Stranded

Chapter 34

"Are you sure you want to do this?" El asks me.

"Yes, I'm sure. Trust me, I know what I'm doing. Can you hand me that shirt over there?" I ask her. She sighs and hands it to me.

"I just don't want you to get hurt again. I'm worried about you, Cass. You're going through a lot and you seem to be taking it really well. Too well." she says. I look her in the eye.

"Thank you, for your concern. I appreciate it. But I'll be fine." I say, pulling the shirt over my head.

"I know you Cassidy Rose Pryce. And you don't just let things go. Please don't tell me you're planning some sort of revenge on Harry."

I hesitate before answering.

"If I were he'd deserve it." I say simply. She groans.

"I knew it! Cass, I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, but whatever you're planning, it's not worth it. You and Harry both have at least one thing in common. You're persistent. If you get back at him, he'll get back at you, and then it'll never stop." she says.

I know she's right, but my natural instinct is to hurt him twice as much as he hurt me. He deserves it.

"I know Harry's a jerk, but I think he may be beginning to change now. I don't know why, but there's just something different about him. Don't be so quick to get back at him, okay? You're the only one that can help him and he's the only one that can help you."

"Where're we going?" I ask him.

"You sure do ask a lot of questions, don't you." he laughs.

"Well, I can't help it. I'm a curious person." I retort.

"I didn't know your mum used to be just like you. You wouldn't think it by looking at her." he says.

"That's the point. She doesn't want anyone to know. I had to get my artistic abilities from somewhere and it definitely wasn't Bill." I say.

"Speaking of, how's he doing?"

"I wouldn't know becuase I don't talk to him. But, accourding to my mother, he's doing fine. Got himelf a job, a house, and a girlfriend and he's doing just great." I say a bit stiffly. Harry notices and takes my hand in his.

"It's going to be okay. We'll get through this." he says encouragingly. It feels good to have a friend that I can go to and talk about my problems with. I haven't really had a good friend in a couple years and with Harry, it's a lot easier since he already knows what I've been through.

Maybe this whole 'being friends' thing with Harry'll work out after all.

"Actually, when I called you upstairs, I did have something for you." he says and reaches in the back seat.

"Go ahead. Open it." he instructs. I eye him suspiciously and he laughs. "Don't worry it's not like a bomb or something." he jokes.

I carefully open the medium-sized package to reveal a Poloroid camera.

"I've always wanted one of these! But, why now?" I ask.

"Well, where we're going, I figured you'd want to take a lot of pictures just in case nything inspires you to draw later." he says. I open my mouth to question him but he interupts. "Nope. I'm not dropping any hints. You'll just have to wait."

I pout and cross my arms over my chest.

"Fine."

"Where do you want to go first?" he asks as I'm basically jumping up and down with excitement.

"The birds!" I exclaim, grabbing his hand and pulling him behind me.

I sit down on the bench and he sits down beside me. I pull out my drawing notebook and begin drawing a bird with multi-coloured feathers sleeping with it's baby bird nestled underneath it's wing.