11 CHAPTER 11

J A K E

As soon as we stepped foot through the front door, Cassidy hopped straight up the stairs as fast as she could, which was difficult with crutches, and into her room. I heard the door slam shut and the click of the lock. She locked herself in her room. I sighed. There was nothing i could do to help. For the first time in my life i felt useless.

"Do you think she will be okay?" Josh asked.

"I don't know" i mumbled.

"You okay Jake?" he nudged my shoulder. I stood in silence for a moment. The truth is, i didn't know. Just looking at Cassidy's upset face in the car made my chest hurt.

"Yeah, i'm fine" i replied. "Let's just get ready for when the rest get here" i added. And with that i ran up the stairs and straight into my bedroom. I could hear the faint sounds of Cassidy sobbing through the wall that separated our rooms. A pain shot through my chest again. What the hell is that?

Deciding that a shower was desperately needed, I made my way across the hall to the bathroom. Turning the shower on and turning the dial to hot, I removed my clothes before stepping in. I don't know how long I was in there before a small knock came from the door.

I turned the shower off, wrapping a towel around myself as I stepped out and walked towards the door. Another soft knock sounded through the bathroom before I eventually opened the door quickly. Cassidy stood there, makeup running down her cheeks, with a towel and clothes in her arms. There that pain goes again.

"Sorry. Are you finished in the shower?" She whispered.

"Yeah, take your time" i replied and moved out of the way so that she could walk in. I heard the door close behind me softly and the quite sobs that followed after. I am going to find that prick, and when i do he is in for a world of pain.

-----

"The Smiths are here bitches" Elouise's voice rings loudly through the house.

"Joy" i muttered as they joined me in the kitchen.

"Would you cheer up? You've been in a mood since lunch" Elliot quipped.

"Yeah, lighten up a bit would ya" Elouise added. That's a little bit hard to do when i am planning someones murder.

"How's Cassidy?" Michael spoke up.

"Locked herself in her room as soon as we got back. I think i heard her crying earlier" Josh explained with a frown.

"I could hear her crying when i was getting changed earlier. Thin walls" i mumbled.

"I feel horrible for her. I mean she was so close to her mom. It killed her to lose her" Elouise spoke.

"She was always closer with her mom than her dad that's for sure" Elliot whispered. "Anyway, why don't we get a pizza ordered and pick out a film" Elliot snapped everyone out of their thoughts.

"Yeah, and i'll go see if Cassidy wants to join us" Elouise said as she got up and left for Cassidy's room.

"Seriously dude, you okay?" Elliot asked me as soon as his sister had left the room.

"What did you mean 'she was always closer with her mom than her dad that's for sure'" I questioned him.

"You heard that?" he said looking down at his hands.

"We weren't suppose to?" Josh asked.

"Cassidy was always a mommy's girl, never leaving her side. When her mom got sick, it was Cassidy that was looking after her really. Her dad was always either at work or just out somewhere. I suppose we know where he was now" Elliot scoffed.

"With our mom" Josh gasped as he realised the situation.

"Yeah. Cassidy still hasn't put two and two together yet, so please don't say anything".

"He was out with another woman whilst his wife was sick and his 15 year old daughter was left to look after her?" i growled. "And our mom at that".

"Jake, please just don't say anything to Cassidy. She wouldn't be able to take it" Elliot pleaded.

"You can't expect me to stay quiet about this! Cassidy deserves to know!" I shouted.

"Know what?" a timid voice sounds from behind me. I turn around to look at the small brunette, curiosity swimming in her eyes.

"That we are having a pizza and movie night and you are in charge of picking the film" Elliot effortlessly lied. Cassidy's gaze swiftly moved over to me, silently asking if that was the truth. Begrudgingly i nodded my head. Her body visibly relaxed at that. I felt so shit, keeping something like this from her, but i knew that Elliot was correct. She wouldn't be able to take it right now. It would break her, and i couldn't do that to her.

"I'm honestly fine with someone else picking the film" Cassidy said. "Jake, why don't you choose?" she asked me.

"What was that film that you wanted to see with Holly?"

"To All The Boys I've Loved Before?" she questioned.

"Yeah. We'll watch that then Cassie" i said and gave her a small smile. The smile that i received made my heart warm once again.

"Let's go and get the film ready Cass" Elouise said as she pulled Cassidy out of the kitchen with her and into the living room.

"Dude, i don't know what is going on with you, but it must be something big if you are being nice to Cass" Elliot laughed before also departing the kitchen.

"Just think about what i said the other day Jake" Josh smirked at me. I knew exactly what he was talking about. The doorbell rang before i could answer him, making me get up from my seat and head to the front door.

"Thanks man" Elliot said as he took the pizza from the delivery man and handing it to Elouise before handing the man the money for the food.

"Movie time bitches" Elouise shouted running into the living room with the pizza. Man, my friends are weird.

-----

My eyes fluttered open to see the ending credits playing on the Tv. How long was i asleep for? I looked round the room and saw everyone else was also asleep. Including Cassidy. Who was asleep in my lap.

Looking down at the sleeping brunette, i started to think about my conversation with Josh a couple days before. 'You need to take a minute to assess how you really feel about Cassidy rather than lying to yourself'.

Maybe he was right. I mean my chest has been doing that weird thing ever since i found out that Cassidy was hurting, and every time i look at her i just want to protect her. Its like there is something about her pulling me in slowly. Every time she smiles, i want to smile to. Every laugh is like music. And the way her nose scrunches when she is angry at me. God what is wrong with me?

A small groan comes from Cassidy and i worried that i had woken her up. After a few seconds Cassidy still hadn't woken up, and i let out a sigh of relief. I scooped her up in my arms and decided to put her to bed. I carried her up the stairs and into her room, laying her in the bed gently. I tucked her in with a small kiss on the forehead and stroked her hair.

"I think Josh was right".