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

Chapter #20: Like, For Real, For Real? (Chad's POV)

4:55 pm

I was laying back on the couch with a beer, my head rested against my left hand, completely zoned out. Tony was out on another one of his trips with "the boys", which basically meant a three-day bender where we wouldn't see him for a while and he'd pop back up, as drunk and as angry as ever ready to make our lives living hell. I always wished that whenever he went on one of his benders, he just wouldn't come back. Something would happen to him and he'd finally get what he deserved, and just when I think that maybe it had happened finally and we were free, he'd show up on the door with a clenched fist with my name on it. 

As I stared into the distance, feeling the cold beer drip down my hand, I thought about the events from earlier. Azealia showing up and threatening Cassie with pictures of us hanging out, as if there was something wrong with that. Ryan getting brave with me and yelling in my face. I didn't understand exactly what his issue was, Cassie and I were friends way before he met her. Guess he just hasn't faced up to the fact he'll never know her like I do. Cassie didn't speak to me for the rest of the day, so I decided it was wise to give her some space and not text her, even though I was desperate to know what was up and how she was doing. Naya mentioned that she saw her walking down the hallway after lunch and she looked like she'd been crying, so if Ryan had said anything to hurt her in the slightest, he was in for a world of pain.

"WHEEEEERE HAAAAAVE YOOOOUU BEEEEEEN, AAAAALLL MYYYY LIIIIIFEEE?!" I was broken from my state of thoughtfulness by Naya's "heavenly" vocals, singing along to the song that was playing on the MTV channel she was watching. Naya was in a way happier mood than I was in. She's always happy when Tony suddenly disappears because even a few days of freedom is better than having him here, I can't enjoy it because I just anticipate the moment he walks through the door ready to punch whoever's closest to him. I know Mom is the same way, she's all relaxed once he's gone but the minute she hears the doorknob turn she starts shaking like a leaf.

"C'mon Chad, dance with me!" Naya grabbed one of my arms and tried to pull me up from the couch.

"I'm not exactly in a dancing mood, but carry on with whatever you're doing. Quietly." I insisted, taking a sip from my beer.

"Since when do you drink during the day time?" she looked at me inquisitively. 

"It's nearly evening." I clapped back, raising my bottle at her. She rolled her eyes in response.

"Whatever you say, hermano." she walked around the room, dancing her way to the kitchen and grabbing a fresh bottle from the fridge. She grabbed the bottle opener, danced over to the couch, and sat next to me.

"If my dear brother is gonna get day drunk, I am gonna get day drunk too." she clinked her bottle against mine and took a swig.

"Why, though?"

"I'm bored." she said bluntly. "You're a bad influence on me."

"Yeah, I'M the bad influence." I chuckled and playfully pushed her over, she laughed and returned the favor.

"Careful now, Chaddy Boy, we're not gonna go round and round the way we were when we were little, remember?" she said in a sly tone. I laughed, reminiscing the days when we used to pull each other's hair, kick each other in the shins, annoy the shit out of each other. The constant play-fighting drove Mom crazy but we'd all prefer the play-fighting now to the real fighting that goes on in this household nowadays. Naya continued dancing along to her music, while I lay back on the couch and just relaxed. Maybe for once, I should allow myself to relax.

"So, crazy day today, huh?" Naya started to make conversation. I sat up and put my beer down on the new coffee table that we had to get from the time Tony threw me over the last one and broke it.