Prayers For Andrew

Six ~Cassidy

And of course for dinner: Meatloaf

Great. Just great.

I sat at the dinner table for the longest time, just staring at my food. Instant mashed potatoes and canned green beans for the sides.  Nothing new. Just something that is a constant meal for about two years since my mom married Bill.

Why did Bill have to be so effin cheap?

Bill looked at me with his bloodshot eyes. "You gonna eat or what Cassidy. I'm not going to wait a whole two hours just for your to take tiny ass bites until your food is gone." I slowly looked up at him. "If you would pay attention, I'm a vegatarian." Bill's face turned red. "Then fucking eat the potatoes and the green beans, your animal loving anorexic." I could feel the color draining out of my face. What he said had really hurt.

I got up and threw my plate, with everything still on it, in the sink. Bill started to scream profanities at me, but I just ignored him.

I walked into the living room to make way to my room, and slammed the door shut to show that I wasn't going to come out for the rest of the evening.

I flopped onto my mattress, and curled up into a ball, clutching my favorite stuffed animal, It was a little creepy rag doll with black buttons for eyes and a crooked smile. I named it Poison.

My alarm clock read: 8: 13 P.M. Just 45 minutes before I can call Andrew.  But, my phone started to ring. I looked at the number, but I didn't recgonize it. I anwsered it anyways. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Cassidy?" Jason. Crap.

My heart started to race. "Y-yes this is." I stuttered.  Nice going smooth stuff,   I thought to myself.

"This might seem kind of weird, but do you want to meet up in 10?" I started at the ceiling. Should I go or not?

Hell, if it pisses off Bill more then, why not? "Sure, where?"

"The corner of Barnes and Creek."

"Alright. Seeya there."

 I hung up and pushed myself off the mattress. I looked around my room for my combat boots. Of course, they were under my bed.

I pulled them on and walked over to my bedroom window. The screen was already ripped so all I had to do was pull up the window and slip through.

Easy.

Barnes and Creek was just two blocks down, so I ran to it. Jason wasn't there yet, so I was early. I wonder where he lived.

I stood at the corner for what seemed like 15 minutes when I heard footsteps coming from the street to the left of me. I turned to see who it was and I could see the outline of Jason. As he got closer  I could see that he was wearing gray skinny jeans with a Bob Marley shirt and converse. Something I have never seen a football player wear. When he was just a few feet away from me, I called out: "How did you get my number?"

"My secrets shall never be told." I raised an eyebrow. "Oh,really?" Jason smiled and laughed, and he stood in front of me awkwardly. You could almost feel the tension in the air between us. "So, where do you want to go?" he asked me, obviously trying to be polite. I just shrugged a bit. "No where in particular." Jason smiled. "Well, then. I know a place where we can go and noone can bother us. You up to it?"

"Sure. Why not? Lead the way."

We were at River's Edge on the far end of town. It was a little spot that most of the time Andrew and  I try to avoid. Nothing bad about it.

Oh, just except that couples come here a lot. If you know what I mean.

I stopped abruptly. "Jason, no. I don't like being here." Jason looked concerned. "Oh, well why not? There's no one here."

"Exactly."

Jason gently touched my shoulder. His touch surprisingly calming. "I knew this was a bad idea, but can you just put up with it for tonight? One night, that's all." I took a deep breathe and nodded. One night shoudn't be so bad. I hope.

Jason guided me down to the edge of the water, and we sat down. the moon was starting to rise. I studied it for a long time when Jason scooted next to me. "Pretty isn't it?" he asked, and I nodded in response. I took my eyes off of the moon to look at Jason. He was handsome in the moonlight. I didn't know I was staring until Jason looked at me. "What? Is there something on my face?" I could feel the heat rising in my face. "No, it's just...just..."

"Just what?" Jason leaned closer, our noses almost touching. I looked into his blue-green eyes. They were almost hypontizing. I lowered my eyes to his lips. They looked inviting.

What am I doing? Thinking like this?

Before I could tear my gaze away, Jason ran a finger down my cheek, leaving a trail of warmth. "I've had a crush on you since the fifth grade, but you never noticed me at all." He said softly, moving his hand to my hair. I bit my lip. "I'm sorry...I was just going throught difficult stuff at that time and.."  I didn't even finish my sentence when our lips met.