The End is Near

Chapter Twenty-One

~Cassie's POV~

     "Ok, let's go everyone! We need to leave before noon!" I call, putting my bag on my shoulders. The night spent in the hospital had been a restless one, like every night. I haven't slept in three days, and I'm starting to feel the effects of that. My eyes stay closed a fraction longer every time I blink, wanting to stay closed. But I can't sleep, that's when the nightmares come. "Hey, Wyatt, come over here for a second." I say, catching Wyatt's eyes. He makes his way over to me, looking curious.

     "What's up?" He asks when he's standing next to me.

     "I want to run an idea past you, see what you think." He nods, motioning for me to go on. "We want to go to California, find a boat to take out for as long as we can, what's the best route to get there?" He thinks for a minute.

     "That's a good plan. This hospital is on the border of Montana, there's a road a ways in that leads straight to San Diego." I nod, thinking. We're almost in Montana, so close to the destination I first set off for, so much has changed, I look over at where Keith is talking to Karson, everything is different now. Wyatt follows my line of sight.

     "When are you going to tell him?" I look over at him, confused.

     "When are you going to tell him you love him?" He elaborates. I purse my lips, furrowing my eyebrows.

     "I don't think I can." I say, looking at him. "Where's the road that goes to California?" I ask, trying to change the subject. It doesn't work.

     "Why can't you? He loves you, too. If you were to look over at him right now, I guarantee he's glaring at me as if I'm the devil himself." I look over at him, slightly, and find that he actually is glaring at Wyatt, rather fiercely, too. I look back at Wyatt, who has a smug look on his face. I narrow my eyes at him.

     "Don't look so smug." He smirks.

     "But I am smug, you know I'm right." I sigh, nodding, much to his delight as his smirk deepens.

     "How would I even tell him?" I ask, sighing.

     "Tell him when you're alone, maybe when you're watching everyone all night, he can join you." I raise an eyebrow at him. "Yes, I noticed that you were up all night. I don't even know how you're functioning right now. If I don't get at least six hours of sleep, I'm dead to the world. You didn't get one minute of sleep last night." I smirk.

     "Do you want to know how long I've been awake?" He narrows his eyes suspiciously, but nods. "I haven't slept in three days, and I'm absolutely fine." His eyes widen and his mouth opens in a horrified expression. I smirk, almost smiling, but push it down at the last second. He raises an eyebrow.

     "You really don't let them see you smile, do you?" He asks. I shake my head.

     "You don't either." I say, looking up at him.

     "I'll change if you do." I raise an eyebrow at him, confused. "I'll start smiling and be my normal self if you do, they might trust you even more than they already do if you actually show emotions." I purse my lips, looking at him through narrowed eyes.

     "You do it first." I say. His eyes widen in surprise.

     "You're actually going to do it? Wow, ok. Fine then, I'll actually smile in front of people that aren't friends." He makes a horrified expression, then smiles. "I didn't actually think that'd work." He mumbles to himself. I don't think I was supposed to hear that, but it makes me laugh, actually laugh, in front of people that aren't Keith, Karson, or Wyatt. The thought horrifies and excites me. I don't have to hide behind a mask anymore. "You actually laughed!" He exclaims, making me laugh again. I nod, only looking at him. I don't want to see the looks on the faces of my group. Not yet.