The Pain of Separation (On Hold)

Chapter 1

Cassie opened her eyes and looked up when she heard the knock, removing her head from between her knees. She called out in a shaky voice, “Yeah Mum?”

Her mother opened the door and slipped in to the bathroom, looking down at her daughter with a sad smile. “Your cousin's here sweetie, come say hello.”

Cassie nodded slowly and stood up, rubbing her face which felt sticky from the dry tears. “Just let me clean myself up, then I'll be out.”

“Sure.”

Her mum closed thee door and Cassie stood in front of the and turned on the tap. She stared at her reflection. She look awful.

Her blonde hair was messy and her face was smudged with tears and make up. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. It wasn't a good look.

Cassie washed her face thoroughly and ran a brush through her hair quickly. She gave her lashes a quick twirl with the mascara wand and put on a bit of lip gloss. Usually she wouldn't primp so much but she wanted to look nice for this cousin. Whoever he was.

Slipping out of the bathroom, she tiptoed down the stairs, stopping at the bottom and peeping through the door a little, just for a sneak peek. She didn't know what to expect.

And there he was, sitting at the kitchen table with a load of luggage at his feet. Cassie only need one glance to realize two things that she wasn't expecting at all. One, this guy was hot!

He wasn't the stereotypical hot, blonde hair, blue eyes, huge muscles. Oh, he had muscles alright and he was fairly tall, but he had dark, dark brown hair that was almost black, tumbling down in waves to his shoulders and black eyes. His skin was tanned and his looked like he very Italian.

There was one other thing though, that Cassie didn't expect. Something that made her heart jump out of her chest and her breathing speed up and caused her to look twice.

That one little thing...this mysterious cousin look exactly like her dad.

“Cassie, this is Brad. He's going to stay here for a few weeks.”

Ever since her realization, Cassie hadn't been able to look Brad in the face. Now was no exception. She stared down at her toes, inspecting her toenails. She felt, more than saw his smirk and it just made her mad. Thoughts of her dad came flooding in and she suddenly found that she could glance up at Brad and look him in the eye. But only for a moment. The second she saw the smirk widen and the stuck up look on his face she was back to studying her feet and turning a beautiful shade of royal red.

A this time, Nancy Jordan stood watching her daughter as she rudely ignored their guest, then glanced at him, the got all embarrassed. She didn't understand what was wrong. Cassie was usual a very polite and friendly girl and never stood with her head down when greeting guests.

She decided to step in, “Cassie, could you show Brad to his room so he can unpack? I'll have snack ready when you come down.”

Cassie gave her mum a desperate look but she ignored it and pointed to the stairs. With a sigh, Cassie turned away and began walking, Brad scrambling to grab his stuff and follow her. She lead him to his room, which was opposite hers, and opened the door. Stepping aside, she waved her hand around the room and stated plainly, “Vala.”

Brad dragged his stuff in and dumped it on the bed. He took in the blue curtains, writing desk and wooden wardrobe and nodded, that stupid smirk still plastered on his face.

Taking that as a sign to leave, Cassie turned away to walk out when Brad called out to her.

“Hey, nice caboose you got there.”

Cassie turned back around, acting calm although she was raging inside. She rolled her eyes at Brad, who was grinning at her like he'd won the lotto.

“Try another pickup line next time, loser.”

With that, she turn back away and march out the door, slamming it behind her. As she slammed the door of her own room, she could here Brad's mocking laughter, echoing through the closed door, preparing to haunt her mind for hours.

When Cassie finally decided it was safe to come out of her room again, it was almost two. Having skipped lunch, she decided to see if she could con her mum into going out for shopping or a movie and then an early dinner. She may as well do something worthwhile with her Saturday, after all. She couldn't hide in her room forever.

She clomped downstairs and into the kitchen. Her mum was sitting at the table in front of her computer, probably editing another article for the paper she worked for. Cassie stood behind her and placed her hands on her mum's shoulders. Her mum groaned in response and started to type viciously. Cassie sat down next to her and waited. When her mum was finished and then stated her request. “Mum, can we go out the afternoon?”

Her mum looked up at her and sighed. “Honey, you know I'd love to but I just have to much to do and not enough time to do it in.”

Cassie stuck out her lip and pouted at her, making her laugh, “Pwwwweeease?”

She sighed again and then typed a few more words, saved the document and closed the computer. “Fine, but tomorrow is spent at home.”

Cassie jumped up and fist-pumped the air. “Score!”

The next few words out of her mum's mouth re-evened that score. “Well, go get Brad then.”

Cassie stopped, mid-pump. “W-what?”

“Of course Cassie! You didn't think we'd leave him behind?”

“Well, yeah... there's frozen pizza in the fridge.”

Her mum spun around and look at her incredulously. “Cassie, that would be plain rude! No, we need to at least invite him! Go ask him now, and politely!”

Cassie sighed in frustration and stomped up the stairs to Brad's room. She wasn't to worried though. He wouldn't want to come, he was a boy. Boys don't go out for dinner with their aunty and cousin.

She stopped in front of his door and knocked once. The music that had been playing on the other side stopped and the door opened just enough so that Brad could stick his face out. His dark eyes stared out at her and made her heart miss a beat. A beat that it missed for her father. He smirked at her. That seemed to be a talent of his.

“Do you want to go out?” she asked casually, praying that he would say no.

He stared at her for a minute before opening his mouth, “Seriously?”

She gave him a 'duh' look and he looked nervous. Brad, nervous? He scrunched up his face in thought and Cassie sighed at him. “I don't have all day! We leaving ten minutes and mum won't wait any longer.”

He looked up and at her and his expression seemed to clear. He even went a little red and he relaxed, leaning against the door. “Oh, sure. I'll come.”

Cassie''s mouth feel open and closed, speechless. You have got to be kidding me! Then she nodded curtly and walked away. She couldn't believe it. He said yes! She was about to spent the rest over the afternoon with her annoying jerk of a cousin and there was nothing she could do about it. Her annoying jerk of a cousin who reminded her of her dad, ever time she saw him.

***

Hey there!

Hope you liked this first chapter and if you find mistakes in spelling or grammar, please tell me!

I'll clear up some of the stuff to do with her Dad in the next few chapters. It will all make sense in the end.

Thanx....

FlyingLaama!

Ps. i made the cover myself. Like?