Status: Writing the next chapter ! Might take a while..
After All These Years
o1o.
After the phone call with Matt, Cassandra felt extremely nervous. She didn’t know what to expect.
Why was he thinking about me? Why did he call? Oh my gosh did I do something wrong? What happened to Val?
So many thoughts were racing through her brain. She decided to take a quick shower and try to relax and soothe her head.
~20 minutes later~
Even in the shower, Cassandra couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong. The night at the bar was just too out of the ordinary. She was thinking of all the possibilities of Val having a reason to not like her, not one came to mind. She got out the shower and changed into a big sweater and leggings. She felt no need to dress up while she was in her own home. While Cassandra was brushing her tangles away, she heard a knock at the door.
Oh shit! He’s here, oh man. I should’ve worn something else! I am a mess! Ugh, it’s too late now. She thought to herself as she raced toward the door. “I’m coming!” she yelled running a little faster.
Cassandra opened the door and Matt stood there with a smirk on his face. “That’s what she said.” He laughed. Cassandra’s face contorted into a disgusted look.
“Ha. Ha. You’re so funny.” She said as she stuck her tongue out at him. “Well, aren’t you gonna come in?” she asked.
Matt walked in and immediately grabbed Cassandra into a tight hug. Shocked, Cassandra stood for a couple of seconds. She finally processed what was happening and hugged him back.
“Why, hello there? Are you okay?” she said looking up at him.
“Yeah, I am fine. I should ask you that. I am so sorry about last night! I don’t know why Val is such a psycho. I hope you don’t hold that against her, there’s just so much happening…” he trailed off.
“Matt, you don’t need to worry about me. Now you have me worried about you. What’s going on? What happened to you? Why are you so worried?” Cassandra asked looking at his face, observing his eyes, and the way his body tensed. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”
They both sat down on separate couches, Cassandra bringing her legs up to her chest.
“No, it’s something I have to explain…” he inhaled, trying to buy time before he had to tell her the truth. He was embarrassed to admit it. Matt sighed and started, “Val has been cheating on me for a while now. She’s changed and she’s become a lot more territorial since. I thought it was just because I was gone, she got lonely… But even when I came back, nothing has been the same.”
Cassandra just stayed quiet waiting for him to continue.
“She thought you were a threat to ‘what was hers’ but the thing is, I’m not hers. I haven’t been for a while now. I don’t know why she’s like that, she didn’t stop when I came back. She continued. So I broke it off, yesterday at the bar. I don’t remember it all, but I did. And I’m sorry if she made you feel uncomfortable, I am sorry for making you a part of something you knew nothing about.” He apologized.
Cassandra got up from her seat, and sat next to Matt. She brought her arms up and hugged him, tightly. “Matt, I’m so sorry. Don’t you worry about me. I’m a big girl, I can handle myself. I’m sorry for what you are going through. In time that pain will go away and I just want you to know that I’ll be here for you. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I feel like we’ve known each other forever. I hope you don’t ever have to feel like this again. She’ll get her karma. Don’t you worry!” Cassandra said holding his head in her hands.
Matt felt so comforted. So warm. He hadn’t felt anything like this in a long time. He relaxed in her arms. “Thank you. And technically, we have known each other forever, just…lost a couple of years. I’m so glad I met you though…again.”
“You have no idea. I have always wondered about you. Who knew! You were always right there, none of us knew it.” She let go, moving back a little.
“Do you want anything to drink?” she asked.
“Uhm, sure. What do you have in mind? Please, don’t say alcohol, after the morning I had, I think I’m never going to drink again.” He said laughing.
“Good, cause I was thinking more along the lines of comfort food and drinks. Hot chocolate and mac n cheese sound good to you?” she asked.
He nodded his head. Cassandra got up to go to the kitchen, leaving Matt behind. She got out two mugs and started boiling water. “Need any help in there?” she heard Matt say from the living room. She heard his footsteps and saw his head pop in from the doorway. “No, I’m okay. I like to work alone in the kitchen.” She said smiling at him.
Matt took a seat on one of the stools by the island. He watched her and smiled as she stuck her tongue out, concentrating on her cooking. “So we’re gonna hang out today? All day?” he asked. She looked up at him slowly, her eyes wide, looking shocked and embarrassed.
“Oh shit, I forgot, I just thought… oh man, well if you can’t it’s fine.” She said looking down.
“I have nothing else to do. I was just asking because I didn’t think you would want to hang out with me.” He said.
“Oh…well, if you can, then that would be great,” she said blushing.
*
Finally, everything was ready. Cassandra got out plates and forks and put macaroni on them. “I hope you’re hungry.” She said to Matt. He nodded, looking at the food. “Looks soooo cheesy.” He said digging in.
“This is great.” He said, he didn’t realize how hungry he had been. Cassandra just smiled and continued eating.
“So…when you disappeared all those years ago, did you ever wonder about me?” she asked.
“I did, actually. I was pissed for a long time. My parent’s never told me we were leaving. But then I met the guys, and I eventually got over it… no offense.” He said laughing.
Cassandra laughed. “Yeah, same here, but it was always in the back of my mind. I thought you got really hurt. I was worried, but now, I’m like oh, that’s cool, he just became a famous rock god, no biggy.” She joked.
Matt laughed loudly, not expecting her to be funny. “I don’t even know how it happened. Thinking about it now, it all happened fast.”
They both finished their food and Cassandra brought it to the sink. “Do you wanna watch a movie?” she asked. He followed her back into the living room and she chose her favorite movie to watch. “Sorry, it’s gonna be so corny, but on a day like this, I think it would be very much needed.” She said opening her DVD player and popping it in, not telling Matt what movie it was.
“So you’re not going to tell me what movie this is?” he asked her. She shook her head and smiled. “Just watch.”
Matt looked at his phone, three hours had already gone by. The sun was already going down, and he didn’t notice so much time had passed. He patted the spot next to him on the couch and Cassandra sat down. He pulled her closer to him, and put his arm around her. He felt her relax and they both waited for the movie to start.
“Oh wow, I Love You, Man? I love this movie! One of my favorites.” Matt said laughing. Cassandra looked at him shocked. “Really!? Wow, mine too!”
Cassandra got up to microwave some popcorn. Matt watched the movie and waited for her.
She came back two minutes later and sat back down. “Matt, I really am sorry for what Val did to you, you don’t deserve that. I hope that you are happy, even if it takes a while.” She said leaning back into him.
“Thank you Cassie, and right now, I am happy. Thanks to you.” He said holding her close.
Cassandra couldn’t help but feel comfortable. She watched the movie while she listened to Matt’s steady breathing. She felt herself drifting off into a peaceful slumber.
**
The movie ended and Matt realized that Cassandra had fallen asleep. He laughed, wondering how long she had been out. He tried to move, but he didn’t want her to wake up.
Fuck, I don’t wanna wake her up. But I don’t wanna stay here and be a creep either! Look at her, she’s so cute. Oh what the hell am I saying, that’s weird. I just broke up with Val. Why am I talking to myself.
He felt her stir in her sleep. She woke up and yawned. He saw her look around the room and her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh, did I really fall asleep? I’m so embarrassed, I can’t believe it! I’m sorry.” She said laughing at herself. Matt laughed too. “Don’t worry about it, the movie just ended, and I didn’t want to wake you up.” He said smiling.
“So.. you were gonna just watch me sleep for however long this nap was, huh you creeper!” she laughed even more. Matt blushed, not knowing what to say.
“Well, you looked so peaceful, I mean I don’t know, I didn’t know what to do.”
“I’m just kidding! I’m sorry for falling asleep, I guess I can’t hang. You were just so comfy.” She said.
Matt laughed loudly, “Thanks, I don’t get that quite often….So, I should get going now, so you can get rest. Thank you for hanging out with me today, I really mean it. And thank you for talking to me and listening, it means a lot.”
“You’re gonna leave? Now? You’re gonna go home by yourself? I mean, you can stay… I mean, not that I want you to stay.. just.. uh.. nevermind, I don’t know where I was going with this.” Cassandra said blushing. She felt bad knowing Matt was going home to an empty house, full of memories he probably didn’t want to remember.
“Are you inviting me for the night?” Matt said smirking.
“I mean, only if you want to, I know how it must feel to go home to your house.” She said looking up at him. “You don’t have to, it was just a suggestion, it was a silly suggestion.”
“You know, you’re one of the most… over thinking people I know. If it’s okay for me to stay the night, can I please stay the night? You’re right. I do not want to go home. I still need to get rid of things, and I’m not ready for that.” Matt said.
Cassandra just smiled and nodded. She didn’t want to admit how happy she was. She didn’t like being alone at night. She yawned, causing Matt to yawn too. They both laughed at each other. “Well, I guess you weren’t the only sleepy one,” Matt said.
“I guess not huh. Well, you can take my bed, since you’re my guest and I invited you to stay.”
“No, no, no. I will take the couch. I’m not going to steal your bed away from you.” He said.
“Matt, your body doesn’t even fit on this couch! Are you crazy?” she said.
“I’m not going to steal your bed, Cassandra. That’s not nice.”
“How about, you stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine? Truce?” she said looking at him.
“Are you sure that wouldn’t be weird for you?” he asked.
“No, I don’t like sleeping alone anyway, it’s hard for me to fall asleep.” She said.
Matt agreed, still feeling a little bit weird, like he was invading her privacy. They both walked toward her bedroom, Cassandra getting clothes and going to the bathroom to change. He sat on the bed and started taking his shoes off. He unbuttoned his pants and took them off and laid down on the bed. He heard Cassandra moving around in the bathroom. He assumed she was getting ready for bed. Matt felt himself relaxing, his breath slowing down, and his eyes closing.
Cassandra walked out of the bathroom and saw Matt asleep on the bed. She frowned to herself, he looked so tired, his face hard, emotionless. She left the room to get another blanket for him. She walked back in and placed the blanket on his body, tucking him in. Cassandra turned the light off and got in bed, as far away as possible, trying not to wake him. She laid down on her back, counting sheep so she could fall asleep again. She looked at Matt in the darkness and smiled, hoping he would sleep well. Her eyes closed, body and mind relaxed, she fell asleep.
Why was he thinking about me? Why did he call? Oh my gosh did I do something wrong? What happened to Val?
So many thoughts were racing through her brain. She decided to take a quick shower and try to relax and soothe her head.
~20 minutes later~
Even in the shower, Cassandra couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong. The night at the bar was just too out of the ordinary. She was thinking of all the possibilities of Val having a reason to not like her, not one came to mind. She got out the shower and changed into a big sweater and leggings. She felt no need to dress up while she was in her own home. While Cassandra was brushing her tangles away, she heard a knock at the door.
Oh shit! He’s here, oh man. I should’ve worn something else! I am a mess! Ugh, it’s too late now. She thought to herself as she raced toward the door. “I’m coming!” she yelled running a little faster.
Cassandra opened the door and Matt stood there with a smirk on his face. “That’s what she said.” He laughed. Cassandra’s face contorted into a disgusted look.
“Ha. Ha. You’re so funny.” She said as she stuck her tongue out at him. “Well, aren’t you gonna come in?” she asked.
Matt walked in and immediately grabbed Cassandra into a tight hug. Shocked, Cassandra stood for a couple of seconds. She finally processed what was happening and hugged him back.
“Why, hello there? Are you okay?” she said looking up at him.
“Yeah, I am fine. I should ask you that. I am so sorry about last night! I don’t know why Val is such a psycho. I hope you don’t hold that against her, there’s just so much happening…” he trailed off.
“Matt, you don’t need to worry about me. Now you have me worried about you. What’s going on? What happened to you? Why are you so worried?” Cassandra asked looking at his face, observing his eyes, and the way his body tensed. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”
They both sat down on separate couches, Cassandra bringing her legs up to her chest.
“No, it’s something I have to explain…” he inhaled, trying to buy time before he had to tell her the truth. He was embarrassed to admit it. Matt sighed and started, “Val has been cheating on me for a while now. She’s changed and she’s become a lot more territorial since. I thought it was just because I was gone, she got lonely… But even when I came back, nothing has been the same.”
Cassandra just stayed quiet waiting for him to continue.
“She thought you were a threat to ‘what was hers’ but the thing is, I’m not hers. I haven’t been for a while now. I don’t know why she’s like that, she didn’t stop when I came back. She continued. So I broke it off, yesterday at the bar. I don’t remember it all, but I did. And I’m sorry if she made you feel uncomfortable, I am sorry for making you a part of something you knew nothing about.” He apologized.
Cassandra got up from her seat, and sat next to Matt. She brought her arms up and hugged him, tightly. “Matt, I’m so sorry. Don’t you worry about me. I’m a big girl, I can handle myself. I’m sorry for what you are going through. In time that pain will go away and I just want you to know that I’ll be here for you. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I feel like we’ve known each other forever. I hope you don’t ever have to feel like this again. She’ll get her karma. Don’t you worry!” Cassandra said holding his head in her hands.
Matt felt so comforted. So warm. He hadn’t felt anything like this in a long time. He relaxed in her arms. “Thank you. And technically, we have known each other forever, just…lost a couple of years. I’m so glad I met you though…again.”
“You have no idea. I have always wondered about you. Who knew! You were always right there, none of us knew it.” She let go, moving back a little.
“Do you want anything to drink?” she asked.
“Uhm, sure. What do you have in mind? Please, don’t say alcohol, after the morning I had, I think I’m never going to drink again.” He said laughing.
“Good, cause I was thinking more along the lines of comfort food and drinks. Hot chocolate and mac n cheese sound good to you?” she asked.
He nodded his head. Cassandra got up to go to the kitchen, leaving Matt behind. She got out two mugs and started boiling water. “Need any help in there?” she heard Matt say from the living room. She heard his footsteps and saw his head pop in from the doorway. “No, I’m okay. I like to work alone in the kitchen.” She said smiling at him.
Matt took a seat on one of the stools by the island. He watched her and smiled as she stuck her tongue out, concentrating on her cooking. “So we’re gonna hang out today? All day?” he asked. She looked up at him slowly, her eyes wide, looking shocked and embarrassed.
“Oh shit, I forgot, I just thought… oh man, well if you can’t it’s fine.” She said looking down.
“I have nothing else to do. I was just asking because I didn’t think you would want to hang out with me.” He said.
“Oh…well, if you can, then that would be great,” she said blushing.
*
Finally, everything was ready. Cassandra got out plates and forks and put macaroni on them. “I hope you’re hungry.” She said to Matt. He nodded, looking at the food. “Looks soooo cheesy.” He said digging in.
“This is great.” He said, he didn’t realize how hungry he had been. Cassandra just smiled and continued eating.
“So…when you disappeared all those years ago, did you ever wonder about me?” she asked.
“I did, actually. I was pissed for a long time. My parent’s never told me we were leaving. But then I met the guys, and I eventually got over it… no offense.” He said laughing.
Cassandra laughed. “Yeah, same here, but it was always in the back of my mind. I thought you got really hurt. I was worried, but now, I’m like oh, that’s cool, he just became a famous rock god, no biggy.” She joked.
Matt laughed loudly, not expecting her to be funny. “I don’t even know how it happened. Thinking about it now, it all happened fast.”
They both finished their food and Cassandra brought it to the sink. “Do you wanna watch a movie?” she asked. He followed her back into the living room and she chose her favorite movie to watch. “Sorry, it’s gonna be so corny, but on a day like this, I think it would be very much needed.” She said opening her DVD player and popping it in, not telling Matt what movie it was.
“So you’re not going to tell me what movie this is?” he asked her. She shook her head and smiled. “Just watch.”
Matt looked at his phone, three hours had already gone by. The sun was already going down, and he didn’t notice so much time had passed. He patted the spot next to him on the couch and Cassandra sat down. He pulled her closer to him, and put his arm around her. He felt her relax and they both waited for the movie to start.
“Oh wow, I Love You, Man? I love this movie! One of my favorites.” Matt said laughing. Cassandra looked at him shocked. “Really!? Wow, mine too!”
Cassandra got up to microwave some popcorn. Matt watched the movie and waited for her.
She came back two minutes later and sat back down. “Matt, I really am sorry for what Val did to you, you don’t deserve that. I hope that you are happy, even if it takes a while.” She said leaning back into him.
“Thank you Cassie, and right now, I am happy. Thanks to you.” He said holding her close.
Cassandra couldn’t help but feel comfortable. She watched the movie while she listened to Matt’s steady breathing. She felt herself drifting off into a peaceful slumber.
**
The movie ended and Matt realized that Cassandra had fallen asleep. He laughed, wondering how long she had been out. He tried to move, but he didn’t want her to wake up.
Fuck, I don’t wanna wake her up. But I don’t wanna stay here and be a creep either! Look at her, she’s so cute. Oh what the hell am I saying, that’s weird. I just broke up with Val. Why am I talking to myself.
He felt her stir in her sleep. She woke up and yawned. He saw her look around the room and her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh, did I really fall asleep? I’m so embarrassed, I can’t believe it! I’m sorry.” She said laughing at herself. Matt laughed too. “Don’t worry about it, the movie just ended, and I didn’t want to wake you up.” He said smiling.
“So.. you were gonna just watch me sleep for however long this nap was, huh you creeper!” she laughed even more. Matt blushed, not knowing what to say.
“Well, you looked so peaceful, I mean I don’t know, I didn’t know what to do.”
“I’m just kidding! I’m sorry for falling asleep, I guess I can’t hang. You were just so comfy.” She said.
Matt laughed loudly, “Thanks, I don’t get that quite often….So, I should get going now, so you can get rest. Thank you for hanging out with me today, I really mean it. And thank you for talking to me and listening, it means a lot.”
“You’re gonna leave? Now? You’re gonna go home by yourself? I mean, you can stay… I mean, not that I want you to stay.. just.. uh.. nevermind, I don’t know where I was going with this.” Cassandra said blushing. She felt bad knowing Matt was going home to an empty house, full of memories he probably didn’t want to remember.
“Are you inviting me for the night?” Matt said smirking.
“I mean, only if you want to, I know how it must feel to go home to your house.” She said looking up at him. “You don’t have to, it was just a suggestion, it was a silly suggestion.”
“You know, you’re one of the most… over thinking people I know. If it’s okay for me to stay the night, can I please stay the night? You’re right. I do not want to go home. I still need to get rid of things, and I’m not ready for that.” Matt said.
Cassandra just smiled and nodded. She didn’t want to admit how happy she was. She didn’t like being alone at night. She yawned, causing Matt to yawn too. They both laughed at each other. “Well, I guess you weren’t the only sleepy one,” Matt said.
“I guess not huh. Well, you can take my bed, since you’re my guest and I invited you to stay.”
“No, no, no. I will take the couch. I’m not going to steal your bed away from you.” He said.
“Matt, your body doesn’t even fit on this couch! Are you crazy?” she said.
“I’m not going to steal your bed, Cassandra. That’s not nice.”
“How about, you stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine? Truce?” she said looking at him.
“Are you sure that wouldn’t be weird for you?” he asked.
“No, I don’t like sleeping alone anyway, it’s hard for me to fall asleep.” She said.
Matt agreed, still feeling a little bit weird, like he was invading her privacy. They both walked toward her bedroom, Cassandra getting clothes and going to the bathroom to change. He sat on the bed and started taking his shoes off. He unbuttoned his pants and took them off and laid down on the bed. He heard Cassandra moving around in the bathroom. He assumed she was getting ready for bed. Matt felt himself relaxing, his breath slowing down, and his eyes closing.
Cassandra walked out of the bathroom and saw Matt asleep on the bed. She frowned to herself, he looked so tired, his face hard, emotionless. She left the room to get another blanket for him. She walked back in and placed the blanket on his body, tucking him in. Cassandra turned the light off and got in bed, as far away as possible, trying not to wake him. She laid down on her back, counting sheep so she could fall asleep again. She looked at Matt in the darkness and smiled, hoping he would sleep well. Her eyes closed, body and mind relaxed, she fell asleep.