12 CHAPTER 12

C A S S I D Y

Wedding planning. That's how i was spending Saturday morning. Thrilling, i know.

"Cassidy, what colour would you go with? Cream or ivory?" Christine asked me, pulling me out of my thoughts. She was trying to decide on the table runners.

"Cream" i gave her my answer. If i was being honest, i really couldn't care less. They were just stupid table runners.

"That's perfect. Thank you" Christine smiled at me before turning back to my dad and pestering him about the appetizers. I looked around the table at all of the wedding magazines and material samples with a sigh.

"Are you ok Cassie?" my father looks at me.

"Yeah i'm fine. Just a bit tired and missing mom that's all" i force a smile on my face.

"Honey i know you miss her but today is about your new life" dad told me sternly. I lower my head is shame, trying to keep the tears in. I saw Jakes hand twitch under the table, making my eyebrows furrow. His hand kept going between a fist and open. What's got Jake annoyed?

"Yeah silly me. Sorry dad" i apologised. Dad gave me a tight lipped smile before turning his attention back to what he was doing. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pulled up the girls group chat because i know that talking to the girls will distract me from my problems. I was just about to press send when my phone was ripped out of my hands.

"What?" i groaned and looked for who had taken my phone. I was quickly met was an annoyed looking father.

"Seriously Cassidy? You are meant to be helping, not messing about on your phone. You can have it back at the end of the day" he scolded me.

"Dad that's so unfair" i argued.

"No. What is unfair is bringing your mother up at a time like this and then messing about on your phone young lady"

"I can bring mom up whenever i want" i growled at him.

"Go to your room Cassidy. We are not having this conversation right now" Dad shouted. I sat there frozen, shocked at what had just come out of his mouth. I slowly rose from my seat, grabbed my crutches and made my way out of the kitchen, heading to my bedroom. I heard the scrape of a chair against the floor as i got to the top of the stairs. I thought it was probably Dad following after me to scold me again. I rushed into my bedroom and slammed the door before Dad could walk in. I sat on my bed for a few seconds before i heard a knock on the door.

"Cassidy, it's me. Open up" i heard Jake's voice. I made my way over to the door, opening it slowly to make sure that no one was with him. Once i was satisfied, i opened the door fully to let him in. Jake walked straight over to my bed and sat down, waiting for me to join him. So i did.

"Can i help you?" i asked him after a few seconds of awkward silence.

"What your dad just said was way out of line" Jake sighed. "I mean, how can he tell you off for thinking about your mom" he laughed bitterly.

"No, dad was right. I shouldn't bring up the past when we are all planning our future" i said forcing a smile.

"Cass, come on. You know that's not true" Jakes jaw clenched as he spoke.

"Honestly Jake, it's fine. Please just leave it" my voice broke from trying to hold back the tears. Jake must have noticed because his hand came to rest on top of mine, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of my hand.

"You know, you've never really told me about your mom before Cass" Jake whispered.

"She was amazing" i started off. "She was the the kind of person that you could tell anything to. No matter who you were, she would listen to your problems and help you solve them. She would always bring snacks to dance and would treat everyone like her own children. Especially the twins. She was an angel Jake, and then she left me". Sobs wracked through my body as i broke down. Jake quickly pulled me into a tight hug, wrapping his arms tight around my waist and resting his head on top of mine. His hand made it's way up my back and to my hair, twirling it around his fingers to try and calm me down.

"She sounds brilliant Cass" Jake whispered as he continued to play with my hair.

"Yeah. She was. She was my biggest support when it came to dance. Always at every competition that she could be, cheering me on in the front row and screaming the place down if i won first place. Those memories are what still keep me dancing now. She told me to never give up, so i won't" I turned to face him. I looked into his eyes, trying to make out what he was thinking or feeling, but i got nothing. This boy was good at guarding his emotions.

"She was diagnosed with leukaemia when i was 12. I still remember the day she told me. She had been to the doctors that day as she had been feeling unwell for a while. Her face just dropped wen she walked in through the front door and saw me" My lips quivered, but Jake gently nudged my shoulder, telling me to carry on.

"I asked her what was wrong. Why she looked like she had seen a ghost. She broke down Jake. I had never seen mom cry as much as she had that day. I kept asking her what was wrong, but all she could do was cry. Eventually, she pulled a piece of paper out of her bag. Cancer. It said she had cancer. It was like my whole world stopped then and there. I froze. I didn't know what to do, what to say. I mean what can you even say when your mom has just told you she has cancer?". I couldn't even look at Jake right now.

"Cass, i am so sorry that you had to go through that. I cant even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose someone so close to you" Jakes voice was soft as he spoke. It was weird. I had never seen Jake like this, being nice and gentle. I turned back to look at Jake, my eyes meeting his intense gaze. I noticed his eyes fall down to my lips and mine fell down to his. I licked my lips subconsciously and pulled my bottom lips between my teeth. Jakes jaw hardened.

"Don't do that Cassidy" his voice deep and rough.

"Do what?" i asked, confused as to what he was talking about.

"Don't bite your lip" he growled out. The air was thick between us, filled with a tension that i couldn't quite put my finger on. I looked back into his eyes, watching them turn dark. I opened my mouth to speak, but before i could, Jakes lips were on mine. My eyes fluttered closed as i immediately responded to the kiss. My stomach did flips when his hands moved up to cup my face. Only when we needed air did we both pull away, panting.

"Sh*t. I shouldn't have done that" Jake mumbled before getting up and rushing out of my room. I heard the front door open and close and i knew that Jake had left.

What the hell just happened?

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