Oops, I Meant Cassie

Chapter 13

I walked onto the bus the next day, although I begged my mom to let me stay home. She wants me to be friends with them. Of course, Mary-Lynn was acting all crabby on the bus because my mom called her mom inviting her over. She even had to meet at the principle's with the rest of "the girls".
"Cassie." I looked at Mary-Lynn. "I have to go to your stupid sleepover now." She said grumpily. "Sorry." I began to walk to the back of the bus.
When I got to school, all of the popular girls were yelling at me for this sleepover. All except for Sophia. "Hey, I'm actually really excited for the sleepover!" She whispered to me in Home Ec. class. "Yea." I mumbled.

I heard the door bell ring. It was Friday night and mom was cooking her home made pizza. "Hi Mary-Lynn." I greeted her not so happily at the door. She waved back and mumbled something I couldn't really understand. Probably calling me something I'm not supposed to say. She threw her bag to me. I caught it with a huff. What could she possibly need? It's just one night. "Mom, Mary-Lynn is here." I called for her. Mary-Lynn gave me an evil look of disgust. Being me, I gave her the same look back. Our moms started to talk just as the door bell rang again. "Sophia!" Mary-Lynn cheered with delight. She still had her uniform on and cheer bow in her hair. "Sorry I was a little late. I just got back from a game." My mom smiled and handed me her bag. "Oh Cass, go show them to your room." "But I thought we could have the basement!" I whispered. "You can, but show them around. Make them feel at home." I trudged up the stairs and walked to my room. "This is my room." I said in a uncaring voice. "It's pretty." Sophia said happily. Mary-Lynn looked around as she smacked her gum. "So, we don't have to sleep here?" She asked. "No." "Good." She replied.
All of the guests were here and we were settled in the basement. The oven beeped and my mom called for all of us. "Bridget what are you doing here?" I asked angrily. "I wanted to meet them. And mom said she was cooking pizza." "Well leave." "Cassie, be nice!" My mom scolded. Mary-Lynn and Hallie started to snicker at me being yelled at. My mom placed the pizza on the table and we sat down, each taking a slice or two. "So to start off, I thought you girls could play a few board games and listen to music. Then when you guys want to you can come up stairs and watch a movie. Probably Disney!" I sighed and put my head in my hands. "Then you guys can go down stairs and tell stories and play for a little bit, then go to sleep." She smiled, proud of her plans for us. "Yea uh thanks mom." I said as I ate. "Shall I get you all something to drink?" "Sure." Mary-Lynn responded. She began pouring cola into our cups and Mary-Lynn reached for hers. She sat it down but not so carefully. She spilled it all over me. "Oh gosh! I'm sorry Cassie!" She said picking her cup back up. I grabbed the napkins and ran to my room to change.

"They seem mean and prissy." Bridget said as she stood in my door way. "Get out Bridge." "But I know you hate this." She said. "Yea well, it makes mom happy." I said trying to clean the other jeans. "Can I play with you guys? I want to keep an eye on you." "No Bridget." She trudged away and growled. I ran back down stairs to find the girls sitting with my mom. "And this is Cassie when she went to her first photography lesson. She was only five!" The girls pulled out their phones and took pictures. "She dropped out later." I heard my mom continue. "Mother...." I angrily whispered. She stood up and followed me. "What are you doing?" I yelled in a low voice. "Just wanted them to get to know you. I don't see a problem." She answered casually. "You're giving them ammo!" I pointed to them taking pictures of my embarrassing child hood.
Just then the oven beeped. "Well I'm going to get the cupcakes for your little party." She walked away all cheerfully. Gosh, she doesn't understand middle school at all.

Taking our cupcakes, we went to the basement. "Umm.. Cassie." Mary-Lynn began. "Yes." I said with my mouth full of iced cupcake. "Why are we here?" "Mary-Lynn," Sophia began to try to stop her, but failed. "I want to know! Do you want to be our friends or not?" "I uhh-I" I tried to think of something to say. "Let's play truth or dare." Gwen said with a smirk on her face. "Oh yea... definitely." Mary-Lynn smiled. We sat in a circle and Mary-Lynn started the questions. The girls looked at each other from across the circle giving each other devious looks. I suddenly felt my stomach lurch. "Cassie." Mary-Lynn turned to face me. "Uh yea?" I responded sheepishly. "Truth or dare?" She asked. I knew they had something planned so I tried to avoid the most painful choice. "Dare?" I squeaked. "I dare you to go in the other room and call Josh and tell him that you are taken." Mary-Lynn said proudly. "I'm what?" "Taken." Hallie confirmed. I gave them an unsure look. "Gosh, it means that you have a boyfriend!" She yelled making me feel stupid. The other girls laughed and I could see the green in Sophia's face. I gulped a nervous gulp. "Okay." I got my phone out of my pocket. "I don't know his number." I stated. "I'll go out there with you, Cassie." Sophia said causing the other girls to remain to their spots in the circle.
We walked out of the room and my thumbs hovered over my phone screen. "Wha-what's Josh's number?" I asked Sophia hesitantly. "Relax, Cassie, I came out here so that you wouldn't have to do that stupid dare." Sophia said in a quiet voice. "What?" I asked surprised. "I don't know why they're so mean to you. In fact, I actually wanted to come to have fun with you tonight, unlike them. They just wanted to make a fool out of you. I'm not gonna let that happen." I hugged Sophia, realizing that she was here to help me. I let go when I heard the door close. "Dang it." Slipped out of Sophia's mouth.