𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 જ⁀➴

XIII

Cassandra

Advanced lessons wretched Cassandra's mind from the inside out, and it had not been easy when there was something else already placated in the very same place daily. Intertwined and branched with the vindictive nature that she was so used to playing home with, the contrast of pure and tarnished, always ended with the outcome of her head in the toilet, because there wouldn't be a time where the corrupt wouldn't win.

Though it had been mid November, a couple weeks away from the semester to come to an impending close, Cassandra's sleep schedule had already collapsed into a sheet of scrambled mess. The dammed time she had fallen asleep would be when the sunrise greeted her, the following day bound to take an emotional toll upon her when she had more school classes than a single person present. Scattered by several cream parchments, some stacked and all in various states of appeal, Cassandra sat cross-legged on a bench, hidden right outside the kitchens where not a single student spent their free time. The air flowed through her lungs as she breathed out steadily.

The slight ruffle of trainers against tiles craned her neck up. Because there, right outside the school kitchens doors, was Kavanaugh, brown hair tousled and expression resigned. The door behind him had just swung shut, but not due to the brute force of his hands as it had been temporarily occupied with copious quantities of towel wrapped food–it's grease stains lurking–that toppled over one another and fell over the brim. Cassandra had no clue as to why the boy snuck to the kitchens to gain access to food when dinner was just being served. Though rumours claimed that on that Saturday afternoon everyone had made their way to the swimming hole and took their food there instead. It was all anyone was speaking about.

The longer she stared at the boy, the more confused she felt, so for awhile she merely examined him, textbooks slammed shut.

When Kavanaugh shot his head upwards from the acute scuffle, he had then realised she had been watching since he exited the kitchens, something that looked a lot like acquiescence etched into the pores of his unblemished skin. Kavanaugh, for awhile, accepted the terms of his fate, watching her watch him, but Cassandra was too busy attempting to figure out what would persuade the boy to go to such desperate circumstances to hide from his so called friends. Quite frankly, it had made no sense to Cassandra. The boy turned with a blush of embarrassment, averting his gaze.

"That's a lot of food," murmured Cassandra, quite flatly.

Kavanaugh lifted a shoulder. "Well, I'm hungry, so..."

Cassandra hummed, understanding that there was more to the story than it met the naked eye. "Double wrap the food." When he appeared confused by her advice, she then added, "The grease stains will show after only one layer, and then they'll be no point in even hiding it in the first place. So...double wrap."

Kavanaugh opened his mouth to reply in abdication, but then thought better of the prospect, stitching it back up again. Good thing for him, Cassandra made a habit of reading people. Spent majority of her time learning the intricacies behind the human body, so it wasn't hard for her to understand what he meant by that simple action. Cassandra truly believed she could've had an entire conversation consisting on one-sided communication, and still comprehend each unsaid message.

"They ran out of paper towels." She confirmed, and when the boy shifted uncomfortably where he stood, it was like she couldn't help it as she said, "No one ever comes around here."

His brows shot up. "You saying I can eat here?" The last thing Cassandra would do was admit that. "You don't mind?"

"As long as you don't chew too loud, breathe too close to my ear, fidget, or even attempt to do something as stupid as speak to me then yes, I don't mind you eating here, Kavanaugh." Cassandra spoke in a dull, monotone manner, hoping it'd help her excel at the nonchalant demeanour she was wishing to convey. When the boy remained silent, she'd known it worked.