My First and Only Love

Chapter Seven

Cassandra:
As Spencer and I walked to my apartment, we were both silent until he asked me a question," Don't you wait for your sister?" "Nah, she goes out with her friends every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. She spends all the money she makes working just on those days. So, I only walk with her on Tuesdays and Fridays." "Charlotte works?" "Yup at Macy's. She's a salesperson. She worked at Hollistor back in California." "How about you?" "Well I worked in a restaurant for a year and then started working for a cafe. Then I moved here, and I haven't been an,e to find a job yet." "And why did you leave the restaurant?" "Well... it's kind of embarrassing." "Ooo, spill the beans." I laughed," Well, my boss was... harassing me." "In what way?" "The um... sexual way..." "Oh... please tell me you sued the guy." "Of course I did, I won $1,000. But, I still didn't want to work for him, so I left." "Well if Charlotte spends all all her money on going out with friends, what do you spend yours on?" "Helping out my mom. It isn't easy raising two teenage girls all on your own." "Wow, Cas, I'm sorry." "It's alright. Don't worry." "Hope you find a job soon." "Thanks."
"Hey, I should be filming you right now." "Oh gosh, no," I exclaimed feeling embarrassed already. "Oh gosh, yes." He took out his camera and started recording. "This here is Cassandra Stephanie Holt, say hi Cas." I chuckled," Hi camera." "Well it is Monday, and it seems as if this beautiful young lady walks home." I couldn't help but laugh. He put the camera away and laughed along with me.
When we got to my apartment building, Spencer took out his camera again. "And this is where Cassandra lives. Cas, how long have you lived here?" "Are you stupid or what? I moved in here when I entered Ferguson." "Oh, makes sense." I walked towards the stairs. "Stairs? There is an elevator right here." I smiled," Exercise is good for you." Spencer groaned," Fine." When we were halfway up the stairs, Spencer yelled," Race ya to your apartment!" He ran up the stairs quickly, but not quick enough. Even with his head start, I still won. "Congrats," he said smiling. "Thank you very much slow poke." He gasped," Slow poke?!" "Yup!"
I unlocked my door and went inside. Spencer got his camera again and started filming," What is the first thing you do when you get home?" "Eat." I went into the kitchen and opened a cabinet and got two granola bars. I threw one at Spencer and he caught it, even though he was holding the camera with one hand.

Spencer:
"Thank you for the snack." "Well you are eating at my house for a week, so enjoy yourself." Cassandra went to the table and ate her granola bar slowly. She didn't say a word, she seemed lost in her thoughts. "What you thinking about?" I asked her turning off the camera. "Nothing important," she replied standing up. I grabbed her hand," Anything you are thinking about is important to me at this moment." She smiled the smile I loved and sat down," I'm just thinking about how long it's going to think to get a job again."
I got an idea at that exact moment, but I kept it to myself," Have faith Cas, you'll see everything will work out." "I hope so," she said frowning. I kissed her hand," It will work out, I promise." "Thanks for being here for me." "Well I'm kinda stuck here for a week," I joked. Cassandra laughed," Fair enough." She took the granola wrapper from my hand and threw it and hers away.
I turned on my camera again," Now what?" "Now we do homework." "EW! HOMEWORK!" I threw myself on her couch," IMA DIE!" Cassandra started laughing," Don't be so dramatic, it's not poison." I grabbed a water bottle on the table and drank it," AH! NOT EVEN THIS POSION IS AS DEADLY AS HOMEWORK!" "How is possible that you get Honor Roll?" "Principal's Honor Roll sweetheart." "Oh wow, my bad you little show off." I got off the couch and laughed," Homework is actually not so bad, especially if you have a study buddy," I said with a wink. "Oh my, I'm sorry you don't have one." She smiled and turned around. I put on the camera on the table, grabbed her waist and pulled her to me," You are my study buddy." "Says who?" "Says me." "Alright, then I'm your study buddy." "Amazing."
She led me to her room and we sat at her desk. We worked on our homework until we heard the door open. "Charlotte's home," Cassandra said smiling. I looked at the time; it was still four thirty. Cassandra walked out of her room and went into the living room," Hey sissy." "Hey Cassy, hey Spencer." "Hi Charlotte."
Charlotte turned all her attention towards Cassandra," Someone would like to speak to you." "Who is that someone?" "Our neighbor." "Which one?" "The nice one." "Oh alright, that's good. Well, what does Mr. Martinez want?" "I don't know but he said he wants to speak to you." "Oh alright then." Cassandra went outside, leaving Charlotte and I alone.
Charlotte looked at me," You are getting too close to my sister." "Is that a problem?" "Yes, I don't knew your intentions." I laughed," I just want to be her friend, be here for her." "I think you like her." "And why is that?" "Have you seen yourself around her?! And you are always taking her out. So admit it, you wanna date my sister." "Ok fine, yes. I want to date her, but I know she doesn't. And that is fine with me." "But, I think there is a future between you two." "Why?" "Cassandra hangs out with you so much more than she has hung out with me in my whole lifetime!" "Wow..."
Cassandra walked in and it seemed Charlotte forgot I existed. "What happened Cassy?" "He said he knew mom wasn't here so he wanted to talk about how much noise you make when you come with your group." "Oh whoops." "Ay Charlotte, just keep it down ok?" "Ok sissy." "Promise?" "Promise." "Ok I'm not telling mom, I don't want to get you in trouble." "Yay thanks! I love you!" "Love you too,now Ima go shower. And Spencer you are not allowed to film anything until I say so." "Yes ma'am."
Cassandra went into the bathroom and I was left with Charlotte again. "Well, um Ima go get the mail." "Alright." Charlotte walked out of the apartment and I was left there all alone. I looked around the living room. I saw a bunch of pictures of Ms. Rodriguez, Cassandra, and Charlotte, but none of Mr. Holt. 'Makes sense,' I thought. I walked into Cassandra's room and looked at the wall and decorations which I hadn't paid attention to before. It was painted purple and white with a bunch of diplomas and medals on them. I saw a whole bookshelf of pictures: Cassandra and Charlotte, Cassandra and her mom, Charlotte and her mom, the three of them, Cassandra and her friends, but none of her dad. And, that's when I saw it.
On Cassandra's desk there was a photograph. It was a picture of Charlotte, Cassandra and a man. It had to be their father since they were each kissing one of his cheeks. The picture was ripped in the middle where the man was. But it was put back together with tape.
I felt bad for Cassandra. What had her father done to them?
Cassandra walked in the room wearing a park of leggings and a t-shirt. Her hair was dripping wet. She looked at me curiously," What ya doing?" "Looking at all your pictures." "Oh well, Ima eat dinner with Charlotte, you coming?" "Yea sure."
Cassandra smiled and went to the kitchen where Charlotte was serving lasagna. "Who cooked?" I asked. "Me, I did it last night," Cassandra said. "Well I bet Ima enjoy it then." Charlotte set the table and Cassandra took the plates.
I took out my camera and set it on the table. The three of us chatted and ate as if there was no camera there.
When we were done, Charlotte cleared the table, Cassandra washed the dishes, and I dried them. "Ima go take a shower," Charlotte said. "Ok," Cassandra and I responded while the front door opened. "Good afternoon girls!" a familiar voice said. "Good afternoon mom!" Cassandra and Charlotte exclaimed not even bothering to go to their mother. Ms. Rodriguez came into the kitchen and greeted me and then turned her attention to her daughters," How are you?" "Good," they both replied. "I left your food in the refrigerator," Cassandra said. "Ok thanks sweetie." "Ima go to my room." She turned around and went to her room while Charlotte went to the bathroom. I followed Cassandra," What do you do now? It's still 7." "Well I do whatever I want now. Usually read." "Well you do you, while I film." Cassandra laughed and picked up a book," Alright." She tossed me one," Read." "Ugh, ok."
I couldn't believe that I read for three hours straight. It was such a good book. Cassandra is who stopped me from reading more," It's 10, we gotta sleep." "Ok then, good night," I kissed her cheek," I'll be back soon." "Ok," she said smiling.