The Things We Leave Behind

t e n

 light smut in this chapter

"Lana, would you like to stay for dinner?" Jackie asks, coming in from the kitchen as she and Daniel set the table.

"I would love to Ms Anderson," Lana smiles. "Is that okay Cass?"

"Oh yeah please do. Do you think you can stay late? We could watch a movie and dress shop online?"

"Oh my god that would be so much fun! Let me call my mum to ask." Lana jumps off the couch and leaves to call her mum. Millie, Logan and I get up and move into the dining room for dinner. Jackie keeps going all out for dinner. I tell her she doesn't need to, but she insists. Tonight, she's made spaghetti, garlic bread and salad.

As we take our seats, Lana comes skipping in. "My mum said I can stay. She'll pick me up around 10ish."

"Amazing!" Jackie exclaims. "Hope you like spaghetti."

"Oh, I love it. Thank you," Lana smiles.

Everyone begins to eat and soon the dinner chatter takes off, ranging from school grades, to weekend activities and hobbies. Once dinner is over, I start collecting the plates.

"Oh Cassie, you don't have to do that," Daniel tells me.

"Dan, Jackie, you literally took me in. Let me clean up. Please," I give them a sad face, hoping they'll let me help them. "Come on. Get some wine and sit on the porch. There's a cool breeze coming in, so sit and chill."

"Fine. But Logan, help her. But don't break anything else while you do it," Jackie chides. Logan gives a tight lipped smile and nods. He stands and helps clear away the rest of the dishes as everyone gets up from the table. Jackie and Dan head to the porch and Millie and Lana head back into the living room to watch more 'Grey's Anatomy'.

I start rinsing the dish and loading them into the dishwasher. Logan brings in the last lot of plates and cutlery from the dining room. He grabs the tea towel and starts drying the dishes that had been left on the drying rack from earlier. I finish loading the dishwasher and begin to clean the non-dishwasher safe items. Logan dries them and we fall into a systematic routine that flows like clockwork.

"Are we going to talk about it?" He asks, calmly.

"Talk about what?" I reply, confused but not showing it.

"You completely flipping out at the party and getting drunk." He says. He seems concerned and I like that he does. It means he cares, but I get let him get stuck in my problems when he doesn't deserve that.

"I was just stressed about school, and I missed my family, that's all." I state.

"Bullshit," he says, throwing down the tea towel. "Cass, I grew up with you. I know when you aren't okay."

"You don't know me," I snap, dropping the sponge and the spaghetti pot. "You lost every goddamn right to know me when you moved and never spoke to me again. I tried to stay in touch with you. You're the one who didn't care. Don't try and act like you know me now." I turn back to the dishes, and we finish cleaning up in silence. He doesn't try and start another conversation and I'm thankful for that. I don't know how much more I could say without telling him everything or crying my eyes out.

I wash my hands and quickly exit the kitchen, making my way to the living room to meet Lana. "Hey!" she says, spotting me. "Just in time, we finished the episode. Wanna do some dress shopping now?"

"Yup, of course. Millie, want to join us?" I ask.

"Sure, I need a dress for homecoming too and I swear to God, I am not wearing one of mum's from the 80's. I look like a fucking cupcake with all that tulle." Millie says, standing her ground. Lana and I both laugh our asses off as we walk upstairs to my room.