Too young for true love

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Cassidy POV
Ryan and I talked all day. I couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to someone I just met today. But it was really nice. He was really nice. And as the day went on, I realized, maybe he could be the one. But there was no way he would like a loser geek like me.

Ryan's POV

I talked to Cassidy all day. She was so easy to talk to and I feel like I have known her my whole life. We shared Oreos and I thought, maybe she could be the one. But there is no way she would like a loser like me.

Cassidy POV

School ended at 3:30, and I checked my phone and saw that it was 3:04. "oh gosh! sorry, Ryan but I better start heading home. My dad will kill me if I'm late"
Even though that could very possibly be true, I just used it as a hyperbole. As I gathered up my stuff, he put his hand on my shoulder," Are you sure you are okay leaving?" For a second I was confused, why would he ask that? I didn't tell him about him. I'm pretty sure I didn't.

"um, yeah, of course" I said a little hesitantly. He slowly moved his hand from my shoulder.

I started to get up and leave, then I heard him rustling through his backpack, then he said ,"wait!" I turned around and he was holding out his phone with the contacts app open. "You never gave me your number."
his face was rosy, and it was the cutest thing ever. He stood up, and handed me his phone. I quickly typed in my number and handed it back. Our hands touched and an electric shock flickered through my body. I looked up at him and we locked eyes. I tried to look away, but I couldn't. His ocean blue eyes were making me melt. After a straight 2 minutes, he abruptly leaned in and hugged me. At first I was thought, WHAT. Then I hugged him back. he smelled so good. I didn't want to push him away, but eventually I had to. we smiled at each other." ok, well I have to get home before people start getting out of school"
"ok, bye Cass. Is it okay if I call you Cass?"
"yeah I like it!"
"I like you❤️"

Okay, he didn't actually say that last thing, but in my mind he did. But I mean in my mind he also married me, and we all know that's not going to happen.
I put in my headphones and started walking home. I turned on my love playlist. I think what Im feeling is love, but I can't figure it out.

*****
I turned the corner and my house was right on the corner. I had to get in through the back door so he
doesn't hear me come in. So I hopped over the back fence and quietly opened the back door. From the hall, I could hear him yelling at my mom. He told her she was worthless because she didn't have a job. I heard her crying out," Let me see my baby!"I went over to Jack's room to see if he was okay.

As I approached the door, I heard sobbing. " Jack!"
I said a little too loudly. His face was badly bruised. "Sh,sh,sh. Jack its me don't worry. what happened?"
he wipe his tears and tried to explain. " Mom picked me up from school and when we got home dad got mad at mom and started hitting her, I tried to stop him and then he hit me. I made my way in here but I still couldn't get him away from mom."

I love Jack because he is bold. But sometimes he thinks he can do more than he can. And since he is only 8, there isn't much he can do. "Jack, you can't get yourself hurt, Mom can handle it." That was a lie. He was slowly breaking her down to a point where there is nothing left. But I had to tell him that anyway. "I'll get you some ice"

I slowly walked out of Jack's room and made my way to the kitchen. Hearing the cries of my mother was terrible, but I had to get the ice.

As i was putting the ice into a plastic bag, I accidentally dropped a piece onto the floor. Suddenly, everything went silent. My dad stopped yelling and my mom stopped crying. I froze. It's too late, he heard me.

After a minute of silence, he went back to yelling at mom. I closed to freezer and quickly tip toed back to Jack's room. I gave him the ice and plopped down on his bed.

Looking out the window, I started thinking about things. 'why are we living like this?How can mom even handle this?How does she even get through the night thinking about waking up to this? I can't let us live like this. I have to do something. He has to go.'

"Hey, Jack"
Jack looked up at me covering his face with the ice,"yeah"
"I have to go. I will be back, but late tonight"
"Where are you going?"
"The library"
"Take me with you. Don't leave me here"
His eye started to fill with tears and I hugged him tight." I can't do that. I don't want mom alone here. Just stay in your room until I get back. Don't open the door for anyone. Got it?"
He nodded and I let go.
"Now I have to go. Don't worry okay?"
I kissed him on the head and stood up.