Jake's POV:
My hands clenched tighter on the steering wheel. I was angry and horrified but I was mostly angry. I was angry at her father, at her mother, but most of all, I was angry at myself.
Furious.
I had no idea what Cassie was going through.
None at all.
I got friendly with her just to, well, to be friends. She was always so alone. She had to go through hell and she didn't trust anyone. Even I had a hard time for her to open up, to trust me.
And I never knew.
She was trying to push me away and I got angry at her. I was angry for something so small. And she...
She was giving up then.
Losing hope.
I stopped the car. I hit the steering wheel a few times. When I was done, I rest my forehead on it, breathing deeply. I don't think I could drive while I was this angry.
"Jake?" I felt Cassie put a hand on my shoulder tentatively. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, my forehead still on the steering wheel. "Just...a little mad" I breathed out.
She removed her hand and rest it on her lap. "I shouldn't have said anything" she whispered.
I immediately sat up. "Don't say that! Of course you should've said anything! This is serious Cassie! You shouldn't have to put up with it" I said angrily. "You were...abused" I whispered the last word, my anger fizzling out as I ranted.
"He's my father" she said softly.
I scoffed. "You hated him Cassie, and you should. You just forgot about it because you've been manipulated by him. He's a monster and no way in hell is he a father. If he was, he wouldn't have done that" I told her.
"You don't understand. I don't hate him...not anymore"
"Why?!?" I asked.
"Nothing's going to happen if I hate him. It won't change anything. Besides, I don't want to be angry at him, like he's angry at me. I'm better than that" she explained. "Besides..." and then she proceeded to tell me about her dream of Anna. I listened because that was better than being alone in my thoughts.
"You must think I'm crazy..." She muttered when she finished her story.
I shook my head. "Not at all"
She smiled. "Anyway, where are we going?"
"That's the second time you asked" I focused back on the road.
"That's because you never answered. I deserve to know since we're playing hooky"
I took a left turn. "We're close anyway" The road was soon coming to a dead end. There was a small cabin at the end of it and a lake. I parked the car and turned to Cassie. "We're here"
We got out of the car and she headed straight to the lake. I followed her. She was gazing out at the water when I was beside her.
"Why did you bring me here?"
I looked up at the sky. "This was the property of my grandparents. My parents and I always come here during weekends when I was still a kid. I remember that I couldn't wait to jump into the water and swim till I was dead tired. My dad had to go to the water and drag me away because I didn't want to stop. We'd eat dinner out here by camp fire too. Of course, we stopped coming here as I grew up, but being here...it was one of the best moments in my life" I looked at Cassie. "You've been through a lot, and well..." I drifted off, rubbing the back of my neck with my right hand. I felt suddenly shy.
"What?" She prodded gently.
"If it helps...I thought that I'd share these moments with you to make up the bad moments" I looked away, feeling myself blush. What the hell am I saying?
It was painstakingly silent for three minutes.
"Thank you. This is enough" Cassie said softly, breaking the silence.
"It's nothing" I said awkwardly.
She grabbed my hand. I looked down at her. "No...it's everything" she looked at me, tears silently streaming down her face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We stayed at the cabin until noon. We drove to a nearby diner for lunch.
"Where are we going next?" Cassie asked, taking a bite of her burger.
"Well, what do you want to do?" I stole one of her fries, earning a half-hearted glare from her that made me laugh.
"What?" she asked, confused.
I took a sip of my soda. "You're... different" I told her. She raised an eyebrow. "It's like...how do I explain this.." I stole another one of her fries that earned me another glare. "You don't have any barriers" I explained.
She chewed thoughtfully, finishing her burger. "I guess I've changed a little" she agreed.
"For the better" I told her and it was true. She wasn't so withdrawn anymore. She was smiling and isn't so wary. But there was still something that worries me.
Her father.
And I can't do anything about it.
YOU ARE READING
Living Again
RastgeleCassie Adams is a girl that's being abused by her father. Her sister is the only thing that makes her feel alive. But what happens when the only thing she held dear was taken away?When her mother finally had enough and left her alone with the monste...