Chaper 2

 “Cassie! We’re home!” She lifted her head from the book she had been studying for her online college course. She gave Aiden a small smile as he walked into the kitchen. He held out his arms to her as he approached her. She turned in the chair to reciprocate the hug. Aiden released her and stepped back as Kris stepped into the kitchen. Her eyes grew wide as he held out a bouquet of orange and yellow flowers. She looked up at Kris and he gave her a small smile as she stood and walked towards him.

“Happy birthday, Cass. Do you feel 18?” Kris’s voice was soft as she approached him. Tears filled her eyes as she accepted the flowers and shook her head. Holding the flowers in one arm, she flung her opposite arm around his neck. He held her to him possessively before she pulled back and kissed his cheek in thanks. She walked to the sink and grabbed a vase from under the sink. She clipped the ends of the flowers under the running water before arranging them in the vase.

Cassie was stuck with the government, going from foster home to foster home for the first few months after her mother passed away. Every day she would leave for school from the foster home but never actually show up. She never spoke a word since she witnessed her mother’s death. Aiden fought with the government in the mean time to get custody of his younger sister. He moved in with Kris’s parents after the discovery of Mary’s body.

Months passed before he finally was allowed to take Cassie home, but in that time she already became more damaged by the home skipping. Aiden and Kris knew that something happened during her time in the foster homes but since she refused to speak or communicate about anything that happened, they never were able to find out what really happened.

Kris’s parents left soon after Cassie finally moved in, disappearing. Although Kris and Aiden know where they went, they never speak of it. With the encouragement of her brother, Cassie finished high school online and continued her education online after she finally graduated high school early.

Wearing a black, long sleeved shirt and baggy jeans, she was comfortable hiding her body. Her skin became pale from days sitting in front of the computer instead of outside, not going out much. Aiden and Kris both built muscle since Mary’s passing, spending time at work. They never talked about what they did around or to Cassie and she didn’t mind not knowing what they did as she preferred they kept their distance from her even though they thought they were close with her.

Cassie set the beautiful flowers on the island counter, fingering the orange rose before she traced the petals of the yellow daisy. She smiled softly to herself as she leaned in and inhaled the soft scent. The blue in her eyes glittered with tears as she felt touched that Kris brought her flowers of her favorite color without her even telling him. She looked at him with the question in her eyes.

“I see what you pay attention to, Cass. You don’t have to tell me for me to know what you enjoy.” Another smile graced her face as she walked up to him and wrapped both of her arms around his neck as she laid her head on his chest. Her long hair reached half way down her back and was a dull brown, far from the healthy color it used to be. Her body was thin and seemed to be wasting away since she was 14. Kris and Aiden attempt to do anything to make her smile as she seemed to rarely do so.

Kristopher Saxhaug’s sandy blond hair was messy, partially spiked and partially on his forehead. His tall frame dwarfed Cassie. He wore bright colors compared to Cassie, seeming to be the opposite of Cassie in terms of style. He was always cheerful, full of great advice and fiercely protective of her, being 4 years older than her. His green eyes always examined everything she did in great detail, even when she made effort to ignore him.

Aiden Jensen, on the other hand, had short dark chocolate hair. His blue eyes mirrored those of Cassie’s. The pain in his eyes every time he looked at his sister was evident as the sorrow he felt for her own pain was cast onto him as well. He was slightly shorter than Kris, wearing jeans and bright colors. He was similar to his friend but didn’t mind that Cassie preferred her dark colors that always matched her somber attitude.

“Gross, get a room you two,” Aiden teased. Cassie stiffened, uncomfortable with the idea of being involved with anyone as she backed away. Kris cut a look to Aiden who instantly held regret in his expression. Cassie smiled shyly at Aiden and Kris before walking out the room, going up the hardwood stairs and down the hall that over looked the living room, to her bedroom and softly shut the door.

She walked further into her room and turned on the stereo that was plugged into her iPod list of music. The bedroom was decorated in an assortment of dark colors. The walls were painted a blood red with a black wall behind her bed. Her bed was a four poster queen size with black and red blankets and sheets with a pile of pillows. There was a long dresser across from her bed and a walk in closet door onto the left side of her door. On the right side of the bedroom door laid her private bathroom with a large tub. She was given this particular room in the home by Kris’s parents who wanted to give Cassie her own space that she could adjust to her surroundings and be able to seclude herself when she needed to.

Her birthday was a day she didn’t particularly enjoy celebrating any more. She didn’t have any friends nor did she speak with anyone. Kris and Aiden were the only two she even saw anymore. She was glad to be an adult and was attending online classes for graphic design, determined to have her own business at home where she could just communicate through e-mails with customers, not even sure she has a voice left in her throat anymore.

Cassie stripped of her clothing and started the water flow into the bathtub. She looked in the mirror before holding out her right arm, tracing the self-inflicted scars that covered her arm. She always hid them from the boys, but it was a nasty habit of hers that she was aware would catch up to her sooner or later. She sighed before climbing into the tub and relaxing.