𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐄 | ⁱˢᵃᵃᶜ ᵍᵃʳᶜⁱᵃ

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒

"Food !" George's sudden yell jolted Cassie from her sleep.

The blonde girl closed her eyes in resignation as she heard the clamor of the Walter boys descending for dinner. She reluctantly rose from her bed and gazed at herself in the mirror. "God, I look like the living dead," she muttered to herself.

Descending the stairs, she observed everyone seated and devouring their meals like wild animals. Rolling her eyes at the chaos, she made her way towards Katherine, who greeted her with a wide smile.

"Hey, sweetie. How was your day?" Katherine asked, handing a plate to Cassie.

She accepted the plate with a grateful smile. "Thanks. My day was fine, I guess," she replied casually.

Jackie joined them, reciprocating Cassie's smile. She then approached Katherine with an offer to help. "Can I help?"

"Oh! No, thanks. Just have a seat," Katherine replied warmly.

Cassie remained still, scanning her surroundings. Jackie headed towards the seat next to Benny, but Parker claimed it was hers. Jackie then attempted another seat, only for Jordan to beat her to it. Left standing awkwardly, Jackie glanced around unsure of where to sit.

"Oh, hey, Jordan. Can you go grab another chair?" Katherine asked politely.

Jordan stood up and offered his seat to Jackie. Cassie pressed her lips together, silently observing the Walter Boys as they ate.

"Are you going to stay like that all dinner? Come sit next to me, Cass," Isaac said with his mouth full.

Cassie mustered a fake smile and took a seat to Isaac's right.

As Cassie settled next to Isaac, she tried to ignore the loud chewing noises coming from his direction. She glanced around the table, catching snippets of conversation amidst the clinking of utensils and the occasional laughter. Despite her efforts to engage in the lively atmosphere, she couldn't shake off the feeling of detachment. It was as if she were an outsider peering into a world that she didn't quite belong to.

Lost in her thoughts, Cassie absentmindedly picked at her food, her appetite dwindling with each passing moment. She stole glances at the faces around her, wondering if anyone else felt the same sense of displacement. But amidst the boisterous chatter and animated gestures, she couldn't discern any signs of unease.

With a sigh, Cassie resigned herself to the remainder of the meal, hoping that the discomfort would soon pass. She forced herself to engage in small talk, offering polite smiles and nods whenever necessary. But deep down, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being adrift in a sea of familiarity, longing for a sense of belonging that seemed just out of reach.

Cassie quickly came out of her thoughts when she heard a blood-curdling scream. It was Jackie. The brown haired girl leaped backward, knocking over the plate in her frenzy. Food scattered across the floor as Jackie stumbled away from the unexpected intruder, her heart pounding in her chest. The commotion drew the attention of everyone at the table. Cassie's eyes widened in shock as she caught sight of the serpent winding its way across the floor, its presence sending shivers down her spine.

"Whoa. Whoa," Danny exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Rumple!" Jordan shouted as he ran towards the snake.

Jackie's sweater bore the unfortunate evidence of the spilled food, now adorned with colorful splotches and streaks.

"Oh my god! Can I help you with your sweater?" Katherine offered, concern etched on her face as she rushed to Jackie's side.

"No, it's fine. It's fine. I'm fine," Jackie almost yelled, trying to mask her embarrassment as she left.

As the boys laughed uproariously, Cassie's irritation grew palpable. Isaac, ever the arrogant one, couldn't resist needling her further. "You can let it go now. The snake's gone," he whispered with a smirk, his tone dripping with condescension.