Running Through Rivers

Chapter One

Chapter One - Cassidy's POV

***************************

"Cassie....Cassie?.....Casss-a-deeeee!"

"Whaaa?" I groaned and turned onto my back, peeling open my eyes, only to be kneed in the stomach as someone jumped onto my bed.

"Sophie, no," I mumbled, but it was too late; she had already wriggled under the duvet and wrapped herself around me, lacing her tiny fingers through mine. A mess of blonde hair appeared next to my face and I snuggled into her, kissing her mane of curls fondly.

"Your toes are freezing, Soph!" I muttered, resting my chin on her head.

She giggled. "Well yours smell!"

I pulled away and mocked being offended. "Oh, no you did not just say that!"

Sophie pulled the duvet up until only her cheeky blue eyes were showing. "I did, I did!"

"Well, you know what happens now." I sat up and searched under the blankets until I found her feet, then grabbed her ankles and began to tickle her. She shrieked and kicked her legs.

"Nonono! Stop, Cassie, stooop!" Sophie laughed, squirming free and jumping off the bed. I got up and chased her, out of the room and into the hallway. She ran as fast as her three-year-old legs would carry her, but I caught up and pulled her onto the carpet, wrapping my arms around her waist as she tried to get free.

We both froze suddenly, as the door at the end of the hallway opened.

"Really, Cass? It's 6 in the morning! Unlike some people, I actually value sleep." A brunette head appeared from inside the room, and I felt Sophie relax. It was only Austin. I scolded myself for being so noisy while Dad was home, before releasing Sophie and standing up.

I smirked. "Oh, sorry. I'd forgotten how much you need your beauty sleep." Austin gave me a 'you're sooo funny' look and Sophie giggled as she ran over to him. I pressed the tips of my fingers to my lips and blew him a kiss, to which he replied by flipping me the bird while Sophie was preoccupied with his string bracelet.

"Why do you were a brace-lit? You not a girl!" I heard Sophie protest as I walked back to my room to get ready.

"We still haven't got the tests back," I called over my shoulder, and I heard a mutter followed by Sophie declaring that "Austin said a bad word."

I smiled.

My smile soon turned into a frown as I remembered what day it was.

Ugh. School.

Another year serving out my sentence at Greybourne High School. Only this time, I was in sixth form.

I pulled open my wardrobe door and selected a clean white shirt, tights, a grey skirt, navy jumper, and the regulation grey and blue striped tie. I couldn't seem to find my blazer anywhere. I always lost that thing. I quickly changed, deciding to have a shower after school instead. I brushed out my curly hair, which had turned dirty-blonde again after I finally managed to wash out the blue hair dye that Austin had planted in my shower.

The twit.

Pulling my hair into a messy bun and securing it with bobby pins, I slipped on my black ballet flats and went down the hallway.

I knocked on Austin's door. He opened it in his boxers and I pretended to gag. He rolled his eyes. "Whadda' you want now, Cass?"

I checked behind me to make sure Sophie had gone downstairs before asking quietly. "Did Dad....get home last night? I mean, I know I went to bed early, but I turned my light off at midnight and he still wasn't back."