Falling Into Oblivion

Chapter Eight

I SHOULDN'T BE angry but I am.

Am I more upset with Cora or with Kaelem, I don't really know...

Except I do. Who am I kidding? I can't believe he would kiss her. I thought maybe we had something. Was it just a figment of my imagination?

"Wait, it's not what it looks like."I stop in my tracks in the middle of his driveway when I hear Kaelem calling out from the front door.

I whirl around and face him. "It's fine Kaelem. You don't need to explain yourself. You have every right to be with whomever you want. Even if that means being with Cora. You don't need my permission." Besides, he's ten years older than me. He's a man and he's made it this far without my saying. He doesn't need anyone to tell him who he can and can't be with. Just because we kissed last night doesn't mean I have the right to ask questions about his personal life.

"You don't get it. She came out of no where and kissed me. I didn't know she was coming over. I didn't even know she knew where I lived."

"I'd believe you but then how would you explain her being in your bedroom?" I storm off not sure why I'm asking the question. It's really none of my business. "I'm just a little shock that's all. You better get back to her before it's too late." I urge.

"Cassandra!" He stomps toward me grabbing me by the arm. My eyes go wide as I look down at his hand on my wrist. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to grab you like that but you need to listen, please." He supplicates, letting my arm go.

"I'm listening." I say with caution. My arms folded.

KAELEM

Damn. The last thing I ever thought I'd see was Arsen's sister in my house, let alone my bedroom. I honestly thought it was Cassandra who walked in. She always makes herself at home so I didn't think twice about it when I heard someone rummaging through my home.

The first time Cassandra came to my house, I could see that she felt comfortable and relaxed in contrast to the way she was at school - she was so tense. I didn't know what to make of it. I didn't know what made her freak out and it honestly hurt to watch. I couldn't just leave her there crawling on the ground, out in the snow. I'm not some monster. I have a conscience, unlike those little pricks she goes to school with who stared at her, ready to film the whole thing on their cellphones and most likely post it on tik tok or whatever kids are into these days.

What the hell is wrong with people?

Anyways, she continued coming over after that, like I was some type of escape for her. At first, she made up excuses as to why she was standing at my doorstep, sometimes even at eleven at night. Which quickly turned into, finding her sitting at my door step waiting for me to get home from work.

Obviously, I didn't mind it. I loved it, really. It was nice not coming home to an empty house so it didn't take me long before I handed her a spare key to my place.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't because I pitied her. I knew she would be fine with whatever she was dealing with, especially with Arsen...Arsen. Arsen. I shake my head at the thought of Arrrr. Son. Sounds a lot like arsenal to me.

But we'll come back to that.

As the weeks went on, I've come to know how strong Cassandra really is and so, she didn't need me or need me to tell her what to do, for that matter. Cassandra just needed a little nudge in the right direction.

Hell, look at her now.

I watch as she takes a stand against what isn't right. Well....what she 'thinks' doesn't look right. I do have an explanation. But, if this was happening a few months back, when I first met her, she wouldn't be confronting me right about now.