By Mistake

Chapter 13 - A New Friend

Cassie Huwit

Soft sunlight kissed my cheek waking me up gradiently with the day.

I realize I am alone in the bed again. If it wasn't for the change in my surroundings, I would think I'm back in that house.

I kick my feet under the covers of the bed making more room at the bottom when I feel something heavier than the blanket bump over my feet. I look down at the end of the large bed and see a light lavender tinted dress folded on the edge.

I lean forward taking the item in my hands, the soft silk folding through my fingers.

Liam brought me a dress?

I make my way towards the bathroom and turn on the water, as I wait for it to heat, I slip out of my clothes from the day before.

When I was at the house, showering felt wrong. Now I can finally shower knowing no one is watching me.

The heat from the steam brushes my skin as I enter the shower, the water spraying down engulfed me with warmth. I feel days' prior sliping away as the water runs down my tired body, I'm at peace for the first time in weeks as the hot steam and water consumes me.

I hear a knock at the door.

"Hey Cas? You ok in there?"

Liam's nickname for me makes my chest tighten.

" I'll be out in a minute." I stammer out, pathetically.

"Just wanted to tell you there's breakfast for you, when you're ready."

"Thanks!"

Over the sound of running water I listen to Liam's faint footsteps leave the room.

Water off, the hot bathroom air consumes me and I'm again brought back to reality of where I am.

Liam is a good distraction but I refuse to talk unless absolutely necessary, Aaron locking me in that room has dimmed my trust in people.

I wrap the towel around me, feeling my bones sticking out of my skin more than usual.

I guess the loss of food has affected me more than I thought.

I peered my neck to look around the door frame to see if Liam had closed the door behind him before I walked out of the bathroom to get changed. The door was closed.

I stood in front of the bed, holding the fabric of the dress in my hands, I zone out thinking about Liam's face when I walk out in it.

What if he doesn't like it?

What if he thinks I'm ugly?

What if this wasn't what he intended when he put the dress on my bed?

What if Liam wasn't the one to give it to me?

I am careful to slip the dress over my head but I get stuck. I try to wiggle the dress down further, stomping on the floor as I do, but when it doesn't, I try to pull it up yet it doesn't budge.

I'm stuck.

I think through my options of asking Liam for help and risking him being annoyed that I've ruined the dress or accept my fate of being part of the dress.

He did say I could ask him for anything but it's embarassing to have to be taken out of a dress.

Just as I think of calling for Liam, I slip back over that same basket and land on my ass.

"Cassie? Are you alright in there?"

"No." I squeal out.

"Help."