Adler | The Monarch & The Heirs BOOK 2.

Guilty | A THIRTY ONE

A/N: Dedicated to Jadachick and Ashhhley17

•••

Andrea knew her life sucked since she was old enough to learn being born as a girl, was worthless in her father's eyes.

She tried to be optimistic about never having anyone's high expectations no matter how hard you worked. She really tried.

Then her mother ratted her out the moment Andrea confessed she couldn't see a future with herself married to a man.

And life became a living hell.

In hindsight, she was young and confused with Jeffrey always in and out of their home, Andrea hadn't known who else to turn to about her feelings. It was a valuable lesson.

Andrea transformed herself from that helpless, naïve little child desperate to fit where no one wanted her. So how could she be so stupid over some girl?

"Cassandra said she isn't gonna be in today." Lydia informed her at the halls that morning.

Andrea knew the other girl still held resent towards her by the few, snide glances but, Andrea was appreciative to at least be acknowledged.

"So, do her a favour and let Captain Adler know okay?"

Andrea nodded. "Can I ask why though?"

She braced herself for a possible lashing. Lydia's lips were in a taught, straight line, rigid posture void of any warmth she'd always ooze around her peers or Cassandra. "She didn't give me the deets in her call."

"Oh..."

"But my guess is that it's probably 'cause of Mark."

Mark. That had been the name Cassandra called him by.

The scene was burnt into Andrea's mind. The look that flooded Cassandra's face when he walked in, it was glowing. She'd looked so entranced and no longer had she even seemed to comprehend Andrea's existence. Andrea couldn't have gotten out of there sooner.

"You sorted things out with her now, right?" Lydia questioned. For someone a foot shorter than Andrea, the girl could stand for much taller with the interrogative attitude.

Granted, Andrea had been the one to beg for her help when realising ignoring Cassandra wasn't getting easier as the days went by.

"Uh, yeah. All good." Andrea nodded.
Lydia quirked a brow. "So, she turned you down?"

"She didn't need to. I told her I was only lying about fancying her so she'd leave me alone."

"You what?!" Lydia's mouth hung.

Honestly, it was possibly the greatest thing about Cassandra being so gullible. If it had been anybody else, they would've known Andrea was pathetically trying to save face, but Cassandra quickly accepted it. And forgave her. Again.

"Why would you do that?"

"So it wouldn't be awkward." replied Andrea. "I mean, first of all, Cass is obviously so straight by the way she drools over McCoy and then there's the fact that I back stabbed her. What right do I have to be even thinking of telling that to her? You said so yourself."

"Yeah, but ducking out is so lame. Like, if you were going to be shameless, then at least have the guts to do it all the way."

"I made up with Cass." Andrea snapped. "What more do you want?"