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❝ ALL HANDS ON DECK! ❞ VICTOR announced as the family placed their hands in the center of the tables, minus Billy. Cassie stared at the boy for a moment, but forwarded her glance to the pile of hands. "Thank you for this family. Thank you for this day. Thank you for this food. Even if it's not steak fillet." Cassie chuckled at his words, and with that, they dug in. Cassie had a habit with playing with her food. Placing her food on the pokey edge of her fork, Cassie put her finger down on the other end, catapulting into Freddy's face. She giggled quietly as she saw Freddy's annoyed look, which made him kicked her leg from the opposite side of the table. Billy watched their actions and smiled slightly as he looked face down at his food, but it wasn't hard for Cassie to notice, and it made her smile too. After finishing her food, Cassie faced herself in the reflection of the bathroom mirror, trying her hardest not to smash the glass into small broken fragments. In her hand, she held her two tiny pill containers, her pain medication, and anxiety pills. She sighed as she filled her cup with water from the tap, dropping a pill into it, and quickly swallowing. Then another. A tear fell from her face. She hated taking those stupid pills, she hated her stupid arm, she hated that stupid girl staring back at her. Cassie wiped her eyes and closed the door quietly, sniffling as she left the bathroom, leaving the pills on the sink.
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THE FROSTY AIR in the morning made Cassie pull her coat more towards herself. This morning she was a bit agitated, she forgot to take her pills in the rush of the morning. So she was anxious, especially about the last time she didn't take them. And she'd probably ask Mary after school to go pick up a new prescription.
"Big school. 2,000 students, you might think, 'Wow, so many strangers.'" Darla started to explain to Billy. Cassie smiled on how friendly the small girl was, she loved her positive aura and attitude towards people, she wonder why people could be more like her. "But not if you think of them as possible for each friend then, 'Oh, so many friends.'" She continued as Cassie chuckled. Freddy, who was struggling to catch up while holding both the twins' backpacks, glared in annoyance at his twin sister.
"You're right handed, you broke your left hand, so why do I need to hold your backpack?" He sighed at Cassie.
"Because that is the great brother you are." She smiled, booping Freddy's nose, who shoved her backpack in her arms. As they caught up with the other foster siblings at the security scanner, Cassie placed her backpack down as Darla was resumed.
"This is our security scanner. Like in an airport. It's totally safe." She assured.
"I know what it is." Billy stated as he turned to the others. "Does she always do this?" He asked which made Cassie shrug her shoulders lightly being weighted down by her coat.
"Silence makes me uncomfortable." Darla confessed.
"She's almost never uncomfortable." Eugene rolled his eyes, causing Cassie to slap his arm, muttering a "stop." Darla smiled and embraced Billy tightly. Cassie noticed Billy's uncomfortable glance, causing her to frown.
"Have a good first day, big brother." Darla said as Billy lightly pushed her away.
"Look, you don't have to hug me all the time. We're not actually brother and sister, so." He told her, a small pout appeared on the young girl's face, Cassie's heart breaking at the sight.
"I'm sorry." She apologized sadly, sulking as she walked away. Cassie gave her brother a look which he nodded and caught on as he pulled Darla to his side and whispered a "Hey." Cassie saw Billy's guilty look, she could tell he didn't mean to hurt her.
"I-I didn't mean to make her." He sighed as Cassie placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort.
"It's ok, she's just excited to have a new brother, just promise to play with her and you'll be good." Cassie smiled slightly, which Billy returned looking down to his shoes and the polished floor. She walked to her locker, looking back at the boy all alone, she remembered that's how she felt when her and Freddy first came to the home. How she'd cry to her twin how nobody wanted to be her friend. How she had no one to sit with. She wasn't about to make someone else feel like that. Tapping her shoulder and out of her trance, Cassie turned to Amary with a grin.
"Hey." She smiled as she closed her locker.
"Hey." Amary returned the greeting as the two walked in the direction of their beginning class. "So, are you going to tell me about the new stranger in your house?" Amary asked eagerly.
"Billy?"
"So you're on a first name basis, is he cute?" She questioned as Cassie gasped and hit her arm giggling.
"Shut up!" She chuckled. "He's okay looking." She said as she remember his memorable features, his soft green eyes, his hazel brown hair that hid inside his red beanie.
"I mean he can't be cuter than Freddy." Amary shrugged as Cassie playfully rolled her eyes.
"That's disgusting, he's my brother." She said.
"I mean, think about it, if I marry your brother, we could be sisters!" The two spread into fits of laughter as they enter the classroom.
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Sitting at a table alone was none other than Billy Batson, which is where Cassie placed her lunch tray and backpack down.
"Hi." She greeted the boy.
"Hey." He responded as he stared at his own tray. One thing Cassie does know fully about Billy Batson, is that he can't seem to keep eye contact.
"How's your day so far?" She asked the red sweater boy.
"Fantastic." He answered making Cassie chuckle lightly at his sarcasm.
"That bad?" She continued to laugh, as Billy started to join in. As Cassie took a bite of her apple slices, Billy took notice of her notebook and the well detailed drawings peeking out of it.
"What are those?" He asked as Cassie followed his glance.
"Oh, those? They're just small sketches I do before class." She answered as she handed him the book. As she watched him flip the pages, she took notice of the awe in his eyes. Especially at the drawing of a butterfly with 5 extra pairs of wings.
"These are really good."
"Not my best, but they do ok." She gave a slight smile as she met with Billy's eyes.
"Maybe you can make me one?" He asked trying to hold eye contact. Cassie grinned.
"I think I can do that."
end of chapter two
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jayden's short words:
Wow, didn't think you all would like this book so much :) Well, I'm happy to give the people what they want! Chapter three is also finished ! Coming soon!
