Admiring From Afar

“Stalker?” everybody asked in unison.

“Yes! Stalker! He stalked me from the music store to Starbucks…” Cassandra said.

“That’s not cool dude,” Jack said with a frown.

“First of all, I wasn’t stalking you and second of all, can I please play?” the guy asked.

“Go ahead,” Rian said.

After he played everyone had their mouths wide open.

“Wow,” Jack said.

“Wow is right,” Alex said.

“So, am I in?” stalker guy asked.

“Let’s talk it over and we’ll call you later, okay?” Alex said.

“Sure. Here’s my number,” stalker guy wrote down his number.

“Okay. Thanks. We’ll call you very soon,” Rian said.

“Okay, bye, Cassandra,” the creeper said. He walked down the driveway and got into his car.

“What was that all about?” Jack asked confused.

“Nothing,” Cassandra muttered.

“No, I want to know what that was all about,” Jack said again.

“Fine. Okay, so on Saturday when I was looking for Alex I went to the music store and I started talking to Eric to see if Alex had been there. Then, Eric told me that a guy was asking for me and so I talked to him. I left then I see him again in Starbucks. I call him a stalker and left,” Cassandra said.

“Whoa, that guy's weird,” Jack said.

“But he plays his bass really well,” Alex said.

“He’s even better than Justin,” Rian said.

“I think we should tell him he’s in,” Alex said.

“What?! He’s stalking my girlfriend and we’re letting him in the band? Why?” Jack asked. He really didn’t want this guy around Cass.

“But, he’s the best bass player we’ve heard all day,” Alex whined.

“I’m with Alex on this. We really need to start practicing if we want to get this band thing going on for real,” Rian said.

“Yeah Jack, I think I’ll be okay. I’ll deal with him, don’t worry,” Cassandra said while putting a reassuring hand on Jack’s shoulder.

“Okay. Who wants to call him?” Jack asked.

“I’ll call him,” Alex said. He went outside and called the guy.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jack asked his girlfriend.

“Jack, I’m fine! You don’t need to worry,” Cassandra said to her boyfriend.

“I’m supposed to worry about you though! I’m your boyfriend!” Jack said getting frustrated.

“Jack, she’s gonna be okay. She’s a big girl. Right Cass?” Rian said.

“Exactly! Jack, just let me deal with this on my own,” Cassandra said.

“Okay. Whatever,” Jack muttered.

“Okay, we’re going to have our first band meeting Thursday,” Alex announced.

“That’s fine,” Rian said.

“Yeah, I’m free that time as well,” Jack said quietly.

“Aww, Jackie what’s wrong?” Alex said with a frown.

“Nothing,” Jack replied, “I’m going home.” Jack walked out of the garage and down to his house.

“Did you guys get into a fight or something?” Alex asked.

“I guess you could say that,” Cassandra said.

“Jack’s just be stupid and overprotective,” Rian said.

“Ohhh,” Alex said with a small smile on his face.

“Should I go over there?” Cassandra asked.

“Nah, let him get over it. Hang out with us!” Rian exclaimed.

“Okay,” Cassandra said, “what are we going to do?”

“How about we play Monopoly?” Rian suggested.

“Sure,” Cassandra said.

“I’ll play if you guys are ready to loose!” Alex said, “I’ll be right back.”

“So, why was Alex smiling when he heard that you and Jack got into a fight?” Rian asked curiously.

“He wasn’t smiling,” Cassandra denied.

“I saw it with my own eyes Cassandra. What’s going on between you guys?” Rian asked.

“Nothing!” Cassandra said.

“There’s something going on between you guys and I’m going to find out what,” Rian said.

“I got it! Let’s play some Monopoly!” Alex exclaimed. Rian gave Cassandra a look before he picked out his figurine.

{&&admiring&&}

In the end, Alex won.

“You only won because you got the Park Place and Boadrwalk!” Cassandra complained.
“You’re only whining because you were the first one to become bankrupt!” Alex exclaimed.

“Whatever. I have to go home. It’s dinner time!” Cass said.

“Bye,” Alex and Rian said to Cassandra.

{&&admiring&&}

Cassandra changed into her pajamas and started on her homework. She spent two hours on her homework and then went to bed. She couldn’t believe that stalker guy was going to be Jack and Alex’s band…

{&&admiring&&}

The next morning, Cassandra quickly had her shower and changed into her clothes for the day. She grabbed a s’mores poptart and put it in her bag. She walked out of her house and got into her car. She made it to the school in record time. She ran through the halls and into her seat in French right before the teacher walked in. She couldn’t afford to be late again. She looked over at Alex and saw he was just smiling and staring at her.

“Hey Alex,” she greeted.

“Hey Cass, running a little late?” he asked with a smirk on his face.

“Just a little bit,” Cassandra said with a smile.

“Gaskarth, Alexander,” Madame Chevalier called out.

“Je suis ici,” Alex called out, “I like the shirt you’re wearing.” Cassandra looked down at her shirt. [I’m here.]

“Thanks,” she said, “when is your band meeting again?”

“Thursday,” Alex replied, “you’re welcome to come if you wish.”

“I’ll see if I can. I know that one of these days I’m supposed to have a meeting with my family and some other people,” Cassandra said.

“Oh, well hopefully it’s not on Thursday,” Alex said with a smile.

“Knowles, Cassandra,” Madame Chevalier called out.

“Je suis ici,” Cassandra said. [I’m here.]

“Classe ok, arrêtez de parler,” Madame Chevalier said, “nous allons faire une présentation de groupe d'aujourd'hui.” [Okay class, stop talking. We’re going to do a group presentation today.]

“Will you be my partner?” Alex asked quietly.

“Sure,” Cassandra whispered back.

“Je serai la cueillette de vos partenaires,” she continued on. [I will be picking your partners.]

“Really?” Alex asked to himself, “no I’m going to be partners with some weirdo who won’t do any work!”

“Oh no, now Alex will have to actually work! It’s the end of the world!” Cassandra quietly said with a small smile.

“It is the end of the world! You know why I always pick you to be my partner. I have no clue what to do in this class!” Alex exclaimed.

“Alexander et Justin, Cassandra et Maxwell, Emily et Jessika, Lydia et Blaine, Tim et Kristen, Diana et Jason, James et Nicole, et Kaitlin et Peter,” Madame Chevalier said to the class. [Alexander and Justin, Cassandra and Maxwell, Emily and Jessika, Lydia and Blaine, Tim and Kristen, Diana and Jason, James and Nicole, and Kaitlin and Peter.]

“Ugh, kill me now!” Cassandra said with a frown.

“Why? Max isn’t that bad…” Alex said while trailing off.

“Yes he is! He’ll be staring at my chest the whole entire time and he won’t do any of the work and he’ll try and get into my pants,” Cassandra said with a frown.

“Well, he can’t be that bad,” Alex said.

“Can we please change partners?” Cassandra pleaded.

“No, I like Justin he plays the bass really well. He’s a cool kid, plus he’s smart so he’ll do all of the work,” Alex said. “Yo, Justin!” He walked over to Justin and they started talking.

“Hey, Cassandra,” Max said while walking over to Cassandra.

“Bonjour Maxwell,” Cassandra replied curtly.

“So, what are we supposed to do?” Max asked her boobs.

“We’re supposed to make a conversation between doctor and a patient,” Cassandra said while crossing her arms over her boobs.

“Cool, I’ll be the doctor?” Max said with a wink. “I could check you out all day.”

“Okay then,” Cassandra said. “How about I have the chicken pox and I’m explaining what’s wrong with me. Oh, and the doctor, which is you has never had the chicken pox before.”

“Sure,” Max said. He was still staring at her boobs and didn’t really pay attention to what Cass had said.

“Perfect,” Cassandra said with a smile. She was glad that he agreed because now he couldn’t touch her.

“Ok, nous allons commencer à présenter aujourd'hui,” Madame Chevalier announced, “qui veut aller en premier?” [Okay, we’re going to start presenting now. Who wants to go first?]

“Nous ne,” Emily and Jessika said. [We do.]

{&&admiring&&}

When Cassandra got home she saw that both of her parents were home waiting for her, which was very surprising. Her mom was usually either at the bar or with her “boyfriend” and her father as always at work.

“Cassandra we’re having some guests tonight for dinner. The Merricks are coming over,” her mother said.

“Oh, okay,” Cassandra said while walking up the stairs.

“Oh, and honey, please change your clothes,” her mom told her. Cassandra went into her rom and changed her clothes.

“Cassandra! They’re here!!” her dad yelled up the stairs.

“Coming!” Cass yelled back. She walked down the stairs and saw three unfamiliar people standing by the door. One person stood out to her in particular though.

“Stalker guy! Now you’re at my house?!”