Chapter 4

“Where on earth did you disappear to?” Isabel asked walking up to Cassandra.

“Home” she replied. “I felt uncomfortable and threatened, so I had to leave.”

“I'm sorry” Isabel apologized.

“No. I should have never let you talk me into it in the first place” Cassie sighed.

“How about I buy you lunch today? Just to say I'm sorry and I promise never to force you to do anything again.”

Cassandra smiled at her friend.

“Okay.”

“Great, I'll just go get my purse. Don't move” Isabel said and scurried off.

Cassandra paced up and down the school's parking lot, going through the mail.

“Hey, you!” someone yelled from behind her.

She jumped and turned to see the boy from the party making his way towards her. She tried to get away but he grabbed her just in time.

“What do you want?” Cassandra asked, trying to get out of his grip.

“The truth” he responded curtly.

Cassandra looked away.

“You were in my room the other night right?”

“No” she lied.

He tightened his grip around her wrist and she frowned.

“Okay fine. It was me. But I didn't do it on purpose okay? I'm sorry” she apologized.

“That wasn't so hard, was it?” he smirked.

“Can you let go now?” Cassandra asked.

“Your friend wants you right here” he reminded her.

Was he eavesdropping on their conversation?

Cassandra tugged her hand away.

“I'm Chris by the way” the boy chuckled, handing out his hand.

Cassandra eyed him, rubbing her wrist. He chuckled and put his hand away.

“I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?” he asked.

Cassandra chuckled. She'd been going to this school since she moved from Mexico when she was ten.

“That's none of your business” she replied and turned away but he blocked her path.

“How do you get your hair to grow so long?” he asked, rubbing a strand through his fingers.

Cassie frowned.

“What are you doing?”

“Hey, can I ask you something?” the boy asked again.

That was all he'd been doing.

“Do you promise to leave me alone afterward?”

He nodded.

“Are you single?”

Cassandra frowned.

“And why would I answer that?” she asked.

“Cause I'm not letting you go without getting an answer” Chris replied.

He was starting to get on her nerves.

“No, I'm not. Because boys are not my thing” she said. “Now goodbye.”

She pushed past him.

“So you date girls then?” he called after her.

Cassandra turned back and shot him a look.

“Okay, okay don't get mad. I was just joking” he said with a laugh.

“Well take my advice and never try to get a career in stand-up.”

“Well, you could try to get a boyfriend.”

“Not now.”

“Why not?” Chris chuckled.

“It's a family oath.”

He chuckled again.

“That's ridiculous.”

“No. I go to college, get a good job, and earn a decent living before thinking of boys. And besides my parents—” she trailed off.

Chris knew that look Cassandra had on her face all too well.

“I'm sorry” he apologized.

Cassandra shook her head, gathered herself, and smiled.

“No, don't be. It wasn't anyone's fault.”

Chris looked at her.

“Mine passed away when I was only two years old. Jace's parents are the only parents I have ever known.”

Cassandra's heart sank a little.

“I'm sorry” she whispered.

He looked up and grinned.

“And why are you apologizing?” he asked. “I thought you said it wasn't anyone's fault?”

Cassandra chuckled. Chris met her eyes for a moment. Cassandra didn't blink or look away either. There was something about her he couldn't pin down. Could she be the one?

He suddenly cleared his throat.

“Okay, now I have to go. See you around?” he asked.

She nodded.

“And my name is Cassandra” she replied extending her hand.

He looked at her extended hand and smirked.

“A Graham doesn't do that twice.”

Cassandra laughed and put her hand away.

“Touché” she smiled and he walked away with a matching smile on his face.

Isabel saw the boy walking away from the other side of the parking lot and approached Cassandra with a huge smile.

“I leave you for two seconds and you've already landed a hottie?” she teased.

“Shut up” Cassandra laughed.

“Who was that anyways?”

“Chris Graham” Cassie responded, her eyes trailing after him.

Isabel gasped dramatically.

“You snagged a Graham?!” she cried excitedly and hugged Cassandra who playfully shoved her off.

“Shut up. I didn't snag anything. Leave me alone” she chuckled.

Isabel laughed.

“I'm not letting you hear the end of this.”

Cassandra laughed, and with a last glance at the direction Chris walked into, they headed out to lunch.