Weird but Fucking Beautiful

Chapter Three: Thanks for Asking

Cassia's Pov.

*3 days later*

I ended up moving in with Evie at her apartment  and Ronan even came over with his bandmates to help move my stuff. My father didn't come out of the room the entire time we were moving me. I have finally settled in. So far things are going just fine. Ronan and I have started talking a bit more than we use to. I think it's partly because he feels guilty about me getting kicked out even though that wasn't really his fault. It was mine.

I sigh thinking about everything during my freshman level marketing class. I honestly didn't get a word of what the teacher was saying. I'll have to ask someone else for the notes later on. I fidget with my clothes. I am wearing a white lacy tank top with a pink sweater over it and a white ruffled skirt. My hair is down but put back with a pink headband.

I kinda can't wait for class to be over today. I am meeting up with Ronan for lunch because he texted me asking if I would be on campus today a little after I had gotten to my first class of the day. He is probably wanting to check in on how I am doing since my fall out with my dad but that's fine because I need to check in on how he is doing at not dying in a car crash anyways. As soon as the professor dismissed us I stand up and head to the dining hall. I spot Ronan easily because he is one of the only guys over 6 foot in this school and probably the only person who dresses kinda of like he fell out of a 90s grunge magazine. I grab my food and then join him at his table.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask him as I take a seat across from him causing him to look up from his phone.

"Oh nothing too serious" he tries to say nonchalantly. "Just checking in to see how world war 3 is going with your dad?" He asks shaking his head with a small chuckle. I give him a smile.

"Ah well this war is more like the Cold War than a new world war so far. Neither party is really interacting too scared of mutually assured destruction" I say in a joking tone. "It'll be fine, you shouldn't worry so much. My dad just gets in moods. He has since my mom died. He just said more hurtful things this time. I am not ready to talk to him yet." I say shrugging. This isn't the first time I've had a fight with him. It isn't the first time I've been kicked out though I will say it's the first time he told me my mom would be disappointed in me. Which stung...a lot but I know my mother wouldn't be disappointed. He just doesn't understand what's really happening.

"Well you know you have Evie and I until the war is over. Or if you need any muscle fighting on your behalf." He says jokingly flexing his arms and doing that stereotypical kissing his muscles move. I laugh a little rolling my eyes at him.

"I'll definitely keep that in mind but I am not sure if having the guy my dad thinks I slept with fight him would help" I tease my face turning red at the joke despite myself. I already had to awkwardly explain to Ronan what exactly my dad's uh thoughts of the situation were because he wouldn't stop pestering me. I may as well never let him live it down now.

"Hey I'm sure it'd help him imagine the things I supposedly did to you that night." He jokes back chuckling. "You don't think that'd help his anger? Wild." My blush grows more red at his comeback.

"Maybeeee not. Probably wouldn't help" I say trying not to sound as flustered as I clearly am.

Ronan's pov.

I smile at Cassia enjoying seeing that she is doing so well despite the fact that things went so sour the other night. She keeps saying I shouldn't blame myself but I have found I have the effect of ruining things that I touch lately. Apparently that includes my sister's friend's relationship with her father now. I swear I've become a tornado to life itself. I tried to just leave Cassia alone completely after messing everything up and helping her move in with Evie but she kept checking in on me. I kept growing concerned for how she must be handling things. I mean her dad is all she has left. I know how that feels. I can't imagine having a strain with my dad like she had with hers right now.

"How have you been doing these last three days?" She asks her mood changing from joyful and teasing to serious in an instant. She has been very concerned about me since the party the other night which I find really odd but I don't really know what to do about her concern. The last person who needs to worry about me is Cassia.

"I'm fine you know that Cassia, I'm just on my grind tryna get a label to sign the band y'know?" I say doing my best to be vague. I really hate this question if I am being honest. Cassia frowns at me clearly not fully accepting this answer.

"Okay....I just worry a lot...about everything" she says looking a little unsettled but to my surprise not pressing the issue. Something has definitely been going on with her lately.

"Are you sure you're okay? You're not usually this stressed and Evie and I would really love to help take things off your plate." I reassure her hoping she'll tell me the truth this time. Cassia looks at me for a minute her blue eyes holding a sadness I can't quite reach before she plants a smile on her face.

"I am fine Ronan, the best way you can help me is by taking care of yourself" she says before looking at her watch. "I really should go I have class soon" she adds standing up and giving me a quick hug that I don't even have time to react to before rather quickly walking away. I frown a little to myself. She has been really huggy lately and she didn't even eat her food. She just left it sitting at the table. This whole thing with her dad is obviously bothering her more than she is letting on. I continue eating my food worrying about Cassia a bit, maybe I'll follow up with her later or text Evie even if she is unhappy with me right now she won't argue with me supporting Cassia. One of my fellow bandmates comes over and takes the seat Cassia had picking at the food she left despite not knowing anything about it.

"Okay you'll never believe it but I got us a great gig for tonight" Chris says. Normally his great gigs for our band are parties that he throws at his house, it's a school night and I really would rather go home to smoke instead. His parties always end up like the ones I took Cassia home from. Lots of people basically fucking each other and a ton of drunk freshman. I normally perform and leave outright after the one I saw Cassia at was the longest I've ever spent at one.

"Oh really? A gig at an actual establishment?" I ask sarcastically, waiting to hear what's soo great about this "gig".

"Nooo but my dad contacted some of the record labels that he knows and they're going to come to my party tonight dude! This could be a big break" he says smiling. Now this is a great gig.

*later that night*

We did a great job during the show I felt extremely confident. Chris rocked it on the drums, I did great on the guitar and Connor did a wonderful job with vocals. The crowd even asked for more so there is no way they could reject us. This really could be our chance. We go to meet with the guys from the record label.

"So what did you guys think about our music?" Asks Chris smiling.

"It's good for amateurs....but I am sorry kid you're just not really big leagues material. You guys will get chewed up and spit out by other rock bands. You're not nearly good enough. Keep working maybe in a few more years" the record label guy says. 

Damn.. this guy is fucking brutal.. I'd honestly hate to hear him talk to someone that's not family friends.. I take a second to breathe, and decide my best route of action is to just nod and walk away. I don't want to argue but I know we did damn good and I just honestly don't care anymore. I walk straight out to my car.

As soon as I get in I reach over to my glove compartment and grab a shoebox I use to keep my hemp wraps and grinder. It doesn't take long for the muscle memory to kick in and I have a lit blunt in my hand.

"Fuck.." I mumble to myself before taking a long drag and laying my head back on the head rest. Thankfully it doesn't take long for Mary Jane to take my problems away and just let me breaths for a minute. After a few moments of bliss I am interrupted by someone knocking on my window. I look over and see Conor standing by the window.

"Hey man you okay?" He asks. That damn question.  I sigh not wanting to deal with anyone right now so instead of talking to him like I probably I decide to drive off. I get maybe 3 miles from Chris house when I get pulled over. Fuck.