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

Chapter #24: Friendzoned (Hope's POV)

10:30 pm

"You know." Chad started with a nervous laugh. "Someday, we're going to look back on this and just laugh."

I just stared at him in disbelief while fixing the wig back on my head. Chad... likes... CASSIE?! Mr. I Love to Be a Fuckboy All Day Every Day... has a thing for my sister? Do you mean to tell me that the guy who has had more sexual partners than Beyoncé has had Grammys wants to date Cassie? I could word my disbelief in many different ways honestly but I don't think anything is gonna do it justice, I am gooped, gagged, scared, shook, panicking, stand-still mannequin.

"See... I'm laughing now!" Chad continued nervously laughing, his laughter fading away into a mumbling noise the longer I stared at him. "Well... can you say SOMETHING?"

"I don't really know WHAT to say." I cocked an eyebrow at him. "When did you- what- I just- you have a LOT of explaining to do." I stuttered. Chad leaned against the wall and exhaled, hanging his head down.

"Where should I start?"

"How long have you felt this way about her?"

"Long enough." he snapped, looking everywhere around the room except at me. The way he was avoiding eye contact with me you'd think I was Medusa herself or something.

"Why did you choose tonight of all nights to decide to tell her?"

"Heat of the moment decision after getting locked in this very closet by Azealia Mitchell?"

"Huh?" Well, I wasn't expecting that. Chad waved his hand down at me.

"That's another story for another day." he chuckled, I was going to press him for more details, but he suddenly got all serious.

"Listen, you're not gonna tell her anything, right?" he said quietly, in almost a whisper.

"Oh, so NOW you wanna be quiet?!" I shot back, rolling my eyes. "What happened to the heat of the moment?"

"Well, the moment was kinda ruined by this stupid Switcheroo thing." Chad looked me up and down. Oh hell no.

"Hey, we don't badmouth the Switcheroo, that's like Christmas for me and Cassie. I just have so many questions."

"We can't talk here, too many people." Chad looked around the empty closet and I stared at him in awe. The boy wasn't the brightest, I'll tell you that.

"Yeah, because this closet is just PACKED, Chad." I scoffed.

"Please, can we just go somewhere else, a little more private, like outside?" Chad said through gritted teeth, covering his eyes in stress. Did he really think outside was going to be more private? It's crawling with people, it's a party for fuck's sake. I was going to leave him in the closet and let him get on with his obviously very emotional night, but then I had a lightbulb moment.

"I know one place where we can go."

10:39 pm

I made my way through the sea of sweaty, dancing bodies, making a beeline for Cassie, who was dancing in the corner with Ryan. Chad towed along behind me, brushing past the crowd.

"HEY!" I yelled over the loud rap music as I reached her, Cassie slowly turned around to look at me, giving me a look as if to say "what now?". 

"WHAT?!" Cassie yelled back, pulling her wig back behind her ears so she could hear better.

"I NEED TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE CAR, CAN I HAVE THE KEYS?!" I shouted. Cassie turned to look at Ryan and they shrugged at each other. Great, the bitch couldn't hear me. I mimicked driving a car, unlocking a door, and beeping the horn. After about a minute of trying to play charades to get the car keys, Cassie and Ryan started giggling at each other like giddy schoolgirls.