ANIMA

11. Emotionally invested

Cassie

I look over at Kenzie’s table, they are sharing cupcakes and laughing.

Are they laughing at me?

How can he eat and laugh after what he just did to me? He made me sound so clingy and pathetic.

When he said he wanted to break up all those months ago I just thought he needed some space. At that point we had been a couple for 2 years, we were always together at school and our families almost always went on vacation at the same places. So I thought if we spent the summer apart by the time school started up again we would be back to being Cassie and Mason, the envy of everyone in our circle.

“Why didn’t you tell us that you guys broke up?” Winter asks.

“You should have said something. We are your friends. Us not knowing makes us look bad!” Cyn adds.

Their yapping is giving me a headache so I get up and head to my room.

Thank god my car was delivered yesterday. After a change of clothes, I grab my car keys. No one stops me as I leave campus for the mall.

I keep moving from store to store buying whatever the store assistants recommend, looking for something to lift my mood.

Nothing is working.

The whole mess with Mason shouldn’t be affecting me this much. Sure we were together for 2 years but that’s because we made sense on paper. Up until this moment I always thought Mason was the one who invested more emotionally in our relationship. The one who likes the other more is always at a disadvantage, so I made sure that wasn’t me.

But why did Mason seem unbothered by our breakup while I am here buying everything in my path in my quest to feel better?

“May I please see your bags?”

I look up to find a guard looking at me expectantly.

Wait does he think I stole something? “Do you know who I am?”

“There’s no need to cause a scene. I am just doing my job. Let me see your bags.”

“I will not be disrespected by a mere rent-a-cop.” I say seething.

How dare he? After all I have been through today.

I make to go for the exit and he steps in my way.

“You can’t leave the premises until I search those bags.”

“Is there a problem James?” asks someone I assume is the manager.

“Someone said they saw this young lady stuffing something in her shopping bags. But she won’t let me search them, ma’am.”

“Let’s see the bags.” the manager says.

Maybe it will be better to let them search and then sue them when they find nothing.

“Fine.” I say handing over the bags.

From the last bag the guard holds up lip tint and concealer. I don’t remember buying those today…

“I believe this is from our store. And you didn’t pay for them did you?” the guard says smugly.

“I am Cassandra King, I can buy this store, better yet this whole mall easily. Why would I steal cheap makeup?”  I say exasperated.

“How would I know why rich folks do all the weird stuff they do?” the guard says shrugging.

“Miss King, why don’t you come to my office? We can discuss this little misunderstanding there.” the manager says.

I guess someone here recognizes my name at least.

After what feels like an eternity of sitting in the manager’s shoebox of an office while she talks to my mom on the phone, she lets me go.

I give the perplexed guard a smug look as I exit the store.

I have to report home because of the incident but I have decided to treat it as a little reprieve from school and the mess Mason made. I feel better already.

The feeling does not last long when I walk into the dining room and find Kenzie there.

“What are you doing here?”

I get no response.

“Hey I am talking to you”

“Don’t you think maybe your first words to me should be an apology? That is before you start with the stupid questions of course because we all know you just can’t help yourself with those.”

I must be losing my touch. Before today Kenzie would never have even thought to speak to me like that, especially at home. That’s what made her the perfect punching bag, she takes everything I throw at her without making a peep of complaint. At least she used to.

I don’t like this new version of her.

“Apologize for what?”

“Oh I don’t know, maybe for accusing me of being a leech or hitting me? Or how about you apologize for letting everyone harass me for breaking up the golden couple when you knew it wasn’t true and you have been broken up for weeks!”

“Broken up or not, you had no right to even look at Mason! Whatever they did or said to you at school, you deserved every second. You brought it onto yourself so don’t blame me for your foolish decisions. No one forced you to make out with him.”

My parents choose that exact moment to walk in.

“Who has Kenzie been making out with?” mom asks.

“Doesn’t matter who, Kenzie this is not the time for this. Any little distraction might cause you to drop the ball on your studies.” Dad says.

“You never gave Cassie dating restrictions.” Kenzie says.

“She’s right Mark. That would be a bit of a double standard don’t you think?” mom says.

“It’s not a double standard. Statistically speaking, girls like Kenzie are more likely to become teenage mothers and dropouts. I would really hate to see all her hard work go to waste.” Dad says.

“Girls like me? You mean black girls?” Kenzie asks.

She can be so sensitive, not everything is about race. And dad is obviously not racist, he is raising a black girl after all.

Mom clears her throat.

“The reason I called you here is because we need to talk about what happened today Cassandra.”

“Mom, in front of Kenzie?”

“It’s not like she’s a stranger, she’s your sister.”

“No she’s not.” I mumble, mom pretends not to hear. She’s really good at blocking out whatever she doesn’t want to hear.

“You are a high school senior now and you turn 18 in a couple of months. Soon this little habit of yours will have lasting consequences.” Mom says.

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Let’s call it what it is, kleptomania or better yet habitual theft. Be careful sis, you don’t want to end up in juvie.” Kenzie says not even trying to hide her smirk.

“There is no need to scare her. She’s just blowing off some steam. Kids need a harmless way to unwind once in a while.” Dad says.

“Dad, I didn’t do it.”

“It’s okay sweetheart, this is a judgement free zone. Let’s just think of other ways to de-stress okay.” dad says.

“We should have put an end to this when she first started this. It is all my fault.”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Serena. She was only 10 besides its harmless.”

I can’t believe this, none of them believe me. Not even dad who I can always count on to be on my side. This day sucks!

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

A/N

Thank you so much for reading!

- Oli 💌