I stand there as Todd comes back from work and Lisa shows him the recording and I try not to lose my mind all over again.
I leave the house with Aubrey right behind me and I walk over to the cursed house.
I knock on the door and Lisa and Todd follow after.
Connor opens the door and I walk in.
"Where's your mom?" I ask and he points to the living room and I go to the living room.
I sit down at the sofa opposite her and she turns her attention from the TV.
"What are you doing in my house?" She says but I ignore her.
"Connor let us in." Lisa says as everyone filters around the room. "It's not actually your house either, it's under the management of your father's estate and the rightful owner can take it away from you any time."
"And they ought to. Who the fuck told you to talk to Matilda like that." I play the recording and it blasts through the surround system that Aubrey had the password to.
Everyone starts to stare at her as she starts to get this red look, flushing her face.
"I- I." She says but she has nothing to say.
"Yeah stutter like a coward, which you are. How dare you say that to a girl who has done nothing to you and cannot defend herself. You're evil." Aubrey says as he stands up. "I now see why Caleb and Canu are the way they are and I wish they'd have got better parents than you and your monster of a husband."
He looks so angry and Lisa and Todd stay and I go after him.
He's sitting on the outside swing in his garden and I sit down next to him, he puts the blanket over me and I look at him.
"That was really brave of you." I say and he shakes his head.
"I feel like an idiot, Caleb and Canu are going to hate me now and they're the best friends I've ever had." He's so upset and it makes me feel hurt too. I've never seen him quite so distraught.
"I think that Caleb and Canu love you much more than they love those horrible parents of theirs and because you were brave, I'll be brave too. You know I'm adopted right." He nods, I mean everyone knows that around here.
"Well my family is alive and my real name is not Cassidy Woods, it is Cassidy Griffiths." I don't want to look at him after I say but it feels like a huge weight off my chest.
He reaches out and holds my hand.
"You know how long I've wanted to tell you that I know?" He says and I'm confused but I'm still not looking at him. "I know I always used to tease you about it because I thought maybe I could annoy you enough to tell you the truth. I've been playing dumb all these years because I know who you are Cass, you don't think I'd forget you?"
I look at him and he looks at me and for once, I feel seen.
The way he says Cass makes me feel something.
"Why couldn't you have told me you knew. I've been stressed as fuck, trying to figure out ways to keep it from you." I say but I realise I'm not mad. "I think for once, you were being nice though even if you showed it in a silly way."
"Yeah I was and still am quite mean and stupid. The handcuff thing was just out of pocket and then I made you sleep on the floor but I didn't know you were bleeding and I didn't think you'd willingly sleep on my bed. I was really stupid to let you sleep on the floor though." He says and I nod.
"I was sore for days. The traffic jam as well." I say and he groans.
"That was bad. I was annoyed with myself that day and I genuinely was warm and I didn't think about you because I was so annoyed. I didn't mean to get angry with you when I got back but I really was scared when you just weren't there anymore. I can't believe I forgot you. I really do love Matilda and Jodie and Arun and Rudy and when I saw them I instantly thought of you and Caleb and Canu. You guys apart from my family are really the only friends I have. Everyone else was just around me and we got along but we weren't friends. Not at all. Going through college without you was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but that was my fault. I didn't actually go with a girl though, I went with the movers and told them that you'd be better off staying without me for the rest of the journey. They were more than happy to oblige and stay. I just don't think I was a very good person at the time or for you and you didn't need that but..." He makes me look at him by gently guiding my face towards him in his hands. "Don't cry or get upset. I wish I hadn't because I noticed how lonely you looked the whole time. I'd have stayed with you the whole time if you asked me too but I also had to respect if you wanted me to stay away and it was so difficult because you looked so sad." He says and I tear up.
"I really was lonely. I missed you a lot and I missed having someone to talk to. The only reason why I didn't come and talk to you is because I thought you were happier without me." I let go of his hand and hug him.
I cry into his chest and I feel his warm body embrace me and for the first time in forever I feel safe and loved and cared for.
I missed having a friend.
Aubrey could be that friend I've needed all along.
