Ch 5: Cassiastrophy

"Hey." She greets, taking her seat next to me.

"Hey." I reply. Now that I've gotten to know her, I'm glad I didn't completely alienate her. She's been really helpful the past few days in trying to solve this issues I'm having with Marissa.

"Any ideas yet?" She asks.

"Nope."

The class bell rings, and our math teacher begins her lesson as the last few students trail in.

"Please grab a quick-quiz from my desk, and start on it immediately! We have a lot to cover today, so finish as quickly as possible!"

Of course Destiny was first to finish. On top of regular geometry, she's in all these advanced math classes that use complex equations like these in even more complex problems. Doing her homework was an absolute nightmare! I have a new respect for all the geeks and nerds in those classes.

Being done, she starts talking to me again, this time in a whisper.

"I have an idea that may buy you back her friendship. I'll tell you about it at lunch, alright?"

I nod.

"Just meet me in the court yard on the far side of the building. Oh, and you may want to double check your work on number seven."

I hate to admit it, but she's pretty smart. I trust whatever she has planned will help to solve this thing once and for all.

Before lunch, though, I had history. I had to decline Misses Johnson's offer to let me retake the test during lunch, which means I'm going to be stuck here after school tomorrow after his meeting. It doesn't matter, considering no one at the house will talk to me anyway.

Both twins had History class with me. Unlike at the house, they always sat at the same desk every day in class. It was easy to distinguish between the two; the seat closest to me was Ember, and the one on the other side was Starlight. Ember wouldn't talk to me, though, so I couldn't get her input on some of the things Johnson was talking about. I managed, though.

Before class gets out, Misses Johnson points out the student Mindy had mentioned, Cassi, after I mentioned I wanted to borrow her notes. I gather my things and follow her out into the hall.

"Sure Patricia, why don't you stop by High Oak house after school? It's the one right behind the house you're staying at."

"Okay, thanks." I smile.

"Anytime." She comments as I'm walking off.

At lunch Destiny had given me a full overview of her idea to get Marissa to stop hating me.

She had said that I needed to get on the supporting panel for animal rights. At first I was confused, and told her there's no way Hudson would let me anyway after I didn't turn in a paper. Then Destiny went on about how there was no other option, and being on the panel was the only way to get Marissa to forgive me. She said that Marissa is convinced that I'd made the whole presentation thing even worse, and what better way to show her it's not so bad then to go on the panel and back her up on her topic. It made sense, after a while. At first I was only trying to help her get out of it. It's obvious if I want to help her, I need to force her to face her fears and conquer them. If she has a good experience arguing her claim, maybe she'll forget about being mad at me! What better way to do that then to help her portray her ideas and back her up when she starts to get nervous?

There was only one problem, though. Hudson had already picked everyone who was going to be on the panel. They've all been studying and gathering facts for the debate, and even if she did let me on I'd be way far behind. How could I convince her to let me on the panel, AND give a good argument when I don't know the first this about animal experimentation and whatnot?

Destiny mentioned that if I find a way to get on a panel, then she'd gather research on the topic. It was going to be hard, but it was worth a shot.

"Hello?" I speak, knocking at the door of the High Oak house.

A lady answers the door. I start to explain how I needed to borrow some notes from Cassi, but she had already came running down the stairs and dragged me inside. The house mother seemed pretty lenient about it.

Cassi pulled me by the hand into her room, and said I could have a seat if I wanted. I sit on one of the beds in the room, and wait while she shifts through one of her folders.

"So when's your retake?" She intrigues.

"Tomorrow evening." I respond. "Miss Johnson has a staff meeting today, otherwise I'd be doing it this afternoon."

"At least you'll have more time to study this way." The girl says.

I look around her room while she was picking out the papers related to the subject. There were some posters up of famous actresses, and a calendar which portrayed pictures of girls in bikinis.

Now that I think about it... I've never so much talked to Cassi until today. I wonder how she knew my name, and where I lived. I could just be paranoid, though. I didn't want to offend her, but I still wanted to know.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" I say, against my better judgment.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"I was just curious, how did you know I lived in Woodland house?" I ask. "I know it's right by yours and all, but it just seems a little... I don't know. Wired, considering we don't really know each other."

"You know Mindy, right? And Mindy knows me." Cassi explains. "Mindy mentioned that you might need to borrow some history notes from me, considering you had just transferred from overseas."

"Okay but how did you know she was talking about me?" I reason.

"Um... well your accent sorta gave it away." Cassi shrugs, then hands me a stack of papers.

I felt a little silly now, and slightly embarrassed.

"Here's all the notes from the first three chapters, and the definitions. ...Patricia are you okay?" She notes, probably realizing how awkward I felt.

"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks."

I stood from the bed and took the papers from her now.

"You're face is red. Are you feeling sick? You should probably have a seat." Cassi persists, and presses her hand on my shoulder, forcing me back down. "I'm gonna get you some water, okay? You stay here"

So here I am, sitting in this room with a stack of history notes, and no one has come back yet. It's been five minutes, and I decide she must have forgot about me.

Just as I go to open the door, I run into her.

"Oh! Hey, feeling better yet?" She asks, then steps inside.

She didn't have any water with her, but she kinda smelled like flowers and her hair looked a little different.

"Um... yeah, like I said before, I'm really okay." I remind. "I should get going, you know, so I can look over these notes and-"

"Alright, let's go back to your place so I can help you study for your retake! You'll need all the help you need- that test was absolutely impossible!"

"Actually I didn't really ask for your-"

"Well, not TOTALLY impossible, considering I aced it." She continues. "Anyway, what were you gonna say?"

Aced the test...?

"Uh, I said let's get going!" I say. She smiles and drags me out by the hand.

Once we got to woodland house, Silvia greeted Cassi and I. I was surprised she knew who Cassi was, but I guess her and Mindy must hang out a lot according to her. It's hard to believe that a girl who dresses in such dark clothing and spikes her hair up could be friends with the an 'all A's' honor roll student. Stranger things have happened, though.

"Patricia, are you listening?" Cassi accuses. "I said what's the year of the day a plane broke the sound barrier?"

"Um..." I stumble. "Nineteen eighty five?"

She shakes her head.

"Patricia, is there something, I don't know, distracting you? Maybe?"

Sorta. I'm still trying to figure out why she and Mindy are friends. "No, nothing's distracting me. I just don't think questions like that is exactly common sense."

"But I just told you the answer a second ago." Cassi reasons. "Tell me what's going on, we can't focus on work until you get whatever it is you're thinking about off your chest."

"Really, Cassi. It's nothing!" I reiterate. "I just want to study for my retake tomorrow, if that's alright. I promise I'll pay attention this time!"

She didn't respond in any way, besides just looking at me. I figure that must mean she's let it go, and go to reach for one of the papers.

Cassi puts her hand down on mine, then scoots closer to me.

"Look, don't feel nervous. I have feelings for you too, so it's okay!"

What?

"Cassi-"

"Shhh..." She warns, placing her finger on my lips. "It's okay. If you don't want to admit it yet, then you don't have to. I'll wait until you're comfortable.

She started to move closer to me, and at the risk of completely losing her help, I shoot backwards.

"Stop it! I don't have feelings for you, I'm not gay!" I blurt all at once.

Now she looked as embarrassed as I did when I started questioning her back at High Oak house. Her face was flush, and her expression showed shock.

"Oh..." She sighs, looking down.

"...Cassi, look. I'm sorry." I say, approaching her. "That sorta came out wrong, but I'm kinda straight. No, I mean, I am straight, but, you're a really nice girl, and..."

She looked like she was sobbing with her hands over her face like that.

I put my hand on her shoulder. "and you know, you really shouldn't feel bad,"

Before I could finish my sentence, Cassi shot up, took hold of my face, and planted her lips on mine. I instantly force myself away, but before I could say anything she had ran out of the room. She's one wiiiiiired girl.

She left her notes and everything here, so I figure I'll just have it delivered to her house, or even get Mindy to take it to her. I definitely didn't want to be seeing her again after that. I was trying to have sympathy for her, but not after that! That was just rude, kissing me like that!

I'm sure she's left by now, though, so I head down stairs. Destiny sent me a text to meet her in the laundry room, and I didn't want to keep her waiting.

When I enter, I see she's wearing all black clothes and a black hat, with dark sunglasses.

"Uh, what the hell are you doing?" I ask.

"Shh!" She scolds. "Close the door!" Destiny whispers.

I do so. "What's all this about?"

"I got the papers." She says, before looking in both directions first.

"This isn't a spy movie, you know." I point out.

Destiny takes off the sunglasses in an annoyed way and looks at me with frustration. "I'm trying to be secretive, okay! God!"

"Then why are we in the laundry room! We share the same room!" I reason.

"Because! ..." She was stuck. "...Patricia just go with it."

I shrug, and she puts the sunglasses back on.

"I got the papers..." Destiny repeats in a low voice, then slides a black folder across the washing machine.

"Thank, you?" I say, then pick it up.

"Now get outta here, before the fuzz finds ya."

I look at her awkwardly before walking out. Speaking of wired girls... Destiny certainly qualifies.

This is just what I needed! Discussion questions and responses for animal experimentation rights! With these, I'll be ready for anything! There's even a copy of Marissa's report in here, so I'm all set. All I have to do is study these, plus my history homework, and by Monday afternoon everything will go back to normal! ...so I guess I have a lot of studying to do.

After I retook the test, Misses Johnson said she'd average my scores for a final result. I wish she would have just taken my end score- I did so much better than the last time! Apparently the school doesn't have a special policy for students who miss the first few weeks of school, though, so I'll have to follow regulations. Anyway, now I have to beg Hudson to let me on the panel.

"Hello Patricia." She greets when I enter her room. "What are you doing after school so late?"

"I finished that paper about my take on animal experimentation, ma'am." I say.

"You mean the one that was due at the beginning of the weak?" She questions.

Already off to a stellar start...

"Yeah, sorry about that. I had... um, lots of other homework I had to catch up on. But it's finished now!"

"Very well, hand it over. You do understand I'll have to dock you a few points, though. Considering this is worth points to dock..." Hudson comments, though as she flipped through it she looked slightly intrigued.

"Run along, now."

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the panel." I persist.

"Patricia, I've already told you, I am not taking Marissa off the-"

"No! I mean... I want to be ON the panel." I say, getting to the point.

She looked at me in disbelief. "You do, now? Is this a joke?"

"No ma'am, I've done the research, and I really feel strongly on this topic! I think I could really contribute to the argument Monday morning, if you'd give me a chance."

She was reading a couple sentences at the bottom of the second page, and though I don't interrupt, wait patiently for her to finish. "Yes, there are some very strong points here..." She scanned over, and it looked like she may even change her mind. "Alright, Patricia. I'll add you to the panel. But you better be prepared, the other students have been studying all week for this and I don't want you uninformed just because you missed a few meetings."

"Yes!" I excite. "Thank you Misses Hudson!"

"This is a substantial amount of work. I'm trusting you on this, Patricia."

"You won't be sorry!" I say, and rush out of the room before she changes her mind.

Back at Woodland house, everyone else is already having dinner. I must have spent more time on that test than I had thought.

"There you are, where have you been, Patricia!" Silvia scolds when I enter the dining room.

"Sorry Madam Silvia." I begin. "But I was actually at school-"

"I don't care what you were doing in your free time, Miss Williams, now sit down and eat."

"Yes Madam."

When I entered everyone stopped talking. Marissa must have been complaining about how I had 'ruined her life' and whatnot, and no one wanted to talk to me.

Most everyone's almost finished eating anyway, and I've just got here. Nina had already finished her food, and didn't stick around to chat. It was me, Mindy, Kelly, and the twins now.

"So I hear you kicked Cassi to the curb." Mindy comments. "You just can't stop pissing people off, can you?"

"Like it's my fault she's interested in me!" I defend.

"You got a point." Mindy shrugs.

"What's wrong with Cassi anyway?" Kelly questions. "She's a bright young individual. Pretty attractive too, compared to some of the students here."

"What's wrong is I'm not exactly a lesbian." I say. "You know, not attracted to girls?"

"That would explain it!" Mindy says, and Kelly nods.

"I think that two girls dating, would be totally inappropriate at an all girls school." Ember adds. "I mean, what if someone had to share a room with someone like that?"

"Well, I don't think they should be kicked out of the school just because-"

"I didn't ask for your opinion!" The blond glares. "Jeez!"

I throw my hands up, not saying a word.

All weekend I reviewed the questions for the debate. My housemates were starting to talk to me again, but I'm sure once I prove to Marissa today that I can be of help, no one will be paranoid of being seen talking to me or any of that crap. Lunch is almost over, and I double check the order of my papers one last time before heading off to Debate class

"Alright! Time to go fight for animal rights!"