The Neighbor

Meet the Parents

"Mmm, yes I remember you...ah, you were a messy one, weren't you? Took a lot to clean up, but it was worth it." Ben was flipping through the files he took from James, while waiting for Cassie to finish getting ready. He chuckled at some, smiled fondly at others; all while his girlfriend was just in the other room. At this point, he didn't care if he got caught. With what he felt for Cassie, he decided that he'd keep her around if she ever found out. He'd just have to find a way to keep her mouth shut. If she didn't...well, he'll cross that line when they get there. 

Getting bored now, he huffed and closed the files. He stood up, stuck them under the cushion of the arm chair and called, "Cass, you ready?"

**

"Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. Shi--." She was inturuppted when another wave of nausea hit her and she was, once again, heaved over a toilet, spilling her guts out. She felt sick this morning, but it went away after she threw up a few times. Now, it's back. She groaned when she was finished, flushed the toilet, and brushed her teeth for the thousandth time. 

Cassie took a few deep breaths and looked into the mirror. "Calm down, Cassie, calm down," she told herself. "They're your parents. They love you. They can't shun you twice...right?" Then, another wave and another moment over the toilet. Again, she brushed her teeth and took more deep breaths. She was just calming down, when she heard, "Cass, you ready?" No, she mentally told him.

"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute," she called back. After splashing some water on her face and taking the deepest breath she could...she threw up.

**

"Sweetheart, you don't look so good," Ben commented, as they were in the cab. He touched his hand to her forehead and asked, "Are you ill?" Cassie swatted his hand away and snapped, "I'm fine!" That didn't surprise him, as she's been snappy for the past few days. She was nervous and he understood that. To ease her nerves, he took her hand and laced their fingers together. 

Well, he thought it would ease her nerves. She tried prying her hand away, but he kept it tightly in his. Finally, he leaned to her ear and angrily whispered, "Stop it! You are nervous, I am your boyfriend, you will accept what I am trying to do and that is comfort you. Understand?" He was scaring her more than comforting her, but it did cause her to stop fidgiting. "Good girl," he told her, before kissing her ear. 

The cab pulled up to the restaurant Cassie worked at and Ben helped her out. They walked hand-in-hand into the place and went up to the host. "Hey, Kathy," Cassie greeted with a nervous smile. "I have a reservation for six." Kathy looked at the list, then gestured for them to follow her, while grabbing a few menus. "Your party hasn't arrived yet," she informed the couple. "Should I get waters for everyone?" Ben pulled out a chair for Cassie, while telling Kathy, "That would be wonderful." Kathy gave Ben a quick once over that didn't go unnoticed, before walking away.

"Are you sure you're alright, love?" Ben rubbed her back and kissed her head. "I'm fine," she huffed. "I'm just a little nervous, that's all." And just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, she shot up from her chair and bolted for the bathroom to spill out the remaining contents of her stomach. "Goddammit," she muttered into the toilet. She thought about getting up, but decided to keep her head in the can, just in case anything more happened. 

It was only a few minutes later when there were strained voices outside the bathroom door, and then someone charging in, calling, "Cass?" Cassie groaned in the toilet and called back, "In here, Sarah." She sat up enough to unlock the bathroom stall, and slumpped back into her comfort zone.

Sarah gasped when she saw Cassie and immediately got down next to her. "Gezz, Cass. What's wrong, hun?" Cassie started to tear up, as she said, "I'm really not sure now. I thought it was nerves, but...now I just think I'm sick. It is flu season, isn't it?" Sarah shook her head. "Flu season passed a while ago. But...I may know what's wrong." Cassie looked curiously at her sister, as she listened to her say, "Don't get mad at me, alright? But, have you been...on the pill?" Cassie scoffed, "Of course! I wouldn't have unprotected..." Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Oh no," she breathed. "No, no, no! I stopped taking it when Ben and I were apart because I didn't...I...oh my God, Sarah!" She started crying and Sarah pulled her into a tight hug. "Cassie, sweetie, don't worry. We'll figure this out, alright? Ben's pacing in front of the bathroom door right now; he's worried sick. Let's go out, enjoy dinner, and I'll come over tomorrow while Ben's at his meeting and bring a few tests. Yes?"