At First Sight

11. Listen Up

Christmas break was great, besides missing Lily. She went to visit her grandparents for the holidays. She whined and complained about how they would just fall asleep mid-way through a conversation. To be honest I thought that was quite funny, but I guess I'm the only one who saw humor in that. Uncle Jeff and Aunt Claire tried to make it the best holiday that they could, but I was still missing my parents not being there with me. Nate pretty much lived with me at my uncle's place, and only went home when he was summoned by his father. He gave me the best gift I could ever asked for, a seeing eye dog. Now I do not have to use my cane everywhere. It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.

"Save me Cass! My dad wants me to attend a boring New Year's party." he sighs as he plops down on my bed.

"That's tomorrow, Nate. Did you wait to the last second to plan a date for the evening?"

"I wasn't planning on going, but I have no choice." He sighs as he leans his head on my shoulder. "I'm sure you could find someone to go with you to make it bearable Nate. I doubt it would be hard for you to make anyone of the girls say no to you."

"No way! All the people my father would want to pawn off on me are rich snobs." I pat his shoulder since we are laying side by side and giggle. "News flash mister, we are the rich snobs you are talking about." He starts tickling my sides and I gasp for breath. "Take it back Cass. We are not snobs."

"N-Nate, I c-can't breathe." I say between fits of laughter. "Then take it back Cassandra Rose Logan."

"P-Please" I beg because if this keeps up, I might pee my pants. How embarrassing would that be? I finally feel his hands leave my sides and I take in a deep breath. "Nathan Wyatt Miller! T-that was just mean." I pout as my poor aching sides try to recover from his onslaught. I hear Blue growl but I feel his head plop down by me on the bed. Such a good dog.

"Never said I was nice Cass." I roll my eyes and slap his chest. "Whatever." I move to get out of bed, but he catches my wrist. "Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom... butt munch." He starts laughing as I walk to my bathroom. I should flip him off. "Did I make you almost piss yourself Cass.?" I feel my cheeks heat up. "Shut up Nathan!" I slam the door shut as I can still hear his laughter.

New Year's Eve came and went, and I honestly had a pretty good time. I thought I would be miserable and alone, but I wasn't which I was grateful for. I did not want to wallow in self-pity, that tends to happen from time to time. Today is the day that makes me nervous, it is our first day back to school since the holiday break. I am really contemplating on just finishing high school from home.

"Come on babes, we are going to be late." I hear Lily call as her loud footsteps make their way to my room. I love that girl but sometimes she is just loud. "Does she always have to be that loud?" I hear Nate groan, and I imagine him burying his head under one of my pillows and can't help but smile at the image I conjured up. "Well, some of us have to go to school. We can't all sleep-in like you." The brat has another week off, I wish I was so lucky.

"Well, looky what we have here." I throw my pillow but not sure if it hit her or not. "Close but not quite my dear Cass."

"One of these days I'll get you." I mumble under my breath. "What am I going to do with you lovely ladies at school all day?"

"You'll figure it out lazy ass." Lil says and I try not to laugh. Try is the key word because he has just been slumming it his whole vacation, except for when he wants to go out and do something. He never wanted to go visit other friends, which is weird because he had plenty of friends. Til this day I still don't understand why he chooses us over everything else.

"Whatever Lilybug." I do laugh this time because I know how much she hates it when he calls her that. "I swear Nate if we didn't have to get to school, I would kick your ass."

"Love you too Lil. Just keep an eye on our girl. Let me know if anything happens."

"Will do and love you too, you pain in my ass." Their bickering always entertains me. We say our final goodbyes as we head off to school.

"Everything will be fine Cass. Just think a couple more months and we are done. We will never have to set foot in this school again." I smile at that. All I want to do is graduate and get away from this place. Lily stops her car and I know we are at school already. I take a deep breath as we get out of the car. I hear a lot of chit chatter and wonder what the commotion is about.

"What's going on Lil?"

"I don't know but let's find out." She grabs my hand and drags us closer to noise. "What the hell?"

"What is it Lil? You know I can't see." But I freeze when I hear his voice. What in all that is holy is he doing here?

"Who here has a problem with Cassie Logan?" Oh No! No! No! Why is he doing this? Doesn't he know this is going to make it worse? "No one? Well, that's pretty fucking weird." If my hands were on his face, I would feel the anger radiating off him. Heck, I can feel it from here and I am not even close to him. "Because this beautiful girl." I can feel my cheeks start to burn. "I think I need to move far...far away from here now Lil." I whisper, I feel like I am about to cry, this cannot be happening now. "She is the kindest person any of you fuckers will ever know. So, listen up! If I hear of anyone fucking with her, you will answer to me! Not only me but I am pretty sure you know who my father is." I can hear whispers around me. People do not like Randall Miller he is a ferocious man and is not afraid to crush someone like a bug." I will make it my personal goal in life to make yours a living hell!"

I shudder because the person speaking before me does not sound like the Nate I know and that scares me. "I need to go." I turn around and have Blue guide me away from the crowd. "Way to go dumbass." I hear Lily yell and next thing I hear is someone running towards me. I need to get away, I feel like I am going to break down.

"Cass." I stop when I hear his voice. Why does my body always react to his voice? "Cass, are you okay?" My body shakes although I know he was just trying to help but I have a feeling he just made it worse. I let go of Blue and make sure I can feel Nate's chest and when I do I shove him as hard as I can. "What the hell was that Nate?"

"I was just..." I shove him again because this is my battle and I need to start doing things on my own. "Just trying to be an asshole! You know you made this way worse. Why the hell sound like your fucking father?!" Oh, my this is the most profanity has escaped my lips at once. The tears slip down my face as I can just see the disappointed look on my parents face because I am not the proper girl, they have raised me to be. "I don't even know who you are right now." I whisper as I feel Blue nudge my hand with his lead and I take it to start walking away.

"I'm sorry Cass, I was just trying to protect you."

"Babes, you, okay?"

I am so tired of everyone asking me that. I may be blind but damn it I can take care of myself.

"Listen up! I am not going to say this again. I do not... nor do I need your help." My body trembles as more tears leaves my face. "You both need to stop acting like I cannot take care of myself. You both need to start living your own lives as stop revolving it around mine."

"Not happening." I hear Lil's voice crack.

"Us three against the world Cass." Nate says as he tries to grab my hand, but I snatch it away.

"No, Nate." It hurts my heart saying this because I cannot be selfish and hold these two people, I care most for in the world back anymore. "Not anymore. Go back to college, live your life and just forget about me, both of you." with that I take off and the tears fall harder. I hear them calling after me, but I don't stop.

"Take me home Blue."

Thank God my dog was well trained and takes me home. It felt like the longest walk ever but when I get home I fall on my bed and cry my heart out. I could still hear the pain in their voices, but it needed to be done. I do not want to hold them back and them staying by my side would be doing just that.