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chapter three! I see right through me ☆
The moment Cassandra stepped foot into the Hastings' back garden, an overwhelming frenzy of voices flooded her senses. She smiled politely at the people she passed as she entered further into the event, arm linked to her father's as he pulled her in the direction of a couple whose names she couldn't remember. Truthfully, all these people were strangers to her and if it hadn't been for Pip explaining that Max Hastings was their next target, after already speaking to Naomi Ward, she would have spent the previous night coming up with an array of excuses as to why she couldn't attend their Silver Anniversary party.
According to Naomi, Sal left Max's house on Friday, April nineteenth at ten-thirty pm, leaving him with two hours and twenty minutes before he arrived back home at twelve-fifty after he supposedly murdered Andie.
Cassie stood for a moment and took her time to glance around, observing the clusters of people conversing in what Cassie could only assume was generic small talk, judging by the looks on their faces. Lips curled into a tight smile and eyes crinkled just the right amount to seem vaguely interested. Cassandra recognised it all too well. Her smiles, lines, and actions were all rehearsed and practiced in front of a mirror until Cassie herself was impressed with how genuine her fake persona could seem from an outsider's perspective. She was simply performing.
Excusing herself from her involuntary conversation, Cassandra freed herself from Jason's grip, eyes spotting Pippa amongst the crowd. The sight of a familiar face (although it was still new) within countless of strangers loosened the tight grip that apprehension currently had on her.
Once she reached Pip, she felt instantly cooler. She was ten times lighter than she was in the presence of Jason Bell. He held too much power over her, pressure being the only feeling she recognised around him.
"I'm sorry but you look ridiculous!" Cassie placed the palm of her hand over her mouth in an attempt to prevent a teasing smile from forming. Failing to conceal her smirk, she looked at Pippa once more and laughed light-heartedly. The brunette was wearing a star costume and balanced a tray of champagne on her left hand, her right being used to stop her headband from sliding off her hair.
"There are people from school here!" An exasperated voice exclaimed from behind them, belonging to someone the blonde could only assume was Pip's friend. Cassie turned around curious as to who had joined them.
"Cara meet Cassie, Cassie meet Cara." Pip introduced quickly, eyes darting between the two girls, although Cassandra had already recognised her. Cara Ward. They hadn't met officially, never once uttering a word to one another, but Cassie recognised her from passing by her in school hallways and accidental eye contact in classrooms. Her father, Elliot Ward, was a teacher and although he may not have made her list of favourites, she couldn't deny that he was good at his job and seemed like a decent enough man.
Their introduction was cut short as Pip's voice trailed off and she motioned to where Max had stood a moment earlier, now gone.
Rushing through the Hastings' house on a desperate hunt to find Max, trying to follow the sound of his disappearing footsteps, they rounded a corner and stumbled to a stop once hearing the distinct voice of Jason Bell. He was on the phone, seemingly agitated at whoever was on the other end, his voice clear as he demanded Becca to make an appearance at the party.
"Fuck!" Cassandra's breath hitched as Jason slammed his phone into his hand, Pip herself flinching at his sudden outburst, his put-together facade shattering. He hadn't noticed them yet, she still had time.
"You go ahead and talk to Max. I'll be right back." she whispered, hoping that when Pip glanced back at her, the fear behind her twinkling eyes didn't betray her. She could feel her breath quicken with every step she took, stumbling into the bathroom and locking the door. She gripped the sink, the cold porcelain beginning to extinguish the fire that was forming beneath her skin. She was relying on whatever strength she had left to hold herself up, her whole body feeling foreign to her. She hated this. She hated him for being able to make her feel like this, even when his anger wasn't directed towards her.
Cassandra stared into the mirror that hung above the sink. It's a little crooked she thought, doing anything to keep herself distracted as the phrase you're okay kept repeating itself in the back of her mind. Cassie also focused on the slight shimmer that reflected from the earrings she was wearing. They were rose gold with light green stones which she received from her father. It was one of the final meaningful memories she had of him, when everything was still okay, and she didn't resent him for simply existing. When he was still her dad.
☆
"Their stories don't add up!" Pip explained, a slight slur to her words as she led Cassie down a street. Cassie hated that she left Pippa to approach Max herself, feeling especially guilty having seen her tipsy state coming back from the interview. The brunette hadn't asked any questions about where she had gone or what she had been doing, and Cassie was extremely thankful for that.
Pip pressed play on the audio she recorded, the blonde listening intently and noting the differences that stuck out the most between his and Naomi's interviews.
Max stated that they were playing FIFA and explained that Naomi had been MIA for a portion of the night, with no idea of where she could have disappeared to. However, Naomi stated that they were all playing Mario Kart and implied that she had stayed with them for the duration of the night. The one thing their accounts of what happened had in common was that Sal Singh left the house at ten-thirty exactly. It was oddly specific.
"So, someone's lying."
"Exactly, and we're going to need all the help we can get if we want to figure out why." Pip turned and opened a gate that belonged to a house, it swinging behind her as Cassie followed. She looked up, eyes widening as curiosity became straight panic, realising where Pip had taken them. It was the last place Cassandra Bell ever imagined herself to be and the urge to run was strong but Pip had already knocked and she wouldn't leave her stranded again.
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