A/N: My 'next scene' for Episode 17. I don't own any of them, just taking them out for a spin. These are starting to feel repetitive - the next one will hopefully be a multi-parter to fill the gap as we wait for new episodes.
"Everyone's worried about you," Jake said, leaning against the doorjamb. He couldn't quite bring himself to meet Cassie's eyes, not after what she'd done for him, even knowing about Calvin.
"They shouldn't be. I just needed a day off," Cassie said breezily. She crossed into the living room and sat in a chair, legs crossed underneath her.
Jake pushed off the door and followed, sitting on the edge of the couch opposite. "They're worried because of why you needed a day off," Jake clarified.
Cassie shrugged. "Well, they don't need to be. I'm fine. Adam's fine. You're fine. We're all good. The potion did what it was supposed to, and that's what matters."
"If you're fine, why'd you need the day off?"
"God, Jake, can't you just leave it alone? You, of all people, have no right. None," Cassie blasted as she leapt to her feet.
Jake flinched, looking out to the hallway. She was right. He'd done horrible, horrible things and while he still dreamed of holding her in his arms, of having her look at him the way she'd looked at Adam... Now the best he could hope for was that she would be happy and safe.
"You're right," his acknowledgement that Cassie nearly missed it.
"So get out then!" She said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"I would, but..." He stood slowly, stiffly. "I don't think you're all right. I've seen Adam and he's bounced back just fine." He took a hesitant step towards Cassie, glancing at her face and then down at the floor. "I think something went wrong when you drank that potion."
Cassie stood strong for a long, silent minute. Jake finally looked up at her to see she was crying silently, her eyes squeezed shut. A gasp escaped, and her shoulders heaved and Jake closed the distance between them, wanting to hold her, to comfort her. "I still feel it all. I still love him, Jake. I do. And it's killing me," she squeaked out, and Jake did wrap his arms around her then, afraid she would fall to the floor if he didn't.
If she hadn't been so overwrought, Cassie would have objected to the contact, but as it was, she was desperately in need of shoulder to cry on. She curled her body against his, and Jake drew her over to the couch, settling them both down while she sobbed and sobbed.
Later, when Cassie's head rested against Jake's chest out of sheer exhaustion, he slowly shifted away so that she lay stretched out on the couch alone. He draped a blanket across her, and sat back in the chair, watching her sleep for a few minutes before he let himself out.
Cassie knocked on the door, biting her lower lip. When Jake answered, she had to take a deep breath to steel herself before saying, "I just came over to say thank you. For not telling anyone. I saw them all at school today and no one acted like they knew that the potion didn't, well, that it went wrong."
Jake nodded.
"And before you say anything, this doesn't make us even. You killed Calvin, Jake. Killed him. That's unforgivable. So, thank you, for keeping my secret. But stay away from me, okay?"
She whirled around and left before Jake could respond. He watched her go, feeling hollow inside. She might not want him around, and he understood why. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to stick close by, looking out for her...
Finis.