Always

Cassandra

A few months later

It took 3 hours, but I finnaly finished loading my stuff into my dad's truck.

"I can't believe my baby girl is going to college." my dad said, hugging me.

"I know dad." I said smiling and rolling my eyes. My mom walked out of the house and handed me the key to my dorm.

"You might need this." she said, smiling.

"Thanks mom." I said, hugging her.

I had expected this to be an emotional day, and it most certainly was. My dad hugged me again and my mom timidly approached me again.

"Erm, can I talk to you?" She asked.

"Sure." I replied, feeling slightly concerned. The look in her eyes told me that this was not good news.

I sat down on the bench on the porch and she sat down beside me. She took my hands hand hers, took a deep breath and looked up at me.

"Honey, Robert and I... We are getting married." She said.

I couldn't understand the feeling that flowed through my veins. It was a mixture of hatred, fury, and sadness. And through all these emotions all I could manage out was a little "what?"

My mothers eyes filled with unwanted sympathy.

"Look, you should have figured this would happen at some point." She said.

"Did I expect you to get married after you and dad divorced, yes, yes I did. Did I expect you to marry some boring, pervert, douchebag? No." I said, standing up. Anger pulsing through me.

"Cassandra-" she tried to say.

"No. I don't want to hear it." I said, shaking my head. I felt tears of sadness and anger well up in my eyes.

"Have a nice life with your asshole fiancé." I said, shooting her a death glare and stalking off toward my father.

"Did she tell you?" My dad asked. I nodded and he wrapped his arms around me. I wanted to stand there and cry into my dad's shirt, but I refused to let myself shed a single tear in front of my mother. My dad released me and looked into my eyes. He had married his girlfriend when I was 14 and she wasn't great, but she was better than Robert.

"You'll be okay. You're a tough girl. And more importantly, you're my daughter." He said smoothing back my hair.

"Thanks dad." I whispered.

"Now, lets get my girl off to college!" He exclaimed, pulling me into a half hug. I grinned and walked toward the truck.

"Thanks again for letting me borrow the truck, dad." I said.

"No problem, kiddo." He replied, opening the door for me.

"Remember to call me if you need anything. And no boyfriends." My dad said.

"Yeah, yeah, okay dad." I said, smiling and rolling my eyes.

"Bye sweetie." I heard my mother say.

"Bye." I said, my smile suddenly turning into a grimace.

I pulled out of the driveway and drove off to Texas a&m university.