✓ | FLARE, warren peace

chapter twenty one

Cassidy let out an exasperated groan and threw down another bunch of hangers, which held dresses that she absolutely loathed.

"Okay, seriously, I can't do this anymore," she complained, frustration clear in her voice. "Why do I have so many dresses that I can't stand to wear?"

Cassidy had never really been a fan of dresses, preferring the comfort of loose-fitting shirts and slacks or any clothing that covered as much of her body as possible. Dresses, in her opinion: she had a laundry list of reasons why she despised them.

Layla sat on Cassidy's bed, chuckling as she searched through the clothing laid out on the bed. "Come on, Cass," she said, "It's not so bad."

Cassidy groaned in response. "Fine, I'll wear that one," she said, snatching the hanger from Layla's hand. "Done, we're good now."

Layla furrowed her brows, realizing that the dress Cassidy had chosen wasn't suitable for homecoming. She opened her mouth to say something, but froze as she noticed the way Cassidy was staring at her.

"What...?" Layla asked, confusion evident in her voice.

Cassidy dropped her hands and walked over to the bed, sitting down amidst the mess. She fixed Layla with a penetrating gaze, "Something happened, didn't it?" she inquired. "I knew it. I knew it was a bad idea for you to go by yourself."

"I..." Layla paused, then, she let out a heavy breath and buried her face in her hands. "Was I that obvious?"

Cassidy chuckled softly and gave Layla's arm a reassuring pat. "Well," she replied, "you may not be the greatest at hiding your emotions, but that's okay. It just shows that you're not afraid to wear your heart on your sleeve."

"Cass," the younger female began, lowering her hands awkwardly, "I'm not entirely sure if that was meant to be a compliment. I'd make an awful sidekick—I'd end up as an easy target. How do you manage to handle people treating you as some kind of inferior?"

"Don't put yourself down, Layla," Cassidy said gently, taking her hand in hers. "We all have room to grow, whether we're heroes or sidekicks. In the end, what matters most is just being true to yourself, just being you."

"Even though I don't handle it perfectly, I am no stranger to being treated as inferior. My parents are villains, and there's no denying it, but I can change how others perceive me. I don't need to prove anything to anyone, but I want to prove it to myself. It's important to me that people understand that our upbringing does not have to dictate our future. It truly doesn't matter what Coach Boomer thinks about us; it's what we do for ourselves. This applies to everyone, whether they have heroic parents, regular parents, or otherwise."

"Will it get easier?" Layla tucked her knees close to her chin, and Cassidy hummed in response before shrugging her shoulders.

"To be honest, it can go either way," Cassidy admitted. "It could get easier, but it could also get harder; we won't know for sure. And if it's okay with you, could you tell me: Did something happen?"

Layla let out a small huff, clearly frustrated at the memory. "Let's just say that Gwen Grayson had to happen," she grumbled. "You know, how some girls can be when the boy they like isn't around—they become completely egoistic, malicious little creatures."

"Gwen is someone struggling with insecurities," Cassidy acknowledged, "and forgive me for speaking up for her in a way, but we don't truly understand a person's situation until we hear all the facts. I don't necessarily approve of the way she approached you, but I promise there is more to the story. Gwen hides behind a facade of meanness, using it as a security blanket to conceal her real feelings. I may be giving her too much credit, but based on my own experiences as a sheltered person, I've learnt that there's always so much more beneath the surface."

"What about her friends?" Layla inquired.

"No, I don't have an excuse for them," Cassidy responded, shaking her head. "Lash, Speed, and Penny—they relish in the power they possess. Gwen, however, seems to be the odd one out."

Layla laughed and leaned her chin on her knees, "How is it possible that you could change my perspective on Gwen without even trying?"

"Perhaps it's because you see that Gwen is misunderstood, or maybe because you realize the person who truly deserves your anger is Stronghold," Cassidy agreed. "After all, he was quite a jerk and you have every right to be angry with him for turning his back on you and the others."

Cassidy listened intently, knowing that Layla simply needed someone to hear her out, without seeking advice at that moment.