Another Chance (6 page)

“I’m fine.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Patrick, it’s fine.” She smiled, and he kissed her before moving inside her.

“Well, you are fucking amazing,” he said. Trailing kisses down from her face, down her neck until he reached her breasts, he gently sucked at her nipples. She closed her eyes as he moved in and out of her and gradually it felt better.

He groaned as he reached his climax, kissing her tenderly. “I’m so glad it was you, Cassie. I love you.”

Cassie nestled into his arms. “So that was that,” he murmured.

“I guess it was.”

“Cassie? How did you feel about it? Becoming lovers.”

“It was wonderful. I loved it. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.”

“Me either babe,” he said.

It was two in the morning when she woke with a start.

“Shit. Patrick, we fell asleep. I’m supposed to be home.”

“Do you need help to sneak back in?”

“No, I’ll be fine,” she whispered.

Dressing quickly, she blew him a kiss as she left.

“Remember, the party is tonight,” he said.

“I have to help Mum with the stock take at the store. It usually goes into the evening but not too late.”

“I hope not, I need to be with you and get you back into this bed.”

Cassie laughed. “I have to go. I love you, Patrick.”

“Love you too.”

CHAPTER SIX

Cassie’s mother was still awake when she got home. There was no way past her that she wouldn’t notice Cassie sneaking in. “You’re home late.”

“Sorry, Mum, we were watching a movie and fell asleep.”

“Uh huh. Cass, you’re an adult now, but I still worry. I just need you to be safe.”

Cassie kissed her mother on the cheek. “I am.”

“Good. Are you going to be able to get up to help me later today?”

“If I go and get some more sleep now. Seriously I’ve been asleep since about eleven, so I’m not that tired.”

Her mother nodded. “Well go and get some more sleep, and I’ll get to bed too. Dad fell asleep early, so he doesn’t know you were out this late, and I think we’ll keep it that way. He’d only worry.”

“That’s fine with me.”

The day dragged as Cassie helped with the stock take, and by seven, she was anxious to leave for Patrick's. “Not much longer,” her mother said.

It was well after ten by the time she got home; across the road the party was in full swing. “If they were any louder I’d call noise control. But I know it’s the last time a lot of you will see each other now you’re all off to university, going separate ways,” her father said.

“Maybe I can get them to quieten down.”

There were people everywhere, and Dave Pratt spotted her when she walked in the door. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for my boyfriend’s party.”

He sneered at her. “He’s not going to stay with you, you’re not his type.”

“You sound jealous, Dave.”

“I just think he’s nuts, he could have anyone, but he chose you.”

“What is your problem with me? I never did anything to you. You’re nothing but a bully.”

She walked away, searching for Patrick, but he was nowhere to be seen. Puzzled she climbed the stairs to go up to his room. She’d wait for him there. He was bound to be around the house somewhere. The room was lit by the bedside lamp, and Cassie smiled at the soft light. Patrick was waiting for her.

It wasn’t him she saw first but Vicki, naked in his bed. The bed Cassie had lost her virginity in the night before. Patrick was wrapped around her, fast asleep, and Cassie let out a sob, alerting Vicki to her presence. “Oh yeah, sorry, Cassie. Patrick’s back where he belongs now.”

“Patrick?”

He lifted his head. “Cassie?”

Vicki stroked his head. “Go back to sleep, I’ll deal with it.”

Patrick put his head back down, and Cassie stood and watched for just a moment. “How could you?” She whispered.

“He got what he wanted and now he’s back with me. Sorry if it upsets you. I was under the impression that he broke up with you last night.” Cassie shook her head. “That’s what he told me anyway, I guess he just forgot to tell you.”

Cassie ran down the stairs, pausing at the bottom. The tears poured down her face as she scanned the room, the place was a mess, and she imagined that Jane Cross would go nuts when she came home. No one was paying any attention to her, but as she walked out the door and onto the front lawn she barely heard the voice calling her.

Turning, she saw Dave coming out of the house behind her. Instinctively she ran but he quickly caught up, grabbing her by the arm and spinning her around. “Leave me alone,” she screamed.

“Cassie, what happened?” His face was full of concern and she stared at him, bewildered. In all the years she’d known him, he had never been nice to her.

“Patrick is back together with Vicki.”

“What?”

“They’re in bed together.”

He ran his fingers through his hair. “Shit, Cassie, I’m really sorry. I know I ride you, but I thought Patrick really was into you.”

“So did I.”

Dave pulled a face. “I also thought when he dumped Vicki she would go out with me, but she’s still hung up on him. It’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not.”

“This sucks. It really does.”

Dave pulled Cassie in for a hug. “I meant what I said, Cassie. I’m sorry Patrick has done this.”

“Thanks,” she whispered.

“We could always hook up to get back at them.”

Cassie pulled away from him. “Are you insane?”

“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He shrugged and laughed. “Oh come on, Cassie, it was a joke.”

She ran, straight across the road, into the house and into her bedroom. Within seconds, her father was hammering on her door. “Cassie? Are you all right love?” He pushed open the door. She sat on the bed, gasping for breath between sobs. “Cassie, love, what happened?”

He sat beside her, pulling her into his arms as she cried on his chest. Her mother stood in the doorway. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, she just came running into the house and hasn’t stopped crying since she got here.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s all right, Cassie, whatever it is we’re here.”

“Is it Patrick?” her mother asked.

“If it is, I’ll kill him,” her father said, setting his jaw, “he was supposed to take care of our girl, not stomp all over her heart like this.”

“Bill, we don’t know for sure that’s the problem.”

“What else is it going to be, Carol? She goes to his house and comes home crying.”

“Stop it.” Cassie said.

“Sorry love.”

“Patrick. Patrick cheated on me.”

“I knew it,” he said, “He was supposed to be different, but he’s just the same as those others who picked on you.” All Cassie could do was cry, and her parents sat and held her until she fell asleep.

Patrick was knocking on the door the next morning. Cassie pulled the duvet over her head and tried to shut the sound out. Her bedroom was right over the front door, and she heard every word that was being said by Patrick and her father. “She doesn’t want to see you.”

“What’s going on?”

“Patrick, she’s not stupid. She doesn’t want to see you anymore. It’s over.”

“Why can’t Cassie tell me?” He sounded hurt, and Cassie almost got up to go and see him, but she gripped the duvet instead, trying not to cry again.

He moved back from the door, looking up at her bedroom window. “Cassie?”

“Mate, it’s best you leave,” her father said.

“I don’t understand,” said Patrick. “Cassie.” He called louder and she felt the tears flowing again.

Footsteps came up the stairs, and her father came into the room. “Cass, the boy’s confused about what’s going on.”

“He was probably drunk, but he still cheated on me.”

“Cassie, what happened? What did he do?”

“He slept with Vicki Chalmers.”

“Oh shit.” He sat on the end of the bed. “How do you know?”

“I caught them in bed together.”

“Aww crap, Cassie, he seemed like such a good boy. He looked upset that you were breaking up with him too.”

“I don’t care, I wish I’d never started seeing him.”

She started crying again, and her dad hugged her. “At least you found out now and not later when you were more involved.”

“I slept with him, Dad, it’s a bit late for that.”

Cassie felt her father tense as he took in his daughter’s words before hugging her tighter. “I can’t tell you off, Cassie, you’re not a little girl anymore, and he fooled me too. What I can do is to keep him away from you.”

“He’ll be moving away in the next few days anyway, the whole family is going to Auckland.”

“I’m so sorry love, sorry that this had to happen to you of all people. You don’t deserve this, Cassie, not at all.”

Later, when she finally stopped crying again, she pulled the curtain over a little to peek at his house. He stood in the front yard, looking up at the house, to her room. Briefly her eyes met his and he kissed the tips of his fingers. Hurt he would use such an intimate gesture, she pulled the curtain back.

He was back the next day and her father stopped him again and still he stood, watching and waiting for her to emerge. It was a relief when the moving truck came, and Cassie knew he would be leaving soon. She had looked a couple more times and he was there, just watching the window.

He appeared as heartbroken as she felt. How was that even possible? “They’re gone love,” her father said the next day, “they left this morning. It’s safe to come out now.”

“I don’t want to.”.

“You have to face the world some day, Cass, might as well make it today.”

The rest of the week dragged as Cassie tried to come to terms with her loss, but it was no use. Saturday morning was chaotic. Cassie was still moping over Patrick, and her parents went in separate directions both trying to find her a distraction. “Come to the library with me. We’ll find some soppy romance books and bury ourselves for the day. Take your mind off boys by finding imaginary ones who are too good to be true.”

“Thanks, Mum, I appreciate it. I’m not in the mood for that though,” said Cassie.

“That better not apply to all the boys,” her father said with a grin.

When they kissed Cassie screwed up her face. “Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean we have to be. One day you’ll find the right man, just like I did.” Her parents hugged each other, smiling at Cassie.

“I’m going to the hardware store. I’ve got to replace those damn smoke alarms. I had to disable them. Every time we open the oven door they go off. Too sensitive if you ask me. It’s nothing to do with your mother’s cooking.” Cassie’s father grinned, and her mother slapped his arm playfully.

Cassie laughed, and her mother hugged her. “It’s nice to hear that sound again, it’s only been a few days, but you’ll be back on your feet again soon. There’s bound to be a ton of good guys at University.”

“I can’t believe my little girl is growing up. Forget the hardware store, let’s go out and see a movie. Just like we used to do when you were little, Cass. Some popcorn and an ice cream should help distract you. I know how much you like movies.”

“Thanks, Dad that would be really cool actually.”

“You’ll be gone soon enough, and we’ll miss you desperately, I’d only spend too much going shopping anyway.” She grinned.

They saw a movie and then went for lunch before spending the afternoon going for a walk. As far as days went, it was pretty much perfect. Thoughts of Patrick were pushed to the back of her mind, and for the first time in days she looked forward to the future.

Cassie woke to the sound of her mother screaming, and her father shaking her awake. The pungent smell of smoke filled the room, and she coughed. “The house is on fire, Cass, you have to go out the window. It’s the only way out now.”

“But we’re on the second floor, it’s too far.”

“We have to take the risk sweetheart, the other end of the house is no go, there’s no other way out.”

“What about Mum? Where is she?”

“She’s trapped, I couldn’t get to her so I came to get you out and now I’m going back for her.”

“Dad? You’ll get her out won’t you?”

“Of course I will sweetheart, now jump out the window. The grass is below, it should soften your fall.” She was crying now and he hugged her tightly before pushing her towards the window and turning towards the door. The heat and smoke from the fire was fierce, and she backed towards the wall. “Do it, Cassie, I need to make sure you’re safe.”

Climbing on the dresser, she stood for a moment before stepping onto the window ledge. One last look before she climbed out caused her to sniff as she cried. Her father stood at the door. “I love you,” he mouthed before disappearing back into the smoke. It would be the last time she ever saw him. She clung to the window frame trying to get the courage to drop and finally she closed her eyes and let go.