Cassandra froze at the door way and almost started crying on the spot when she heard how broken he sounded

Alicia worriedly looked at Cassandra before gently touching her arm to pull her out of whatever shock she was in, both of them entered the room

A look of regret washed over Nick once he realised that Cass was listening

"there's an idea" Alicia said, Cassandra wanted to believe she didn't mean it but she wasn't sure

"Not happening Nick" she mumbled and Nick almost cried hearing the sadness In her voice and watching the tears form in her eyes

"I'm sorry Cass" he whispered once she layed onto the bed next to him, he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head that was buried in the crook of his neck before looking at his mom, who only looked away from him. Knowing she couldn't do anything to help him fix it, she knew hurting Cassandra was something he truly hated and she didn't know how to help him

Nick was selfish with Cassandra. He knew she deserved better. He knew all he had to do was break her heart and she would have a better life - he was telling them all to let him go, but he didn't want Cassandra to let him go, he didn't want to lose her even though he was hurting her 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵.

"I've got him Maddie" Cassandra told the older woman, knowing she had to get to work, Madison slowly nodded before telling the others to wait in the car.

Cassandra waited outside while Madison was saying goodbye to Nick. Cassandra sat on the seats outside his hospital room waiting for Madison, she had her arm proped up and was leaning her head against it, she felt exhausted. The day hadn't even started and she was already exhausted

Madison looked at the girl who she had watched grow since she was twelve years old, who she loved as one of her own look completely exhausted

She carefully walked over to Cassandra placing a hand on her shoulder, she looked up at Madison and before Madison could even blink the brunette had stood up and wrapped her arms around her but Madison didn't dare let go
- Cassandra was strong, resilient, Madison knew that even if she didn't herself, she always looked after everyone else around her and never herself. Her world could be burning down and she would still ask someone else if they were okay

Madison knew that was her greatest strength - it was the reason she stuck with Nick so long and Madison would be a fool not to think that Cassandra was the best thing that ever happened to Nick -but it was also her greatest weakness, she had a big heart and it left her vulnerable.

Madison knew Cassandra and Alicia both had the same strength she did. She only hoped they wouldn't lose there heart with it because it would make them cold like her. Capable of anything.

"My dad kicked me out" Cassandra whispered "he told me he can't watch me throw my life away for Nick, but I haven't maddie. I've done everything, I've been there for Nick, I go home every night now, I got into law school....why can't that be good enough"

"It is. It is more then good enough. You know how proud, me and Alicia were when you told us about law school. You are more then good enough Cass. Before I come to the hospital tonight, I'll make up Nick's room and you can stay there" Madison told her, placing a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear

"I can't ask you to let me stay with you"

"Your not asking, I'm telling. I'll bring you some food as well" Madison told the girl before Travis came over telling her that they had to leave

A small smile made it's way onto Cassandra's face.