Give Me Back Your Heart

Chapter Thirteen

~CASSANDRA~

I don’t know how long I was on the couch for, all dressed up, with my mascara smudged around my eyes, and my hair coming loose from where I had it gently pinned up. 

This was not how I imagined my day to be. 

Was Derrick always so cruel? Was he in the right? I doubted myself now. I wished that I had just stayed quiet. Fresh tears fell from my eyes when I imagined how it could have been. I could have been having lunch now, instead of starving on the couch. I could have been with Derrick, all happy and warm instead of being cold and alone. 

But at what price? 

Surely I am worth more than to be talked to like that? Perhaps because I had Matt now, the fog had cleared and I could see clearly?  Maybe because Matt was back I was subconsciously trying to find fault with Derrick? 

I was driving myself crazy. 

I took a deep breath, and got up off the sofa. I needed to get out of my clothes, and put something more comfortable on. Then I’ll put a movie on and order food.

*** 

Just as I had talked myself into my plan and peeled myself off the sofa, I heard a car pull up outside, and a few seconds later the doorbell rang.

*** 

*MATT*

I could hardly believe that not only had I found Cassandra, I’d managed to reconnect with her and it had gone better than I could have hoped for. 

She was everything I remembered and more, and I couldn’t wait to see her again. Staying up together till the small hours of the morning had been beyond magical. The way she looked as the sun rose and the first golden rays touched her was a sight I would never forget.

I had wanted to call her as soon as I got home, but thought she had probably already fallen asleep, and I didn’t want to wake her up, she’d looked so tired.

I tried calling her early in the afternoon but she wasn’t picking up, and texts weren’t getting through to her, so I thought I’d drive around to surprise her. 

Her car was there which was a good sign, and she didn’t take long to open the door, but I wasn’t prepared for the way she looked. 

“Cassie, what’s wrong?” I asked as I pulled her close to me for a hug, wrapping my arms around her tightly. She trembled, and I felt her arms wrap around me. I managed to close the door behind me, and held her close, stroking her back, and running my fingers through her hair- that used to always calm her down and loosen her up.

She sighed and looked up at me, looking shy, and a bit uncomfortable, I gently cradled her face in my hands, and wiped her tears away with my thumbs. Her eyes closed for a second as she took a deep breath, “hey,” I whispered, “want to tell me what’s going on?” 

She bit her lip, “relationshit drama,” she said with a small upward twitch of her lips. 

I grinned, I couldn’t help it- of course she would try to make light of whatever predicament she was in. 

“Well, seems pretty serious, so we are going to sit down, I am going to order that pizza which I was talking about last night, and you are going to tell me everything.”

“You sure you want to?” she asked.

“Of course.”

She smiled up at me, her eyes still wet with tears, but she was still gorgeous in my eyes. I hated that her beautiful almond eyes were puffy and red, and that someone had upset and hurt her so much.

“I might just get changed…” she whispered, as she drew my attention to what she was wearing. Her long legs accentuated in a pair of wedge sandals, her semi-casual dress which was now creased up; obviously she had got dolled up to go out, and I wanted to know what had happened for her to go from dressed up, to the mess she was in now, “put something more comfortable on…” she added.

“Alright… Want me to come up with you?”  I asked, not wanting to leave her alone. A part of me wondered if I had ever made her this distressed, and I hated the thought that she would have been completely alone if I hadn’t come to see her.

She seemed to think that one over, weighing it up before sighing and nodding, “that would be nice,” she said softly.

“Let’s go get you into something more comfortable then,” I said.

“Sorry I’m in such a mess, Matt,” she said, her voice still croaky and hoarse, “not exactly great company,”

“You have nothing to apologise for,” I told her sincerely, “I’m glad I decided to come around to see you. Don’t want to think you could have been in this state alone.”

She squeezed my hand, and I knew that was her way of saying thank you.

We got to her room, “want me to pick something out for you?” I asked, making her giggle, “you could try- might be fun,” she answered, “but maybe I ought to do it, would be faster?” 

“Fine, but I get to choose next time we go out together.”

That made her laugh. I loved the way she laughed, the way her eyes lit up, and I knew I would do anything to bring that side out of her as often as possible. She rubbed her eyes, and ran her hands through her hair, “I really fancy a bath,” she said quietly, “whatever will make you feel better,” I said, “want me to run one for you? Candles too?” 

“Mmmm, that sounds amazing,” she said.

“That’s sorted then”

She shook her head, “I literally just had a shower earlier on, I’ll just grab some clothes and get changed.”

She grabbed a few bits and pieces and sat me down on her bed, “I won’t be long,” she said with a smile … “and no peeking,” she added with a grin. 

“Don’t tempt me,” I said with a smirk, “anyway, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before…” I added with a wink which made her blush. 

She poked her tongue out at me, and walked into the adjoining bathroom with a promise to be back soon.

I laid out on her bed and put the TV on, thinking about what could have made her so upset. Deep down I knew that it was Derrick, and the thought of it made me feel things that confused me. 

I wanted her for myself. I wanted to have her back the way we had been before I had left to pursue a career in music. I wanted to be there for her in every way possible, and I couldn’t lie to myself; the way I felt about her was much more than just friendly concern. That said, I didn’t want to put her into a difficult position, and I had Fiona- kind of.

***