Chapter ten: Memories feel like weapons ☆

Making up an excuse as to why Cassandra was staying home on a Monday was easier than the blonde anticipated. Jason and Dawn had already left for work by the time she'd woken up and quickly lying to Becca was simpler than she would have thought.

"Hey, aren't you meant to be heading off?" Becca questioned as she walked into Cassie's room, tying her hair up into an effortless ponytail.

The blonde shook her head, "I'm going in later today. Something about my class being cancelled."

Becca hummed before leaving her room.

Cassandra checked her notifications, looking for any signs of Pip and Ravi being nearby. She heard the gentle click of the front door, a clear signal to her that her sister left, followed by the gentle noise of the car engine as Becca pulled out of the driveway.

Peering out the curtains, she noticed the red of Pippa's car parked a few spots away and she saw the brunette jump out the vehicle and approach the house. Cassandra met her around the back, just as they had planned the night prior, and Cassie slid the glass door open.

The Bell shivered a little as the early morning breeze followed Pip inside, "Hey, Ravi's in the car incase anyone comes back." Pip explained and Cassie gave her a short nod in response.

Pippa headed for the stairs, her steps light but determined. Cassandra wanted to linger behind, her hesitation and anxiousness screaming at her to give this some more thought, but she followed after Pip nonetheless.

Pip reached the hall upstairs first and once Cassie reached her, she noticed her observing some of the pictures that decorated the plain, white walls. They made her house feel more homely, as though it wasn't just the empty silhouettes of people living there. Cassie stepped behind her, gently smiling at the pictures of the three Bell sisters.

Cassie turned and a wave of hesitation washed over her. No one other than her family had stepped foot into the oldest sister's room since the police searched it on that day. "Come on," the blonde whispered, "I'm not sure what time Becca's coming back so we might wanna hurry."

Pippa nodded and placed her hand over the handle, silently looking over at Cassandra who nodded and urged her to open the door.

Pip examined every part of Andie's room, taking note of various things that belonged to the girl. She took her phone out to take a picture of Andie's photos that hung on the wall and Cassie smiled slightly as she looked around.

Andie's desk was neat but cluttered, filled with various hair and makeup products which she sometimes let Cassandra use, and her bed was still crowded with stuffed animals which sat atop her floral bedsheets that Cassie adored.

The Bell sat down on the bed gently, scared to disturb anything. She found comfort in knowing everything was mostly how her sister had left it and she was grateful that her bedroom hadn't been packed and stuffed into boxes.

"So," She began, running her fingers along the floral patterned bedsheets, "What are we looking for exactly?"

"A toy bunny," Pippa replied, attention focused on the end of Andie's bed as she took off her small, navy bag and placed it on Andie's dresser. She took a pair of scissors from the desk and handed them to the blonde.

"Hey," Cassie hesitated as the brunette reached for the pink bunny that was tidily situated next to her, "you don't think that's a little obvious?"

Pip handed it back to Cassie who sighed a little in relief before placing it back into it's spot. The Fitz-Amobi then pulled out a clear storage box and pulled the lid open to reveal various miscellaneous items and on top of them was another toy bunny.

As Pippa took the scissors back from the blonde and was about to cut into it, Ravi burst through the door as quietly as possible, "I was marshmallowing you,"

Cassie's eyebrows furrowed.

"Becca's back. She must have forgotten something."

Pip and Ravi scrambled to tidy up the mess Pip had created, trying to stuff everything back underneath the bed as Cassie's head was in her hands, panic rising as she was desperately trying to figure out a solution, "Great, now there are two people in my house that shouldn't be in my house!" She whisper-yelled.

Becca's footsteps alerted the three of them. There was no doubt she had heard something and would come into Andie's room.

"Wardrobe." Cassie pointed out and the other two chaotically shuffled in just in time before Becca reluctantly opened the door.

"Cassie? Monty?"

Cassandra swiftly slid off the bed and onto the floor so that she was covering anything they hid under the bed, just in case. She tucked her knees up to her chin and greeted Becca with a faint smile, "Sorry, I just wanted to sit in here for a little." She said.

"Oh, okay." Her sister nodded yet still cautiously scanned the room, "I'll see you later."

A huge exhale left the blonde's lips as Becca closed the door behind her and her footsteps got quieter as she descended down the stairs.

Cassie got up and swung open the wardrobe doors, "Never again." she declared although she couldn't stop the relieved laugh that she had wanted to hold in.

"I think I just had a coronary event," Pip uttered.

They moved over to Andie's desk and Ravi found an opening in the toy bunny, handing it to the brunette. She reached in, hands trembling, and little packets of powder started falling out, "Oh, my God."

"Oh, my God." Cassandra echoed.

Who was Andie Bell?

Pippa glanced over at the blonde before passing the bunny to Ravi, "Burner phone?" She questioned, still shaken by how close they were to being caught.

"No,"

The front door slammed shut again, making the three of them flinch, followed by the sound of an additional set of footsteps alongside Becca's and a faint voice could be heard which Cassie recognised as Dan Da Silva.

She anxiously made her way out of the room, followed closely by Pip and Ravi who were currently considering the sanest option of getting out of the Bell house, and she gripped onto the railing, trying to catch their conversation. 

Cassie tried to make as little noise as possible as Dan made his way across the downstairs hall.

"Can't be too careful, Bex. Pretty girl like you, home alone." His voice rang out and Cassandra grimaced.

"I'm not home alone, Cassie's here," Becca replied, voice the tiniest bit annoyed, as she led Dan through the house, him glancing up the stairs. He spotted the younger sister, who was casually leaning on the banister. She sent him a wave.

Their chatter became more indistinct and Cassandra took that as an opportunity to usher the others down the stairs, silently suggesting they make a run for it on Pip's count on three.

They rushed out of the house, leaving the door wide open and for Cassie to hurriedly close. She just hoped they wouldn't be seen but to her luck, as she was making her way into the kitchen to distract everyone else, Dan pushed past her and followed the noise outside.

Hey!