The 7th Mother-Daughter-Book-Club (#Wattys2016)

Cassidy

A/N: Ok, We're gonna have to pretend that 2 years have magically passed and it's fall of 2018. Don't ask how this happened. Alex Bailey used her magic or something. More on that later.

We sat in silence for a while until Emma spoke up.
"This is great, Cassidy!" She yelled. The rest of the book club and mom's cheered.

Except for one.

"CASSIDY ANN SLOANE!" My mother yells. "I TOLD YOU THAT YOU COULDN'T GO TO THOSE TRYOUTS!"

Anger boils inside of me. Mom said I wouldn't be allowed to enter the olympics because they were they same time as the SATs.
"Shall we head over to the patio for dessert?" Mrs. Delaney asks nervously.
The rest of the group choruses their agreement and rushes outside. I continue to glare at my mother as she does the same.
"MOM-" I begin, but she interrupts me.
"CASSIDY! I TOLD YOU NO! THE SATS ARE TOO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO MISS!!! BUT I CANT EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, CAN I??? NO - ALL YOU EVER DO IS MESS THINGS UP!"
I stare at her, stricken. Tears begin swimming in my eyes as she realizes what she said.
"Cassidy, I-" She begins, but I interrupt her.
"This is an opportunity that 24 girls in the ENTIRE. USA. GET. I find out that I am one of the best players in the world and for what, so you can take it away from me? Is that what your gonna do, mom???
My mother's guilt is replaced with familiar anger.
"Yes, I actually am, Cassidy! YOUR GROUNDED FROM HOCKEY UNTIL THE OLYMPICS ARE OVER!!!"
I stare at my mother, feeling anger unlike anything I've ever felt before. I can practically see steam coming out of her ears, and I know that pushing her anymore will be pushing it, but I just don't care.
"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE HAPPY FOR ME?!" I scream at her, and run for the turret, where I spend the night.

>...~~~*+*~~~...<

Ms. Bailee walks up to me at the end of the day, and I groan inwardly. She's apologized at least 100,000 times since the first day of school, and it's getting kind of annoying. I mean, honestly! It's nearly DECEMBER!!! I got over it, so why can't you?!
I turn around to face her, but to my surprise, she's smiling.
"Congrats, Cassidy!!" She says and I frown. Yeah, I get me not pranking anyone for a full week is pretty great, but it's not THAT great!
"Uh..... For what?" I ask. She stares at me like I've just asked if the sky was blue.
"For making the Olympic Team! I'm competing too!"
"Oh- it doesn't matter. YOUR PARTICIPATING IN THE OLYMPICS?!"
She looks at me, confused. "Yeah - I snowboard. Why wouldn't it matter? This is probably the best opportunity you'll get!"
Still gawking at my newly awesome teacher, I explain my whole dilemma with my mom, and how stubborn and stupid she's being.
Mrs. Bailee frowns. "That's a tough one....." She says, thinking. "Unless..... No, that would never work..... But maybe...... Nah, they wouldn't...... But they did..... Yet would they still....?"
Mrs. Bailee continues this for another long, highly confusing 5 minutes, until finally, I have to ask;
" Ms. Bailee? What on earth are you talking about?"
Her head snaps up, like I've just awoken her from a trance. She sees me and grins mischievously.
"Meet me at the Starbucks in the mall after school at 3:30, k?"
I nod as they announcements crackle.
"Students, please prepare for dismissal......"

>...~~~*+*~~~...<

Ms. Bailee walks into the Starbucks at 3:32. I'm just about to order when she taps me on the shoulder.
"Hey!"
I turn around at her and smile shyly.
"Hi! I was just about to order....."
She grins. "Right! I'll have a Salted Carmel latte for Annalise, please?"
The Barista nods. "And for you?"
I pause, and think. " Um....... I'll have a double - chocolate Frappé, please? For Cassidy?" The barista nods.
"That'll be $8.52, please!"
I'm about to pull out my wallet, but Ms. Bailee - Annalise -  holds up a hand.
     "I've got this." She says, and  hands the barista her credit card.
       We take a seat in a back corner of the store and I drum my fingers on the table anxiously.
         "So...... Why exactly have you asked me to come here?" I ask Ms. Bailee, unable to help the curiosity crawling in my voice.
     She nods. "Cassidy, when I was in my senior year, my best friend, Molly,
Was asked to figure skate in the Olympics. But..... She had her SATs."
      " So her mother refused to let her compete." I finish glumly, but Ms. Bailee just chuckled.
        "No, Cass. She studied for her SATs early and took the test after Christmas break. She passed the test, and was able to compete."
          I clap my hands, excited. "So that's what I'm going to do!"  I declare confidently.  Ms. Bailee purses her lips.
       "If you want to make the deadline for early submissions - which is January 1st -  you'll have to study every. Single. Day."  I groan inwardly.
       "But." Ms. Bailee continues,  "I'm willing to help you twice a week for the next month, until the team meetings for the snowboarders start."
       I gape at my teacher in shock as the barista calls out our names. 
"Oh, crud!" I say, looking at my watch. "I gotta get home!"
          I grab my frapé and I'm about to leave when I turn around to face Ms. Bailee. "Thank you, Ms. Bailee." I say, smiling.
      "Please,  Cassidy. Call me Annalise."

A/N: I probably should've made this two chapters - I have over a thousand words, counting this author's message. But I felt bad for giving you guys a short chapter, a cliff hanger, and then not updating for a month. Okay, I also already finished the Land Of Stories book (IF ANYONE READ THAT SERIES, MESSAGE ME!!!) I entered this story in the wattys, and I'm a little nervous... Finally,  I just wanted to say thank you to all of you guys. This story is doing a gazillion times better than I thought, (meaning it has like, more than one read,) and I'm very grateful. Continue voting,  liking and commenting. Even the comments like, "Your story stinks!" Make my day because it means you saw my story, and took enough time to review it, even if you reviewed it rudely.
THANKS GUYS!!!!

- Trinity Rebel