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WHEN CASSIE GOT home from her talk with Zach, she had explained to her mother the connection she had with Hannah. How she had had contributed to the breakup with Zach from last year, the rumors, the cyber bullying, etc.
Her mother was disappointed but understanding of the situation she had been in and didn't blame her. She agreed her daughter could've done more, but knew not to dig deep into the topic. She let her go upstairs and finish any homework after a long conversation.
Cassie just didn't know how the deposition would go on Friday. Four days of being nervous for what was to come, what kind of questions they would ask, how they might make her seem, she'd never been to a deposition before. How would she know what to expect?
❁❁❁
After another seven hours of school Cassie was slumped against the couch. Tuesday's usually went by fast, but then tomorrow came Wednesday and they were just that awkward mid part of the week.
Hours later and she laid down in the same position she had been in since coming home from school. Today had just been uneventful even though she could really use a distraction from the deposition.
The only thing that happened was Cassie talking to Sheri and Jessica about the whole ordeal. They had been subpoenaed and she found that Sheri was crazy nervous and Jessica shrugged it off. It was hard to figure what she had even been feeling about it.
Cassie didn't have much to hide and she wasn't a mean girl. They might want to portray her as one, but it didn't mean she would believe it. She knew who she was and who she wasn't.
Glancing up from her book she heard the doorbell ring out into the silence of the house. Her mom was on a 24 hour shift again and was once again left alone in her thoughts.
Cassie sat the book on the coffee table by the couch and for the first time removed herself from her comfy spot to answer the door. Shocked at who appeared on her doorstep sent a wave of emotions.
"Cass, hey," Justin said rather solemnly.
She couldn't help but notice the duffel bag strap resting on his shoulders and his varsity jacket looking snug around his shoulders. The thing that struck out to her the most though was the gruesome expression hung on his face.
"Hey..." she replied uncertainly.
"I just need to say I'm sorry for the whole thing. I was just worried about my friends and I didn't have to take it out on Clay or you," he admitted almost too quiet.
"Do you really feel this way or are you just apologizing, because we fought about it?"
"I really feel this way, I don't like when you're upset with me. I realize my actions were in the wrong," he replied, and she could've sworn she heard a hint of hurt in his tone that she thought he was faking it.
"I'm sorry, too. I could've talked to you better about it and I didn't. I kind of just took matters into my own hands," Cassie confessed and realized the part she took in the fight as well.
Justin hesitated, but stepped towards her. When he was close enough, she came closer and he pulled her in for a gentle kiss. One that didn't have passion, but apology and a soft kind of feeling. She could almost tell he wanted to deepen it before he pulled away, hands around her waist and his duffel brushing against her slightly.
"What if we left this town?" He asked.
Shock fell into her face, and Cassie raised her eyebrows, "wait, what?"
"My mom's boyfriend, he's a real asshole. She won't leave him or even look in my direction like she cares," explained Justin, hurt portrayed in his eyes.
"We can't leave, Justin, we got subpoenaed."
"You've told me before you couldn't wait until you left," he reminded her.
Cassie remembered this from last year when they were talking about graduating high school and college. When things were troubling them and she had said she couldn't wait to leave.
"I mean after high school, not just run out on everyone," she blurted out.
She recalled her talk with Zach from yesterday. How he had gone out of his way to hear about her troubles and the way Jessica seemed to not care about most things anymore. How could she leave at a time like this, not to mention it's against the law to ignore a subpoena. As much as she dreaded gojng, she just couldn't skip out of it.
"Please, come with me, Cass" Justin pleaded, "I can't do this alone."
"Just come stay with me, my mom won't mind as long as you sleep in the guest bedroom," she offered, and grabbed his hand, "you don't have to leave."
"It's nice to know you care about me, but I really don't deserve you—"
"Your mom is wrong, Justin. How she raised you hadn't been the best, but I wouldn't change anything about you," Cassie declared with pride almost, "maybe a thing or two, you're kind of stubborn."
He almost cracked a smile, "you might want to look in the mirror then."
Cassie grinned, "just stay, okay? It's not even official, you only have your basketball things." Her eyes flickered from the bag to him, "go back to your house, sneak through the window, grab some things and come back. You're staying with me tonight."
Justin nodded and leaned in to give her a short lasting kiss. His hands left her waist as he left the doorway and started walking on the sidewalk.
As he almost reached the end of the sidewalk she couldn't help but jog out to him and grab his wrist. He turned around and she pulled him in for another kiss. This time was different than the others, Cassie could feel all the emotion he was apparently feeling. It was long and sweet and when they pulled away they had to catch their breath.
Cassie caught the pain in his eyes before it disappeared as if he didn't want her to know. She did know though, "you're going to get through this, because you're not alone. I love you, Justin."
Justin's hand in hers, his thumb started to rub gentle circles. His gaze had been everywhere else, but he knew he had to look her in the eyes while saying this, "I love you too, baby." He let go of her hand and started walking even farther from her.
"Promise me you'll come back, that you won't leave," Cassie called out prominently.
Justin turned his head and while it was small, grinned at his loving girlfriend, "okay."
It wasn't a promise, but Cassie let it slide. She didn't want to doubt him, if anything that'd make matters worse. She wanted to show him she trusted him and their relationship. That it could rekindle into something more than the last time they dated. She didn't know why she was so hopeful in recent events. Maybe because if she hoped hard enough, things would actually turn out the way she wanted them to.
