Running Through Rivers

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven - Cassidy's POV

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I woke up to a harsh light, seeping through a crack in the curtains. I rolled over onto my front and stared around the room, getting my bearings. Austin was still asleep on the floor next to me, and I could hear Sophie talking to someone in the kitchen. Aunt Frankie, probably, seeing as she kicked out her girlfriend three years go, and hasn't had a stable relationship since.

I stretched, sitting up and gingerly pulling off the warm covers, exposing my toes to the chilly morning air. Hopping out of bed, I grabbed my phone, which still lay on the desk by the window. I checked my messages.

I sighed. Still nothing from Alex.

I remembered Austin, who was still asleep, and nudged him with my foot, trying to wake him up. He groaned in protest, but opened his eyes reluctantly.

I opened the wardrobe where I had hung all of my clothes the previous afternoon, finding my school clothes, and then ran across the hallway, into the bathroom to get ready. I removed the dirty gauze from my cut but, failing to find any other way to cover it, decided to leave it unbandaged for the time being. I had pulled on my uniform, dragged a brush through my hair, brushed my teeth, and returned to my room by the time Austin had stood up.

"You're not going to school in that, are you?" I asked, looking at his disheveled appearance. He'd had to sleep in his uniform, seeing as I couldn't ask Aunt Frankie if she had any teenage-boy-sized clothes hanging around. She'd either get extremely suspicious, or think I'm completely off my head. Probably the latter.

He shook his head sleepily, stretching his arms behind his head as he replied, "Nah, I'm going to try and go back to get some spare clothes and stuff, then at least I won't look like I'm homeless."

I raised my eyebrows. "So, you're just going to waltz back over there, walk through the door where Dad is probably waiting with a shot gun, and ask if you can get a change of clothes?"

"He won't be waiting with a shot gun, Cass." Austin rolled his eyes as he pushed open the window and, after a brief pause, hopped outside into the cold morning. "He'll more likely be waiting with a broken whisky glass and a bread knife," he smirked, before running down the garden and out into the street.

I scowled. He was too cocky for his own good.

I shook my head and plastered on a smile. Time to face Aunt Frankie. I walked out of my room, over to the kitchen where Sophie was half way through a pot of jam, Aunt Frankie sitting on the counter eating spoonfuls of peanut butter.

"Help yourself," she smiled, showing chunks of peanut butter that had wedged between her teeth.

I nodded, taking the pot of jam out of Sophie's sticky hands and ignoring her protests as she tried to grab it back.

"You'll be sick, Soph," I warned, "Go and brush your teeth."

Sophie mumbled something about how unfair it was, before slouching off to the bathroom. I sat down and reached for the Nutella, might as well make the most of the situation right? But, I could only manage a few spoonfuls before my stomach began to churn violently.

Aunt Frankie had almost finished the entire jar as I stood up and excused myself from the table.

"I'll drive you to school in a few minutes," she mumbled, her mouth full.

I smiled gratefully, and then turned back towards my bedroom to pack my bag. I had emptied most of my stuff out into my locker already, leaving a virtually empty school bag. I slipped the bag onto my back and then went to the room beside mine to check on Sophie.