Reflections of the Past

Chapter four

"Higher! Higher!" I scream as my eight-year-old self is pushed on the swings. I'm not alone on the simple swing-set in my mother's garden. A black-haired boy swings alongside me, all on his own. I pretend I'm annoyed that he doesn't require help whereas I do but I don't mind really...he and I are great friends. Maybe later I'll tell him that he's my best friend now, since he gave me that lollipop. 

The boy slows and jumps off the swings without waiting for them to fully stop. It seems fun so I copy him but hurt my knee as I fall and I see a flash of red.

"Sandy! Are you okay?" The boy rushes over yelling and my helper from the swings runs up too. I look up from my injury to find concern evident in the two pairs of identical blue eyes and smile.  

“Don’t worry...it's only a scratch,” I say to the blond girl with a slight smile, “Honestly, Len, I’m fine.” 

Chapter 4:

For the rest of the week Cass found herself repeating three chores: dodging all her Psych 101 classes, debating with herself about Nick’s party and worrying about Leanne who was still MIA. Eventually, Cass realized that the solution to her third problem revolved around the answer to the second. 

If the party was as big as Nick had implied, there'd be a band and if there was a band, Alex might be there. Then she could ask him about Leanne because at this point, there was no doubt in Cass's mind that the two knew each other. The plan was built on wishful thinking and Cass knew it. But it wasn't like she had a lot of plans to choose from.

And that was how Cass found herself standing in front of a brightly lit up house on Avenue Road. The house, big and booming with noise, was easy for her to pick out as the one with the party even though Nick's directions had been vague with only the name of the street. Cass was sure he'd have elaborated had she given him a chance to by having stayed put in her Psych class rather than running out. 

Wait. Are you even welcome anymore? I mean, the guy invited you before you turned all freaked-out-mental-chick! 

It was true and the fact had her retreating towards her car. She had barely made it two steps, however, before someone from behind yelled her name. Cass turned around to see Nick running up to her from the porch. 

"Hey," he said with a smile, "I didn't think you'd show!"

"Yeah...I'm sorry...I was just leaving," Cass replied looking down.

"Leaving? No way! I was hoping you'd come! Come on in and join the fun. 'Cause if you thought I'd judge you for being creeped out by our hardass of a professor, you're wrong. Tell you the truth, guy freaks me out a little too. Way too intense, if you ask me..."

Nick kept talking as he led her back towards the house and the music. Once inside, though, it was impossible to carry on the conversation over the loud blare from the...speakers? Cass sighed. That meant no band, no Alex (aka weirdo..though, who was Cass to judge?) and no info about Leanne. 

Cass's smile vanished at the thought and she barely heard him stopping mid-sentence. He pulled her into the kitchen where it was quiet enough for them to talk and looked right into her eyes, concern evident.

"What's wrong? Did I say something? I'm sorry?"

Cass smiled genuinely at him, "It's not you. I just...I was hoping to find this guy here but he isn't here so...momentary lapse."

"So you didn't come for me? Jeez, I'd be hurt if I was into older chicks!" he teased.

"Hey! How old do you think I am?" Cass mock-punched him and he winced and rubbed his arm pretending with all his might. This had Cass laughing after a full week of worrying and Nick smiled at her response.