Cassidy James

by Ashley Wilcox

  “Ready?” he asked once he was in front of me.

  “Yup. Definitely,” I replied, smiling.

  He took my hand, and for a moment I thought I’d have a heart attack before we even made it out to his car.

  I waited for Abby and Cassidy in the school parking lot for over twenty minutes. I was always Cassidy’s ride home after games and always waited for her in my car in the lot. She was a social butterfly and never could just leave after the game, but it was always like five or ten minutes extra, not twenty with no signs of her anywhere.

  I was just about to pull my cell phone out to call Cass, to see where she was, when I saw Abby walk out of the school. By herself.

  “Where’s Cass?” I shouted out the window.

  By the look on her face, she wasn’t too happy about something. Frankly, she looked pissed. Abby didn’t say anything until she was next to my door, her annoyance evident.

  “Don’t even wait for her,” she said with a scowl.

  I looked at her, confused. Not only did she look like the last person Cassidy could call her best friend, she was telling me to ditch Cassidy.

  What the hell was going on?

  “She’s getting a ride with Connor,” she clarified.

  “He’s driving her home?” I asked, stunned.

  “To his house, then yeah, probably home too.”

  What?

  “How…when…” I was totally baffled. A, she couldn’t drive with anyone but me, and B, it was past ten o’clock. Between the drive time there and back, she’d be there for practically a second. What sense did that make?

  “I don’t know,” Abby responded, thoroughly annoyed. “She was all about her parents being okay with it.”

  “Wait. She hasn’t asked her parents yet?”

  So she might not have a ride yet? Jesus Christ, this was such a mess.

  “She was calling them when I left!” And now Abby was getting annoyed with me. She was clearly over talking about this situation, but I wasn’t. I had no clue what the hell was going on and if Cassidy did or didn’t need a ride home.

  I ran my hand through my hair. What the fuck was I supposed to do?

  “Just go, Graham. Let her deal with it,” Abby said, seeing my obvious frustration.

  “I can’t just…” I started to say, but then noticed Connor and Cassidy walking out of the school…holding hands.

  Are you fucking kidding me right now?

  My attention was completely diverted.

  Were they together? She was leaving with him. They let her…

  My head was a clusterfuck of crazy. How? When? Where was I when all of this unfolded?

  I didn’t even finish what I was telling Abby, nor could I even remember what I was saying. I had tunnel vision; I had to get the hell out of here. I turned the key already in the ignition, and said, “I’ll see you later” before I pulled away.

  I watched Abby in my rearview mirror. She ignored Connor and Cassidy and went straight to her car. It definitely sucked to see the tension growing between her and Cass, especially because it had to do with mine and Cassidy’s relationship. I got that Abby didn’t like Connor and was clearly hoping for more between Cass and I, but they were friends…best friends. It sucked to see it going under over something so dumb.

  What felt like seconds later, I was sitting in my driveway. It’s so bad to say, but I didn’t even remember driving home. My mind was out in left field. Tomorrow was the dance. Again, was I even still bringing her? So much had happened and changed this week—in the past three days—that I could barely keep up. Cassidy and I went from completely normal and us to kissing, to going to a dance, to barely speaking and me a fucking mess. Oh, and to her and Blakely in a damn…whatever they are now!

  What the fuck, man?

  I shook my head of it all, scrubbing my hands against my face before turning the car off and slamming the door shut behind me. I was done. I didn’t do this shit…this drama. If Cassidy wanted to be with Connor, then so be it. She was my best friend, nothing more. Last I knew, I was bringing her to the dance as a friend and that’s what I’ll do. I was sick of worrying about everything like a damn pussy. Cassidy knew my number and where to come if she needed me. Until then…

  I was doing me.

  Last night was so much freaking fun. The entire school was there…well, minus some. It felt kind of weird being there without Abby or Graham. We’ve always been the three musketeers at those kind of things, but oh well. I didn’t get Abby’s mood last night, but I guess we all had our days. And to tell you the truth, it actually was kind of nice hanging out with people I didn’t typically. Like the cheerleaders, Lauren and Carrie, they’re actually pretty cool. And Tabatha, Conrad’s girlfriend, she’s hilarious. I was kind of branching out, having more fun with more people. It was pretty neat.

  And then Connor and I…

  Lord, we were attached at the hip all night. It was amazing. Ah-maze-ing! Even though all the guys talked about was the game and whatnot, we were still together the whole time, and he was so cute, making sure I had a blanket as it got colder out, that I had a drink, food…whatever I wanted. I talked to his parents for a bit. I hadn’t seen them in a while, but knew them really well from growing up. It was crazy! So much fun!

  And to keep the awesomeness alive, today was the dance. Since it was the day before that Connor and I really started talking, I figured he was already going with someone else, so I didn’t even bring it up last night. I didn’t want to seem clingy, like take me to the dance! And I was going with Graham anyway. Our relationship was a little on the strange side lately, so spending an evening together was much needed. I was looking forward to just being crazy and having fun with my best friends. Maybe I could sneak a dance with Connor though. Graham was anti-dancing anyway.

  Which, I should probably call Graham. Relying on him for these kinds of things wasn’t something I felt completely confident about. Though I really liked that he wanted to know my dress color. Not completely sure why, but it made me feel special—he apparently had something up his sleeve that I had a feeling I would love.

  “Hey, friend,” I greeted him cheerfully.

  “You are way too perky for nine o’clock on a Saturday,” Graham responded dryly.

  I could feel my cheeks blush with the reason. Last night was so amazing. God, I needed to stop. I was like a nerd being kissed for the first time—not at all the case. “And you’re way too miserable for the day of the dance!” I joked.

  I loved dances. Call me crazy, or just your typical girl, but I loved having a reason to get all done up. I’d been staring at the royal blue, flowy silk dress hanging on my closet door for too long. I couldn’t wait to finally wear it tonight!

  “My excitement is through the roof.” He continued to sound unenthused. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about since I woke up.”

  “Ha. Ha.” I rolled my eyes even though Graham couldn’t see. “Sometimes I wonder how you can handle all your enthusiasm.”

  A light chuckle sounded through the phone. “Anyway. So, what’s the deal with tonight?” he asked.

  Yes—tonight!

  “Well…” I began. “I have a hair appointment at two, and then a makeup appointment at fo—”

  “Just tell me where I have to be and at what time, please,” Graham interrupted.

  My shoulders sank. What a poop! Though, I guess guys couldn’t really care less about all that stuff, especially Graham.

  “My house at six,” I answered simply. “And be ready for pictures. You know our moms.”

  “Ugh,” he grumbled. “Such a to do.”

  “You’ll make it, I promise.”

  As much as the girl drove me nuts, she always had me laughing by the end of a phone conversation with her. The fact that today was still a go with the dance, bonus point. Don’t judge me on the fact that I was actually looking forward to going. Never thought I’d be saying that about a school dance, but yeah, I was only human when it came to bringing a hot girl dres
sed to the nines out somewhere. Even if I had to keep the best buddy front, I could still check Cassidy out. No one said I couldn’t look. I just shouldn’t touch.

  By noon I figured that I should probably stop putzing around and actually get the things done that I needed to for the day—haircut, pick up my suit from the tailor, and then pick up Cassidy’s corsage.

  The price tag for all of this was really adding up. Ridiculous. My savings from my summer roofing job was already taking a beating. No wonder Caleb was always working and Troy never had any money. Girlfriends or friends-that-were-girls-that-you-took-to-dances raped you dry.

  “Hi, honey!” my mom sing-songed from the kitchen when I got to the bottom of the stairs. She was in an overly happy mood.

  I looked at her skeptically as I grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl on the island.

  “What? I can’t be in a good mood?”

  My chin tilted to the side like I was trying to figure something out. This was a puzzle. Mom was usually in a relatively good mood, but none of this singing nonsense.

  “My only child is finally going to a school dance!” she shouted. “I can hardly believe it!”

  There it is! I didn’t even have to say a word to make her blurt it out.

  “With Cassidy, no less!” she added. “Do you know how long Kathy and I have been waiting for this?”

  I put up my finger. “Let’s not be getting too excited here,” I said, hoping she’d stop before she got going.

  She sighed. Cassidy’s mom, Kathy, and mine have been part of Team Graham and Cassidy from the beginning, but worse—co-conspirators. It would be no surprise if there were a scrapbook somewhere with the plans for our wedding in it.

  I walked by her to grab a water from the refrigerator. “She needed a date, so I said I’d take her,” I explained before taking a sip. “That’s it.” I smiled and patted her shoulder as I walked past her towards the door to the garage.

  “Your father said you could take the Corvette tonight, by the way,” she added from behind me.

  Really?

  That definitely got my attention, and had me turning on my heels to face her again. My dad’s 1976 ‘Vet was his baby. It was untouchable. He opened the door for anyone that entered it. Not because he was being nice, but because he didn’t want any smudge marks or scratches on it. Anal was an understatement. I’d always been just a passenger. Never in a million years would I have ever thought he would let me drive it!

  “Seriously?”

  My mom was smiling from ear to ear, but still had that insinuating look, the one that swore Cassidy and I were secret lovers. She was probably behind his letting us take the car, but who the hell cared! I’d been dying to drive that thing for most of my life. Even if she was out of her freaking mind, I’d take it!

  “He’s obviously going to give you the third degree and rules fi—” she started to say, but my attention took a left turn, getting the confirmation.

  “Fricking awesome!” I yelled before she could finish her sentence.

  My mom chuckled at my enthusiasm. “You boys and your cars.”

  Completely stoked, I went to where she was standing and wrapped my arms around her, finishing with a peck on the cheek. This was definitely a huggable moment, and I probably didn’t hug my mom nearly enough. Of course, the gesture made her eyes fill with tears.

  “Thanks, Mom! You’re the best!”

  She only nodded her head. Lord, she was close to bursting into tears, overjoyed. I chuckled and shook my head.

  “You’re funny,” I said before heading back towards the garage.

  “Six, right?” she asked as I opened the door.

  “Yup.” I smiled back at her. “See you in a bit.”

  It was time to call Abby. For some reason I was really dreading it. We had a whole day of hair and makeup planned in preparation for tonight (my parents were even letting me ride with her), but after the way she acted last night, who knows if it was still happening. Abby had no issues with going solo, but the matchmaker in me had other plans for her. I kind of made it very aware at Caz Pizza yesterday that it was very ironic that both Brayden Michaels, Connor’s friend from football that was sitting with us, didn’t have a date, and neither did Abby, so maybe they could go together. Long story short, Brayden ended up asking Abby to go with him, and she said yes. They did have a class together, so they weren’t complete strangers.

  Taking a deep breath, I dialed her number. I was inwardly dying the whole time, and the fact that the phone just kept ringing with no answer was slowly making my stomach twist into knots.

  Was she really blowing me off?

  Abby and I always answered each other’s calls. We were besties. I’d even answered her call in the shower before—away from the water, of course—but she was my person. Thick, thin, in the shower or not, we answered…always.

  She picked up on the twelfth ring.

  Thank God! My body relaxed, relieved. That was close.

  “Happy Homecoming dance day!” I announced.

  She chuckled slightly. “You’re a dork.”

  “Whatever, try to act like you’re not excited for today, but I know you. You’re dying with enthusiasm on the inside.”

  Abby laughed again. “Dying,” she joked. “Barely breathing, actually.”

  “I knew it!” I exclaimed.

  “Are you still going with Graham?” Abby said next, completely out of the blue.

  My face scrunched up, confused.

  Why did that matter?

  “Yeah, why?” I asked. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Just making sure,” she responded nonchalantly. “You did blow him off last night to go with Connor.”

  Huh? I didn’t blow him off last night. It’s not like Graham and I were together or anything. I had no obligations to him. I didn’t need a ride, so I didn’t meet him after. And he didn’t do after parties so why would I invite him?

  I contemplated asking what the heck she was talking about. But she seemed in an okay mood, aside from the comment, so I wasn’t about to bring out her claws from last night again.

  “Anyway, have you talked to Brayden at all?” I asked in addition. I saw them exchange numbers before the game. Literally, I was dying with excitement inside. I needed to know if my matchmaking skills were paying off.

  “Briefly, why?” Abby answered, but with a lack of enthusiasm. I may have huffed with frustration a little. She wasn’t full of the excitement and giddiness about going with him like I had hoped. “You’re kidding, right?”

  She heard my disappointed huff.

  “Well, aren’t you excited?” I tried to energize her. “It’s Brayden Michaels. A starting football player…your date!”

  I’m pretty sure I had dreams growing up of going to a dance with a star football player. Come on!

  “I mean, yeah, he’s not bad looking. And, he seems like a good time, but…”

  Ugh!

  “So, what did you guys briefly talk about then?” I figured I’d peruse that avenue instead. Clearly, just going with Brayden to the dance wasn’t exhilarating enough for her. Maybe I could get some enthusiasm from their conversation.

  “Just where and when he needed to be.”

  Done. I was getting nowhere with this. She was a lost cause.

  “You’re hopeless, you know that?”

  She laughed.

  “Sorry,” Abby not so genuinely answered through laughter. “You’re lucky I agreed in the first place!”

  She had a point.

  “So, he’s meeting us at my house later? I asked. My house was the meeting place. We were all going as a group.

  “Six o’clock,” Abby confirmed.

  “Perfect. It’s a date then!” I slyly insinuated.

  “Correction. He’s my date. Not a date.”

  “Yup, whatever you say!”

  I wasn’t giving up.

  “Hi, Becky!” I called to my hairdresser as we walked into the hair salon.

  “Cassidy! How are you,
honey?” She came out from behind the desk, giving me a friendly hug. Becky was seriously always bubbly and happy. I loved her. Not to mention she was a genius at what she did.

  “Amazing. You?”

  “Great. Thanks for asking.” Becky smiled before motioning for me to follow her. “Come on over,” she started, but then stopped abruptly, turning towards Abby. “Karen should be over soon to get you for your makeup. She’s just finishing up with a client.”

  “Great, thanks.” Abby smiled, taking a magazine from the rack and a seat in one of the chairs.

  Up until our car ride over, I thought that Abby was getting her hair done, too, but in true Abby fashion, she cancelled it, deciding only to get her makeup done. Abby always wore her hair down and straight. Apparently, she was planning on doing it that way tonight too. Of course, I huffed, disappointed. Dances were the one time you could go all out, and I was committed to doing just that. Abby was all natural. I was actually surprised she agreed to the makeup part. To be honest, she didn’t need it anyway. Abby was one of those girls that you couldn’t help but hate. She never wore makeup—not because she didn’t want to, but because she didn’t have to. Abby’s eyelashes were so thick and dark that they always appeared to have mascara on them, and her cheeks always looked rosy, appearing fresh with blush. Plus, she always looked radiant, like she just got ten hours of sleep and was blooming with life and energy. Yeah, I hated her sometimes. Abby didn’t even have to try to look amazing.

  Just before three my cell phone buzzed with a text message. A smile grew on my face when I saw that it was from Connor.

  Connor: Do you have a date for tonight?

  My stomach dropped.

  Wait. What?

  I cringed as I stared at the screen.

  Oh my God. What do I say?

  I wanted to say no so bad because I did have a date. But ugh! This was Connor Blakely. But, Graham…

  This totally sucked, but was completely amazing at the same time.