Forever His

Chapter Fourteen

I didn't realize it'd been a year since I updated last. This isn't anything special, just something to help me get back into the groove of things hopefully. Either way, enjoy my patient lovelies. 

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Three green numbers stood out against the pitch black room as I watched them slowly change, minute by minute. The only sound was that of my own breathing, since my roommate had found her way into a stranger's bed that night. In front of me, the digital clock changed to five a.m. just as my phone lit up beside me and started its shrill ringing. I jumped at the sudden noise and swiped it up, sliding the answer button over as I put the device up to my ear.

"Hello?" My voice was husky as I spoke into the receiver.

"Cassie! I didn't wake you, did I?" My mother's voice came to me, causing a sudden calm to settle in my body. There was nothing like a phone call from home to soothe the soul.

"No, I've been awake. Any reason you're calling so early, though? Nothing's wrong at home, is it?"

"Oh no, honey, nothing like that. Actually, I'm calling with some pretty good news. Guess who's coming to visit you this weekend." I could hear the smile in her tone, and it brought a grin to my own face.

"Who?" I asked.

"Jenny! I think she mentioned that Markus might be joining her also, but they stopped by to ask if your father and I would like to join them. Unfortunately, we both have to work, but you know we'll be up soon for family week..."

She kept rambling about how sorry she was that they couldn't come too, but I stopped listening after she mentioned Jen and Markus. Excitement instantly bubbled inside of me at the thought of finally being able to reunite with two of my favorite people from back home. I hadn't seen them since I left, and at the rate things were going, I wouldn't be able to until Christmas.

"They're really coming?" I cut into her babbling after a few moments of stunned silence on my part.

"As far as I know, sweetie, yes. I don't think I was actually supposed to tell you yet, I'm pretty sure Jenny said she was going to call you, but I just couldn't resist!"

We talked for around an hour after that, before she decided she needed to go cook for my dad. I rolled over on my bed and stared at the ceiling as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, and an unmistakable grin rested on my lips. It felt wrong to be away from Jenny for so long, like part of me was missing. Our goodbye was devastating, but I knew the reunion would be amazing. She was my best friend, and while I didn't have much time to catch up with her- with everything going on recently- I knew we'd pick right back up where we left off. And, as for Markus, seeing him would be pretty nice, too.

After three days of restless excitement, Jenny and Markus were finally just five minutes away. I was practically vibrating with enthusiasm on the steps outside of my dorm, so much so that Cole and Cortnee were giving me concerned sideways glances.

I cocked my head to the side. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" I asked.

Cole shrugged and held his hands up defensively. "I'm sorry, I just don't think I've ever seen you this excited before."

"I can't help it! It's been months since I've seen my friends, I miss them!"

I had barely finished my sentence before Markus' all too familiar Jeep rolled into the parking lot. Unable to contain myself any longer, I jumped up from the stairs and all but hopped my way over to them, leaving two very bewildered blondes in my wake. It felt good to be so happy again. It seemed like they only emotions I knew how to feel for months were despair and fear. I relished in the actual, invigorating euphoria and planned on basking in it for as long as I possibly could. Considering the mission Cole and I were about to undertake, it might've been awhile before I felt anything like that again.

"Jenny!" I squealed as the beachy blonde stepped out of the car.

"Cassie!" She squealed back, tackling me in a hug. Markus stepped out of the car, a crooked grin on his face as he watched us shriek in a language that only teenage girls could understand.

"Nice to see you too, Cass," he commented with a voice overflowing in amusement and sarcasm. I pried myself away from Jen and quickly embraced him as well.

"I really missed you guys," I told them earnestly. "And, I also have two other people I want you to meet." I took one hand from each of them and dragged them over to Cortnee and Cole. As I was doing the introductions, it became painfully I obvious I was the only dark haired person among four blondes.

"Well, Cassie, from the looks of it, you really like blondes..." Cortnee commented, taking note of what I had just silently realized.

"It's okay, she's a blonde at heart," Jenny chimed in with a smirk.

They took to each other as if we'd all been best friends our entire lives, just like I'd hoped. My heart swelled with genuine happiness as I fell into step among my four best friends, catching up and getting used to being around everyone as we made our way to the frozen yogurt shop, despite the fact that it was November.

"Brownie batter is everything," Markus moaned as he fell into a seat at the round table we had decided on.

I raised a brow. "Last time we got frozen yogurt, you said the same thing about salted caramel."

"That was a long time ago!" He defended.

"Too long ago," Jen tacked on, sliding into the seat right next to me. Cole and Cort joined us seconds later with their own cups.

"So, how have you been, Cassie?" Jenny asked after a beat of silence. I caught the underlying concern in her tone easily and knew she wasn't just asking for the sake of small talk.

"I've been really well. Things are pretty good here," I answered. Cole eyed me knowingly, but I avoided his gaze. I didn't know if I wanted to tell Jen and Markus that someone was after me again. I knew that if I did, they would tell my parents, and my parents would try to make me come back home. I didn't want that. I wanted to catch this guy and stop living like a scared little girl. I ran away once, I wasn't about to do it again.

"Well, we're happy that you're happy, but we miss you a lot back home," Markus told me.

I offered him a small smile. "I miss you guys, too. But, like I said, this is a good place for me right now."

"You know what we should all do?" Cortnee asked, breaking into the slight melancholy that had settled over the table, "We should go rollerblading. There's an indoor place a couple of blocks away," she finished without giving any of us time to answer her.

"Sounds fun," Cole agreed with a nod. Despite my klutzy tendencies, I agreed with her too. We needed to get out and wreak havoc like the young adults we were. And, skating was just the way to do that.

The skies were heavy with rainclouds threatening to burst by the time we arrived, but everything was bright with laser lights and loud music inside. We rented our skates at the front counter and found our way over to the lockers and benches to change our shoes. I wobbled a little when I first stood, but Cole was quick to catch me before I fell. I gave him a grateful smile and glided over to the locker we rented to stuff my shoes and jacket inside.

"Who's ready to watch Cass and Jenny fall on their butts?" Markus asked with his signature smirk.

He wasn't wrong. The two of us fell more than anybody, but I wouldn't have had the evening go any differently. I felt normal for that day, being back in the company of my two favorite people from back home, and my two favorite people from school. It took my mind away from everything going on for the time being, from the investigation I was about to undergo, and the danger I was in. It was my last carefree moment before all hell broke loose.