Spectra

Chapter 43

Cassidy

"Okay, I know I'm definitely the best designer in this whole school, but that doesn't mean I want to help with the middle school's musical." I whined. My fashion design teacher, Mr. Kingsley, was practically begging me to go and costume design for the middle school's play. "Listen, I know they'd have some bomb costumes if I designed them but, theater isn't really my thing. So I'll have to pass." He crossed his arms.

"Their last student designer graduated but, he did get a scholarship to a pretty big school. Just saying." I raised an eyebrow, but still wasn't completely onboard. He huffed, realizing I wouldn't budge. "Okay fine. If you design the costumes you'll get extra credit in my class for the year." I grinned, clapping at this offer.

"Deal. But is there any money involved or..." He stared at me, I nodded, understanding that this probably meant no. "Alright, well I better start designing... Uh actually what exactly am I designing?"

"They're doing Beauty and the Beast so that won't be too difficult. Just go by the movies and you'll be fine." He took a sticky note and wrote something down before handing it to me. It was a phone number and email. "This is the drama club director, email her about dates or rehearsals and what she's looking for." I nodded. "Good luck." He sat down at his computer.

I left just as the dismissal bell rang, grabbing my notebook and measuring tape. I found Emily and Lucas outside by the flag pole and shared the news with them.

"You're looking at the new costume designer for the middle school musical!" I exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. Emily laughed.

"You hate theater stuff though." She pointed out making me nod vigorously.

"That's what I told my teacher and he still insisted I did because I'm the greatest designer in the school and they desperately need me." My friend looked at me suspiciously. I huffed. "Okay fine, he offered me extra credit."

"It can't be that bad." Lucas said shrugging. "I mean MJ's the lead so she can help you out." I scrunched my face up in confusion.

"She is? She can sing?" The two looked at each other as if this was common knowledge. "Oh. Well cool, I better go. Do you happen to know if there's rehearsal tonight?" I asked slowly. Emily nodded, I groaned. "See you tomorrow, losers." I winked before leaving for my car. I drove straight to the middle school figuring that rehearsal just started.

I was hit with nostalgia as I walked the halls of my old school. The ceilings seemed way lower than I remembered but it smelled the exact same. I found my way to the auditorium and opened the doors. They were rehearsing on stage. Once the director saw me she told everyone the take a break and walked over to me.

"Hey, I'm Cassidy Kane and I'm apparently the new costume designer." She grinned as I spoke.

"Perfect! I made a list of everybody on the cast and what costume they need so you can start designing right away." She fingered through a pile of papers until she found the list and handed it to me. "You can start taking any measurements you need tonight or tomorrow just tell me what you need. Oh! And once you start buying materials let me know, I can give you money from our funds to do that. But the rest is all up to you!" Every word she said was filled with pep and enthusiasm with a smile on her face.

"I brought stuff to measure tonight so I'll just start with MJ." I said. She made an announcement introducing me to the kids and called MJ over to see me. They started a scene without her.

"Heyyy." I sung as I wrapped the tape around her waist and wrote down the measurement.

"Why are you here? You would never do something helpful unless you were being paid, so what'd they offer you?" I faked gasped as I measured her bust.

"I'm not being rewarded, I'm just the most amazing designer in the school and they were begging and pleading for my help. I volunteered my time to help the kids." She looked at me in disbelief. I scoffed. "How come nobody believes that? Alright, I'm getting extra credit." She nodded, believing that version a lot more. I finished her measurements and told her to tell some kid Tyler that he was next. I measured kid after kid until I was about half done and rehearsal ended. I found MJ talking with that Tyler kid backstage.

"Are you free this weekend?" MJ asked him, I quickly hid behind a curtain and watched. He turned beet red and nodded. "Cool maybe you can come over and practice lines. I suck at memorizing." He nodded and itched the back of his neck awkwardly. He waved and walked towards me to leave. I tried to act natural as if I wasn't watching them. I ran up to MJ and grinned.

"Who was that boy?!" I exclaimed, bouncing on my toes. She rolled her eyes.

"Tyler, he's the beast. And no I don't like him, I can barely stand him as a friend." She grumbled. I huffed, frowning at the news.

"Whatever, he totally likes you and that's good enough for me. Now, do you need a ride or what?" I asked saying it all in one breath.

"If you mention this again, I'm walking home." She crossed her arms as I rolled my eyes.

"Fine."

I drove to the apartment building with the radio as the only noise in the car. We rode the elevator up to her floor and she got off yelling a 'thanks' to me as the doors closed. I listened to the squeaks and creaks of the elevator as it slowly rose to my floor. The doors opened, I walked down the hall to the apartment. I unlocked the door and opened it.

The kitchen was as messy as ever with pots and pans covering the counters, dirty dishes filled the sink. Mom and dad were probably out somewhere. Owen and Ollie were probably in their room playing video games. They're my twin little brothers. I have my own room now that my older brother's gone. You might be wondering, Where is he? Well, good question. Let me set the scene.

About two years ago my brother Aidan was in this super secret relationship that he refused to talk about. Our parents wanted to know about this girl so bad but he was 18 and about to graduate so they gave him some privacy. On New Year's Eve he said he'd bring this girl over. Only the person he brought wasn't a girl. He introduced us to his boyfriend, Jordan. I remember his cool dark hair with bright green highlights and his black stud earrings. Our parents were furious and disgusted. I remember running to my room with little Owen and Ollie as they screamed at each other. The door slammed. That was the last time I saw my brother.

I never even got to say how proud I was of him. He stood up to our parents which was something we never did. He probably thinks I was ashamed of him too because we ran and hid instead of helped. I never looked at my parents the same way after that. The twins are only seven now so they barely remember what happened that night. But they still miss their big brother, just like I do.

Here's a little short chapter all about Cassidy because I felt like it :)

Also I go back to school soon and I'm really not feeling that. I had two weeks to do my homework and I'm probably going to do it the night before I go back

~Emily (~^_^)~