When they got home, Mercedes was the only one that didn't come home as happy or happier than when she left. She only hid it really well.
"Okay, what should we do now?" asked Isabella.
"I say that we just veg until it's time to start dinner," said Cassandra.
"Cassie, it's noon! We aren't starting dinner until five at the earliest!" said Nicole.
"I know but I'm kinda tired." She said as she went over to one of the love seat couches and sat down. Nick went over and sat down next to her. She closed her eyes, and fell over onto his lap. He brushed her hair gently as he put his elbow on the side of the couch and propped his head on his hand. He too fell asleep. Mercedes went over to them.
"That's the way that Eric and I used to just fall asleep on the couch together," she thought to herself. Then she turned her thoughts back to Nick and Cassandra. "Poor dears," she said. "She has had a rough couple of days." Mercedes took a knit blanket that she had made and laid it over Cassandra. "Sleep tight."
She walked back into the kitchen where everyone else was and said, "They're both asleep. Let's go outside."
"That sounds good," said Isabella, "I could go for a swim right now."
"You're dressed for it," Nicole said to her. Isabella only gave her a look, but she continued to laugh.
They all decided that they would go for a quick swim before dinner, and let Nick and Cassandra sleep.
"Okay guys, I think that we need to start getting dinner ready," said Mercedes said four and a half hours later. They agreed and got out to dry off.
"Need any help?" asked Brian.
"Nope. You guys stay in the pool. It shouldn't take us very long," said Isabella and they walked into the house.
"Yeah guys. We all know what that means," said A.J. "We're gonna be in here for a while longer.
"Yeah," they all agreed.
Back inside, Mercedes was getting down the plates and glasses to set the table with. When she loudly clanked two of the plates together, Nick woke up with a jump.
"Oh, I'm sorry Nick! I didn't mean to wake you!" said Mercedes.
"No, it's okay. But man, I can't move!" said Nick.
"Hold on second," said Mercedes and walked out of the sliding, glass doors to Brian. "Brian can you come in here for a second?"
"Yeah, sure hold on a sec." He dried off quickly and followed her inside. "What's up?" he asked.
"We need you to lift Cassandra off of Nick again."
"Oh," he said. He went down the stairs into the living room, and over to where Nick was. He gently lifted Cassandra, and Mercedes helped Nick up.
"Thanks. Here let me take her upstairs." Brian handed her to Nick once again, and he took her upstairs and laid her on the same white-laced bed as before. He stroked her cheek, and kissed her forehead, then quietly walked out and closed the door, to go help with dinner.
Downstairs, Nick and Brian took the plates and glasses outside and started to set the table. A.J. had started a volley ball game. Him and Jonathan against Howie and Kevin.
"Who's winning?" asked Brian.
"We are!" said Jonathan.
"Are not!" said Kevin.
"Are too!" yelled A.J.
"Are not!" yelled Howie.
"Oh yeah?" said A.J. and spiked the ball onto Howie and Kevin's side. "That's another point, and if we weren't winning before, we are now!" Nick and Brian started laughing.
Half an hour later, the table was set and the food was grilled. They all sat down at the table when Nicole said,
"Where's Cassie?"
"Oh, I'll go get her," said Nick. He got up from the table, and headed into the house and up to Cassandra's room. He went over to her and shook her. He put his hands up, just incase he should get hit with a pillow. Instead she just rolled her head around slowly. When she saw it was him, she rolled her entire body over slowly. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. "What's wrong Cassie? Your face is all red. Have you been crying?" he asked her. She didn't say anything, just rubbed her eyes. "Dinner is ready. Are coming down?" She shook her head no. He felt her forehead. It was burning up. Besides the red trails on her face from tears, she was pale. He was really worried about her now. He walked out of the room, and downstairs. "Hey Mercedes, do you have a washcloth?"
"Yeah, why?" she asked. She went into the house with him and got him a washcloth. He took it from her, and ran it under cold water. "What's it for?"
"I'm worried about, Cassie. She's burning up, she has red tear marks on her face, she's kinda pale, and she looks kinda depressed."
"Well, a lot has been going on. Her's and my best friend killed himself, both of you got into a fight with Richard. I'll go with you."
"No, I wanna talk to her alone."
"Okay, I'll be outside with everyone else if you need anything."
He took the cold washcloth upstairs, and entered her room. She was in the same position that he left her in. He sat down on the bed and placed the washcloth on her forehead.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"I'm worried about you, Cassie. What's wrong? I want you to tell me everything." She sat up and propped herself against the headboard of her bed.
"I'm still not over losing Andrew. That's the biggest thing. I just miss him so bad. And the fact that someone could say such hideous things about someone else just makes me angry. I really miss him."
He nodded, "What else?"
"Well, you know when you hit Richard?" He nodded again. "I don't know if you really heard what he said, but he said to me that he had a message from Bobby. He said that Bobby wouldn't stop until he had me back, and that he would kill to get me back-"
"You don't have to worry about that hap-"
"You don't understand!" She started to cry. "That's what I'm afraid of! He is capable of killing. I believe that he is. He is! He is!" She fell over onto his chest and cried. He held her.
"I'm not going anywhere," he assured her.
"I love you," she said.
"Where are Cassie and Nick?" asked Isabella.
"They're still upstairs. There's something wrong with Cassie," said Mercedes.
"What?" asked Nicole.
"I think these past couple days, are really catching up with her. Where are you going, Coreene?"
"I'm going to go check the mail," said Coreene.
"Now?" asked Isabella.
"Yes now." Coreene got up and went through the house and to the front door. She walked out the door and opened the mail box door. She looked through the mail and saw a letter addressed to her, with no address, nor return address. She opened the letter and read it.
Dear Coreene,
This "Romeo" is bleeding, but you can't see his blood. It's nothing but some feelings that this old heart, kicked up. It's been raining since you left me, and now I'm drowning in the flood. You see, I've always been a fighter, but without you I give up. You're picture is there, that you left behind, and our memories if a different life. Some that made us laugh, some that made us cry, one that made you have to say goodbye. What I'd give to run my fingers through your hair, to touch your lips, to hold you near. When you say your prayers, try to understand. I've made mistakes, I'm just a man. When that other guy holds you close, when he pulls you near, when he says the words you've been meaning to hear, I wish I was him with those words of mine, to say to you until the end of time. I will love you, always. And I'll be there, forever after the always. If you told me to cry for you, I could. If you told me to die for you, I would. Take a look at my face, there's no price I won't pay, to say these words to you. I'll be there until the sun doesn't shine, until the heavens burst, and the words don't rhyme. When I die, you'll be on my mind and I'll love you, always. If you give me just one more try, we can pack up our old dreams and our old lives. We'll find a place, where the sun still shines.
~Devon
She looked down at the name of the writer, and touched it with the tip of her fingers.
"Did Cass talk to you?" a voice said to her. She gasped and saw Devon sitting on her front lawn.
"Actually she did. Devon, this is beautiful!" He got up and walked over and stood in front of her. He grabbed the mail that she held in her hand, and dropped it on the ground. Then he took his hand and brushed her hair out of her face.
"So how bout it? Will you take me back?" She looked down and tried to keep a straight face, but when she looked up she smiled, and hugged him.
"Yes, I will take you back."