Cassie's New Plan(9)
“Didn’t know that. What about you?”
“Nah, not me. I learned my lessons watching Rob screw up. Okay, I’ll be back.”
“Bry? She’s a little thing. Be careful,”Glenn requested with concern.
Bryon nodded, taking the stairs two at a time. He knocked on Cassie’s door.
“Go away.”
“Cassandra, open this door immediately.”
“No. Leave me alone.”
Bryon took a deep breath and, with one kick, the door splintered open. Cassie’s eyes were wide, staring at him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”she yelled, recovering from her shock.
Bryon strode across the room and, in one sweep, had the girl over his shoulder. She pounded on his back as he carried her downstairs and dumped her on the couch next to an equally shocked Glenn.
“Shit... You busted down her door?”Glenn asked, seeing his brother struggling to maintain self-control. Bry had to be really pissed to be pushed this far. Yet, he never raised his voice.
“I will not be told‘no’when I tell you to do something. That stops immediately, got me, kid?”
Cassie, still stunned, just nodded.
Glenn glanced at her terrified face. He touched her leg. “Cass, I’m usually the first one to defend you, but pot? I don’t even go down that road.”
“I was seriously just planning to just talk to you about this, but it seems that Rob was right. It’s past time for talking. March yourself into the kitchen and bring me a wooden spoon,”Bryon ordered firmly.
Cassie just gawked at him in disbelief.
Glenn shook his head. “I think you need to listen, Cass. He looks pissed.”Glenn sounded sad.
Lower lip trembling, Cassie stood to go into the kitchen. When she didn’t return in ten minutes, Glenn went to find her.
“She escaped through the back door, Bry.”
“Damn it. Let’s find her and I swear, I’m going to cut a switch!”Bryon muttered.
Glenn sighed. Even he couldn’t argue this time.
* * *
Cassie ran, tears blinding her eyes. She had no destination, no plan except to escape. Without looking, she raced across the road and froze as a loud honking assaulted her ears. The small blue car skidded to a stop, barely missing her.
“Oh my God! Are you okay?”a man asked, running out of his vehicle. She dumbly nodded, trembling, and he escorted her off the road and sat her down on the curbside.
“Here, drink this,”he said, handing her a bottle of water. “I’m so sorry, honey. I didn’t see you run out.”
“It’s my fault.”Cassie sniffed, wiping her face and drinking the water. “My roommate is mad at me and he... I just started running…”
“Can I take you home?”
“No, I don’t want to go home,”she muttered, head hanging low.
He sat next to her. “Running away from your problems isn’t going to make things get better. He’s not going to hurt you, is he?”
“I don’t know.”She shuddered, not knowing how to honestly answer the question. She didn’t want Bryon in trouble…but still…
“Has he ever hurt you before?”
“No, never. None of them have.”
“How many roomates do you have?”
“Four. The Johnson boys,”Cassie sighed. Everyone in town knew them. “Bry is the one who’s pissed.”
“He’s a big Teddy Bear. He used to coach my daughter’s soccer team. How old are you now?”
“Twenty,”Cassie whispered.
The man paused. “My daughter still lives at home with me. If you aren’t happy, you could always move out, right?”
“I couldn’t afford it. Bill promised my mom that he would take care of me when she died, and pays for everything. Also...well, I don’t know how to live alone,”Cassie admitted.
“I'm sorry about your mom. It must be so hard for you in so many ways, but it sounds like you have made your choice, hon. You need to learn how to deal with things and not run from them. I know it’s hard, but it’s part of growing up.”
Cassie silently told herself that she really didn’t want to grow up. It was too much work. The man patted her arm. “Come on, let me take you home.”
“No, thanks. I think…”
“Cassie! Are you okay?”Bryon shouted, running towards them. He scooped her into his huge arms and squeezed her tightly against his chest.
“I…Can’t... Breath,”she panted.
He put her onto her feet, surveying the scene. The blue car was still in the road, facing the wrong direction. “I heard a horn and the sound of car tires screeching. The worst thing went through my mind. You’re okay?”