Shamelessy Bad

11. Opening Up

When I get to Lip's room, Mandy isn't anywhere out in the open. Instead, she's curled up under the covers on his bed and crying. I feel hesitant about entering the room for fear that she's going to throw something at my head. I decide to walk in and sit next to her on the bed.

"Mandy?" I place a hand on her shoulder as I try to soothe her. She jerks away.

"Go away. I don't want you here." She whines through her sobs.

"Mandy, will you please look at me?" I beg.

"Why? So you can see me cry and give yourself a big pat on the back?" She snaps. I let out an agitated sigh.

"No. So I can apologize. Momma always says it's not really genuine unless you can look them in the face. Now, will you please face me?"

She turns towards me. Her makeup is now gone and her eyes are red and puffy. It's apparent that her nose has been running for a while. She could lead Santa's sleigh with that thing. Though it's best not to tell her that. It could only make things worse.

"Mandy, I'm sorry for everything I said about you, and making you think I was after Lip. I honestly wasn't trying to." I take a deep breath before continuing. "He actually reminds me of my brother, Jeremy. We used to be like two peas in a pod, but see, he passed away last summer and I was missing him an awful lot. Lip reminded me of him, so I just kind of cling to him, I guess."

I look down at my pants and start playing with one of the holes. My other hand is on the bed, propping me up. Mandy placed her hand on mine. And gives me a meek smile.

"I'm sorry, Cassie. I didn't know about your brother. I kind of feel stupid for accusing you of having a thing for Lip." I shake my head.

"You're not stupid, Mandy. I probably would've thought the same thing if I were in your shoes." I confess. She runs a hand over my bruised cheek.

"Damn. I really got you good, didn't I?" She chuckles. "I perfected that right hook last time Lip and I were broken up." She says.

"Yeah, and it hurt like hell, too," Lip says as he leans in the doorway. A cigarette hangs out of his mouth and bobs as he speaks. "You two, uh. You two alright, now?" He points between us. Mandy and I look at each other.

"Yep. All better now." She says as she throws an arm around me and plants a friendly kiss on my cheek. "Just a misunderstanding."

"That was one hell of a misunderstanding." Lip jokes.

Carl shows up behind his brother and pops his head in.

"I hate to break up this lovefest, but Cass. I need you." He insists. I get up and join him in the hallway.

"What's wrong?" I ask concerned.

"Nothing. After everybody goes to sleep tonight, I'm gonna come get you. Are you any good at drawing?" He asks.

"Uhm, yeah. I guess." His face brightens up.

"Good. Wear those pants, a hoodie, and some running shoes." I frown at him.

"What's wrong with my boots?" I ask looking down.

"Trust me, you'll need the running shoes for what we're doing tonight."

His smile grows more and more as he thinks about his plans. I nod my head.

"What do you wanna do for the time being?" He asks. He bites his lip and looks at me as hunger glistens in eyes.

"Slow ya roll there, Romeo. Why don't we start with homework? Maybe we can bring those grades of yours up." I tease.

As we walk downstairs, there's a heavy knock on the door. Carl opens it as I get our bags into the kitchen.

"Uh, Cass? Can you come here for a minute?" He calls to me.

I walk into the living room and over to the door to see my father standing at the front door. He has a look of sorrow in his eyes.

"What do you want?" I ask him, my voice stern and cold like steel.

"Will you please come home? I'm sorry I didn't trust you and treated you like a little kid. I know I was wrong. Just please come home. The house is so empty without you there." He begs me. His voice is weak and cracks often like he's trying hard not to cry.

I can't stand seeing my father like this. Carl looks at me and I know he doesn't want me to go, but I know I have to. I drag my feet as I grab my things and head back to the door. Fiona comes in the back door right before I'm about to leave.

"What's going on?" She asks. I walk up to her and give her a hug.

"Thank you so much for letting me stay with you when I had nowhere else to go." She hugs me back and pats my head.

"You're welcome here anytime Cassie. I still expect to see you around here a lot." She chuckles. I thank her and walk to the door, stopping to give Carl a kiss on the cheek.

"I will definitely see you later," I tell him. He gives me a slip of paper as he holds my hand. I sneak it into my pocket.

Daddy and I walk across the street and into our own home. I immediately walk up to my room and start putting things away. He trudged behind me and it's clear that something's on his mind.

"Cassie, there's something I need to tell you. You better sit down." He tells me.

His voice breaks and I can tell it's something serious. I sit deep onto my bed, crossing my legs Indian style and hug a pillow on my lap.

"What is it?" I ask wearily as my stomach flips in anticipation of what he could be getting ready to say.

"I-uhm got a call this morning from the facility your mom's in. I don't know how to tell you this." He mumbles.

"What's wrong? Did she hurt someone?" I guess.

"No." He looks me straight in the eye. "Cassandra, your mother's dead. She hung herself with her sheets last night."