Running Through Rivers

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen - Cassidy's POV

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I walked up the hill, following the familiar stone path, and pulled my blazer tighter around me as the wind began to pick up. I glared at the dark clouds above me, willing them to hold off, if only for a few hours. I stepped off the trail half way up, edging around mounds of dirt until I found the white headstone. Well, I say white, that was the original colour atleast. Now it had been altered to a light grey; patches of green moss and straggly weeds taking residence upon the smooth concrete.

I brushed off a pile of leaves that had collected since the last visit and sat down at the head of the grave.

"Hi, Mum."

~~~

"So it turns out she wasn't talking about Alex after all-" I was cut off mid-sentence as a loud clap of thunder sounded overhead. Off in the distance, a flash of lightning tore through the sky.

The clouds above had grown impatient, refusing to let me stay, even though it was barely evening. I reluctantly said goodbye and stood up, droplets of water starting to fall around me.

I quickly walked to the entrance and out onto the street as the rain gradually began to get heavier.

Just great.

I had no phone as I had left it in my bag, which was probably still in the classroom, and walking was my only way of getting home.

Wait a second.

I stopped in the middle of the pavement as the realisation dawned on me. I had no home.

Home had been with Alex. Like hell was I going back there, although I would obviously have to get my stuff at some point, but Austin could always do that.

Austin.

Another thing I had to deal with; I had no idea where he was. He definitely wouldn't have gone back to Alex's, that I knew for sure. So where had he gone? And where the heck did I go?

I tilted my head back and let the rain fall onto my face, droplets of water mixing in with salty tears. I hated crying, or atleast, I used to. I always associated it as a sign of weakness. But now, I had given up staying strong. It was far easier letting it all out in an attempt to try to move on, even if I made myself look pathetic in the process.

By now I was completely soaked from head to toe, my hair hanging in a stringy mess, my feet weighed down by drenched socks and sodden shoes. I sighed, closing my eyes and trying to figure out what to do next.

My eyes burst open as a flood of light appeared from around the corner, accompanied by a squeal of tires as the car did a U-turn, changing lanes and pulling up beside me. I backed up to the far side of the pavement and began walking, trying to look straight ahead and preparing to run if someone tried to grab me. I clenched my fists as I heard the window roll down.

A familiar voice called out above the rain. "You need a lift?"

I turned to look and, sure enough, there was Alfie, leaning out the window of what I now presumed to be his car.

I burst into a fresh flood of tears; the relief of not only seeing him here, but the fact that he was talking to me again, making me cry for what seemed like the hundredth time that afternoon.

I heard a door open, and suddenly he was beside me, wrapping a comforting arm around my shoulders.

He didn't say anything, he didn't need to, instead he let me cry into his jacket as the rain poured down around us.

"You...you're getting wet," I stuttered, between sobs that I was desperately trying to control.

He chuckled lightly, "I think you're a little worse off then I am, come on, get in the car."

I let him lead me to his car. He held open the passenger side door and I ducked down into the warm interior. I watched as he jogged around the front of the car to the driver's side, sliding in and shutting the door.

The heater had obviously been on for a while as the whole car was toasty and warm, even though he hadn't turned on the engine yet. I peeled off my blazer, dropping it on the floor of his car and lying back into the seat.

Neither of us said anything. We just sat there warming ourselves, hardly daring to make eye contact.

After a few moments he broke the tention. "I'm sorry I ignored you today, Cassidy."

I turned to face him, a small shiver running down my spine as he stared back at me.

I swallowed and looked down at my lap, nervously fidgeting with my fingers. "Was it...was it because I hit Alex? Did my violence disgust you? Or...was it something else I did? Something I said? Whatever it was I'm sorry, I truly am. I hated you not speaking to me, I felt horrible. Maybe I am just like my Dad after all. I-"

"No, Cassidy, you didn't do anything. Well, you did attack Alex, but that was only because he was being an prick. He deserved it. No, love, it's nothing you did, it's more what I did...or what your brother did, should I say. He told you about last night, didn't he?"

I nodded. "He said you backed off straight away, and I know you wouldn't intentionally try to hurt me. I know Austin didn't mean to either, but I guess alcohol does that to you."

"The only reason I didn't tell you was because I was scared. Scared that you'd think I was the worst friend ever. Scared that you wouldn't talk to me again. Scared because I knew Alex would make our lives hell, and I didn't want you to have to deal with it.

"I don't care if your brother is gay, straight, or somewhere in between, but I do care when it affects you, when it affects us. I don't want to lose you Cassidy. You...you mean too much to me."

I looked up at Alfie. I just stared at him, my heart beating fast as I took in what he had said. He bit his lip and looked down at the seat. He seemed hurt, obviously because I wasn't replying, or acknowledging the fact that he pretty much just said he fancied me.

"Kiss me."

Alfie looked back up at me in surprise, "Wha-what?"

"Kiss me, you annoyingly gorgeous idiot!" I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck and resting my forehead against his. "I don't want to lose you either."

I tilted my head slightly, and then, we were kissing.

We both leaned into the kiss, my hands on his shoulders, his on my waist. It wasn't passionate, it wasn't intense, it wasn't even worthy of a chapter in Fifty Shades of Grey. But it was magical, and it was sweet, and it was perfect.

I reluctantly pulled away and looked at his jacket, picking at the fabric by the base of his neck. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I'm sure." He held my chin with one hand and tilted my face up softly, "And don't you ever compare yourself to your Dad, you're nothing like him, okay? You are amazing. Don't you ever forget that."

He let go of my waist and pulled off his jacket, slipping it around my shoulders. He put the keys into the ignition and the car roared to life.

"You need a place to stay? I'm presuming you're not going back to Alex's?"

"Why, do you have somewhere in mind?" I asked, wrapping his jacket tighter around me and breathing in his scent.

"As a matter of fact, I do. Come back to mine."

I looked at him as he pulled away from the curb, onto the deserted road. "Really? Are you sure?"

He glanced over at me and grinned, taking one hand off the wheel to lace his fingers through mine. "Do you really have to ask?"

I smiled, reaching over to turn on the radio as the rain splattered onto the roof above us. A wave of music filled the car, and I leant back, feeling the happiest I'd felt in a long time.

I just hoped this feeling would last.