Cassie (Book #1 of the "Cassie" Series)

Chapter #15: Stargazing (Chad's POV)

7:30 pm

Okay, Chad. You got this, man. You can do it. Just tell her what's been going on at home. It's not gonna be as hard as you think it is. She will understand.

"Hello? Earth to Chad?" Cassie waved a hand over at me and I snapped out of whatever daze I was in. How long was I thinking to myself for? I tried to lean against the couch but my back was still absolutely killing me.

"So, what exactly did Naya tell you?"

"She said there was booze, and things got out of hand, and you got in a little fight?" Yep, if you call my step-dad beating the living shit out of me a little fight, sure.

"Well... yeah, that's pretty much what happened. But that's only half the story." I sighed. Cassie looked concerned as she swept her long hair back behind her shoulder.

"Go on." she said, leaning forward and putting her chin in her hand. I stammered. How do I explain to Cassie that I've kept this from her for two years? Would she look at me the same way? And then there's Naya, who's gonna be furious that I've told Cassie anything when she specifically said not to. I just can't keep this from her.

"I...uhhh...well..." I stuttered. Cassie stood up and walked past the coffee table, sitting next to me on the couch and grabbing me by the hand.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" she squeezed my hand and looked me in the eyes, I paused. I wanted so badly to tell her, I'd spent the last hour imagining in my head how the conversation would go. Instead, I completely balked. As I looked back into her eyes, I realized I couldn't involve her in this, and I didn't want to go against Naya's wishes. I was going to tell her, but at the last minute, I balked.

"I had a few friends over. Things got a little ugly..." Dammit, Chad. 

"Friends? Do we know these friends?" 

"No. Neither does Hope. Uhhh... we were drinking together, one of them got a little angry, things got out of hand, and they jumped on me." Honestly, what was I gaining from lying to her? She looked at me, probably trying to figure out whether I was telling the truth or not. Then her face turned from confused to empathic. She leaned her head against my shoulder and hugged me.

"I'm really sorry, you didn't deserve that." she squeezes me tightly and for a second I feel like all is right with the world. Then I remember I just lied through my fucking teeth. I don't know how she'd react if I told her the truth, and I was even more scared of the idea of her looking at me any different, being seen as the friend that got beat up by his step-dad. I leaned against the couch, ignoring the back pain, and held her back, stroking her hair as she hugged me. Suddenly Cassie shot up from the couch.

"I want names, addresses, phone numbers, anything. No one hurts my best friend and gets away with it." Cassie demanded, her face shifting from sadness to pure anger. Okay, well, shit, didn't expect that.

"Uhhh... nah, thanks. It's over, I've cut them off, we don't need to discuss this ever again." I said, I just wanted this to be dropped. If I couldn't muster up the courage to actually let her into my home life, I'd rather this just got forgotten about completely. I trust Naya when she says that it will be over soon.

"But Chad-"

"Cassie, you're too pretty to be mad, let it go."

"Awww, you think I'm pretty?" Cassie playfully punched my arm. Not hard, but everything was really sensitive right now. I tried to hide my wincing and punched her back.

"Shut up, you know you're gorgeous." I responded. She smiled and put her head back against my shoulder. I swear, whenever I'm with her, it's like all my problems at home don't exist. Tony doesn't exist, these bruises don't exist, it's just me and her. I hope Ryan knows what he's got, and doesn't take her for granted, I know I wouldn't.