happiness is a butterfly

change of seasons

It was a risky move, but it needed to be done.

Nate had stood Cassie up to see Maddy. It was crazy and the ultimate test of his new lover's loyalty. He knew Maddy would go back and tell her about Nate showing up at her work with flowers and apologies. But Nate was confident Cassie would be too afraid of losing what they had to confess to Maddy.

He knew though that his time was running out. Tik, tok, boom. But he was close, so close to getting his tape back from Maddy. So close.

And so close to losing Cassie.

"If I had known you two would get back together, I would never have done this." Lie. Liar liar Cassie. There had never been any doubt in her mind that she would have said yes over and over. Allowed him control over her, allowed him to do filthy things to her.

"You have this image of yourself as so fucking sweet and innocent... but it is bullshit. If you were a fucking sweet person, you wouldn't have fucked your best friends boyfriend!'

Nate had called her out on her hypocrisy, and had made her see she was no better than he was. They were kindred spirits, ready to hurt those around them to get what they want.

Cassie wasn't protecting Maddy, she wasn't being a good friend.

No, the truth was that Cassie finally had Nate by the balls and was ready to be in the driver's seat. From angel to vixen, from victim to perpetrator. The underestimated opponent.

I'm tired of being played like a violin. What do I gotta do to get in your motherfuckin' heart?

Although Nate had seen Cassie's impure character, the hunter inside her, what he hadn't factored in was her sudden calculative had always levied on Cassie's insecure and vulnerable persona to keep his secret. Her desperate need for love and approval, her fear of Maddy finding out and her losing both friend and lover at once. Her uncertainty of who Nate would pick if given the choice, had given him the necessary ammunition to keep her a pawn in his game.

But as she walked out of his room, as she ignored his plea to stay, as she acted indifferent to the love she had been begging for, a feeling of dread came upon him.

As Cassie had hit rock bottom, she no longer had anything to lose. And that was the scariest part of it all.

She's burned out from wanting, you're pulling at heartstrings.

To let go is heartache, this must be a mistake.

But her natural reaction is to come apart when it's all done...