Had it been 2 weeks already? It felt like a second ago she was trying her hardest not to sob into her best friend's lap while regretting her every choice.
After spending all of Sunday at Tommy's house, they went back to Sean's house at night, Tommy included. When they arrived, Sean's mom had spoken to her Mother and let her know Cassie would be staying with them for as long as Cassie needed. And that was that. They went to school together every day, Cassie drove them to and from places. Sean and Tommy shared more classes, so Cassie had some alone time with her girlfriends except when break or lunch came and they looked for her wherever she was. Noah had been quiet and left her alone after the first 2 days of attempting to get to her and being met with either Sean or Tommy.
But of course that couldn't last for ever. It was Wednesday already and she had gym class during the afternoon. She had lunch with the guys, drove them to Sean's and drove back to school an hour earlier to warm up before volleyball since they had an intense tournament coming and she was libero for the varsity team. Varsity trained in a separate facility, right next to the main school building so they had separate parking spaces. She was getting her bag from the trunk when someone grabbed her from behind and put a hand over her mouth. Cassie could feel a bigger body pressing her to the inside of the trunk and recognized the feel of it. How could she not? She'd felt that same preassure a few weeks back but for a totally different reason.
- it's been a while but I can feel your heart racing, Cass. miss me?
- maopmasinb - Cassie couldn't say anything because he still had his hand to her mouth.
- sorry, I actually wanted to hear you say you miss me, doll. say that again
- not even in your dreams, Noah! what are you doing?! are you crazy? let me GO! - Cassie was trying to scream but the position Noah had her in, strained her voice.
- aww, doll. I know you miss me, I know you needed the time to think and now it's time you came back to me. my Mom is asking about you and I can't keep telling her you are busy with school. you used to come to my place at least every weekend... she misses you too, you know?
- have... you... gone... mad?! - Cassie tried to say while struggling to be free of Noah's hold, unsuccessfully - how can you think I would EVER forgive you?! you are insane!
- crazy for you, doll. you made me do this, though. I've been trying to talk to you but you are always with one of those fools. are you fucking them? do they know what a little whore you are already? you are mine, you know? if they touched you, I'm going to have to fight them and that will not be pleasant
- you are out of your mind! you know Sean is my best friend and Tommy is a great friend too. don't you dare do anything, you understand? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, NOAH?!
- Cass... - Noah slides his hand from Cassie's face to her throat and starts tightening his hold while pushing his hardness agains her ass - there is no way in hell that one of those fuckers is touching you without consequences. feel this? you drive me crazy, Cass. you - thrust - are - thrust - MINE
- stop... - Cassie feels she's about to faint - Noah... I... can't breathe... Noah...
- HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHO ARE YOU? CASSIE? - Cassie hears the screaming but it sounds far, but as soon as the hand holding her lets go she lands inside her trunk almost passing out.
- CASSIE OH MY GOD! - Cassie can hear running and more foot steps closer until Allie turns her around and helps her sit.
- thank you, Allie. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't come
- Cassie, who was that? did you pass out? I can see the marks on your throat and you have some bruising flaring on your wrist and arm. do you want me call anyone?
- thanks, Allie. let me get my things and just go to practice. are we still early?
- umm are you sure, Cassie? was this some sort of weird sex thing you like? OMG how embarassing, did I stop something?
- Allie... do you really think that of me? we are in school property...
- I've heard worst so...
Cassie was used to that. People assuming the worst. What she wasn't used to was people caring for her, so when she went back to Sean's, she had to face a whole lot of people and their questions. She was tired and couldn't wait to take a long hot bath, but Sean and Tommy had other plans for her.
- hey, guys! I'm back, just gonna take a bath and be down when the food's ready - Cassie yelled while climbing the stairs to the spare room where she was staying.
- hey, Cass! Mom's out with Dad so they said to order anything. Tommy's here too so I'll order now and while you bathe, we'll finish some homework. take... - Sean had followed Cassie after some minutes but stopped on his tracks as soon as he saw Cassie naked in front of the mirror in her room - Cass...
- not now, Sean...
- Cassie, are you fucking kidding me?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT NOW?!
- please don't yell at me... - one tear rolled down her cheek - just... don't
- hey, guys! do you want me to order for... - Tommy stood next to Sean, not knowing if Cassie naked was weird or normal but also thinking if all the bruising was normal - Cassie... umm... are you... is that... what's going on?
- well, at least one of you is not screaming at me... I'm taking a long hot bath, please order and I'll be down in an hour, Tommy. is that okay with the two of you? - she asked looking at them both through the reflection in the mirror.
Both men were quiet so she imagined getting into the bathroom and a hot bath would be fine. Cassie took three steps towards the bathroom and had Sean grabbing her arm so suddenly that she flinched, scared.
- I am the one you flinch to? tell me what happened, Cass. if you don't tell me everything right the fuck now, I'm going to lose it and to hell with everything I promised about leaving him alone, he's dead
- please, Sean...
- NO CASSIE! no more please Sean. no more asking me to shut up about it and not ask any questions. this has gone too far! was it him? you have his hands marked around your neck! damn Cassie, you better start talking!
- please stop shouting! I can do this with you if you yell at me while naked, okay?! I'm going to get in the tub, you can order some food and THEN we'll talk. do you understand? - she looked for Tommy then, pleading with her eyes so he could take Sean and do that.
- come on, man. let's order some food and chill for a bit so Cass can tell us all about this over dinner
- if you come downstairs and aren't ready to tell me every detail of how all of this - he said pointing to her body - happened, I'm going to explode, babe. please tell us everything when you go down
- I will... Sean... I will
She would never be ready to talk about anything, Sean didn't even know why she moved with her Mother after living with her Father all those years. Sean didn't understand why she chose to go back to her Mother who was never there and when she was she made her life impossible. Because she never told anyone about her Father and her uncles. Just like she never told anyone about everything that happened before moving with her Mother. And today was not going to be the exception. She was going to shut down and hope Sean could just let it go.
Of course she came down and the two men she was becoming attached to where waiting for her. She could hear them whispering when she was going down the stairs but she was tired, she just wanted to grab a bite and go to bed. They had a different idea because they already had the table set, the food plated and even put a bottle of whiskey in the middle of the table.
- how was your bath? - Tommy asked quietly but looking into her eyes.
- it was good, thank you for asking Tommy
- how about some food, Cass? - Sean asked looking into her eyes too. But he had a deep frown to his face, and that made her want to cry. She took a deep breath before answering.
- that sounds good, but you know how I get when I drink and I think you are not going to let me off the hook this time. which means I'm going to need that bottle of whiskey you purposefully placed in the middle of the table. am I right? - she sat down in the middle of the two men, reaching for a shot glass. But Sean stopped her gently, although she took her hand away as a reflex and only made Sean more upset.
- I know you, babe - he pushed the shot glass toward her after pouring some whiskey for each of them - the food is here for after you tell us everything, that way tomorrow doesn't suck as much
- every day sucks for me though... - she put the glass to her lips and licked the rim before enjoying the burn from the liquid going through her throat. What she didn't realize was they would notice her flinching from the pain she still had while swallowing.
- it doesn't have to, Cass. you could let us in and tell us everything so we can make it better - Tommy's eyes were shining while looking at her.
- HA! that's what everyone thinks... it's not easy to make things better
- but it also doesn't have to be this damn hard, babe! - she could see how Sean was barely holding it together for her. She could see how he wasn't yelling at her because she was shaking, although she didn't see when that started.
- stop it, Sean. not all of us have amazing parents and a pristine reputation at school. some of us have to do what we can with what we are dealt. so, please stop wishing for things I simply can not have
- how do you know, Cass? - this time is was Tommy looking at her with hopeful eyes, like she had hung the moon. And she knew she had to leave, she was going to ruin them and that was the last thing she wanted for them.
- I just do, Tommy. what do you want from me, Sean? tell me and I'll deliver, just like everyone else. what. do. you. want. from. me?!
- tell me everything. and stop looking at me like I'm him because you damn well know I'm not. I will NEVER be anything like him
- I know that, Sean... - she was looking at him with such surprise that Sean relaxed a bit.
- then start from the moment you left my house because I sure know Tommy and me didn't do that to you
- are we not going to talk about both of us seeing you naked? - Tommy asked sounding as inocent as he looked, like a deer in headlights.
- we are going to talk about everything, dude. I just need to know who to kill tomorrow first
- you are not killing anyone, Sean. I didn't see who it was...
- but you know, Cass. I can see it in your eyes, you know! and I feel like killing someone right now, so please start talking before I lose it - Sean had come closer with his chair and was now sitting right next to Cassie, so was Tommy. They took one hand each and started softly stroking her wrists, where they could see bright red marks.
- I got to the Varsity parking lot...
Cassie told them everything with detail except for who it was. She knew if she told them that Noah had been the one to do that to her, she would lose them both. She didn't tell them about Noah's threats either, they were too important for her and she was going to keep away from that day on.
Sean was vibrating with anger by the end of it and Tommy had been silently pacing the living room from the moment she told them about nearly fainting. She was a little bit drunk, all those whiskey shots were causing the desired effect: numbing her. Cassie couldn't remember when but Sean had grabbed her and sat her on his lap so he could hug her tightly. He still had his arms around her waist, she was hugging him by the neck when Tommy suddenly stopped pacing. In two strides he was grabbing her face and kissing her fiercely. It took her all of a second to loosen her arms from Sean's neck and turn towards Tommy to deepen the kiss. In doing so, she shifted in Sean's lap and ended up straddling him with her back to him. She could feel Sean's hands, that were still on her waist, slowly going lower. She was wearing a big T-shirt she had stolen from Sean the first time she stayed and had no clothes to sleep in, so he inadvertedly moved the clothes higher on her thighs.
All Sean could think about was making this amazing girl feel better, Tommy was trying to calm his anger by showing this girl he could protect her and Cassie was trying not to fall for them. What neither of them realized was they had unlocked a dangerous feeling: love.