Page 46 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
"What do you mean, took care of him?"Cass hissed, rage pumping through her veins."You knew I liked him.You knew he invited me to that party.Then you embarrassed me, stole him, then threw him away like it was nothing, and younever explained yourself!"
"You never asked!"Lyra tossed her arms up into the air."And besides, if I told you why I did it, you would never believe me.You were so in love with that jackwagon, if I told you the truth, you'd just like him more!You're so fucking stubborn, Cassiopeia!"
"What truth?"her voice cracked.
"Cass," Andromeda sighed.
"No!Tell me, what truth?"Cass was inches from shattering."What did you two keep from me?Why did you have totake care of him?What aren't you telling me?"
Lyra groaned, rubbing her temples."Cass, did you know he was nineteen, nearly twenty, when that party happened?Sure, he was a senior, but he failed sophomore year twice, he was a full-fledged adult and you were sixteen."
Cass's spine straightened; her eyebrows knitted on her forehead."Okay, and?"
"Adults don't like teenagers for good reasons, Cass!"Lyra stomped her foot."You didn't hear how he talked about you.In the locker rooms, in other classrooms, the way he bragged about how big your tits were or how easily he could take you if he wanted.It was gross.His friends were also some of my friends, and when they told me, I nearly broke his nose.Cass, he invited you to that party to get you drunk and have sex with you.I was afraid of what he'd do, and as soon as I found out, I couldn't let it happen.So, I took care of it, took care of him.I had to do it publicly so everyone would know we fucked, then I told everyone that his cock was so small, he couldn't reach my guts, that it smelled of rotten cheese, and that he had these gross pimples on his balls.And everyone ran with it.Sure, yeah, it wasn't a great experience, but no girl would ever go within a hundred feet of that creep again.But mostly, he left you alone."
Cass fell back against the walls, hands to her stomach."No…"
"Cassiopeia, he confronted me about the rumors, and I told him they would get worse, that I would get him expelled and worse, if he ever so much as breathed in your direction.He took his lumps and left.You were only sixteen!I couldn't let him hurt you, let alone do worse because you liked him so much you saw him with rose colored glasses.And if I told you before it happened what a creepy jackwagon he was, you wouldn't have believed me.Because he was good at manipulating you."Lyra stepped forward, putting her hands out, palms up, toward Cass.She took her sister's hand tenderly."I'm always so protective of you, of all of you, that I'd do even the grossest thing I could think of to keep you safe."
"He…you…that…" Cass blubbered as hot tears welled in her eyes.
"I know it seemed cruel, but also, after it happened…you were so disgusted with me over it, I didn't know how to defend myself.I didn't even talk about it."
"Cass," Andromeda stepped up, squeezing Cassiopeia's shoulder."Is that why you never bring partners around to family dinners and stuff?"
Cass nodded, wordless.
Lyra shrunk, slipping backward.Cass, however, didn't let her get far, grabbing Lyra by the arms and ripping her into her embrace.Lyra immediately wrapped her long arms around the middle sister.Cass squeezed her sister tight, engulfing her completely."I'm so sorry.I've been such a massive cuntwaffle to you."
Her older sister barked out a laugh, rubbing her back."It's okay, I did something cuntwaffley to you without explaining myself."
"You were right, I wouldn't have understood back then, but thank you for telling me."Cass pressed a hard kiss to the side of her sister's head.The terrible, awful, nagging feeling in her gut dissipated as she pulled back to see Lyra's face.Her sister reached up, cupping her cheeks.Cass mimicked the movement, laughing and crying at the same time."Thank you for doing that awful thing for me."
"You're very welcome.You're a lot bigger now, a lot meaner now, you don't take shit from anyone.I'm not afraid for you anymore like I was when you were younger.So, I don't have to be your personal doberman anymore.But if you ever need it, if you ever need me, I'm there.Even with Salamander, it's you, I choose you, because you're my sister."
Cass threw her arms around Lyra again and the entire gaggle of sisters swarmed together into a clump of teary eyed, varying curl types, Fae women.
The grass was never greener elsewhere…I just needed to see my grass for what it was.
"I'm going to get better at communication."She made a promise that day to do better, to be better.
"We all should," Andromeda snorted, "therapy for everyone."
"Yay!Therapy!"Haylee chortled.
Chapter twenty-one
Going to chow town for pizza
Elliot
Thegroupslippedintothe pizzeria well past 9pm.All of the Darling sisters, Toad, Elliot, and Cassie.Normally he wouldn't let Toad interject himself into a family affair…but then he saw the way Lyra winked at him and invited him without question.Elliot and Cassie shared a knowing glance before they broke into childish giggles behind the group.Elliot threw an arm around her in the foyer of the restaurant.The hostess started leading the group into the back of the shop where their large table was located.Elliot slid his girlfriend away from everyone else and tucked them to the side."Is this okay?"
"We, uh…hashed it out," Cassie tucked some of her loose curls behind her ears.
Elliot beamed, scooping her up by the cheek."That's wonderful, baby."
"Turns out, Havoc Green was a bit of a creep and Lyra ruined him socially so he'd leave me alone."Cassie leaned her cheek into his palm, eyes fluttering closed.
