Running Through Rivers

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight - Cassidy's POV

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Alfie steered me towards a near by classroom which, once inside, I recognised as the music room. Thankfully, it was empty. I sat down beside one of the desks near the front of the room, resting my head in my hands as I tried to stop the constant flow of tears. I hated crying, especially in public, because it made me look and feel weak. All the emotions I had been holding in had to come out sometime, I guess.

I heard Alfie pull up a chair next to me and, for the longest moment, all he did was watch. I could sense his eyes on me as I pushed my hair away from my face and glanced across the room, facing straight ahead to avoid looking him in the eye. I focused my attention on the whiteboard as my mind raced.

Why had I said anything? I should have just walked away. I definitely shouldn't have let Alfie take me here, because now I would have to tell him what was going on. Why? Why, why, why, why, why?!

"Cassidy". Alfie's calm voice snapped me back to reality, and I blinked in confusion. Why was my chest so tight all of a sudden?

"You forgot to breathe," Alfie stated, therefore answering my question, as I gingerly raised a hand to my racing heart. That would explain it.

"Look, Cassidy, I know you might not want to talk about it, and I'm probably the last person you want to tell, seeing as I've only properly known you for a few days," Alfie looked me in the eyes as I finally glanced over at him, and he bit his lip nervously, "I just wanted you to know that...I'm here for you. If you need it. You can talk to me about anything. It doesn't have to be right now bu-"

"It was his belt."

Alfie stopped mid-sentence as the words escaped my mouth.

"How I got the cut. It was his belt."

Alfie bit his lip again, and I could almost see his mind race as it tried to understand what I had just said.

"So....Alex did this to you?"

I blinked, surprised, but quickly shook my head. "No! No. Alex would never.....no. It was my Dad."

Alfie looked relieved that it wasn't Alex, probably because he'd feel the need to beat him up on my behalf. Austin would have been more then happy to help him, I'm sure.

"If he does this," Alfie gestured to my shoulder, "to you, why are you still living with him?"

"We aren't, not anymore. I stayed at my Aunt's house last night, but her and Austin don't always....get along. He has to climb through the window so she doesn't know he's there. I don't know how long he'll last without being discovered."

"I'd offer to let you stay with me, but there isn't enough room in my brother's flat."

"You don't live with your parents?" I asked, gladly turning the conversation onto him.

He looked down at his hand momentarily, before looking back up and me and giving me a small smile. "Nah, Dad never wanted anything to do with me, and Mum prefers partying in Spain with her new boyfriend then giving a toss about us. But me and Blake get on really well, he's only 3 years older then me, so it's not all bad."

"How long has it been since you've seen your mum?" I ask, turning my body to face him.

"18 months. Or more, I lost count."

I placed my hand on his, feeling a spark of electricity run up my arm, and gave him a small smile. He smiled back and shrugged, "You get use to it."

We stared at each other for a few moments, then both looked away, embarrassed. I gazed around the room again, smiling to myself as I took in the familiar surroundings.

"I love this place."

Alfie nodded in agreement, looking around the room for the first time since we'd got here. I saw his eyes light up as he spotted something in the corner or the room. He looked back at me.

"Can I play something for you?" He asked eagerly.

I nodded, watching as he walked over and picked up a guitar that was hanging on the wall. He slid the strap over his head and adjusted the strings before coming back over and sitting down next to me.

He propped his foot up on the leg of the chair, resting the guitar on his knee as he began to strum. I listened as his fingers glided over the chords, his face deep in concentration. I closed my eyes and nodded my head in time with the beat. I loved this song. I let the music wash over me, relaxing and calm.

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight

I didn't even realise I was singing until I opened my eyes and saw Alfie staring at me, still playing the guitar but without looking down.

"Keep going," he smiled, and I bit my lip momentarily before smiling back and belting out the chorus.

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

Alfie played the last few chords, ending with an overdramatic strum, before looking at me with a grin plastered on his face.

"You are really good."

I blushed. "I could say the same to you."

Alfie smiled, then looked up sharply when someone opened the door.

"What are you doing in here? Go on, scram, classes start in 15 minutes." A teacher I vaguely remember as Mrs Fletcher shooed us out, after making Alfie remove the guitar and 'put it back where you damn well found it'.

Alfie walked with me to my locker, neither of us mentioning the previous conversations in the music room, and I was surprised to find that Austin wasn't there. I shrugged to myself, and looked at Alfie.

"Thanks for, you know, listening."

He smiled, "No problem."

I suddenly felt arms wrap around me and I turned, feeling lips crash onto my own. I pulled away and looked up.

"Hey babe." Alex smiled down at me.

"Where...where did Alfie go?" I asked, slightly shocked.

Alex's smile faltered slightly, "Uhm, I dunno. Why?"

"Oh, no reason," I stammered, and quickly kissed him again, trying to distract him. I succeeded, but I couldn't shake the guilty feeling that was sitting in the pit of my stomach.

As Alex pulled away to fist pump one of his friends, I caught a glimpse of Alfie, walking off down the corridor and disappearing into the crowd.