"Jesus, don't let Adam see you," River said sitting next to me.
When I didn't respond he asked, "You good?"
"Never better," I smiled.
He took the bottle from me, "Hey," I protested.
He took a long drink.
"Are you good?" I slurred.
"Never better," he smiled.
Some guy sat next to River.
The guy pulled out a joint and lit it. He breathed out the smoke. He offered it to River. Before River said anything, I took it.
"Cassie," River warned.
I ignored him and put it to my lips. I blew the smoke out and offered it to River.
He sighed and took it.
The guy took it back and motioned me closer. He blew out and I sucked in the smoke.
"Damn, you're a natural," the guy said.
I shrugged. The truth was I used to smoking all the time before I came to the Wayne's. I never got addicted. It just helped me with my nerves. That's probably why I cry so much more now.
The three of us passed the bottle and joint around.
"Adam's going to kill you," Cole was standing in front of us.
"Do I look like I give a fuck?" I asked.
"Are you high or drunk?"
"Both," I laughed.
"You?" Cole pointed at River.
"Same," River said with his head laid back and eyes half closed.
"For fucks sake," Cole said.
Cole took the bottle. It was empty.
"What are you doing here?" Adam's harsh voice asked.
"Who?" I asked.
"You," he growled.
"Really, where?" I looked around. I smacked River in the stomach. "Do you see you?"
"Me?" River asked.
"No, you."
"Oh, uh no I'm not here," he slurred.
I nodded.
"Come on, this is actually funny," Cole said to Adam.
"River!" Hope yelled in disapproval. "You promised you'd stop," she said in a smaller voice.
"I know I just…" he trailed off.
"Just what?" She sat next to him intentionally pushing our new drug friend off the couch. She glared at him as he got up. This must not have been the first time.
"Just feel calmer," he sighed.
"What makes you not calm?" She asked.
"Why can't you ever just listen to me," Adam said, taking my attention away from Hope and River.
"Because you're an ass,” I restored.
“Sorry that I care about you.”
“You could do it nicer?” I mumbled.
He was about to say something, but Cole cut him off.
“You guys ready to go home?”
I nodded, “The mood is ruined.”
“Yeah, it is,” Adam argued.
“I’m not sure I've ever seen you having fun, so I don't know what mood your talking about, but I’m talking about the mood you always fucking ruin with your judgey little eys,” I stood up, standing an inch in front of his face.
“Adam she’s high and drunk, let’s go,” Cole warned.
Adam grabbed my wrist and I was yanked towards the door.
“You don't own me,” I kicked him.
“Can we just go home before I do something I’ll regret?”
I laughed, “Oh please. Just let go of me and problem solved.”
I was suddenly lifted onto someone's shoulder. I took a sharp breath before realizing it was Cole.
I started to protest but the movement made my head spin.
I was put in a car.
Cole left the door open and stepped back as I threw up on the sidewalk.
“All right,” he said once I was done and pushed my face back into the car.
River woddled over and sat next to me in the back seat. Hope was no where to be seen.
“You good?” I asked.
“Never better.”
“Never better,” I repeated.
~~~
Mom and Dad came back Monday. I couldn't remember much of Saturday night. I just knew that I probably pissed off Adam again because he kept giving me the cold shoulder.
The week went by smoothly and I felt like I was finally becoming a normal person. I fought with my brothers and hung out with friends. My grades were back to normal and life was right there with them. Normal, thats all I want.
That Friday I bumped into Jacklin. Well more like she intentionally got in my way.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she said in her “I’m not sorry” tone.
“You’re good,” I said stepping aside and trying to be the bigger person.
“Why are you still here?” She snarled.
“I go to school here?”
“Why? Just leave. You’re a whore.”
“I know,” I said, “Have a good one.” I walked away.
My hair was jerked back and I stumbled to the ground.
She got up in my face, “I didn't call DSS just so you could still be here, so get lost.”
“Damn, you called them, figures,” I said unfazed, “Jacklin, are you okay?”
“What?” she asked sharply.
“Are you genuienly okay? Like menaltally?”
“Why would you ask me that bitch? Your the one with menalt problem.”
“I’m getting better, but do you need help?” I was still sat on the floor in the middle of the empty hallway looking up at her.
“I will make your life a living hell,” she said.
“Been there done tha-”
~~~
I woke up in the nurses office with a massive headache. There was an ice pack pressed against my face.
I sat up and looked around. I saw the nurse in the other room on the computer. I got up and she looked up at me.
“You’re awake I was just looking up your parent’s numbers,” she told me leaning on the door frame.
“No, no, I’m fine,” I said.
“Do you remember what happened?”
“I closed my locker really hard and it strangely bounced back and hit me in the face,” It was the first thing that came to mind.
She nodded slowly wondering wether she should question me further on my obvious lie.
“What time is it?” I asked grabbing my stuff of the floor.
“Lunch just started,” she said.
“All right thanks,” I said and started to walk out.
“If you pass out its on you,” she shrugged and went back to her office.
Very professional.
I went to the bathroom to see the damage done.
Jacklin must have kicked me in the cheek. I had a huge bruise on my right cheek and my right eye was starting to swoll.
I pulled my hair down to make it hide that side of my face.
God why did she hate me so much? I just don't understand why and it frustrated me.
I walked to the lunch room with my head down. I quickly sat down at my usual table with Emma and Rylie.
“Hey, do ethier of you have sunglasses,” I asked.
“What happened?” Rylie asked as Emma reached in her bag.
“Jacklin, I don't know what her problem is,” I told them.
“Here,” Emma handed me black sunglasses. “She hit you?”
“Kicked me I think, but like why?” I said annoyed.
“Maybe cuz you beat her ass,” Emma said.
“I don't know its just dumb, I wish shed leave me alone,” I said as someone sat next to me.
“Hey,” Mason said kissing my cheek, “What’s with the sunglasses?"
“Headache, did you get that message I sent you last night?” I quickly changed the subject.
“Yeah, sounds fun,” he said.
Hope and River invited me and Mason to a “double date” at an amusement park tomorrow.
“Now whats up with the glasses?” he pushed again.
“Headache, and your not making it any better,” I gave him a tight smile.
“Glasses?” Mason pointed at me and looked at Emma and Rylie for an answer.
They looked away. Loyal friends right there.
“Fine, Jacklin kicked me and now I have a black eye,” I said.
He lifted the glasses to see, “Why? What did you said?”
“Nothing, she just hates me,” I mumbled.
“Why?”
“Who knows?” I shrugged.
“Well, your brothers are going to freak,” he said.
“Ugh,” I groaned. “I know.”
I made it through the rest of the day without anyone pay too much attention to me. At the end of the day I went to the car. Cole was already there in the drivers seat. I quickly jumped in the back seat and leaned against the window with my hood up.
“Rough day?” Cole looked at me through the rear view mirror.
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
The car door opened, “Steven’s coming too,” Henry said motioning to his friend.
Cole just nodded.
“Hey Cas,” he said jumping into the seat next to me.
I mumbled a “hey” which sounded more like “hm”.
Next Adam got into the passenger seat.
Adam glanced back at the three of us. I was behind Cole, so he easily saw me. I didn't think he would be here because of soccer, but I just then remembered soccer was cancelled. River still had practice though.
Surprisingly he didn't say anything and turned back ahead.
“Is she dead?” Henry asked and I felt him poke my side.
I slapped his stomach, “Don't touch me.”
“Not dead,” he concluded.
“Nice glasses,” he reached for the glasses.
I slapped his hand, “What did I just say? Don't touch me.”
“Okay, okay,” he said.
I sat for a minute undisturbed until I realized Henry was slowly moving closer to me like the annoying little brother he was. He already was taking up have of my seat.
I coughed loudly in his face.
“Gross,” he leaned away.
“My bad,” I gave him a fake smile.
“You two are annoying,” Cole said.
“He’s anno-”
“Can we stop at the store real quick?” Henry cut me off.
“Why?” Adam protested.
“Steven’s staying the night and we need snacks, like good snacks not those healthy ones mom buys.”
“I like mom’s snacks,” I said.
“Of course you would, you need to stop encouraging her,” Henry said.
“Sorry,” I said not sorry.
We pulled into the parking lot to the store. Everyone jumping out except me.
“Not coming?” Adam asked.
I shook my head.
They shrugged and locked the car as they left.
I sighed and looked out the window as people passed by. Across the parking lot was a guy. He stared at my brothers as they walked away from the car. My heart skipped a beat and I quickly got out making the car alarm go off. All the boys and the weird guy looked at me.
“Change my mind,” I slammed the door and caught up with them after Cole stopped the alarm.
Henry laughed, “Weirdo.”
I didn't say anything as I looked back to the weird guy. He was staring at me and I pretended to look back at the car. I should wear sunglasses more often no one can see what I’m looking at.
I was probably being paranoid but whatever.
We went to the store and everyone split up. I ended up following Cole.
“Want anything?” Cole asked.
“Nah.”
Cole walked us to the medicine aisle. He grabbed a gel ice pack and some tylenol.
“What’s that for?” I asked.
“Your eye, I’m pretty sure we’re out of tylenol at home,” he said simply.
“What?”
“I’m not dumb, Cassie,” he said.
“Oh,” I whispered, “Are you sure?”
“Huh?”
“Are you sure your not dumb?”
“You know you’ve really changed in the past week,” he said, “You’re so… whats the word… annoying.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Its a good thing.”
“Would you like to share that theory with me?” I asked.
“Sure, you're annoying, meaning sibling rivalry, meaning you're comfortable around us, meaning you're acting like a normal person rather than a hurt puppy which is what you were a couple months ago,” Cole shared.
“Hm, interesting theory, but I consider myself more as a shaved sloth.”
“Sounds accurate.”
“Cole youre paying,” Henry said coming up to us.
“Didn't Dad give you a card?”
“I forgot it.”
“You guys are the worst liars. Do you all think I’m dumb?”
“Yes,” Henry said with no hestination.
I laughed.
“Definitly not paying,” Cole said getting into a line.
“Fine,” Henry huffed.
“Isn't it just mom and dad's money?” I asked.
“No, we all work at the farm every summer, so that’s his money,” Cole explained.
“Why are you still wearing the glasses?” Henry asked me.
“The real question is why arent you wearing glasses?”
“Prime example of dumb,” Cole whispered to me.
“Cuz I’m not a dork, and I heard that,” Henry said.
“Heard what?” I asked.
Cole shrugged.
“I'm not dumb,” he said.
“Yes, you are,” Adam said joining the line.
“Back of the line buddy,” Henry said.
“Older brother pass,” Adam said sliding infront of Henry and Steven. I had forgotten Steven was even there. He was so quiet completely opposite from Henry.
“That’s not a thing,” Henry protested.
I picked up a candy bar and put it on the conveyor with Cole’s stuff.
“How come youre paying for her stuff,” Henry complained.
“Cuz I’m poor,” I said.
“So am I,” he whined.
The cashier looked at all of us and I realized we were being really annoying to everyone around us. People avoided coming into the line behind us.
“Steven you got money?” Henry asked.
“Nah you said you were paying,” he said.
“When did I say that?”
“Like 10 minutes ago, dude.”
Cole grabbed the shopping bag and we walked outside as the others checked out.
We sat in the car and witer for them to come out. I took some tylenol and ate my candy bar. I sat thinking about what Cole said. I was comfortable around these guys. It was nice. I wasn't scared or nervous, I was just me.
On the ride back I started to doze off.
I remembered when I first fell asleep in Adam’s car and freaked out. Now I was willing to fall asleep with four guys in the car just so I didn't have to walk up the stairs.
I was normal. I got bullied, normal. I fought with my siblings, normal. I go to high school parties, normal. I can sleep, normal. I'm normal.
Finally.