Replacement (Undergoing Major Edits)

Chapter 2~Annoucement

One thing Cassidy knew, was that she was in trouble. 

Valarie was absolutely livid! Thank God her father was already in bed, or else she would have to deal with them both!

"I'm really sorry, Valarie, I promise I won't do it again." Cassidy apologized profusely, staring up into the fiery brown eyes of the housekeeper she had come to know as her mother. 

"That's what you said last time," Valarie McClary accused, hands on her hips.

Cassidy dropped her head in shame, she had disappointed one of the most important people in her life. 

"Oh love, you scare me when you're out so late. It's a big city out there, and I don't want you getting hurt." The housekeeper placed a comforting hand on the teen's shoulder. She loved the blonde like she was her own daughter, since she had no family of her own. Knowing that she might get hurt broke the elderly woman's heart.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." she nodded,

"Alright dear, just go on and get to bed. But don't wake up your father now, he's in one of his moods." Valarie whispered, taking the hand off Cassidy's shoulder, and nudging her up the staircase. 

"Okay," she said, walking up the steps as softly as possible. She really didn't want to wake up her father. If he was already mad before he went to bed, who knows what state he would be in if she woke him up!

"Cassie?" 

"Hmm?" Cassidy turned around,

"Is it a boy?" The housekeeper had a knowing look on her face. 

"N-no of course not, why would you think that?" Her palms started sweating. What if Valarie had figured it out? What if her father knew? What if they told her to stay away from Artie? No, this was all worst case scenario stuff. Valarie would never do something like that, she would never tell her dad about the person she loved. Especially if it was Artie Hale.

"I know where that sparkle in your eyes is from," Valarie smiled, "Who is it?"

"Umm," Uh-oh, she asked her 'who'! Okay, all she had to do was breathe, just breathe. In, and out. After all, she didn't have to lie. Did she? 

"I understand, go on to bed. We can talk about it when, and if, you're ready."

"Thanks Val." It took everything Cassidy had to keep from releasing a sigh of relief, it would give away too much.

"You're welcome love. Go on, off with you now, shoo! You have school tomorrow!"

"Yes, ma'am." She said rather sarcastically -in a playful manner of course-

"March, young lady!" Valarie pointed to the staircase, asserting her motherly authority over the girl.

"Yes, ma'am!" Cassidy took that opportunity to tread, lightly, up the staircase as fast as she could. All of her former sarcasm gone at the sound of Valarie's threatening tone.  

"One of these days..." The housekeeper thought, smiling to herself. She returned to her previous task of straightening out the living room before heading off to bed. Cassidy really was a nice girl, and she was growing up too fast for Valarie's liking. She had known the now-sixteen year old since she was eight. Right after the death of Allison Hale, when she no longer had a mother-figure in her life. Valarie's smile faltered as she thought about how sad Cassidy was, her and Artie, they were so close to each other they could practically read the other's thoughts.

Valarie didn't know just how Allison died, since neither of them ever talk about it, but she did know that it was an accident. That it shouldn't have happened, that the two children should have died along with her, but Valarie was glad they didn't. After that Cassidy would spend more time over at the Hale's, with Artie, and Mr. Hale. It was like her second home in those days. Of course, Valarie has never met Artie's father, but from what she had heard, he seemed like a very nice man.