Running Through Rivers

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty - Cassidy's POV

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Weeks passed, and I slowly started to forget Greybourne. It was like I had never been anywhere else then Cresent Bay; as if everything that had happened was just a dream.

I walked back to my dorm after a two hour singing lesson, humming under my breath as I navigated my way through the surge of students who were off to various lessons. Unlike the other girls of Ebony dorm I had a free period, and planned to de-clutter my bag before my next class. I walked up to the front door, confused for a second when it wouldn't open, before I remembered it was only allowed to stay unlocked if someone was inside. I shuffled multiple papers and books into one arm and reached up to get the key, which was hidden above the door frame, with my free hand. Unfortunately, I hadn't grown in the last month of being here, and with the added weight of all my school work, reaching the key was proving extremely difficult. I sighed, momentarily contemplating the idea of climbing through the kitchen window, when an arm brushed against mine and retrieved the key from its hiding place.

"Oh, thanks," I muttered, turning around as I took the key from the outstretched palm. I looked up, my papers falling onto the floor and scattering around my feet, as I saw a familiar grin.

"Alfie!"

"Cat!" He mocked, laughing as he pulled me into a hug. I grinned up at him and we stared at each other for a long moment, before I remembered where I was and how many people were probably watching our embrace.

I pulled back, blushing slightly, and squatted down to collect all the papers I had dropped. Alfie chuckled, bending down to help gather everything into a messy pile. Using his shoulder to pull myself off the ground without flashing any innocent bystanders, I stood back up and unlocked the front door.

I dumped my stuff in the hallway, making a mental note to tidy it away before the others got back, before leading Alfie to the living room. Dropping onto the couch, I turned to him.

"So...you're here."

"Yep," he replied, popping the 'P'.

"And we've got the whole house to ourselves for an hour."

Alfie raised his eyebrow. "And nobody can hear us?"

"Nope. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"And what exactly would that be, Cat?"

I looked at him, smirking as I leant over to whisper in his ear.

"Ultimate SingStar Battle!"

~~~

"No! How the hell did you get a higher score then me? I demand a rematch!"

I laughed as Alfie threw his microphone on the sofa in mock-rage. I shrugged. "I wish I could beat you again but I have to go to class in 15 minutes."

Alfie pouted. "Not even if we sing a Taylor Swift song?" He shuddered at the thought, "Then again, I should probably tell the school I'm here."

"Good idea. I'll put my phone on silent in English and you can text me what dorm you're in," I agreed, shoving various papers into my bag and hitching it onto my shoulder. I grabbed the key and, once I'd finally coaxed Alfie into leaving, locked the door behind me, returning the key to it's place.

Alfie suddenly grinned as we began walking back to the main building. "Hey, you know that Sports Science assignment?"

"Oh yeah, we never did complete that did we?" I remembered.

"Yeah, well I gave in a copy of our audition video instead and guess what? We got a B!"

I raised my eyebrow at Alfie. "You seem very excited considering it's a B."

"It's probably the best grade I've had all year," he grinned. "And you know what makes it even better? Guess what Alex got?"

I was almost afraid to ask. "What?"

"Herpes!"

"What?!"

"From Tiffany, apparently. And he was caught selling drugs to some 14 year olds so he got kicked off the football team and suspended for 3 months."

"Woah."

Good thing I left him when I did, before he developed Justin Bieber Syndrome.

I showed Alfie to Reception and went to class, dreading the essay writing that waited for me. Luckily, 20 minutes into the lesson a Junior set of the fire sprinklers and the whole Right Wing was flooded, books and pencil cases left bobbing in an ankle-deep sea. The teachers announced that classes were dismissed for the rest of the day, so I texted Alfie to meet me by the fountain.

He walked across the courtyard towards me, dressed in his new uniform with his hand behind his back. I narrowed my eyes.

"What's that?" I asked as soon as he was close enough.

"What? This?" Alfie pulled a paper bag from behind him and grinned. "Just something I picked up on my way here."

He pulled me over to a tree in the shade, sitting down and waiting for me to do the same. I complied, stretching out on the grass as he reached into the bag.

"Ta da!" He pulled out a tin with one and a half cupcakes placed inside. "I may have taken a bite or two on the train journey, but I made sure you at least had a whole one to yourself."

He grinned at me and I smiled back, taking the cupcake laden with swirly blue icing before he ate that one too.

"Hannah made them," he explained as he shoved the other half of his demolished cupcake into his mouth. "See hopes yoo ike em."

"I love them." I paused.

"Alfie? I...I think I love y-" I was cut off as Alfie looked behind me, wiping cake crumbs from his mouth and sitting up suddenly. "Uh, Cassidy?"

I frowned, annoyed that the moment was ruined. "What?"

I turned to see what was bothering him, my blood running cold as I saw my brother in the distance. I jumped up, running over to him as he stood by the school building.

"I...I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"Austin?! What are you doing here? What's happened now?! Where's Sophie? Is she worse? Austin!"

"I.....it's....." He shook his head, a tear sliding down his face.

I grabbed his shoulders, willing him to say that he came for a visit. That he needed to borrow money. That he found my missing sock. Anything other then what he was about to say.

"Mum isn't alone in Heaven anymore."

~~Fin~~

Author Note

Thank you for reading. You have no idea how much it means to me! I hope you liked it, and don't hate me too much for the ending! There will be an Epilogue coming soon, so keep an eye out for that. Until then, vote and comment, and I'll see you around.

- Miss Overthetop