Loving You Again

Ch. 8: An Ode To Us

"Yes." I frowned as Katie placed the lipgloss on my mouth. "This makes or breaks the look Cass." I rolled my eyes as she finished and smacked her lips together for me to mirror. I did as told as I looked up at her through the glued-on lashes she had somehow persuaded me to wear.

"Katie, we have been in here for almost five hours, I am starving." I pouted as I rubbed my stomach. My mum had cooked dinner for us all but Katie would not allow me out, going on about how the element of surprise would be taken away even when I was only wearing a robe and rollers in my hair. Apparently rollers made the curls last longer than a curling wand did, or so Katie said they did.

I had learned to not fight the role of being Katie's guinea pig of her ideas. I didn't mind, I liked being glammed up without having to do the work, but I hated how long it took.

"Fine, but the boys can't see you yet." I scoffed as I shook my head. My skull was pounding from the lack of food and my patience was wearing thin. I just wanted to eat.

"I don't care if the boys see me. I'm going to go eat." I stood up as Katie huffed and handed me the heels she had picked out for me.

I still didn't know what to think about the fact that my best friend had packed clothes for me without me knowing.

I took them as I walked out the door and down the stairs. The smell of the food made earlier wafted to my nose and my stomach rumbled in response. I hurried to fill my plate up and sat on the counter eating happily while at the same time making sure I didn't get anything on the red dress.

At the end Katie had decided on the red skin tight dress. It was simple, but the smaller girl had taste. The left side of the dress was long sleeve while the right was sleeveless. The sparkling pumps she had helped me buy last year fit nicely with the outfit.

I crossed my legs as I munched on the cold food. My mum came in and smiled when she saw me.

"You look beautiful Cassie." I couldn't say much with my mouth full, but I gave her a thumbs up. She chuckled.

"Is that a thumbs up on the food or the compliment?" I swallowed quickly to reply.

"On both. Katie did all this though, I still have no sense of fashion."

My mom nodded in agreement. "Yes, that much is obvious." I scoffed playfully as I took another smaller bite. "You grew up with the boys," my mum shrugged, "Gemma was always the one trying to glam you up."

I smiled feeling the nostalgia. I remember always trying to fit in with the boys in order to not lose Harry. He was my bestfriend and only I could hold that position, or so I thought. Harry didn't seem to mind though, sometimes he would paint his nails with Gemma and I.

My mum and I seemed to be lost in the melancholy that the past brought us but the silence was serene. I finished eating as I got down from the counter and moved to the sink. I was about to turn the faucet on when my mum moved my hands away.

"I'll do it, knowing you, you'll get the dress all wet." My mother smiled gently as I nodded feeling out of place. My mother hadn't ever really done things for us growing up, at least not when we needed them to be done for us the most. By the time she was better, Nathan and I were able to do things on our own with no real help.

I know that she felt guilty for not being there for us when we needed her, and I found her trying to make up for lost time with small things like these. Learning to be independent and not depend on other people was a hard habit to break from. Especially when the reason for the habit was trying her best to show you that it was okay to depend on others sometimes.

"Are you done eating?" I caught my breath as I tried to compose myself. I turned around to see Nathan impatiently look at me. "Let's go!"

I nodded as I impulsively turned to give my mum's cheek a quick kiss and gently squeeze her shoulder in assurance. A part of me wanted to be mad at her forever, but seeing her try and not giving up on trying tugged at my heart. I needed to forgive her at some point, maybe then I could learn to let everything go.