twenty seven

Luca

~

How can he think I'm turning into Marcus?

How can he think I am not the same person anymore?

I am still me.

My phone vibrated against my desk before I noticed two messages from Cassie.

I'm alive. Just a busy weekend.

Also, I don't think tutoring is a good idea tonight.

I typed her another message.

Hey. I'm glad you're alive.

I have to be on the track after school so it's fine.

She starts to type back but the three little dots soon go away. I stare down at my phone hesitantly waiting for a response, but I never got one. I know she's dealing with a lot. She has so much on her plate right now. When she left my house Friday after the broken vase incident with her mom, I wanted to go with her.

Just to be that support she needs.

I changed into my gym shorts after school ended and walked with Scott Parks to the track. He's a junior and this is his first year on the cross country team. Which could have fooled me. He's faster than me during the meets. Some of the guys call him Speedy Gonzales.

"Look man, I don't know if it's my place or not, but I somewhat agree with Anderson."

I glance at him as we walk through the field. "God, not you, too."

He holds up his hands. "Marcus is bad news. Trust me."

"I know how he can be, but he's been fine lately. Much better, in my opinion."

"He's causing problems already with the two of you."

"What? I can't have another friend besides Andy?" The tone in my voice has shifted.

"That's not what I'm saying—"

I quickly shake my head when we make it onto the track. "I'm not doing this again."

"He's been talking shit about you the entire time."

I let out a laugh. "Like what?"

Now he wants to stop talking. "You didn't hear it from me."

After practice, I texted Cassie to let her know that we ended early today and to see if she felt like coming over to study. It was only five, so we still had a few hours to go over the lesson in Mrs. Higgins' class.

She read my message but didn't reply back. For some reason, I feel like something is wrong. It isn't like her to miss school or barely respond. She did the same to Sydney who seemed genuinely worried. Sydney is the only one who I can talk to since she knows about the situation with her mom.

Marcus doesn't even know.

He's been talking shit about you the entire time.

I ignore the thoughts and start the ignition in my truck. With my hands gripped tightly on the steering wheel I suddenly pulled up into Cassie's driveway. I'm not one to show up unattended to someone's home, but I need to make sure she's okay.

To make sure her mom is okay.

Her house is even more beautiful at night with solar lights lined down the driveway and a few in their magnolia bushes. I guess I didn't give it much attention when I was here last at the party. I ring the doorbell with a shaky hand. I don't know why I'm so nervous.

I'm not doing anything wrong.

Just showing up unexpectedly.

Not creepy at all.

The door opens slowly before Mrs. Harlow welcomes me with a smile.

"Hi, Luca."

She is an older version of Cassie. Dark chocolate curls rest a little longer past her shoulders and a few freckles dance along her nose. The dark bags under her eyes hold my attention. You can tell she isn't getting much sleep.

"Hey Mrs. Harlow," I say with nerves. "Is Cassie around?"

She nods before welcoming me inside. I'm greeted with Mr. Harlow again as we wait on Cassie from upstairs.

"How is tutoring going?" he asks as we sit down on the couch.

"It's going well, she's very smart."

They both smile as I compliment her. "We've noticed her grades go up in Mrs. Higgins' class because of you, Luca. We couldn't be more thankful." Their kindness fills the room, making my cheeks burn. I honestly can't take all the credit.

"Your daughter is amazing; I've never met anyone like her."

I see her dad glance nervously at Mrs. Harlow before reaching over to grab her hand. It calms her down slightly from the shaking of her legs.

As I sit there waiting, I hear Cassie walk down from upstairs. She doesn't look happy once she notices me.

"Luca, what are you doing here?"

I stand up from the couch to meet her at the bottom of the steps. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

She whispers back to me. "You can't just come into my house unannounced."

I knew this was a bad idea.

"I'm sorry—"

"Come on." She grabs my hand and pulls me out the front door.

"Why are we running?" I ask as I make it inside my truck. "Is it your mom? Cassie, she looks fine."

"She's not fine, Luca."

"Cassie—"

"I just don't want you to see my mom like this, okay?" she snaps.

I'm still not following. "Like what—"

"CASSIE!" Mrs. Harlow yells and runs over toward my truck, while her dad tries to hold her back.

We quickly make it inside before Cassie hits the button to lock my doors.

"CASSIE! Do not leave me. You always leave me!"

She starts beating on the passenger window where Cassie is sitting. The look on her face is indescribable. It doesn't look like the same lady I was talking to minutes ago.

She's angry. She's upset. She's sick.

"GO!" Cassie screams.

Her dad pulls her tighter this time, begging for her to relax and come inside.

"That's all you're good for. Leaving me when I need you the most. All for some boy. It's always a boy with you."

"Honey, listen to yourself." Patrick tries to calm her down, but she still doesn't listen.

"Let her leave, she's no daughter of mine."

Cassie shakes her head, tears pouring down her sweet face once her dad is able to bring her inside and shut the door.

"Cassie..." I whisper.

She keeps her head down in the palm of her hands, crying profusely.

"Please get me out of here." She manages to say through the tears consuming her mouth.

I quickly oblige and head onto the highway, leaving tire marks in their yard.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

She barely mumbles a word to me as we sit on the edge of my bed. I repeat the words her mom just said to her over and over again. I can't believe she would speak to her daughter like that. She clears her throat to break the silence in the room. "It's her bipolar disorder. When she says these things, I try my best not to feed off of it, but sometimes it's easier said than done. She doesn't always talk to me like that, but she does when she doesn't take her medicine properly. So, instead she has manic episodes."

I nod and grab her hand. "I understand. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. Your dad too."

She brushes her fingers against my palm and smiles. "Thank you for being here for me."

"I will always be here for you."

She looks away, blinking the tears back, and notices a picture of my parents beside my bed. It's the same picture from my kitchen window. I don't know why I brought it into my room. I guess I just like to look at it when I first wake up.

"Is it true what happened to them?"

I quickly stand up and run a hand through my hair before leaning my back against the dresser. "I don't really like to talk about them."

She stands up and walks over toward me. "It's okay, you don't have to."

The look in her beautiful light hazel eyes lets me know she would never tell anyone about our private conversations. That I can trust her. That I will know she will always be here for me. I look out the window for a minute as I think about the darkest times of my life. The last few minutes I had with them. The moments that will always be a part of me.

Cassie stands there, rubbing my hand still, letting me gather my thoughts on my own. Even with her eyes puffy from crying and her cheeks red from rubbing her sorrow away, she is still the most beautiful girl that I've ever laid eyes on.

I lift her chin up to meet my eyes.

"Yes, it's true, they were murdered."

• • •

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