Beyond Bloodline - Unbreakable Bonds

fourteen

Cassandra was. . . confused, to say the least. It was like she'd stumbled upon a truth and her whole world, as she knew it, had been turned topsy-turvy. She'd always loved Nigel, also known after a while that he didn't love her so much as before. He did care for her but would never take it past the fringes of platonic friendship anymore. She understood him. Really, she did. But she'd always been greedy and she'd never really stopped hoping.

Until now.

"Cassie." That effectively snapped her out of it and she raised her gaze, only realizing now that he'd walked across the room and come to a stop in front of her. His gaze was open and it made the small curve of the smile she was trying to keep up wobble the slightest bit. He was endearing and had always loved sincerely and far more intensely than was supposed to be capable. Only one of the many qualities she'd adored.

"You like her then?" she asked. She hadn't noticed it, too lax as she did some offhand flirting with Glenn. She'd been pretty confident he, at least, wouldn't love another so soon. Now, she wasn't so sure.

"Yeah."

"I understand." And she did. When Hayley had integrated with her other friends, she'd been ecstatic at the merging of her two circles. She still was, just now needed to come to terms with it.

"Thanks, Cas," he smiled, knowing that she meant it. They were the easiest persons they knew and nothing could keep them down for long. It was why they'd worked together as a couple, and why they worked even better as friends. "I've got to run. I'll see you Monday?"

"Monday," Cassandra replied, raising her hand in a small wave.

But Nigel was gone already, tearing in search of the direction through which Hayley had left. He burst through the front doors, drawing short at the sight of Aries on the patio, arms folded as he leaned against a white pillar.

He followed the jerk of his friend's thumb to the left side of the street and rushed out a short thanks before running along in that direction. Many minutes passed as his foot fell lightly on the concrete pavement, trying to use the street lamps to see ahead of him. He was almost tempted to believe Aries had led him the wrong way out of spite when he finally saw her a couple meters ahead, stumbling a bit and then leaning against the brick walls of a boutique.

He hurried to catch up, bringing his palm to guide her elbow and gently turn her around despite how dizzy he himself felt. "Hey." Her eyes widened in alarm and then quickly relaxed on seeing who it was, a relieved sigh escaping her lips. Then his heart was hammering, leaving him strung up with emotions and to promptly deflate, when she suddenly shoved him off of her.

"Hayley," he called, having nearly gone through another rollercoaster of emotions until he saw her waving her hand frantically at him before stumbling over to the rose bushes hedged around the store and promptly puking her guts out. He rushed over to the convenience store just opposite to get a bottle of water and packet of medicine.

"Thought you left," she murmured glumly, accepting the bottle and uncorking it so she could give her mouth a good rinse. She handed it back to him before fumbling with her heels and collapsing to the ground, enjoying the cool breeze for the briefest of moments before cold actually started to set in.

"I wouldn't," he reassured, slipping off his jacket so he could slip it on her and then crouching in front of her once he'd buttoned it up for. "Get on, I'll take you back home."

"Why'd you come back?" she mumbled once she was properly balanced, cheek pressed against his light dress shirt and legs crossed around his torso, the sight of her flawless creamy skin doing nothing for his senses.

"Was worried," he said. "It's not safe."

Hayley grunted something in reply and he only smiled softly as he continued the brisk walk. They could always talk about this later since it wasn't really likely she'd remember much of a conversation with how out of it she was. Luckily, both she and Gabe lived close enough that it was just a short walk.