The Oracle

Chapter 18

New years has passed, and Cassie grew more and more anxious with each day. She wanted to start the new year with a new and optimistic Cassie... but she never came. Cassie felt nausea almost everywhere she went, and this pit of darkness was only starting to brew. Justin pitied her, making him almost insufferable to be around.

Cassie sat in her local library, reading Frankenstein. Fresh snow dappled the stain glass windows of the library, stopping any sunlight from leaking in.

She heard the bell chime as the library door swung open, and looked up as Thomas entered. Cassie immediately avoided his gaze and tried to continue reading. Unfortunately, Thomas made that impossible. He casually took a seat at her desk, rubbing his hands together. "It's freezing out there!"

'I would never have known. Thanks for mentioning a completely obvious statement." Thomas didn't know if her voice was more thick with sarcasm or annoyance.

"You know they say 'when in doubt bring up the weather'. I find it's a perfect conversation starter."

"Only if both parties want to conversate," Cassie set her book down as she obviously wouldn't be able to read a word. "How long are you going to be doing this?" She sighed as she looked at the boy she onced loved. His jet black hair was dotted with freckles of snow, but Cassie's gaze shifted to his lips as they broke out in a smile.

"Do what? This little side thing we having going on?"

"Is that what you call it? That doesn't really fit my definition of harassment." Cassie hated how she could never read him. He was always just a blank page to her. That's how they started out, anyway. She would prefer a blank page than a page full of half written words and sentences.

"It's the only time I can really talk to you. I miss you." Thomas said with true sincerness.

Cassie felt guilt wash over her once more. "Thomas, I've already told you," this time her voice was soft and low. "I only broke up with you because of some... personal issues. It had nothing to do with you."

"That explains why you've a got new boy, huh?" He knew he struck a nerve.

Cassie gritted her teeth. She wouldn't let him talk about Justin. "You're being pathetic." She picked up her satchel as she bite the inside of her cheek.

*

Before long, Cassie found herself walking towards the lake. A thin drizzle of snow fell on the ground as she took a seat against a tree. She rested her chin on her knees and closed her eyes, letting out a deep breath.

The cold snow landed on her bare arms, causing goosebumps to raise on her arms. Cassie cursed to herself, wishing she had taken time to grab her cloak instead of going out in just a t-shirt.

Cassie lifted her head to see Justin making his way over to her, concern clear in his eyes even from a distance.

"Remind me why we decided to meet up here in the cold?" he asked softly as he approached.

Cassie shrugged and stared at the ground, "I needed to get away from people."

"You don't mind me being here, do you?" asked Justin.

"Of course not." Cassie smiled, stifling a shiver as a cold breeze hit her bare skin. Justin pursed his lips and slid his cloak off, leaving him only in a white t-shirt.

"You're freezing," he murmured, handing her the cloak.

Cassie shook her head and pushed his hand away. "I don't want you to be cold," she protested.

Justin rolled his eyes and draped the cloak over her shoulders, despite her attempts to push him off.

Justin took a seat next to her and wrapped his arms around her. Cassie smiled and rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat. She was thankful for his company - it was all she needed at the moment -.

Soon, Justin was shivering like a mad man, and Cassie couldn't take it any longer. Though she enjoyed the privacy they had, she knew they had to go inside.

"Come on," she sighed, untangling herself from Justin. "You must be freezing."

"I don't wanna go in," Justin whined, looking at her with puppy dog eyes.

Cassie rolled her eyes. "Fine, get sick then. I'm going inside."

She immediately heard the crunching of snow telling her that Justin was following her. "Good boy," she turned around and grabbed his hand.

Justin chuckled and quickened his pace so that he was walking beside her. They made their way back to Cassie's house at a fast pace. Justin suddenly realized how cold he actually was when Cassie pulled away from him, and wanted to get inside the warm house as quick as possible.

As they walked the abandoned corridors of her house (it was still quite early in the morning), Justin stopped in his tracks, and turned to face Cassie. "I meet up with your friend Thomas. Just as I was on my way to see you," he couldn't hold it any longer. The doubt was enough to make him cold, and that was without the snow.

Cassie looked down for a moment, keeping in a sigh. "I'm so sorry, Justin," she said once she looked up at him. "You shouldn't of had to talk to him."

Justin clenched his jaw, his face blank. "He said you two used to go out. Explains why you and him had to have a big conversation the night of the Winter Formal."

"Big emphasis on the 'used to'." Cassie couldn't lose Justin. Especially with how she was feeling now. "Justin, you have to believe me. Nothing is going on." Her voice was tight and desperate. "Thomas is just a pathetic ex, who can't let go." Justin's face gave her no hint of emotion. "I didn't introduce you to him because I was ashamed of him. I wanted to forget everything to do with him. I was... am ashamed of myself for ever being with someone like him."

Justin's face soon softened. His hair fell onto his forehead as he stared at the ground. "I'm-"

Cassie cut him off by pecking him on the lips, "don't worry about it, Justin. Don't listen to anything he has to say," she said, though she too was disturbed by Thomas' words. "He only did it to anger you."

Justin nodded slightly and wrapped his arms protectively around her waist.

"It worked," he muttered before leaning in to kiss her. Cassie sighed as his lips brushed against hers teasingly, all her thoughts about Thomas disappearing.

"You're mine, right?" Justin asked, their lips still touching, with a hint of doubt edging his voice.

Cassie smiled and closed her eyes, "Always."

Justin's lips gently brushed against hers again, causing her to groan impatiently. Justin chuckled and pecked her softly.

"Now isn't the time," he told her softly. "Not when your Dad could come in at any moment."

Cassie nodded and brushed a strand of his long, honey brown hair out of his face.

"You really need a haircut, Helgenberg," she teased, though she didn't mean it.

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A/N: This chapter is kind of short :/

Anyhow, thank you for 400+ reads!

I'll update soon. Thanks for reading :D