Five Little Friends (Complete)

The Five

ALEX

Alex was Cassie's first friend. And she was his. They met in first grade and became inseparable. He was a scrawny thing, even when they hit high school he stayed a stick.

He was always bullied but he would never tell anyone, not even Cassie. His eyes always betrayed him though. He wasn't good at hiding anything. Especially from Cassie.

"Come on Alex, you can't lie to me."       

"There's nothing to say Cass!"

She rolled her big, brown eyes which always drove Alex crazy. "I know they were picking on you, so just tell me who it was!"

Alex walked away, leaving Cassie standing in the hallway. He didn't like looking weak, Cassie knowing he was weak was even worse.

They lived a few houses apart on the outskirts of a suburban neighborhood. Because of his dark brown skin he stood out from his peers. But Cassie never cared. He was her best friend. Her brother. Nothing would ever come between them.

VIC

Vic was picked up by the duo in the fifth grade. She was getting beat up by some jocks after school. Cassie, fearless as usual, ran head first into the fight. Cassie, Vic, and Alex got suspended while the jocks got detention. Their band of outcasts grew and became the target of more bullying.

Vic was a girl. But she didn't feel that way. She dressed like a boy and acted like one. Her mother and two new friends were the only ones who had ever accepted that. Her short blond, spiky hair, high cheek bones, and piercing green eyes made her, him, someone you couldn't forget.

"Dads back again," Vic sighed. Cassie wrapped an arm around Vic's shoulders. "He'll understand one day," Cassie said in her best hopeful tone. Alex came running from the cafeteria. Out of breath he plopped down beside Cassie and Vic.

"Seen your dad Vic. You ok?" Vic nodded. Alex , Cassie, and Vic just stared off at the other kids running and playing. They were carefree, but the trio felt the weight of the world on their little shoulders.

JADE

Jade showed up in middle school. She found the trio and made herself a part of it. None of them remembered how it happened. It just did. Jade had tan skin, jet black hair, full lips, blue eyes, and long legs. She was beautiful. The popular crowd tried to snatch her up when she moved to the school but Jade found Cassie, Alex, and Vic. She found a family and she didn't let them go.

She may have looked normal but she had problems. Just not visible ones. Her mind never stopped and neither did her mouth. She was a trouble maker. Home was strict, painfully so. Jade made up for that every minute she was free from her house.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Jade whispered.

"We just started freshman year Jade, this isn't exactly a good way to start it," Alex replied. Jade rolled her eyes dramatically, sighing loud and long making Cassie giggle.

"Live a little Alex. We're only going to be young and rebellious once," Vic said.

"You don't have to if you don't want. I can stay in class with you Alex," Cassie said taking his hand.

"Ugh fine, just this once. " They all smiles and giggled running off to hide in the woods. 

CHAZ

Chaz was the last to join the group. Summer after freshman year he met Vic. Vic introduced him to the band of misfits and Chaz decided to stick around. He was a loser without a chance according to the world. But not to his new friends. His reddish-brown hair, green eyes, and light freckles made Cassie fall in love almost instantly but she never would admit it.

He was like Jade, rebellious and outspoken. Alex thought he was rude and obnoxious. They didn't get along at first but they grew closer after Chaz saved Alex from the jocks. If Chaz hadn't been there Alex's face would have been washed in dirty toilet water that day.

"She likes you, ya know?" Alex said, tossing a comic book to Chaz. Chaz blew out a puff of smoke and sighed.

"Nah." Alex shook his head. Alex couldn't understand how Chaz didn't see how lucky he was to have her attention.

They switched comic books again when Cassie, Vic, and Jade jumped over the fence and down to where they were sitting. Jade landed on Alex, laughing until he elbowed her in the arm. Vic landed gracefully next to Alex and Jade. And Cassie landed right on Chaz's lap. She laughed awkwardly and fell over trying to get up.

"Easy Cass, I'm not contagious," Chaz chuckled. Cassie rolled her eyes.

"That's debatable," mumbled Vic. Jade and Alex busted out laughing. While Cassie blushed and Chaz pretended not to notice her red ears.

CASSANDRA

Cassandra was their center. They each leaned on her. And she loved that. She loved being able to help them. She loved that they could depend on her. She wasn't used to dependable. Her mother wasn't cruel but wasn't loving either. Her step father was an abusive alcoholic, and her brother ran away years ago.

Cassie lived in a nice house but only because her father's death paid for it. Her family struggled badly once her mother met her new husband. Most of the money they earned supplies her step father his beverage of choice, whiskey.

"One day I'm gonna escape Alex. I'm gonna have money and nice things. And I'll never have to come back here again." She stared at the stars above them.

"Not even to visit me!" he asked while pretending to cry.

"Nope... Cause you'll be there too. We'll all be together in the big city. I already seen it." He smiled at her, while she closed her eyes and imagine a different world. They laid there and counted the stars until the sun came up. 

The Misfits

Cassie, Alex, Vic, Jade, and Chaz were together constantly. Their own little family. Them vs. The world. The poor girl, the black boy, the transgender boy, the promiscuous girl, and the rebellious boy. A band of misfits. They never separated until that summer. The summer before senior year. The summer their band broke up and their friendships died. Literally. Cassie dying left a hole in each one of them.