##Chapter 72: CassidyBook Two: Don't Leave"Cass, I know you're hurting, but you have to snap out of it." Brooklyn shoots me a concerned glance as we walk across campus before adding, "You're beginning to scare me."Snap out of it.If only I could.If only it were that easy.It feels like I've been sleepwalking through a dense fog for the past ten days. Other than breaking up with Cole, I don't think I could tell you what else happened. And everything in my life has suffered because of it.I keep telling myself that I need to pull it together. There is no way I can fail out of school for a second time. Especially when I'm starting to make progress with my parents. Meeting with both of them last week and having everything go smoothly was the only bright spot in an otherwise crappy week.If I'd held out a tiny scrap of hope that this breakup with Cole would blow over, that hope has been fully extinguished. I've barely seen him. There hasn't been one single text or call exchanged

##Chapter 74: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveEven though I've arrived early for my lunch with Cole, I couldn't be more aware of Luke's presence beside me. It doesn't escape me that his friendship is the reason Cole pulled away in the first place. The last thing I want to do is exacerbate the situation by being seen with him.From beneath my lashes, I glance around the open space but don't see Cole anywhere.As much as it makes me feel like a crappy friend, I want this lunch to go smoothly.I pause.When he does the same, I say, "If you don't mind, I'm going to wait for Cole alone.""Sure." His lips curve into a smile as he leans over and presses a kiss against my cheek. "Text me later and let me know how it goes."Grateful for his understanding, I beam. This is the first time since Cole walked out of my dorm room that I've allowed myself to be hopeful that we could hash out our issues."I will."After we say our goodbyes, he disappears, getting swallowed up by the thick crowd. The

##Chapter 76: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveThe ice is the only place where I can lose myself. I pass the puck to one of my wingers and fall back to guard our goal. The last thing I want to think about is how my relationship with Cole has gone up in a burst of flames.How is it possible that almost a month ago, I couldn't imagine us being apart?And now-A hard hit from the left knocks me off my skates. I crash onto the ice and roll to my back. Even with all my padded protection, it hurts like hell. My eyes water as I fight to find my breath. I haven't taken a hit like that in years. It feels like the very life has been knocked from my body.I open my eyes and stare up into Sammy's narrowed blue ones.What the fuck!I can't believe she trucked into me like that!When I'm finally able to suck enough oxygen into my lungs, it still takes a few moments before I can grit out the question. "What the hell, Sammy?"She shrugs her broad shoulders, which look even more massive underneath

##Chapter 78: CassidyBook Two: Don't Leave"You're really all right with going home for the break? Everything's good with the fam?"I fold another sweater and place it neatly in my suitcase before glancing at Brooklyn. "Yeah, I think so."Over the past few weeks, I've gotten together with my parents several times. Our relationship is slowly morphing into one that is comfortable again."If you need a breather, just pop on over to my house." She dumps a handful of clothing into her bag. "It's not like anything interesting will be happening at the Bennet household.""I think everything will be fine. Honestly," I carefully fold a pair of jeans before laying them on top of the sweaters, "I'm looking forward to getting away from campus for a couple of days."Brooklyn huffs before throwing another armload of clothing into her bag. "I know what you mean. It'll be kind of nice to get the hell out of Dodge."I can't resist asking, "Aren't you going to miss your little friends-with-benef

##Chapter 80: CassidyBook Two: Don't LeaveThanksgiving Day passes by in a blur of food and extended family that camps out at our house for the day. We wake up early, prep the turkey before shoving it into the oven, and then settle back to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the big screen. As I sit on the couch with my sisters, my dad relaxes in his recliner and my mom putters around in the kitchen, it feels just like it used to before I flunked out of school last December. And I'm seriously loving every single moment of it.A little more than a month ago, I was barely in contact with my family, and now I'm home, celebrating the holidays with them. Stranger than that, it actually feels normal. Even though I was unsure what to expect, I feel stupid for getting so jacked up in Luke's truck. Lexie, who is fourteen, makes a comment about one of the choreographed routines, and suddenly both her and Miranda are jumping off the couch and copying the dancers on TV. As my gaze