An hour later, Nick stood looking out of his window. He looked back at Cassandra who was still asleep in his bed. He thought about everything that had gone wrong in their relationship, from the time they met, until this very second. Was she right to think that they should go back to being just boyfriend and girlfriend? He didn't know. It didn't have to be like this. It shouldn't be like this. Then he thought about Andrew. Murdered. The word rang through his entire body.
Cassandra woke up to the sound of someone sniffing. When she realized that it wasn't her, she sat up and saw Nick standing in front of his window. She got up and slowly walked over to him. When she put her hands on his bare shoulders, she felt him tense up.
"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked. He quickly wiped his eyes hoping that she wouldn't see, but she did.
"Nothing's wrong," he said quietly.
"No, I know that something's wrong. You never cry."
That was the problem. He never got to, he always had to be the strong one. It was catching up with him, and he couldn't take the pressure of it anymore. "Hey, it's me, your wife, you can tell me! I know you. Tell me what to do to make things right." He walked away, turning his back and facing away from her.
"First you could bring back Andrew!" He voice shook terribly as he spoke and Cassandra noticed it. "Second, you could take away all of the pain that's ever been caused between us!" He turned slumped down on the end of the bed, and leaned over to put his head in his hands. His breath came in deep catches to try to hold back the tears.
Cassandra was shocked. She didn't know what to say to him. Why hadn't he said anything before? She knew that he had never really shown much emotion, but she had no idea it had gotten this bad.
"I-I didn't know you felt that way," she said.
"Oh yeah? Nobody did! Nobody knows, not even my own wife!" he yelled. "I'm supposed to be the strong one here, and, look at me! I'm a God damned mess!"
She slowly walked over to him and sat next to him. She put her hand on his back. He had a cold sweat all over him.
"It's okay," she softly said. "It's all right-"
"No it's not. I'm sorry that I yelled at you-"
"No it's okay. I don't expect you to hold up in a seriously tough situation! It's not healthy. God knows that I can't, so why should you be expected to be any different? What, am I going to love you any less? If that's what you think, it's not true. Listen, I couldn't have pulled through a lot of stuff if you weren't there for me, and now I'm here for you, let it all out."
She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him to her. His head fell on her shoulder and she put her hand on his head.
"I want you to cry as loud, as hard, and as long as you want to."
As his tears started rolling from his eyes, she could feel their cold presence on her shoulder. It hurt her to see him in such pain, but she had to be strong. Now she knew what he felt, and it was awful.
"Well, they're not back yet, I'm going to face Burke by myself," Nicole said to herself. Throwing on some clothes, she grabbed the note and headed downstairs, and out the door. She walked down the sidewalk burning with anger that Burke would have the nerve to send her something like this.
She reached his house soon after. "I must have forgotten how close it was." She went up to the door and pounded on it.
"Why hello Nicole!"
"Richard! I should have known you'd be here. Oh, I love your hair! It has no hair gel in it! It's a nice look on you!"
"Shut up!"
"Hey what's going on? Who is it?" Nicole heard a voice say.
"It's just Nicole," replied Richard. Nicole had had enough. She pushed Richard out of the way.
"Why hello Nicole. What brings you over here?"
"Oh shut up Bobby. I came to see Burke."
"And why would that be?"
"Is that any of your business?"
"Yes it is."
"Well it isn't! Was Cassandra and Nick any of your business?" Nicole retorted. Bobby didn't have an answer ready for that one. "I didn't think so. Now like I said before, is Burke here?"
"I'm right here, who-" Burke stopped.
"I got your little letter," Nicole said.
"Oh I didn't think you'd get it so soon."
"Yeah, well I did. What's the hell is the big idea of-"
"Nicole, let's talk in my room."
Nicole reluctantly agreed and followed Burke down the hall and into his room.
"Well, I guess Mariah won't be back for a while," said Isabella as her and A.J. walked into the door. "Cassie! Nick! Nicole!" She didn't get an answer. "I guess they're still asleep."
"Like we should be," A.J. said. She followed him up to her room. He jumped on the bed.
"I guess Nicole went somewhere," Isabella said.
"Ooh, good," A.J. said grinning.
"A.J., what do you think you're gonna get out of me?"
"Everything you'll give me!"
"Well the most that you're gonna get is a good morning sleep!"
"Hello? Is anyone home? Anyone?"
"Hey A.J. did you hear something?" Isabella asked him, rolling over,
"No-" He stopped, they heard the voice again.
"Is anyone home?"
"Is that-that sounds like-" started Isabella. She jumped out of the bed and ran down the stairs. "Coreene!"
"Isabella!" she screamed. She dropped her bags on the floor and ran to hug her sister.
"Oh my God! Why are you here? I mean it's nice to see you! I mean where have you been? I mean, I dunno what I mean-"
"Isabella shut up for a second!" laughed Coreene. "Where's Cassie? Where is everyone?" Isabella shrugged.
"I dunno! Brian and Mercedes still live up at Andrew's old beach house, Emalia's over with Kevin, Angel and Howie are up with Linden, I dunno where Nicole is, and I'm assuming that Cassie's with Nick somewhere."
"How are Nick and Cassie anyway? They aren't having problems anymore are they?"
"Unless something happened from midnight last night to right now, ten o'clock, then no. They're back to being the perfect couple, just like Brian and Mercedes!"
"Aww, good! And what about you and A.J. the inseparable pair?"
"Oh, Coreene, we have a lot to catch you up on! So much has happened, especially between Cassie and Nick, and A.J. and I."
"Like what?"
"Like you can't even imagine! But first, we have to know why you're back!"
"Well why don't we have everyone over here for a big dinner, like old times, and I will tell everyone then!"
"That sounds great! Now if we only knew where everyone was!"
Cassandra let go of Nick and he drew away from her.
"You feel better now?" she asked him.
"A little."
"I know, everything still hurts. It still hurts me too, I mean everything still hurts me too."
"I'm sorry," he said standing up.
"Sorry for what?"
"I'm sorry that you had to see me like this."
"Like what? Like you always see me? What will it take for you to realize that it's okay? Huh? What will it take?" He didn't say anything. She stood up in front of him and kissed him without any warning.
Just then they heard the phone ring. "I'll get it," Cassandra said to Nick, running out of the room and going downstairs to get the phone. Nick followed behind her. On her way to the phone, Cassandra ran into Emalia.
"Cassie! What are you doing here?" said Emalia.
"I came down here to get the phone, but I see that Kevin already got it."
"You came all the way from our house to answer the phone over here?"
"No, no, no. We were already upstairs. We came over here early this morning," replied Cassandra.
"Hey, who was on the phone?" Nick asked Kevin when he got off the phone.
"It was Isabella," Kevin replied. "She told us that we have to call Brian, Mercedes, Angel, and Howie to get them over to our house, and to find Nicole-"
"Why?" Cassandra asked.
"You didn't let me finish!" said Kevin. "Coreene is over there, and she is going to tell her story and she wants to catch up on everything that's happened. So, Coreene suggested that we all have dinner over there, just like old times. Isabella wants Cassie and Emalia to help her over there."
"That sounds cool!" said Emalia.
"Yeah, let's go!" Emalia gave Kevin a kiss and headed for the door. "Hey, wait for me!" Cassandra yelled after her. She gave Nick a quick kiss and ran after her.
"All right then," said Nick. Kevin only shrugged.
"Cory!"
"Cassie! Emalia!" Coreene screeched as Cassandra and Emalia ran through the door. The three of them hugged, then yelled out questions at each other.
"How are you?" asked Cassandra.
"Where have you been?" asked Emalia.
"Hold on!" said Coreene. "Like I said before, I'm gonna tell everyone when they come over here for dinner. Did you tell Kevin to call Brian and Howie?"
"Yeah," said Emalia.
"But do you think they actually did?" Cassandra asked, and they all laughed.
"Where's Nicole?" Isabella asked. They all shrugged.
"Burke, what just happened?" Nicole asked.
"Um, Nicole, you know that I love you right?"
"Yeah, and you know that I don't love you, right?"
"Yeah, and that's my problem."
"What? What problem?"
"I want you. I love you. I know that I can't have you."
"Burke, I think I should go. People are probably worrying about me. I didn't tell them that I was leaving." Burke agreed, and she got up to leave.
"Aww, leaving so soon?" Bobby said as she walked towards the front door.
"Yes, good bye!" Nicole said rudely and ran out the door.
"Whoa, what was up her ass?" Bobby asked Richard.
"Probably Burke." They both laughed, thinking it was funny.
"Oh God," Nicole thought. "Jonathan's gonna kill me, if I don't kill myself first!" Nicole quickened her pace to get home faster.
"Hello? Mercedes? It's Isabella. Did Kevin call you already?.....He did?.....Did he give you the details?.....Whoa, I'm surprised.....Okay, see you guys in a few."
"He already called them?" Emalia asked.
"Yup," said Isabella.
"Wow! I'm impressed!"
"That's what I said! Mercedes said that Angel and Howie are over their house and that they are on their way. They should be here in about an hour, as always."
"Well that gives us about seven hours before the guys are supposed to be here," said Cassandra frowning.
"Yeah, I know," said Coreene.
"So Coreene," started Isabella, "you can't tell us now? Please?" Coreene bit her lip and smiled.
"Oh all right. You really want to know why I'm back so bad?" Everyone nodded. "It really isn't that great of a story."
"That's okay," said Cassandra. "We still want to know why you're back."
"You guys make it sound like you're surprised that I actually came home!"
"Well," started Isabella, "when you took off without warning with this guy and we practically never heard from you again, well-"
"All right, all right. But you all must catch me up on everything that's happened in your lives."
"Now see," said Emalia, "that's where we have to wait. The three of us couldn't do any of it justice. We have to wait for the guys, but you don't!"
"Okay, let's go sit on the couch-" Coreene stopped as Nicole walked through the door.
"Nicole! Where were you?" Cassandra asked.
"Um, Cassie, can I talk to you for a sec? Alone?" Nicole asked her.
"Yeah, we can go up to my room, why? What's wrong?"
"It's just, well, I can't say here."
"Okay. You guys mind waiting for a while?"
"No, go ahead," Isabella said. "But you'd better tell us later!"
"Thanks guys," said Cassandra. "Why don't you guys think of good dinner ideas and run them by us later?"
"Yeah," they agreed.
"Thanks. Be right back!" Cassandra followed Nicole up to her room and sat on her bed. "Okay girl, what's wrong?"
"Do you know where I went?"
"No. Actually we were all kinda getting worried!"
"If I tell you where I went, do you promise not to scream?"
"Yeah."
"I went to Burke's." Nicole looked up at Cassandra's face. "You can close your mouth now."
"W-was Bobby there, as well?"
"Uh huh, and Richard."
"Then why the hell would you go over there?" Cassandra asked stunned.
"Here," Nicole said reaching into her pocket, "read this." She handed Cassandra the note that Burke sent her. Cassandra looked over the note.
"Oh, that's so sweet!" Cassandra said. When she looked up at Nicole, she changed her tone. "Oh, I mean, how dare he!"
"Thanks for your understanding," Nicole said sarcastically.
"Sorry. How many swears did you make up this time?"
"If I tell you what happened over there, do you promise not to scream?"
"Yeah I guess so. What is it?"
"All right, here goes."
"What do you guys think we should have for dinner tonight?" Emalia asked.
"Freak out Emalia! We have seven hours!" said Isabella.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," replied Emalia.
"Well, what did we used to cook?" Isabella asked.
"When Mercedes gets here, we should get her and Cassandra to make their famous cheesecake!" said Coreene.
"Yeah, that's a good idea," said Isabella.
"You did what?" Cassandra practically yelled.
"Cassie, you're making me feel so much better."
"I know and I'm sorry. Are you going to tell Jonathan that you slept with Burke?"
"I can't, but I know that I'm gonna have to eventually."
"Yes, you are. I think we should go back downstairs."
"Yeah, thanks for listening."
"Anytime, but it's up to you to tell Jonathan. Your secret's safe with me." Nicole smiled, and they ran downstairs.
"It's about time!" said Emalia.
"Sorry. Now let's go sit in the living room," said Cassandra trying to avoid questions about hers and Nicole's discussion upstairs. "Did you guys come up with anything for dinner?"
"Well," started Isabella, "when Mercedes gets here, we're going to have you and her make your famous cheesecake. We're going to make a huge salad, and we thought that we'd just grill tonight."
"Okay that sounds good," said Cassandra. "In that case, I'm gonna go see Nick for a second."
"You just can't stay away from that man for two seconds can you!" said Isabella.
"Oh yeah? Well I bet that you'd like to come with me and see A.J., don't you?"
"Oh shut up! You know that I do!" said Isabella laughing.
"Can I come to?" said Emalia.
"Sure," said Cassandra. "Coreene can come to."
"What about Nicole?" Isabella asked. Cassandra gave Nicole a look, and she nodded her head.
"Hey you guys, I think I'm going to go see Jonathan." Cassandra nodded and smiled slightly. The five of them walked towards the front door. Cassandra, Emalia, Isabella, and Coreene walked towards the guys' house and Nicole walked across the street to Jonathan's.
"Hey guys!" the five of them said walking through the front door.
"What are you guys doing here?" Kevin asked them.
"Well Cassandra just had to see Nick, and we just tagged along," answered Isabella.
"Oh, yeah right!" said Cassandra.
"What? You weren't dying to see me?" Nick asked her from the couch. Cassandra gave him a look. He was sitting on the couch and she ran and jumped onto his lap.
"Ow!" he shouted.
"Oh get over it you big baby! That didn't hurt!" said Cassandra and they all started laughing except for Nick. "Angel! I didn't even see you there!"
"Cassandra! Hi! You act so surprised to see me!"
"It's just that I haven't seen you, or Howie for a long time. How are you guys anyway?" Angel and Howie both blushed.
"We're doing just fine," replied Angel.
"Yeah I can vouch for that!" said Brian laughing.
"Me too!" said Mercedes. "They're doing very well!"
"Oh I'm sorry, hey Brian and Mercedes!"
"Hey Mercedes," said Isabella, "later, you and Cassie are gonna make your famous cheesecake!"
"Okay," said Mercedes. "We're are too good!"
"I know!" said Cassandra.
"Oh please!" said Nick. "I don't think so!"
"Ooh!" said Emalia. "Diss!"
Cassandra turned her head. She was still sitting across Nick's lap and she was inches away from his face. "What is that supposed to mean?" she challenged him.
"It means what it means."
"And it means?"
"It simply means that you are so much better than just good! You and Mercedes both, are perfect!"
"Gee thanks, Nick," said Mercedes, giving Brian a look.
"What?" said Brian. Mercedes only stuck her tongue out at him then looked at Kevin.
"You'd better not mock me!" Mercedes threatened Kevin.
Kevin smiled. "Like whatever!" he said in a high pitched tone. Brian held her back when she tried to get up and kill him.
"You think that I'm perfect?" Cassandra asked Nick.
"Of course! What else could I think?" Cassandra gave Nick a quick kiss.
"Oh, not you guys too!" Brian said.
"What are you talking about?" Cassandra asked him. Brian pointed over to Angel and Howie who were engaged in a serious kiss. "Oh. I see they haven't changed much."
"Guys," said Isabella, "did you even realize that Coreene's here?"
"No! Hey Coreene! What are you doing here?" Mercedes asked.
"Well I was going to tell you guys, but now that I'm not loved-"
"No, do tell us. Tell us all!" said Isabella. "If Angel and Howie would stop for two seconds!" Angel and Howie looked up, and blushed again. "Thank you. Go ahead, Coreene."
"First off, I should have known that one of Bobby's friends would turn out to be a jerk somewhere down the line."
"Yeah I know. I'm to blame for that!" said Cassandra.
"Ouch!" said Mercedes touching her stomach.
"What? What is it? Is it time?" Brian said panicked.
"No, no. Just a little cramp. I'm fine, really! Please, continue."
"Anyway, when I ran off with Matthew, we went to Montana, and everything was picture perfect! It couldn't be better. We had talked about marriage and everything. That was until, I found out that he had been sleeping around on me."
"That's awful!" said Emalia. "How did you find out?"
"My next door neighbor. Matthew slept with her when her husband walked in on them. He came and told me."
"That's terrible," said Cassandra.
"I thought he was so nice too!" said Mercedes. Just then the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," said Kevin. He went over to get the door. "Hi Devon."
"Hey Kevin. Is Coreene here?"
"Yeah she's in here." Kevin let Devon in, and as soon as she saw him, she stood up.
"Devon, what are you doing here?"
"Coreene, I heard that you were here. Can we talk?"
"Yeah I guess. Excuse me guys." They walked out the front door and they both sat on the front lawn. "So."
"So," he replied.
"Hey Nick?" Cassandra said.
"Yeah hun?"
"Will you buy me a fish?" All conversation stopped. They all turned and looked inquisitively at Cassandra's strange request.
"Excuse me?"
"Well, if I tell you exactly what I want, will you go in and buy it for me? I absolutely hate pet stores! I just can't go in them or I breakdown and cry."
"Yeah, sure. Wanna go now?"
Cassandra smiled broadly. "Yeah! Hey guys, we'll be back before Mercedes and I have to make our special cheesecake. Oh Mercedes, do you want me to pick up the extra special ingredient?"
"Yeah! Cool!"
"And that would be?" Brian asked.
"We've only shared that secret with one other soul, and he's not telling!" Cassandra said and looked at Nick.
"I won't tell, honest!" They all laughed, and Cassandra and Nick walked out of the door to his car.
"We're just leaving," Cassandra said to Coreene and Devon when they looked up at her. Cassandra and Nick got into his car, and Cassandra directed him to the best pet store.
"Coreene, I came here to say that I'm sorry," Devon finally said.
"Sorry about what?"
"About lying to you."
"When did you lie to me?"
"When I told you that I was gay."
"What? Say that again?"
"I mean that I was to chicken to tell you that I needed some space, so I made up that incredible lie. I couldn't believe it myself when I said it, and when you ran off with Matthew, I realized that I made a huge mistake."
"Yeah, when I ran off with Matthew, I realized that I had made a big mistake too. None of that crap you told me was true?"
"Yes, every word of it was a lie. I'm sorry! I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, and I want you back."
"Oh Devon, couldn't you have made up a better lie then being gay? I mean, come on!" Coreene laughed.
"Oh please don't taunt me!" Devon laughed. "So, will you have me back?"
"Oh, I suppose that I have to teach you how to be straight again!" She laughed and kissed him.
"Okay, what do you want?" Nick asked Cassandra as he parked the car.
"All right, pay attention because I don't know what it's called. I want a purple fish, they're really small. Um, they're really shiny and um-"
"I think I can find one, I hope."
"Maybe I should come with you!"
They both walked into the pet store and walked to the back to where the fish were. "Okay Nick, that's the one that I want," Cassandra said pointing to a fish. She looked around and she wished that she hadn't. "Nick can I have the keys? I gotta get out of here," she said breathing fast.
"Yeah, here," he said handing her the keys. "You okay?"
"I will be. I'll be outside." She took the keys and walked quickly out of the store. She got to the car, got in and closed the door. "I wish I hadn't done that. I always know when I do that, I can never handle it-" She stopped talking to herself when she saw Nick walking towards the car. He got in, and handed her the bag of water with the fish in it. She smiled and looked at it. "He's so cute!"
"Did you think of a name yet?" Nick asked sarcastically.
"Yup."
"You did? I was just kidding!"
"Yup, I'm gonna name him, Nicholas Brent Carter."
"Oh really?"
"Yup," she smiled. He smiled back, shaking his head.