-Chapter 22: Your Story-

-Zeke-

"How's Cassie been?" Kris asked out of the blue.

"I don't know," I reply. "I haven't seen her around."

Kris gave me this 'what the fuck' look, and I just shrug.

"Aren't you friends with her?" She asked.

"Yeah," I reply. "Why?"

"Then why the hell haven't you invited her to come to hang out?" Kris accused. "Go spend time with her!"

"Wha-?"

"No, buts!" She interrupted. "I'm gonna go hang out with Jess today, and you go see Cassie."

I put my hand up in mock surrender. When Kris puts her mind on something, her mind won't change.

"Fine, fine," I say, trying to hold back a chuckle. "I'll go."

"Yay!" Kris said triumphantly, clapping her hands. "Have fun, Red."

I flip her off before slinging my bag over my shoulder and walking off.

—————

I didn't know what to expect when I went to look for her, but I didn't think I'd actually have to look for her. Like, I looked just about everywhere someone normal could be. She was nowhere. I finally find her at the back of the school. I didn't know people were even allowed back here. She was hugging her knees and looked like she had gone through hell and back.

"So, Cas, this is where you disappear to," I say, slowly walking towards her.

I don't think she knew I was there because she jumped when I started to speak.

"Oh," She said with a sort of relief. "It's just you."

"The one and only," I say, sitting down next to her. "What is this place?"

"This is my hiding spot. I go here when I want to be alone." She said. "Why are you here?"

"Kris wanted to spend time with Jessie, so I decided to come to find you," I reply. "I didn't feel like being alone."

"Well, I do." She said, trying her best to sound intimidating.

She didn't do a good job at it. Her voice is hella soft.

"Oh, well." I shrug. "I'm guessing you had a bad day?"

"You have no idea." She sighed, dropping whatever facade she had up.

"Wanna talk about it?" I ask out of habit.

"Why?" She asked with genuine confusion.

"I don't know," I say calmly. "Sometimes, it's good to talk about things, I guess."

"Why ask if you don't know?" She asked as she looked at me, her eyes still showing signs of confusion.

"It's a habit." I shrug. "Nothing more, nothing less."

She gave me a weird look but said nothing about it. It really was a habit to ask. I used to do it all the time back home. I guess after so long; it just became second nature to me.

"What's your story, Cassandra?" I ask.

"What?" She asked, confused. "What story?"

"Like," I start to explain. "Like who are you? What type of person are you? Cuz, if this friend thing is going to work, then we're gonna need to learn a thing or two about each other."

"Why would you wanna be friends with someone like me?" She asked, again confused. "I mean, look at me."

Then, the bell wrang. Cassie didn't get up. But I did.

"It's not always about the looks," I say before walking away.

She's an odd one. So many questions to things with seemingly simple answers.