That night when everyone had gone back to their houses and was getting ready to go out to dinner, Brian had to run an errand and had decided to meet them at the restaurant. Nicole, Angel and Coreene were ready and waiting for Emalia and Cassandra in the living room with Kevin, Jason, Brandon, Howie and Jonathan.
Cassandra looked around her beach house room thoughtfully. She last time that she had been in this room was when she was with Nick. She smiled. It was a good memory. She walked over to the closet and walked into it as Emalia sat at the mirror brushing her hair. "What should I do?" Cassandra whispered to herself.
"Boy Jonathan was right," Nick said in her closet. "I do follow you everywhere! God Cassandra, I always knew that you saw right through me, but this is ridiculous!"
"What should I do about Emalia?" Cassandra whispered again as if she knew that Nick was standing right there and would tell her exactly what to do to get her through this mess.
Just for the heck of it, Nick replied, "First, ask her about her relationship with Kevin. Ask her if everything is all right; make her slip up. Look for a reason to confront her, don't just do it."
"Okay," Cassandra whispered and nodded. Nick was confused but followed Cassandra as she walked out of her closet in a tan skirt and a blue buttoned down sweater and sat down on her bed.
Emalia looked at her through the mirror. "Ready?" she asked.
"Actually," Cassandra said, "I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure. What?"
"You're my cousin and all and I want you to tell me the truth. How's your relationship with Kevin?"
"Oh great. You know don't you?"
Cassandra slowly nodded. "Yeah."
"Well it's not that big of a deal. It's not like we're going to break up over it."
Cassandra gave her a confused look. "You mean, Kevin's all right with it?"
"Yeah. He accepted it after a while of me trying to convince him that it wouldn't make him look bad."
"But it makes him look awful! I can't believe that he would actually be okay with this."
"Oh not you, too! Just don't tell him what you think or he'll make me take them back."
"What? Take what back?"
"The white tuxedos."
"Huh?"
"Kevin wanted black tuxedos at the wedding but I wanted white so I went ahead and ordered the white ones and he said that they made him look bad."
Cassandra let out a deep breath. She doesn't know that I know, she thought to herself.
"Anyway," Emalia said interrupting Cassandra's thoughts. "Are we ready to go?"
"Uh, yeah. Let's go." Cassandra and Emalia stood up and the two of them went downstairs where everyone else was waiting.
"It's about time," Kevin said to the two of them.
"Hey, what are they doing here?" Nick said referring to Jason who stood next to Jonathan and Brandon that stood next to Coreene.
As if Cassandra had heard him, she said, "Hey Jason, Brandon, what are you doing here?"
"Oh," Jonathan began to explain, "I invited Jason."
"And I invited Brandon," Coreene said. "I hope that you don't mind."
Nick spoke up again. "Of course she minds!"
But Cassandra didn't seem to hear him that time. "Of course I don't mind. Why would I?"
"I don't know, but let's go. Brian is going to be waiting for us."
"Oh yes," Nicole said sarcastically. "We shouldn't keep Brian waiting."
They all laughed and walked out to their cars and drove the fifteen minute drive to the restaurant and found Brian waiting outside.
"Hey," Jonathan said.
"Were you waiting long?" Nicole said and laughed.
"Actually," said Brian, "I just go here about a second ago."
"Oh so you were waiting," Nicole said and everyone laughed as Brian gave them all a confused look.
"Oh hello Jason, Brandon," Brian said.
"Hey," they both said.
They started to walk inside when Brian grabbed Cassandra's arm.
"Brian?" she questioned.
"My feelings haven't changed."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I just wanted you to know that when we kissed, it meant something to me."
Cassandra didn't reply. She got away from Brian, walked into the restaurant and sat down at their reserved table and started a conversation.
Half and hour later, Brian stood up and held up his champagne glass. "I would like to make a toast," he said and everyone held up their glasses. "To all of us getting over the losses of our best friends and family and lovers."
Everyone tapped their glasses together.
"And one more thing," Brian said looking across the table at Cassandra. "To you an me. Getting over the loss of the greatest love of your life and the greatest friend of mine. We'll never find someone like him. But this is to putting the past behind us."
"To us," Cassandra said and touched her glass with Brian's. They both smiled at each other and their eyes locked. She hadn't realized how deep his eyes really were until now. It was almost like she were looking into Nick's eyes. Cassandra shook her head and looked over at Emalia and Kevin. He had his arm slung over her shoulder and was smiling, but the expression on Emalia's face told her that Emalia's thoughts were out in the middle of nowhere. "Hey Emalia?" Cassandra said.
"Yeah?"
"Um, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Yeah. Kevin, I'll be right back." She gave him a quick kiss that made Cassandra shudder. Emalia followed Cassandra into the bathroom. "What's up?"
Cassandra took a deep breath and held it for a second. "I know," she said finally.
"Yeah I know that you know about the suits but we already had this conversation."
"No, about the other thing."
"What are you talking about?"
"Emalia, I know about Everett."
Emalia's eyes grew wide and she turned pale. "What are you talking about?"
"Emalia don't. I can tell by the look in your eyes right now that you know what I'm talking about, and I saw you two down on the beach."
"It's not what it looked like."
"Then what was it? Vertical CPR?"
Emalia didn't respond.
"What are you doing?"
"I-I don't know."
"Well you better think of something quick. Brian knows and just might tell Kevin if you don't. Or maybe I will."
"No! You can't! Let me tell him. I'll tell him in my own way. You couldn't explain it like I could."
"I know that I couldn't. I wouldn't want to. I wouldn't do something like this to him." Cassandra turned around and began to walk out when Emalia stopped her.
"Then what's going on with you? Huh?"
Cassandra quickly turned around and her first thought was that she knew something about Brian and their kiss. "What?"
"You're probably making out with somebody."
"And so what if I am? What difference does it make?"
"You're cheating."
"Oh who?" Cassandra yelled.
"Nick."
As soon as Emalia said his name, she knew that it was true and her stomach felt weak. "You don't know what you're talking about." She couldn't say anything more so she walked out and back to the table with Emalia following her not so closely behind.
All through dinner, Emalia and Cassandra had avoided eye contact and when Kevin had asked Emalia repeatedly what was wrong, she had just lied every time and said that she was fine and that nothing was wrong. Brian had been the usual life of the party and had caused other people to stare at them because of Brian's loud laughing and Kevin loudly yelling at him to be quiet.
When they had all gotten back to the beach house, Cassandra headed directly up to her room. Ten minutes later, after she had changed into one of Nick's long t-shirts that she had brought, she heard a knock at her door. "Come in," she said and watched as Brandon walked into her room. "Oh hi. Were you looking for the bathroom? It's right down the hall-"
"Actually, I was looking for your room."
Cassandra stared directly at him, searching his eyes and wondering if he would pretend to be Nick again. "What?"
"Oh not much." He sat down on her bed. "Nice room you have."
Cassandra gave him a look. "Um, thank you."
Nick walked into their room undetected and as soon as he saw Brandon, he got scared and angry. "Hey! What's he doing in here? Cassandra, are you totally mental?"
Brandon leaned over to Cassandra's nightstand and picked up a framed picture of her and Nick in each other's arms in their wedding attire. "This you guys?"
"Uh, yeah."
"He hasn't changed a bit. Except for that fact that he's dead and all."
"Yeah well, we've all dealt with it."
"Have you?" Brandon asked putting the picture back to where it was.
"Yes I have."
He stood up and faced her. "Now why don't I believe that?"
"I don't know. Why don't you?"
"Because I think you're hiding a lot. I don't believe you. You of all people are just over him, just like that!"
"Why not? And what do you mean 'me of all people'?"
"Cassandra, let's face it. You're psychotic. You have been through way too much in your short life time. Sister's dead, sister's husband's dead, their child's dead, and your husband's dead and I'm sure that there is so much more. You're only eighteen. You shouldn't be dealing with this. Hell, nobody should have to deal with all of the stuff that you've dealt with."
Cassandra looked down and whispered ever so softly, "Maybe you're right."
"What? What did you say?" Brandon pushed.
"I said that maybe you're right." A tear fell down her cheek. "I don't think that I ever really let him go. There's so much more that I wanted us to do."
"And you never will let go."
"And I never will," Cassandra echoed and another tear fell down her cheek. She shook her head. "No, no more crying. No more crying over him. Ever since I met him, I've been crying over us and over him. I don't want to do it anymore."
"Good, and you shouldn't. It'll be okay."
He pulled her into a hug. It made her think of Nick and how he used to pull her into a hug when she was crying or when she needed one. But when she tried to get out of it, Brandon wouldn't let her. Saying nothing, she couldn't struggle against his strong arms and she realized that that was the one thing that was wrong with Nick. Brandon wasn't going to let her get away from her problems, he was going to make her face this and deal with this. Whereas Nick would let her go if he even suspected that she wanted to get away. Nick let go and this time it was forever. They had both screwed up this time and they couldn't take any of it back. As much as she wanted to blame Nick or blame herself, she couldn't find any right cause to blame either of them for where their relationship stood at this moment in time.
"Oh well," she whispered. "Someday, somewhere, somehow."
Nick sighed as he sat on their bed watching her hugging his enemy. "I really wish I didn't know what both of you were thinking right now," he said. "Brandon, you're such a fool. You shouldn't even be with Coreene if you're going to try to hit on my girl. She will never even like you. I own her like and I own her love. And most of all, Brandon, I own her." He glared coldly and angrily at Brandon.
All of a sudden, Brandon let go of Cassandra and it startled her. "I-I gotta go," Brandon said abruptly, beginning to look around the room.
Cassandra nodded. "You should go."
"Oh by the way. Coreene and I are staying over at one of the other houses tonight in someone's room. I don't remember their name."
Cassandra's heart pounded. "Nick's?"
"No."
Cassandra sighed happily. "Brian's?"
"Nope, that's not it either."
"Um, A.J.'s?"
"Yeah, I think that's it."
Cassandra felt shocked and betrayed by her sister and she didn't know why. Why shouldn't guests be aloud to stay in A.J.'s room? she thought to herself. After all, I've stayed in A.J.'s room a couple of time when...when Nick and I had that fight- She shook her head to get the thought out of her head. I don't see why he can't.
Nick shook his head. "Cassandra he's not a guest. He's here for something. I just don't know what it is yet." With that he followed Brandon out of the room.
A little while later, Brian gently knocked on Cassandra's door. "Can I come in?" he said.
"Yeah, sure," Cassandra replied.
Brian walked into the room and sat down next to her on her bed. "How are you? Brandon said that you were having some problems."
"No, no, I'm fine," she tried to reassure him.
"Well I'm not."
Cassandra looked at him confused. "I don't understand."
"I-I can't stop thinking about you."
"Well I am around you every day-"
"That's not what I mean. I mean that I can't stop having these feelings that I want you."
"Brian, no, don't say that-"
He cut her off. "It's true. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. Cassandra I don't know what to do."
Their eyes locked and Brian brushed his hand across her face.
"I don't know what to do either," Cassandra said. "I still love Nick, but I-I have the same thoughts about you, too."
"And I still love Mercedes and our baby, but I can't help it. Cassandra, our feelings are real. I don't know what to do, I'm falling for you. I want to be there for you like Nick was. My love for you I can't hide-"
"Brian, you don't love me. Don't-"
"You know I almost had you that first night at the movies but you took care of Nick instead. I let it go and fell in love with Mercedes, but I guess I didn't let go of all of it." He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. "I can't help wanting to do that again."
"Me neither," Cassandra said and reached up and kissed him. Their kisses got more and more intense and he leaned her back on the bed.
"Oh, my God," said a person peeking through the door. "Who would have thought Cassandra and Brian! Ooh, Nick would be so heartbroken!"
The next morning when everyone had gotten back to the guys' house, Coreene and Brandon immediately got up to leave again.
"Where are you guys going?" Cassandra asked them.
"Oh well we wanted to spend the day together," Coreene answered her sister.
"Oh, okay."
"See you later," Brandon said and they all said their goodbyes.
"Yeah, I think that we're going to leave, too," Jonathan said as he took Nicole's hand and pulled her up off of the couch.
"Gee," said Brian. "Bye guys!"
"Bye!" Nicole and Jonathan called back.
"I think that we're going to leave, too. For a while," Howie said referring to him and Angel.
"Where are you guys going this time?" Kevin asked.
"We're going to stay up at my sister's house," Angel said with a slight grin.
"Are you serious?" Cassandra asked.
"Yes I am."
"Are you guys engaged? Yet?"
Angel and Howie exchanged glances. "No we're not," Howie said.
"Well what is taking you so long?"
Angel looked at Howie. "I'm not sure," she said, with a hinting tone in her voice.
"We should leave," Howie said, sensing trouble.
"Bye you guys!" Brian said. "Have fun."
Cassandra stood up.
"Cassandra!" Brian whined. "Where are you going?"
Cassandra gave him a look. "I'm going all the way into the kitchen to get a drink!"
"Oh," Brian said, his face turning red.
Cassandra walked into the kitchen and saw Emalia. They faced each other for the first time since they had gone out to dinner the other night. "When are you going to tell Kevin?" Cassandra asked.
"I-I don't know," Emalia replied.
"Well why don't we go tell him right now-"
"No!"
"And why not?"
"Because it's not time to tell him."
"And when is?"
Emalia didn't respond.
Cassandra grabbed her arm and dragged her into the living room. "Kevin?" Cassandra said.
"Cassie, no!" Emalia softly pleaded.
"Kevin, Emalia has something she needs to tell you."
"What is it, Sweetie?" Kevin asked Emalia.
Emalia looked around anxiously.
Cassandra looked at Brian. "Brian, I think we should leave these two alone."
Brian nodded and understood. He got up and followed Cassandra over to the girls' house. Brian and Cassandra went into the living room and sat down on the couch. "Was it what I think that it was about?" Brian asked her.
Cassandra nodded. "Yeah. I just hope that she tells him the truth about her cheating and not make up something stupid like she usually does."
"Then where does that leave us?"
Cassandra paused. "I don't know."
"Me neither."
"When's Mercedes coming home?"
"I have no idea. Why would she just pack up and leave like that? Did I do something wrong?"
"Oh no, Brian, you didn't do anything wrong at all!"
Brian eyed her. "Do you know something that I don't?" He knew that Cassandra knew about where Mercedes was. He did, after all, hear her tell Nicole the entire story.
Cassandra knew that she had already betrayed her cousin enough. She couldn't reveal her secret. "No, I just know that you didn't do anything, that's all."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
The silence was unbearable. The two people that used to be the best of friends, were now sitting next to each other and were extremely uncomfortable. But they couldn't help it. Brian began to lean closer to her and Cassandra was powerless against it and let Brian get closer until his lips touched hers in another forbidden kiss.