Always Love You

Chapter 28

"Why did you stop in the middle of the jungle?" questioned Cassidy out of curiosity.

"Well, this is the shortest route we can take to your place," answered Gerald back after killing the engine.

"Well, I know that. But why did we stop the car here?" asked Cassidy again.

"Just so we could talk. You know, get to know each other better," replied Gerald while taking the car keys out and placing it safely in his pocket.

"So what do you want to talk about?" asked Cassidy while shifting her position uncomfortably.

"Why don't we get to know the basics first. Tell me about your father," said Gerald, smiling at Cassidy.

"Well, um, yeah... My father left me and my mom when I was five years old," said Cassidy and looked down at her fingers while she played with them looking a bit nervous.

"So, you haven't seen him afterwards?" asked Gerald trying to get to know Cassidy's background in a big picture.

"Well, I have seen him afterwards like once or twice. But anyway, he gave his house for us to live in since my mom was out of a job and with no house," replied Cassidy.

"So, how old were you when your mother married your step-father, GREG?" asked Gerald raking information from every possible way.

"It was more like three years ago. But they were friends apparently in high school. So anyway, yeah. Technically, my mother got to know him before she got to know my father," answered Cassidy still staring at her hands, unable to lift her eyes up, afraid that Gerald would see her moistened eyes.

"So, how long have you known him?" asked Gerald curious to find out all the details Cassidy knows about her stepfather.

"I honestly don't know. I guess ever since I was a little kid. He used to come for parties and all. Even when my father was there. I remember seeing him in pictures. He used to be my Santa Claus back then," replied Cassidy, smiling at the memories of her good old days.

"So, technically you knew him your entire life," pointed out Gerald.

"Yeah, you could say that if you want to," said Cassidy in a sweet manner.

"So, what made you'll move here?" asked Gerald curiously.

"My mom stopped working and Greg's job changed. So, we moved here as it is closer to go to his workplace from here than from Hazelmoor," answered Cassidy in return.

Cassidy's short and sweet answers was not enough to feed Gerald's hunger of curiosity to find her background details. He cursed himself for putting through all of this while he could have a normal life like other teenagers in his grade.

"So, what's the job Greg is doing now?" asked Gerald, finally making up his mind to hit the nail straight onto it's head.

"Well, I really don't know. I don't care what he is doing," said Cassidy and started to meddle with the cubbyhole opening.

"Really, Cassidy? You don't know where your stepfather works?" asked Gerald surprised and sounding a bit anger which could be sensed in his tone.

"Yeah, I seriously don't know where he works. I don't care and can't be bothered to find out," answered Cassidy while she kept on meddling.

"Don't lie to my face, Cassidy," said Gerald filled with anger.

"I'm not lying Gerald. I seriously don't know where he works," answered back Cassidy, annoyed at Gerald's nosiness.

"What the hell are you doing? Don't you have any manners?" screamed Gerald after he noticed what Cassidy was doing.

Gerald literally slapped her hands as he could not control his temper. Cassidy just wished that he was not such a boiling water type of tempered person who will throughout in any minute or second without any prior warning.

"Okay, I'm sorry," said Cassidy in a low voice after remaining silent for a couple of minutes.

Minutes of silence passed between them. Both of them staring out the window without speaking to one another. And both of them did not take any effort to generate a conversation.

"I'm really sorry. I just lost my temper," said Gerald, finally trying to make up a conversation. He was just scared at that she will get out of the car and walk back home.

"It's okay," voiced Cassidy very low and then she took a deep breath and exhaled after holding it for a few seconds.

"So, how come you don't know what your stepfather is doing? Don't you'll discuss anything at home?" asked Gerald inquisitively.

"Of course not, silly. We don't discuss office work or my school stuff. Why should we anyway?" questioned Cassidy while raising her eyebrow.

"I thought that because you are a family you talk about all those stuff. That's what families do, right?" asked Gerald in a tone which suggested that he didn't believe what Cassidy told him was true.

"So, what does your dad do?" inquired Cassidy while she was trying to change the subject.

"You know, he does this and that. Kind of hard to say," replied Gerald.

"No specific job?" questioned Cassidy.

"Well, actually he has several. But, you know," said Gerald, and paused for a while suggesting that he will not finish his line of saying.

"So, if you can't say what your father does, then I'm sure that it's fair that I can't tell what Greg does." said Cassidy and stared out of the window.

"But, at least I know what he is doing even though I can' tell it." debated Gerald trying to defend himself not knowing what trouble even simple words can cause.

"Oh! So that means you don't trust me. Then why should I trust you as well. Why in the first place did you even ask me to go with you to the prom?" asked Cassidy furiously.

"I asked you out because I wanted to do. I can ask the girl I like anyway. There is no barrier to that. And anyway, I knew that Luke or that guy won't ask you out,"  replied Gerald and smirked at her. 

"How can you be so sure about it anyway? You are not a mind reader for sure. Is it just a guess?" asked Cassidy, sounding a bit playful, even though it was a serious question.

"You'll see why," replied Gerald and paused.

Gerald sighed and then drew a long breath. After exhaling Gerald opened the cubby hold and took a velvet case out of it. He opened the casing in a manner so that Cassidy could not see what was inside.

"You see this? This is what they are afraid of. You don't have to be scared of it if you behave well like a lady." replied Gerald while smirking at her.