Another Chance (3 page)

“I said I’d consider it.”

“Cassie, I thought you would have leapt at the chance. You do like him.”

“I just can’t tell if he’s serious, Mum.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a bit random and remember what happened with Dave Pratt four years ago? What if it’s some final prank before we all go our separate ways.”

“Oh love. I doubt Patrick would do that to you. He’s always been such a good boy.”

“Mum. After a lifetime of teasing and bullying, it’s very weird that someone suddenly shows an interest in me. Even if he never picked on me. He told me that he punched Dave over the egg thing.”

A smile crossed her mother’s face. “Well there you go, Cassie. There is so much to love about you. If Patrick sees it, he’s just proving he has good taste.”

“You’re biased though.”

“I’m not going to tell you to say yes. Give it some serious thought, you owe that to yourself. I doubt he would go to all this trouble to prank you and if he did I would be have words with Jane Cross. Her boy might have grown up, but I will bet anything that she scares the crap out of him.”

Cassie grinned at that. Patrick’s mother was formidable. “I guess you’re right, Mum, I’ll sleep on it. He said he would talk to me tomorrow.”

“Sleep on it, Cassie. You could do a lot worse than Patrick Cross but whatever you decide I’ll support you as always.”

“Love you, Mum.”

“Love you too. Now get that car unpacked and you can help me cook dinner.”

CHAPTER THREE

“Cassie, Patrick is at the door.” Her mother’s voice came up the stairs and stirred the half awake Cassie.

“On my way, Mum,” she called back, running to get to the door. She checked the time on the clock as she passed. It was 9am, far too early on a Saturday morning to be up. Was he here for an answer now?

“Hi.”

From the tank top and shorts he was wearing, he’d just been for a run. The sweat glistened on his biceps, and Cassie struggled not to stare at him. She knew she was blushing, and he grinned at the effect he had on her. “I wondered if you were all set to go out with me tonight?”

“I’ve just woken up.”

“You had all night to think, Cassie. Please put me out of my misery.”

“I doubt it. Any girl from school would go out with you.”

“Except the one I want to date. Come on, Cassie.”

“Fine. But anything mean and I am never speaking to you again.”

“I’d never hurt you on purpose.”

“Let’s get through tonight, and I’ll apologise.”

“I can understand that. I won’t treat you badly, Cassie, I swear.”

He winked. “Pick you up about five? We’ll go get dinner and see a movie if that suits you.”

“That sounds great, Patrick.”

Cassie closed the door, and took a deep breath before going into the kitchen. “So?” Her mother had been watching from the door.

“Tonight at five. Dinner and a movie.”

At that Cassie’s father raised his head in surprise. “Have you got a date?”

Cassie nodded. “With Patrick Cross.”

“So you’re going on a date with school rugby captain.”

“I am,” she sang, the grin on her face bigger than he had ever seen.

“As long as he treats you right love, that’s all I ask. You’re old enough to make your own decisions now.”

“Cassie, that means that he trusts you not to go out and get pregnant.” Her mother translated.

“Dad!” Cassie exclaimed, “it’s one date. I’m not going to have sex with him.”

“I’d rather not think about that at all,” he said laughing. “Realistically it will happen at some point, so I’m just telling you my expectation.”

Cassie burned red, and her mother laughed. “Ignore your father, Cassie, you’ll be off to university soon and beyond his reach so do what you want. I know you’ll make the right choice.”

“It’s one date, and we haven’t even gone on it yet.”

“It is best to be prepared love.”

Cassie rolled her eyes and went back upstairs to bed, grinning all the way as she thought about a night out with Patrick. Maybe tonight there would be firsts. She’d never been kissed after all.

That wasn’t strictly true. Patrick had kissed her once, on her eleventh birthday. He had kissed her happy birthday, and as he went to kiss her cheek, somehow he missed and kissed her lips. The resulting kiss left them staring at each other for a moment before they both blushed, and went their separate ways. Within a year, they were almost like strangers.

In the afternoon, she showered and dressed, using her mother’s favourite perfume. The vanilla scent invoked happy memories, it was warm and comforting. Wearing it might help get through this nerve-racking first date.

“You’re gorgeous love.” Her father said.

“Thanks, Dad.”

At exactly five, the knock on the door told Cassie that Patrick had arrived. She trembled as she walked to the car. The thought that this might be a prank still weighed heavily on her mind. Something told her he was genuine, but the nagging doubt still lingered.

She barely looked at him during the drive. He seemed relaxed and insisted on opening the car door to let her out. Patrick held her hand as they walked into the burger place. Cassie held her breath when she saw Dave Pratt, but they passed him by, still holding hands. She giggled at the look on his face as he watched them.

“What did you want?” Patrick asked. “I’ll order, you find a seat.”

“Just a cheeseburger.”

“I’m paying, Cassie, have whatever you want. I seem to remember you were partial to fries.”

“You have a better memory than I ever gave you credit for.”

Patrick laughed. “I remember everything about you. The question is, how much do you remember about me?”

When she grinned, he leaned forward to whisper. “There are those dimples again. They get me every time.”

“Where have you been, Patrick?”

“With my head up my ass. I don’t know, but it wasn’t the right place. Now, what do you want to eat?”

“Surprise me. I’ll go find a seat.”

As she found a seat, she met Dave’s eye. He sneered, and she sat with her back to him to avoid even an accidental glance. Nervously, she sat with her hands in her lap, trying to stop fidgeting.

“Are you all right, Cassie?” Patrick asked.

She jumped as he spoke, not seeing him approaching the table as she was too engrossed in her hands. “I’m fine.”

He nodded towards Dave. “If anyone gives you any crap, you tell me. I won’t put up with anyone teasing you.”

“What have you been doing the last few years?” Her sudden self confidence scared her, and she averted her eyes.

“I tried to prevent any bullying the last few years. If anyone has said anything bad, I’m sorry. I made it clear to my friends that you were out of bounds as far as teasing went. Although, I know they haven’t always done as I ask.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I can’t say that they’ve all treated me like that, but I appreciate the effort.”

“It disappoints me if anyone has been mean, Cassie. It’s not what I wanted.”

“So tell me again why you never asked me out?”

“I already told you. You always made me nervous, Cassie, you were always the smarter one. I figured you wouldn’t be interested.”

“It was always you right behind me. Why wouldn’t I be interested?”

“I don’t know, I guess I’ve been an idiot.”

“Yeah, you have.”

They ate in silence and on leaving, Patrick took her hand again. Her heart raced as they walked out together and down to the movie theatre where he released her hand long enough to get popcorn. “Let’s sit up the back,” he murmured.

Before the movie started, the lights went down, and Cassie tensed, nervous about what might happen. It made it difficult to concentrate.

Halfway through the movie, he reached for her hand again and he squeezed it this time. “Cassie,” he whispered. In the darkened theatre, everything he wanted to say showed in his eyes.

The lump in her throat got bigger and bigger as every nerve in her body tingled in anticipation. Patrick leaned closer and his lips grazed hers before pressing down, kissing her soft and tender.

“Patrick,” she whispered. He grinned and moved to kiss her again, this time his tongue slipped between her lips, surprising her. She jumped, and his shoulders shook as he laughed.

Unsure of what to do, she pushed back with her own tongue and when the kiss ended he stroked her cheek. He pulled her close, leaning over to give her a quick kiss on the neck before turning to watch the movie again.

It was impossible to concentrate now, and the rest of the movie was a blur for Cassie. “That was awesome,” he said as they left.

“Yeah it was,” she replied.

“Not that I saw much of the second half of the movie. Well comprehended it. Those kisses were a big distraction.”

He stopped outside the car and put both arms around her neck, pulling her in to kiss her again.

“It distracted me too. In a good way.”

“It had better have been good.”

“You don’t anything to worry about there.”

Patrick drove home, opening the car door again when they got there. “Thank you for coming out with me, Cassie, it was great.”

“It was.”

“See you tomorrow?” he asked.

“I hope so,” Cassie replied, and he bent to kiss her again. She felt better than she ever had, the boy of her dreams wanted her as she’d always wanted him.

“Was that Patrick Cross kissing you?” asked her mother as she walked into the house.

“Mum! Were you watching?”

“I might have been. It’s nice to see you happy, Cassie. It’s been a long time coming.” Cassie grinned and raced upstairs to look out her window at the Cross house. Patrick stood out the front, gazing up at her bedroom. When he saw her, he waved and blew her a kiss.

It was hard to sleep. Cassie’s mind buzzing with thoughts of the future and Patrick. Soon they’d be at university together, maybe one day they would get their own place.

She touched her fingers to her lips where he had so tenderly kissed, smiling at the warm glow of being wanted. Her mind was moving at a million miles a minute, and she didn’t want it to stop. Her life had been turned upside down.

She wondered whether Patrick was telling the truth about her being off limits for his friends to make fun of. It had certainly never deterred Vicki. Now things would be different. If Patrick wanted to be with her, his friends would have to accept it. Cassie doubted it would be that easy.

CHAPTER FOUR

“I’m going shopping,” she announced at breakfast the next morning. “Do you need anything while I’m out, Mum?”

“No thanks sweetheart. Where are you going?”

“To the mall to buy some new clothes.”

Cassie’s mother dropped her spoon. It clattered in the nearly empty breakfast bowl, breaking the silence that had fallen over the table. “Cassandra Warren. I have always had to drag you to buy new clothes. What’s brought on this change?”

“Do you have to ask?” Her father smirked.

“I’ll give you some money.” Her mother offered.

“I’ve got my savings, it’s fine, Mum.”

“No. I insist. It’s nice to see my girl wanting to spoil herself for a change. You care so much about other people, Cassie; it’s about time you took care of yourself.”

The mall was busy, and Cassie soon found what she wanted. Her mother was right, she hated shopping for clothes, but today nothing was going to get her down. Not even running into Vicki as she walked to the car.

“Hey, I want to talk to you,” Vicki called out to her.

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Cassie kept walking, never hearing the other young woman behind her. She grabbed Cassie’s arm, pulling her into the alley between buildings.

“Piss off, Vicki. I’ve got nothing to say to you.” Vicki’s friends blocked her way out.

Vicki came up behind her, grabbing Cassie by the neck and slamming her face first into the wall. “Bitch stole my boyfriend, and you think I’m not going to retaliate.” Agonising pain spread across Cassie’s face as she realised her nose might be broken.

Vicki pulled her by her hair back from the wall, slamming her into it again. Cassie put her arms out to push away and swung behind wildly in an attempt to hit her back. “I didn’t steal your boyfriend. He’d already dumped you for stupid shit like this.”

“You’re a bitch,” Vicki said, “ugly fat bitch now. This will put him off.” Her friends laughed, and she released Cassie, turning to walk away.

Cassie swung the heaviest bag she had, hitting the other girl in the back of the head. “What is your problem with me?”

“You’re not good enough for him,” yelled Vicki turning back to hit Cassie again. Cassie put her hand up to stop Vicki’s fist this time, Vicki growling in frustration, not able to hit her.