Good things come to those who wait Who: Cassie and Jason Where: Reagan High When: Friday morning
Thank God for Friday. Cassie was always happy on Fridays, especially this early in the school year, but this one was even better. She'd gotten the call from Lucy last night. Ash had made it back. He was hurt, and would spend a few days bedridden for precautionary measures, but would be fine. Lucy had practically been ecstatic, from the tone in her voice. Cassie felt a lot better coming to school, knowing she'd see her friend in a good mood... rather than a mourning one. She stopped, seeing a sign for the Back-To-School dance, and grumbled. Stupid dance. She wasn't about to talk to Andrew about it. No WAY. As much as she'd been upset... he lost Ami in the battle. He was heartbroken right now, and Cassie could see clearly now... if Ami had survived, that's who Andrew would have chosen. All she could now was be there for him as a friend, and try to keep her dignity. Opening her locker, she took a second to glance with a grin at the Broken Sunrise flier she had hanging in it. She was gonna have to get that signed when Patience introduced her to the band.
Fridays were Jason's second favorite day of the week, right behind Saturdays. The only thing better than waking up and realizing it was Friday was hearing that last bell ring. It was still early, though, so there were hours to go until freedom. Slamming his locker shut, he shook his shaggy hair out of his eyes and looked to his side to the girl who was going on and on about something. Camille was the kind of girl it was really great to look at, but once she started talking, she made your head want to explode. They'd dated for a while last year and even though he'd broken things off with her, she couldn't seem to take the hint. The fact that she was one of the hottest girls in the senior class didn't hurt his image, but listening to her was more than he could put up with on a day to day basis. It finally got through that she was talking about the dance and the hints she was dropping were anything but subtle. His gaze landed on the petite blonde he'd seen in some of his classes and he tuned Camille out as he fell in step behind the other girl. When she stopped at her locker, he sent the other loitering students away with a look and then leaned on the lockers next to hers. "You into Broken Sunrise?" he asked with a nod to the flier.
Cassie heard the voice and almost froze up. Was Jason Carter actually talking to HER? Maybe he needed her to do homework for him or something. She spun around, almost dropping her books in the process. "Oh... um... yeah. Actually just met the singer's girlfriend a few days ago... she said she's gonna see if she can get them to come to my store sometime..." She blushed furiously there, and thanked the gods above that Lucy wasnt here to witness this pitiful exchange. Well, also because he'd likely take one look at Lucy and forget Cassie was even there.
"Yeah?" Jason was impressed. He checked out the flier again and then switched his focus to the blonde. "Cassie, right? You work at that place next to the Sugar Shack?" Behind him, he could hear Camille snickering, as if she couldn't believe he was stooping so low. She wasn't the only one watching, either. He nodded to a couple of his teammates as they passed, told them he'd catch up with them in class, and then looked to Cassie again. "That's cool, though. Heard they're releasing an album soon."
Cassie heard Camille laughing, and her gaze immediately fell to the floor. Maybe this was some joke. Another attempt by the other kids to embarrass her, or humiliate her. "Y-Yeah...." She really wanted to scream right now. She was waiting for the rest. Maybe they'd dump a drink on her. Or stick gum in her locker. Or something equally as awful. "So... w-what did you need, JC?"
What'd he need? The sound of Camille's laughter was like nails on a chalkboard. Why HAD he chosen today, of all days, to approach Cassie? It wasn't the first time he'd noticed her, no, but it was the first time he'd talked to her when he wasn't asking for an answer in class. "I don't know," he said, and that was mostly honest. Then his gaze fell on another flier. "You wanna go to the Back-to-School dance?" Oh. Apparently Camille thought that was HILARIOUS. She was laughing so loud, he knew that if he turned around, she'd be slumped against the wall. She wouldn't be laughing so hard when she realized he was serious. No, then she'd be furious. He didn't care.
Cassie was right there with Camille for once. This had to be a joke. "Do you guys really get this big a kick out of this stuff?" She found the courage to ask. "Just because you're like... all handsome, with those gorgeous eyes and stuff... do you think it makes you all cooler to make people like me feel like crap? Yes, I get it. A little dork like me will neeeeever have a boy like you. Now let's all laugh at Cassie and get it out of our systems, ok?"
Camille was still snickering, especially after overhearing Cassie's response, and while it might have been a little sharp, Jason was still grinning as he leaned against the locker next to hers. "So you think I have gorgeous eyes, huh?" Was he teasing? The glint in his gaze and that hint of a dimple seemed to suggest as much. "I didn't ask you to make you feel like crap. I was kind of hoping you'd just say yes. But...." He inhaled a deep breath and leveled a look at her. "I guess I can wait, if you need time to think it over." He turned, leaned his back against the lockers, checked his watch, and then glanced back to her.
"Why... why would you ask me?" Cassie asked, still thinking this was a joke. He seemed sincere, but with his friends standing there laughing... what was she supposed to think. "It's obvious what all your little followers think of me." She hated her freakin' life right now. "I just... JC, look... I've never done anything to you. Please don't do this to make a fool out of me."
When she mentioned his friends, a dark look crossed his face. "They're not me." She went on and although he was confused, he couldn't really blame her. It wasn't like he and his friends had ever gone out of their way to be nice to her. In fact, he knew Camille and her BFFs liked to torment the underclassmen and anyone else who didn't fit into their idea of "worthy". Cassie got it worse because she was younger AND different. He shrugged. "Hey, if you don't want to go with me, just say so." He couldn't honestly remember the last time he'd been turned down. It was a new feeling. "I'm not trying to make a fool out of anyone. But it is a school dance and, if you ask me, no one comes out looking great at those things."
"You're really being serious?" She asked, gulping with adorably big puppydog eyes. "Because if you are, then... I mean... of course, I'd love to go with you." She had that sick feeling in her tummy, like she wanted this to be real so badly, but feared it was a joke. "So here's where we reach our impasse. I've said yes. I would love to go with you. And here's where you either be nice, and show me that maybe there are still some popular people left that are nice, or you be a total bag of douche and have a laugh."
"Are those my only two options?" His grin was teasing. "You said yes. I'm holding you to that." Interestingly enough, Camille had stopped laughing. He had no intention of looking over at her, but he figured her expression was probably priceless. Too bad no one was there to catch it for the yearbook.
Cassie caught that look... and Camille was frankly too big of an idiot to be able to fake that expression. She grinned, broadly, almost hopping in the air a few times. "Jason... I have no idea what you're thinking, inviting ME... but yes yes YES I want to go, I'd be honored!!!"
He laughed. It was more her final reaction than anything else. "Wait," he said, still chuckling as he held a hand up. "That wasn't a bag of douche laugh. Promise. But yeah. Just...do whatever it is you girls do for these things and let me know what time to pick you up." He pushed away from the lockers as the first bell rang. "Got to get to class," he told her, "but I'll, uh...I'll catch you later." He smiled, more to himself than anything else, wondering what had driven him to ask her to the dance - but not really sorry that he had.
Cassie honestly had a deer in headlights expression as he walked off, and just let herself lean into her locker, blinking slightly. "....what the hell just happened? And ohhhhhh my god....I gotta tell Lucy!!!!"