Controlling The Uncontrollable

Ch. 4

New York was a blast. Karson and I made the guys take us shopping after we went to central park. Dylan had eased up after a while, but I could tell he was still confused about why Luke, Karson and Nate had went all body guard like when they saw my dad at the airport. It took a while, but Nate got the memo that I didn't feel that way about him anymore.

We were now sitting on the plane on our way back to South Carolina. I was sitting in between Dylan and Karson this time and Luke was sitting with Nate and some old lady behind us. Everyone was asleep, Karson and Luke were snoring, Nate was mumbling something about needing to do his homework, and Dylan had his arms crossed with a serious expression on his face. I placed my hand gently on his arm hoping that maybe somehow I could get my happiness to rub off on him. To my dismay his face remained still.

I shook him gently and his eyes fluttered open and a worried expression crossed his face. "What's wrong?"

"You looked upset," I said removing my hand from his arm and fiddling with my thumbs.

"Oh," he said looking confused.

"I didn't want you to be upset. I don't like seeing you upset," I told him biting my lip.

His lips twitched up forming a smile and he grabbed one of my hands. "I'm fine," he told me squeezing my hand. "So did you have good day birthday girl?"

"Yea," I said with a smile as I glanced down at our hands. "I can't think of any better way to spend my birthday than surrounded by the people I love."

He let go of my hand and lifted the arm rest between us. "I'm tired," he said with a yawn. "Do you mind awkward plane cuddling?"

I felt my cheeks heat up and I nodded. He wrapped his arm around me and I leaned into his chest. "See you in an hour," I said closing my eyes.

When we landed I woke up and looked at Dylan who was still asleep. Unlike earlier he had a smile on his face. I sat up and his eyes fluttered open much like before, but this time he was smiling and pulled me closer. "Come on we just landed," I told him removing his arm from it's position around me.

"Do you mind if I stay at your place tonight? I don't think my mom would be too happy if I walked in at eleven," he said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Of course. It'll be like a sleepover!"

"Who all is going to be there?" he asked looking kind of bummed.

"You, Karson, Luke, Nate, and maybe Sam will join us in the living room." Part of me really hoped that Sam would start to like me again. I missed being his favorite. Back when he was around five and I was nine he absolutely loved me. One time after a beating I left my door unlocked while I was getting ready and I still hadn't covered the bruise on my face. Sam walked in and saw it. I remember the confused look on his face.

"What happened to your face?" he had asked reaching up and touching it.

I winced and his confusion grew. "Oh I was just being clumsy and ran into the door frame as I was walking into my room."

He seemed to accept the excuse. "Well you should kick that stupid doors butt," he had told me slamming his fist into his palm.

I just laughed and ruffled his hair. "Maybe someday kid."

"Cassidy, why did you not want your father to see you?" Dylan asked shaking me out of my thoughts.

"Can we please talk about this tomorrow?"

He nodded and unbuckled his seatbelt before standing up. I followed suit and we all got off of the plane after telling Mr. Edmunds, Nate's Dad, thank you.

When we got back to the apartment we all walked in. "Luke, Karson, Nate, you all know where everything is. Could you please set up the sleepover stuff? And Dylan feel free to help them," they all nodded and I made my way downstairs to Mrs. Liston's flat. I knocked on the door and not much later Sam answered rubbing his eyes.

"Hey Cass," he said with a small smile.

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. "Hey Sammy," I said stepping inside. Mrs. L was sitting on the couch reading and Jake, her four year old son, was playing with some Transformers on the ground. "Thank you so much," I told her as she looked up from the book.

"Any day sweetie," she said with a smile.

I walked over to Jake and ruffled his hair. He looked up with a huge smile. "Cassidy!" he yelled jumping onto me causing me to fall back.

"Hey smallness. Do you want to join my friends and I for a sleepover? You know as long as your mommy says it's alright."

Jake looked up at his mom with a hope filled expression. "Go ahead."

He jumped up grabbing his teddy bear and blanket before I picked him up. "See you tomorrow Mrs. L," I told her walking over to the door.

"See you tomorrow Cassidy," she said and the three of us went back up to the apartment.

"Sam, do you want to join us?" I asked as we walked into the flat.

"Don't push it sis," he told me with a smirk before walking into his room.

I felt like my face was about to split in half, I was smiling so big. I set Jake down and he ran over to Dylan, jumping onto his lap and hugging him. "Hey little man," he said smiling at the four year old on his lap.

Jake got off of Dylan's lap and began hugging everyone else. When he got to Nathan, instead of hugging him, he punched him in the arm. "What was that for?" Nate asked gripping his arm.

"Cassidy came over crying one time and told mommy you were a big poopy head," Jake told him stomping his way back to me. "Nobody makes my Cassidy cry," he said crossing his arms.

"Jake. That was mean. Apologize to Nate," I said getting down to his height.

He groaned and turned his attention back to Nathan. "I'm sorry for being mean," Jake told him with a frown.

"It's alright little man," Nathan said ruffling his hair. Jake giggled and ran to Sam's room. Not much later Sam let him in. Looks like he's staying with Sam tonight.

~*~

It was around two in the morning and I still couldn't fall asleep. I got up and walked into the kitchen for some water. I heard footsteps walking in behind me so I turned around coming face to face with Dylan. He pulled me to him, pressing his lips against mine. It wasn't forceful but there was force to it. It was sweet and relaxing in an odd way and I loved it.

He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. "I've wanted to do that since the last time I kissed you," he said with a smile forming on his lips.

"You're good at taking a girl by surprise. I'm guessing you've had a lot of practice."

"Nope. You're the first." He pulled back and picked me up placing me on the counter. "I'm sorry if I upset you, but I really want to know why you were avoiding your dad."

"It's fine. It's a long story are you sure you want to hear?" He nodded and I began to relay my past with my father.