Fall
Cassie's blonde ponytail swayed from side to side as she paced in circles around the oval table. Her every move, performed so gracefully, captured him in a rapture of obsession. Using his arms to pull his head down to his legs, he rested it on his knees.
"Let's see... you're either plotting to kill me... or you're shocked that a lug like me can interpret Shakespeare."
As Cassie turned to respond, strands of her hair fell from her messy ponytail and she tried to put them back in place as she paced towards Tate. By this time he was sitting on the floor sporting a confident smirk. She hated that his smile was intimidating. It made her feel weak.
"I am plotting your demise, an assassination by my lethal rendering of Shakespeare," she quipped, using a vocabulary that Tate would use.
Gazing at Tate, Cassie wondered why he plopped on the floor? The sofa was right next to him. Perhaps he knew it would put her nerves on edge and give him an advantage in their current bout of verbal fisticuffs. He should be sitting... on the couch, not on the ground. Everything should be in its place. He was breaking the rules.
"Don't you dare to spit out words slandering the master of literature in my presence," he teased, while aiming his index finger at her like a judge pointing at the accused in a courtroom.
Taking up the challenge, Cassie began quoting.
"When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little starts."
Covering his ears like a little kid, Tate stood up.
"I won't listen to another word."
In reality, the fantasy of watching her move was now enhanced by her seductive voice-he was hypnotized.
"And he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun," she continued.
Once Cassie was done she crossed her arms and looked at Tate.
"Now I'm the one wondering, why you were being so romantic before...quoting Shakespeare like it was a love sonnet?"
"I thought you'd like it," he replied sheepishly, still shining his perfectly disarming smile at her.
Cassie really didn't think he was that attractive, his mouth was too big, his nose was slightly crooked, and his eyes were nothing special. Only your average dark brown but when she gazed directly into them, and she never wanted to, they captured her like a stray comet being inexorably drawn into a black hole. Whenever they were together, his eyes glowed with the passion of a heart on fire.
Uncomfortable with what she was feeling, Cassie headed for the kitchen. Even with Tate's noisy steps clomping behind her, she refused to turn and continue their confrontation. Hoping to calm herself down with a glass of water, she breathed heavily while pouring, trying to shake off a level of nervousness she'd never experienced before.
"Spare me the romance...I can't do my job!" she spat without really thinking about the greater meaning of what she was saying.
Tate scoffed at the implications of her doing her job.
"I'll pretend you didn't actually just say that."
She felt his voice deepen as he came closer.
"I can't..." she coughed out, "I just can't concentrate."
Cassie's pulse was racing as her heart began to implode, melting like candle wax. She'd never loved anyone past the point of surface attraction. Her intuition told her that once she got on the train that took you beyond that point, there was no returning. At that same instant of deliberation, she felt a shove from a million hands pushing her to cross that line.
Is this how it feels to be in love?
Tracking Tate with her second sight, he stopped right behind her. His breath warmed her neck.
"I'm sorry," he simply said, but with volumes of words unspoken.
He didn't need to explain exactly why he was sorry...they both knew. But he couldn't help what was happening. Cassie was meant to fall in love with him even if she didn't want to. He was sorry. He was sorry that a beautiful soul like Cassie's would have to die consumed by flames.
This is how you feel when you're about to fall off the cliff of love.
Feeling more like a performer on a stage, "don't do this," closing her eyes to a frustrating squint while holding the glass of water so tightly it might have broken as her fingertips turned white with pressure. "I don't know you...I don't know you...I won't be in love with you," she whispered over and over while as motionless as a marble statue.
Seeing her tremble, every instinct in Tate's body made him want to embrace her, but he knew that would only make things worse. Instead, he tried to break the mounting tension.
"Do you...do you like...music?" Cassie, caught off guard, turned around quickly.
"What?"
"Do you like music? You told me you liked The Neighbourhood, are you into rock?"
There were his charming eyes again, brimming with the possibility of all the hope and happiness the world had to offer, while hers were bloodshot and watery from all the taxing emotional turmoil of the moment.
"Why...are you--"
"Perfect! You'll be in my band's next music video!"
Suddenly excited, Cassie tilted her head and frowned.
"You're moping again," he teased, holding back telling her how really cute she looked.
A thousand and one thoughts battled for control of his feelings, from damn, she's gorgeous, to, what the hell are you doing, boy?
"I just... what exactly now are you talking about?"
"My band needs a music video to promote our new single because we are playing at the S.U.N. festival...and I had the perfect idea...you'll be there dancing ballet while we play the song I wrote for you and then you--"
"You wrote a song for me?"
Cassie was astonished, her mouth opened slightly and her eyebrows raised in bewilderment. Tate scratched the back of his head and looked down at the floor, taking an awkward long moment to respond.
"Well...it's more about you than for you."
"I'm quite curious to hear more about it, considering that you don't really like me and I absolutely don't like you," Cassie muttered satirically, her growling mixed emotions evident in her look and tone.
"Speak for yourself," was Tate's surprising retort.
He held his hands high and took a long step back.
"On Thursday I'm going to take you to the venue, you'll dance, and VOILA we'll have a music video!"
"I can't ...I can't do that."
"Why? and don't you dare say something about your mission or job or whatever you want to call it...."
Then, Cassie remembered what Piero told her just before Tate arrived. She had a month to prove she could fulfill her mission and reconsidered. Accepting Tate's offer, he promised to send her a text soon with the address and time.
"See you on Thursday, then."
Cassie slammed the door. When she turned around a hooded man appeared, Piero patted her on the shoulder and said, "You did a great job, your plan is working...and even your acting has improved."
Even while doling out the compliment, he could tell her resolve was weakening. Would she be able to break Tate's heart after all?
"Thank you," Cassie replied, but with her conflicted emotions guarded and missing from her voice and facial expressions.
"Are you sure that you want to continue with this mission?" Piero had to ask, caring enough about her to provide a way out if she needed one.
After a long, labored breath she considered her options once again-make him love her so he'll be weak enough to overpower and succeed, fall in love with him and die, or, be replaced by another guardian and go back to her world in disgrace. At least she'd be alive.
"I am...sure...I've got this."
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oh god, I feel like you are going to hate Cassie hahahahaat the side is an amazing picspam made by my dear Brandon and a song from The Neighbourhood... yes it's a real band... and my favourite band ok?
massive thanks to Ric for editing this! <3
Let me know what you think in the comments! and don't forget to vote if you liked it, thank you :D
xxMad