Family Matters

Cassie

Chelsea, Abbie, and I have been on the dance floor for about thirty minutes. A few guys and girls have been giving me birthday kisses, all innocent pecks on my cheek or hand.

Suddenly, I feel hands encircle my waist and spin me around. I find myself staring up at a tall, blond, and incredibly handsome man. I might need to reconsider my no-hookup rule.

He leans in to whisper in my ear over the loud music.

“Hello, gorgeous. I’m Nick.”

“I’m Cassie,” I reply. He pulls me closer, our bodies pressed together. But it doesn’t feel as good as when Xavier held me.

Hold on! I need to stop comparing everyone to Xavier. It was just a kiss, nothing more. Right? I see Nick glance at my birthday button, then at my lips.

“Your birthday, huh?” He grins at me. I nod. Oh no, he’s going to kiss me, isn’t he? And not one of those innocent kisses I’ve been receiving. Will it be as good as Xavier’s?

Stop it, Cassie!

Just as he starts to lean in, he’s yanked away and lands on the floor. I look up to see Xavier standing over him, breathing heavily.

I can’t believe Xavier just went all caveman on me!

I help Nick up and try to get Xavier’s attention, but he seems oblivious to me.

He’s just glaring at Nick, ready to pounce if he so much as moves towards me.

Nick doesn’t seem to notice, wrapping his arms around me and trying to lead me away. Did he just call me ‘baby’? Seriously?

Whack!

Down goes Nick, clutching his bleeding face. I instinctively punch Xavier. Why? I have no idea.

“Holy shit!” I exclaim, cradling my wrist. His face is like a brick wall!

He stumbles back and we just stare at each other. Chelsea and Abbie rush over and pull me away.

“Damn it, Cassie. Let’s get out of here!”

We push through the crowd and head home. My hand is starting to swell and bruise. Well, at least my birthday wasn’t boring.

***

Xavier

I’m leaning against the railing, watching Bella and her friends dance. She’s stunning, her smile lighting up the room.

I watch her hips sway to the beat, imagining how it would feel to have her pressed against me.

I glance at Austin and Ethan, who are probably thinking the same about her friends.

Everyone around her is giving her birthday kisses on her cheek and hand.

Damn that button!

Suddenly, some surfer-looking guy wraps his arms around her and pulls her close.

“Hell no!” I shout, rushing towards the dance floor. I hear Austin and Ethan behind me, calling my name, but I ignore them. I’m on a mission to teach this jerk a lesson.

When I reach them, I grab the guy by his collar, throw him to the floor, and stand over him.

“STAY AWAY FROM HER!”

Austin and Ethan catch up and pull me back. Bella rushes past me to help the guy up. She looks angry, but I can’t tell if it’s at me or him.

Probably me, but I don’t care. She steps between us and turns to face me.

“What the hell is your problem?!”

She’s clearly ticked off at me, but I’m too engrossed in a staring contest with the blond guy to care. I’m itching for him to make a move, just so I have an excuse to wipe that smirk off his face.

“Xavier!” Bella’s voice cuts through the tension, but I’m too focused on the guy who’s about to meet his maker. Suddenly, he wraps an arm around Bella and starts to lead her away. I’ll give him points for courage.

“Let’s get out of here, baby.”

Baby? Did he just call her baby? Oh, hell no!

I yank Bella back and land a punch on his face. He crumples to the floor, clutching his face. Before I know it, I’m reeling from a blow to my own face.

I stagger back, caught off guard. Austin and Ethan steady me. I look up to see Bella, panting and shaking out her right hand.

Did she just hit me?

“Let’s go, Cassie!” Chelsea urges, as she and Abbie drag Bella away. They vanish into the crowd and out the front door.

The guys and I are left standing in the middle of the dance floor, stunned. What just happened? And why did Chelsea call her Cassie?

***

Cassie

The morning sunlight filtering through my curtains wakes me. I reach to pull my blanket over my head and wince at a sharp pain in my right hand.

“Ouch!” I glance at my wrist, now a lovely mix of blues and purples. Damn Xavier! Why did he have to provoke me last night? I’m about to get up for some ice when my phone buzzes on my nightstand. It’s a group text from Chelsea and Abbie.

***

I get ready for the day, wrapping my likely sprained hand in a bandage before heading out.

Every week, during my lunch break at school, I visit the hospital next door to spend time with some of the patients. One of them is Mr. Montero.

He was rushed in for emergency heart surgery a week ago, and I’ve been visiting him daily during his recovery. His wife is always by his side when I visit.

They’re such a sweet couple. They could be my parents’ age, and after getting to know them this past week, I kind of wish they were.

On my first visit, we chatted for hours. They asked about me and seemed genuinely interested in my life.

They’d ask about my classes every day and showed real concern for my well-being.

I often wondered if my parents, had they not been addicts, would have shown as much interest in me as Mr. and Mrs. Montero.

I also wondered what my life would have been like if I’d been placed in a foster home with parents like them.

But it doesn’t matter now. My past has shaped who I am.

Today, Mr. Montero is going home. I’ve bought him a stuffed panda bear—he loves pandas—and some pastries from his favorite café as a going-home present.

I enter the hospital and head to his room. Laughter echoes from inside. His whole family must be there, ready to take him home.

I step into the room and freeze when I see who’s there.

Why does the universe hate me?!

***

Xavier

I wake up the next morning with a throbbing headache. My face feels like it’s been through a meat grinder. Why did she hit me? Was she into that guy?

She couldn’t have been, she left him bleeding on the dance floor.

And why did Chelsea call her Cassie?

And why did I get so worked up?!

I’m lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all when my brother barges into my room.

“Ever heard of knocking?”

“Not really. Now, care to explain what happened with Bella last night?”

“I wish I knew. I’m trying to figure it out myself.”

“Are you seriously falling for her? You barely know her. Plus, she’s not your type, right? You always said she’s the serious relationship kind. You’re the champion of ‘no strings attached’, remember?”

“Austin! Are you going to let me speak or just keep lecturing me?” I snap at him, spinning around to face him. His eyes widen in surprise.

“Wow! Did that tiny girl really do that to your face?”

“How bad does it look?” I groan.

“Well, you’re going to need a pretty convincing story for dad when we pick him up later.”

“Damn! I totally forgot about that. Maybe Donna can help me cover it up with some makeup.”

“I doubt she has enough makeup to hide that black eye.” He chuckles.

“Just go get her and tell her to bring all her makeup.” As my brother exits my room, I head to the bathroom to clean up. I catch my reflection in the mirror and groan. Austin was right. No amount of makeup could hide this. My right eye and cheek are a canvas of purple, blue, and black.

That girl sure packs a punch! If my face wasn’t throbbing so much, I’d find it kind of hot.

“Holy crap! What did you collide with last night?” I spin around to find my sister in the doorway, her mouth agape. Austin is standing behind her, grinning like an idiot.

“A 5-foot 2-inch firecracker of a woman that he got all territorial over,” he informs her. I respond by flipping him off.

“Hold on. Hold on. Hold on!” My sister manages to say between fits of laughter. “Are you saying a girl did this to you?” They both double over in laughter.

“Both of you, knock it off! Can you help me or not, Donna? I can’t let dad see this and start interrogating me.”

“Sorry, big bro. I don’t have enough concealer to hide that.”

“Told you!” Austin gloats.

Damn! How am I going to explain this to my dad?

My dad had an emergency heart surgery a week ago and is coming home today.

My mom went to the hospital early to keep him company while he waits for his discharge papers, so I drove us, Donna’s boyfriend Leo, and Ethan to the hospital to meet them.

As soon as I walk into the room, my parents start questioning me about my face.

“What happened to you?” My dad asks.

“Did you get into another fight? Are you ok?” My mom asks, rushing over to inspect my face. Austin, Ethan, and Donna start giggling. I shoot them a glare and they stop.

“I’m fine. It’s not a big deal.”

“Are you sure nothing else is hurt?” My mom asks.

Yeah, my ego.

“No, nothing else.” I assure her.

“What on earth happened?” My dad asks. I knew that question was coming.

“Nothing much. Just a scuffle at the club last night that got a bit out of hand. I handled it.”

“*cough* Bullshit! *cough*” Austin interjects. I shoot my brother a death glare. Donna, Austin, and Ethan burst into laughter.

I can’t stand them.

And then, as if my morning couldn’t get any worse, Bella walks in holding a stuffed panda and a small brown bag. She stops dead in her tracks and looks straight at me.

Why the hell is she here?