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Chapter Two: You can talk to me

Chapter Two: You can talk to me

  

   Three months ago Cassie O'Neal met Dennis Manchester outside on the first day of school. Since then Cassidy has promised himself he would talk to Dennis, but he's chickened out every single time. Instead he just stares at him a lot and Dennis stares back sometimes too, but Dennis is scared to talk to Cassie after what his -now- best friend Scarlet said about him. They've spoken once the entire time they've known each other.

   About a month ago during an important test in math class, Dennis had gotten up to sharpen his pencil using one of the three currently available sharpeners in the classroom. Cassie walked up behind Dennis and gently tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and jumped with instantly red cheeks as their eyes met while letting out a small gasp. For a mere instant everything was silent and there was only the two of them looking deeply into each other's eyes. "Are you almost done with that?" Cassidy asked in a soft voice, unable to speak any louder than what came out as almost a whisper. He knew it was Dennis' shoulder he was tapping on, and yet still felt almost overwhelmed with surprise to see his eyes staring back into his own. Dennis let out a strange, but rather attractive sound before nodding while handing him the sharpener and retreating to his desk. 

   "It's Wednesday! November fourteenth! Thanksgiving is just around the corner folks and our fall prices are at an..." Dennis groans loudly while stirring in his sleep, "Dennis. Wake up." Dennis vaguely hears a familiar effeminate voice before someone smacks his butt. "Get up before you wake dad!" Finn says in a hushed tone. Dennis groans while opening his eyes, seeing that he's in the living room on the couch. Finn and his neighbor Joe are standing over him. He sits up as the pain grows in his head as well as his jaw from last night's beating. "What happened to ya? Ya look like crap?" Joe questions while helping Dennis up by his arm, "I'm fine." Dennis replies instinctively while running a hand over his face. "Mamma's waiting outside. We gotta go." Joe says pointedly. "Alright-alright. Give me a second." Dennis replies before looking around. Joe's cheeks blush as she picks up his jeans before handing them to him. He gives her a look before pulling them on. He then throws on a led zeppelin T-shirt. "Finn. Did you eat anything for breakfast?" Dennis questions his younger brother concernedly. "Yeah. Hellen made pancakes." Finn replies with a smile, Dennis smiles back at him while tousling his hair. The three of them then walk out to Hellen's 1969 Chevrolet Caprice. "What took you damn kids so long? I got half a mind to kick your asses!" Hellen's life partner Janet says angrily, though the boys know better than to take her seriously. "Sorry Janet. Dennis wouldn't get up." Finn explains earning a snappy look from Dennis.

   Soon they pull up to the school. "Love you Finn. Have a good day at school!" Dennis says while hugging Finn before kissing his forehead and exiting the vehicle. "Why can't you be that nice to your little brother Joanna?" Hellen questions Joe sassily. Joe rolls her eyes. "Thanks for the ride Hellen." Dennis says as Joe gets out of the vehicle before taking his hand and dragging him off toward the building. "Ya don't have to be so nice all the time. Ya know?" Joe says to Dennis while letting go of his hand, "And you don't have to be such a brat." Dennis shoots back while looking over at Cassie across the crowded schoolyard, standing by himself. Dennis pouts his lips for a moment in silence before Joe shoves him. "You still having Scarlet over this weekend?" Joe questions trying not to sound jealous, "Dennis?" Joe says, earning his attention. He reluctantly looks at her. "Yeah. Why?" "What's the deal with yall two anyhow?" Joe asks in a hinting tone, "What do you mean?" "Like, are ya and her date-in or what?" Joe questions while taking a step closer to Dennis as both of their cheeks blush. "No-no. It's not like that with Scarlet." Dennis replies quickly with a smile, thinking about how hard Scarlet would be laughing if she was here right now. "So...you're single then?" Joe asks with a smile earning a confused look from Dennis, "Yeah?" Dennis says looking confused. The bell then rings, and Joe runs off with a group of other girls on the cheer leading squad.