Cassie (Book #1 of the "Cassie" Series)

Chapter #19: Out of Proportion

October 7, Friday, 8:21 pm

Walking into school felt weirder than usual, I couldn't really explain why at first, everything just felt so... off. Hope and I arrived outside the building just as Chad and Naya pulled in, and we walked in chatting and laughing together. As soon as the four of us walked through the front door and into the hallway, the entire aura shifted and everything went quiet, suddenly all eyes were on us and none of us really figured out why.

"Yes. I know. I look stunning today, but please don't let that interfere with your day." Hope shouted at the crowd as they gathered and started whispering amongst themselves. I couldn't hear a lot of it, but I very clearly made out the words "Cassie", "Ryan", "homecoming", "Hills", and "ditched". 

"I don't think they're looking at you, Hope." Chad said calmly.

"Nah... they're looking at me." I sighed. "Alright, what are you all whispering about? No one here knew my NAME last month and now suddenly my name is in everyone's mouths."

"Don't flatter yourself, Langer. People only know your name because of your man, but that's not gonna last much longer if I have anything to do with it." the unmistakably smooth voice of Azealia Mitchell called across the room. 

"Not this bitch, I swear." I muttered under my breath. The silent crowd parted and Azealia walked through towards me, Brianna and Gabrielle strutted along behind her.

"Honestly, Cass, your life could be a Wattpad story." Naya patted me on the shoulder. "I'm gonna bounce before things get out of hand again."

"No. Latina Ellen. You stay." Gabrielle snapped. I think that's the first time she's ever said something that wasn't just an echo. Naya looked at Gabrielle with a face of thunder, but nonetheless, she stood back next to Chad.

"I overheard a very interesting phone call that my father, a police officer, had with a poor, very upset Czech convenience store owner the other day." Azealia said quietly, a smirk slowly appearing on her perfectly symmetrical face, her brown eyes lighting up. I loudly gulped, I knew exactly what she was talking about. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Chad's breathing was getting heavier with each word that came out of her mouth.

"And what does that have to do with me?" I asked. I could feel the sweat coming through my pores and I prayed to all the deities that Azealia didn't notice.

"I don't know, I was hoping you'd know. The convenience store owner mentioned something about a blonde, tanned, tall guy in a suit, and a blonde girl with pink in her hair wearing a green dress. Sound like anyone we know, Bri?" Azealia gestured over to Brianna and held out a hand.

"They do sound a little familiar." Brianna smirked, passing her phone over to Azealia. 

"Chad, get the phone." I muttered calmly.

"We're in public, Cassie, I'm not going to grab the phone out of her hand. Besides, we have nothing to hide." Chad crossed his arms and stood still. Azealia swiped through a few photos before landing on the one she wanted, she turned the phone towards me and showed us a picture of me and Chad walking out of the auditorium side by side, and then a picture of us outside the building picking up Hope and Naya, with Chad in his paint-stained suit and me dressed down in my hoodie.

"Are you gonna show these to your dad?" I shot back. I wanted to sound intimidating, but instead, it came across as nervous and defensive. Which was accurate, because I was nervous. I couldn't face jail or anything like that. Azealia laughed in response.

"No, sweetie, no." she laughed, the other two joining in. "I don't care about that store, burn it to the ground for all I care. I care about you stringing my best friend's ex along while you're running around town vandalizing buildings with your Puerto Rican boy toy."