Separated

Summer Is Here

Chapter 21:

A few more weeks, and summer just started. Ayden went back with his parents, still thinking about Cassie. He never wanted to hurt her. All he wanted to do was protect her. As with Cassie and Emma, Emma was trying everything she could to make sure Cassie wasn't stressed. Lydia was off to community college, she graduated early so that way she can get out of high school for a while.

When Ayden returned to his family's apartment, he wasn't happy at all. His mom kept telling him to never speak to Cassie ever again, while his dad was telling him to work things out with her. There was constant arguing about trying to find a house every night. Ayden was having doubts about doing football for his senior year. When he tried talking about it with his mom, she brushed it off and said he still needs to continue. Ayden knew his mom never cared about his eating disorder, his dad on the other hand did.

Emma wanted to take Cassie out for some dinner, she noticed Cassie hasn't really been eating as much. She wanted to make sure Cassie had at least something in her system. Cassie was having trouble walking for a while due to her third trimester. The first trimester for her was a blessing, but everything turned to hell when the second and third trimester hit.

"Are you still thinking about him?" Emma asked Cassie while looking over at the menu.

"Should I?" Cassie asked. "I don't know if I should."

"You guys just need to work things out that's all..."

Cassie was glad that Emma was helping her out. She knew ever since she met Emma, she would be her number one supporter.

"How can we Emma? His mother doesn't even like me!"

"Have you tried talking to her or was this the first time you guys met?"

"First time..."

"Oh Cassie... that's not good"

"I know, sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in this bubble. Everybody just gives up on me," Cassie continues. "It's like I don't get a say in anything..."

"Well, you did make a lot of poor choices in the past, Cass," Emma said. "I mean remember the vape, the fight between your mom, the fights with Kayla."

"Those poor choices made me feel like things would get better..."

"But Cassie, they only made things worse. Look at you, Ayden, and even Marla..."

"What does Marla have to do with this conversation?"

"Remember the kiss?"

Cassie looked at Emma with a blank stare. She tried so hard not to relive that memory, but it just kept coming back to her. Cassie remembers being in that room, her lips on top of Marla's... She knew that was a horrible mistake that should have never happened. But she didn't want to harm her best friend's feelings. As much as Cassie wanted things to work out, nothing was ever going to work out.

"That kiss was a mistake, Ems, you know that," Cassie responded.

"It wasn't a mistake to Marla, she really did love you," Emma said.

"Well, it sucks that not everyone gets what they want."

Emma sighs.

"Let's just eat Cass, we'll talk later."

Meanwhile, Ayden was packing his bags. He could hear his mother begging him not to leave but he refused to hear her out. The last thing he wanted to hear was his own mother calling Cassie a mistake. It was a horrible feeling to Ayden how much his mother hated Cassie. All the other girls Ayden dated were never a good fit for him, it was all for his mother.