CASSANDRA
I managed to pull myself together this morning. After crying half the night, I am amazed I can do anything. I call Ethan as soon as I get ready. "Hello."
"Hey, Ethan, I need a favor. You're my friend right. Nothing is brewing in that head that I don't know about."
"No, I am your friend. What's up? You sound upset."
"I will explain when we get to school. I need you to be my buffer today. I do not under any circumstances want to talk to Trey."
He sighs. "What did he do now?"
"I'll explain when we are alone. I don't really want to blast it through my house right now. Just please do it for me."
"Alright. But you are going to owe me some brownies or something."
"Anything. You are the bestest best friend ever."
"God, don't I know it."
He actually gets me to smile. "I'll see you at school."
"Alright."
I round up everyone. Brittney and I are in our cheer uniforms, it's required for our game today, plus it's Friday. I could really care less. I don't want to cheer in the first place. Bret and Calab have on their jerseys, at least they look casual. Brittney looks at me. "You don't look good. What happened?"
"Guy trouble. Don't worry about it."
Calab stops, "What happened?"
"Nothing. Let's go. We have a rally today and a game later. There is too much on our plates to worry about my friends."
Calab puts his hand on my shoulder. "You're doing it again."
I sigh. "I caught Trey with Kelly last night. It's not the end of the world. We weren't even dating."
"That son of a bitch." Calab clenches his fist.
"No, Calab. That's not what I want to hear. Leave him alone. He knows what he did and that I am not going to forgive him."
"But…"
"No Calab. Let me handle this one."
"I never get to be the big brother."
"Well, that's because you are my little brother." I smirk.
He rolls his eyes. "You are no fun. If I get the chance, I am going to punch him and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it."
"Fine, get detention. That's on you."
"Ugh, logic. Alright let's get to school."
I am about to step out when my mom catches me. "Are you going to be able to come by the diner today?"
"Mom, there is a game today."
"Oh, right I forgot. Sorry. Have fun at the thing." Yeah, that's great, she can't even remember what we are doing.
It's actually kind of annoying since we are wearing our uniforms. But she hasn't ever really paid attention to what we do, so what do I expect?
When we get to school I see a few things. Kelly is as close to Trey as she can possibly be without touching him. Ethan is waiting for me and it looks like Willow is waiting for Calab. Before he gets out of the truck I stop him. "You better treat her right."
He looks over at Willow. "I treat her like the princess she is."
"As you always should." I give him a smile and a nod.
Ethan is at my side as soon as I step out. He gives me an extravagant bow. "Your escort has arrived."
I curtsy, even taking the corner of my skirt like it's an extravagant gown. "Well, thank you kind sir."
He puts his arm out for me. "So, are you ready to tell me what happened?"
"You remember how I told you about that guy I was kind of seeing?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"He called it off last night. I was hurt and upset. Trey had been really nice yesterday so I thought I could go to him and get comfort. Only when I got there he was with Kelly. And she was naked."
"Wow, I thought he was totally into you."
"The worst part is that he blamed it on me. Said that I had worked him up and she was just there throwing herself at him. He couldn't control himself because he was horny."
We approach the gate. "I don't want to be that guy, but well he is a guy. It's kind of how we are wired."
"So, if I was naked in front of you, you wouldn't push me away."
"Are you offering?" He laughs. "Seriously, though. I might not. You're not ugly. The only thing that might push me to do it, is that I wouldn't want to lose you as a friend, by having some casual sex."
"Well, still. I can't believe it was with Kelly. I thought he hated her. Anyway, this dance. Will you be my date? I was going to go with Trey, but I'm not now. I don't want to miss out on it. Please."
He rolls his eyes. "You are a pain in the ass. You are lucky you are my best friend."
"I know." I hug his arm a little tighter. "Oh, this weekend, Can you bring some books on the town's history. I want to do some research."
"Really, what about?"
"There was a problem about two hundred years ago. A little after the town was founded. I want to learn more about it. So keep to that time frame."
"Sounds intriguing. Am I helping with this project?"
"Yeah, who else would I get to help me?"
We have managed to make it to class without being stopped by Trey. Ethan takes the seat next to me. "So what brought up this project?"
"My aunt Josephine. She keeps bringing it up like it was a big deal, but she is shady on the details." I take my seat.
After a couple of minutes Trey and Kelly come in. The classroom is pretty full at this point. Kelly's voice still rings out. "See, she doesn't care. She's a slut. She just moved on to the next guy."
I glare at her. "At least I am not desperate enough to sneak into a guy's bedroom and get naked, to get their attention."
Half the class gasps, the other half laughs. Kelly turns a deep shade of purple. "How dare you. You stupid bitch."
Trey is the one to call her out. "Just shut up. It's true." He tries to catch my eye but I avoid it. I don't need his help. Plus now the rest of the class is laughing.
Thankfully the teacher comes in and it all quiets down.
I think I am safe, that is until I get to my next class and remember that I share a lab table with Trey. Damn, how do I get out of this? I can't pretend to be sick, because they wouldn't let me at the game later. I am the captain, I can't let the team down. I guess I will just have to ignore him.
When I take my seat it is quickly pulled towards him. "You have to talk to me." I shake my head. Because in fact I do not have to. "Yes, you do. It is a requirement of being lab partners." I shake my head again. That is only if we have a lab. Only I am just realizing that nodding is in fact communicating with him. So I am already talking to him. I groan and turn away from him.
He wraps his arms around me. "You can't fight me forever. You know you want to talk to me."
I peel his arms off me. I still don't say a word. Calab comes up to the table. "Keep your hands off my sister or I will dismember you." It's low and a growl, but he gets his point across. I think that might be the wolf in him. Trey backs off a little. I am able to scoot my stool further away.
Calab goes back to his seat but he keeps an eye on Trey. I can see Willow trying to calm him down. Oh, bless her sweet heart.
Thankfully this is the only class that I have to sit next to him and Calab is here to watch my back.