Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
My worry now was what the future might hold. I can see the rest of them all moving on, leaving me behind. Once Belle marries Jared she’d be part of the family, that amazing family that I’d only just got to know. Our little school family that should never have been.
“What’re you doing? Let me see your face.” I wiped the tears away quickly before turning with what I hoped was a bright smile planted on my face. It didn’t work because he pulled the car over to the side and turned it off.
“Shane we’ll be late and I have a math test first thing…” He pulled me across the seat and the look on his face, almost panicked, made me feel so much better.
“Forget that, tell me why you’re crying. Are you hurt? Did mom come outside and…”
“No-no nothing like that happened.”
“Then why the hell are you sitting here crying and trying to hide it from me?”
“I’m not…”
“Don’t lie to me, you said you never would.” I couldn’t help laughing at the look on his face. He looked genuinely freaked.
“Shane calm down. I was just….”
Can I tell him the truth? Do I dare bare that much of my soul to him? He was right, we'd promised to always be honest with each other. So no matter how much of a fool I make of myself, I have to tell him.
“I was just thinking about the future. About what everyone’s going to be doing next. You guys are a year ahead and you’ll be leaving soon. Plus, now that Belle is marrying Jared she and Sian will really be family and the rest of you guys are so close. And Alex and Cassie are more a part of you…”
I started rambling because the words were making me feel sick. I wasn’t one of them. I’ve only been fooling myself. He’d never…
“What the hell are you thinking? That I’m gonna leave and leave you behind? Didn’t I promise that I wouldn’t?”
He wiped my face none too gently. “I know you did but I told you before, I’m not going to hold you to a promise made in the heat of passion.”
“And I’ve told you before, for someone as smart as you are, you can be really dumb sometimes.”
He kissed me hard and put me away from him before turning the key in the ignition. Only that’s not what he did. All he had to do was rest the key on some kind of magnetic thing where the keyhole used to be. It’s too much to think about right now.
“Just hang in there for me for just a little while longer okay. And don’t go getting any more ideas please.” I think he swore at me under his breath but I didn’t care. He’d taken my hand in his as he drove and that went a long way to making me feel better.
* * *
CASSANDRA
* * *
So, it really did happen, I didn’t imagine it. All night I tossed and turned, waiting for something else to happen. While I was at school surrounded by the others, I felt excited at the new changes that were taking place. But once I returned home all the old fears came back.
It’s just that Mandy is the kind of person who always lands on her feet and I was sure this time would be no different. I guess I forgot for a minute just who it is that she’s going up against this time.
Now I’ve arrived back at school and from the looks of things, things really had changed. Kids who always stayed hidden and out of the line of sight were actually hanging out in the lot instead of hiding behind the walls.
And there was a feeling of lightness in the air. Sian and Valerie walked over with Jace and Track following behind them. I was surprised when Jace acknowledged me and not for the first time wondered why he was so kind to me.
"My mom's going to call yours later today about the trip to the island Cassie."
“Okay Jace and thanks for inviting me.” He smiled like a big brother and squeezed my shoulder before moving onto whisper something in Sian’s ear.
Whatever it was she took umbrage because she elbowed him in the gut which only made him laugh and kiss her hard right in front of everyone. They’re so perfect together it’s stupid.
I noticed Mandy’s crew lounging off to the side looking lost and semi afraid. Something else I noticed, no one else was mentioning her, or the fact that she’d been expelled. It didn’t take long for them to forget her. I guess she wasn’t as important as she thought.
I was about to ask Sian or one of the others why it seemed like Kelly no longer hung around with them but just then Belle and Jared drove up and it was obvious from the look on Belle’s face that she had news.