Chapter 15

“She…is dating Rich?” Mrs. Ritterson asked, her hands shaking as she turned to face her son.

“Was,” Nate pointed out, ‘helpfully’, “And yeah she was.” Mrs. Ritterson glanced down at Cassandra sympathetically.

“And she dumped him for you?” Mrs. Ritterson asked suggestively, a smile growing on her face. Mrs. Ritterson was a pure romantic at heart.

“No,” Nate answered, looking down at Cassandra. “She…She… wasn’t safe… staying with him.”

“Huh?” Mrs. Ritterson said, looking over at her son. Nate looked down at Cassandra again trying to decide how to explain.

“You know the bruises on her arms?” Nate spoke softly, tracing Cassandra’s fingers on her hand that was set against the light blue bed spread.

“Umhm,” Mrs. Ritterson answered apprehensively, not quite knowing where Nate was going with this.

“Where do you think they came from?” Nate said, glancing up at his mother seriously.

“Oh,” Mrs. Ritterson voiced, “The poor thing.” Silence filled the room as everyone gazed over at Cassandra. “She should probably go back to her parents tomorrow,” Mrs. Ritterson stated.

“NO!” Nate protested, his hand closing around Cassandra’s.

“Honey, I know you like her, but her parents are probably missing her,” Mrs. Ritterson reasoned.

“Her parent’s are dead,” Nate argued, “She lives with her step dad.”

“Oh,” Mrs. Ritterson said, taken aback, “Well… I’m sure he misses her,” Mrs. Ritterson said uncomfortably.

“But…”

“You can take her home after school,” Mrs. Ritterson compromised. Nate nodded his head before turning his attention back to Cassandra. He really didn’t want to let Cassandra go home, but he knew that his mom was probably right.

Mr. and Mrs. Ritterson got up and left the room, soon followed by Danika.

Nate sat on the edge of Cassandra’s bed watching her carefully. He really liked having her around, and she seamed like she was such a good influence on Danika, much better then all Danika’s ‘fake’ friends.

“Cassie,” a soothing voice penetrated into Cassandra’s sleeping mind the following morning. “Cassie.”

“What?” Cassandra groaned, rolling over onto her size, trying to get some more sleep.

“It’s time to wake up,” the smooth voice cooed as a warm hand brushed a strand of hair out of Cassandra’s face.

“I don’t wanna?” Cassandra whined, her eyelids crinkling up as she rolled onto her side.

“We have to be at school in half an hour.” Cassandra sat up swiftly, her eyes flashing open to find Nate sitting next to her.

“How long have you been there?” Cassandra asked, recalling the dream she had been having. She was pretty sure she had been talking in her sleep.

Nate shrugged. “Two or three minutes,” Nate replied, standing up. Cassandra sighed with relief. “You should get ready.”

“Okay,” Cassandra agreed, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

“Your bags of cloths are at the foot of the bed,” Nate pointed out, heading toward door.

“Thanks,” Cassandra said as she started to pick through the bags.

She quickly changed into a pair of faded blue jeans and a black long sleeved shirt with a little cleavage, before brushing out her hair and pulling it up into a ponytail.

She started down the stairs to the kitchen where she found Danika and Nate sitting at the table, both of them staring down and soggy bowls of cereal.

“Morning,” Cassandra greeted as she grabbed a bowl out of a cabinet and sat down next to Danika. She picked up a box of cheerios and tipped the box over her bowl. She watched the cheerios fall into her bowl, wondering why no one was answering her.

Cassandra glanced up as she grabbed for the milk, looking from Nate to Danika. Nate glanced up at her nervously before turning his attention back to his cereal, which he was stirring with his spoon. Danika met her gaze and held it for a second, before springing to her feet and running over to Cassandra and encasing her in a big hug.

“I’m going to miss you so much!” Danika sobbed into Cassandra’s shoulder. “You can come back where ever you want! I’m going to miss you!” Cassandra stared down at the thirteen-year-old, a bewildered expression on her face. Danika glanced up at her and noticed the expression. Danika turned toward Nate, letting go of Cassandra. “You haven’t told her yet,” Danika stated flatly.

“Nope,” Nate answered, staring at his cereal.

“Tell me what?” Cassandra inquired, her eyes narrowing a little.

“Um… well… I’m supposed to take you back to… your house after school,” Nate explained, sending fleeting glances toward Cassandra.

“Oh,” Cassandra turned her gaze down to her cereal bowl before pouring the milk into the bowl to occupy her attention.

“Cassie, look, I don’t want to, but my mom thinks it would be a good thing,” Nate spoke quickly looking up at her. As soon as the words came out of his mouth he knew they were the wrong ones. Cassandra raised a quizzical eyebrow at him, daring him to continue. “Look, you don’t have to stay there. I won’t even leave if you don’t want me to. You just need to go inside, maybe grab some of your stuff. When your dad gets mad we can just leave and come back here. I won’t let him hurt you okay?”

Cassandra stared at Nate, trying to understand everything her had just said. She had thought he was turning into one of those people who do everything his parents said, but apparently he wasn’t. His voice had sounded pretty sincere

“Okay,” Cassandra consented, sticking a spoonful of cereal into her mouth before adding quickly, “But I’m not staying. If your mom wants I can go stay at Macy’s probably, but I’m not staying… there.”

“You won’t have to,” Nate answered seriously, meeting Cassandra’s gaze full on without hesitation.

“Yeah, you can stay with us forever!” Danika put in excitedly as she sat back down. Cassandra half expected her to throw her arms up happily.

Nate and Cassandra made eye contact, both of them wearing skeptical expressions. Nate rolled his eyes good-naturedly before turning back to his breakfast.

Sorry this chapter is a little bit short. I hope you like it though and I send thanks to everyone who has reveiwed this story so far. The reviews are really appreciated and helpful!!