Chapter 2
The Importance Of Being Idle
Four Years ago
From the day that my sister died I have been able to do things, create some force within my body that I could control. The instant after the car crash my shield or shimmer as I called it disappeared seconds before a pair of legs appeared by the shattered window.
The face of a young man, dark hair, deep dark eyes, slightly chubby was next to mine. "Miss, you all right?" My tongue felt dry, my throat burned with the tears I was holding back. Its funny how when you are feeling so many emotions at once you cant cry, scream or do anything but remain silent. "Miss?" the officer questioned again.
"Parkman!" another voice joined form out of my sight. The man, who I assumed was Parkman turned his head towards the voice then back to me "Ill be one second" and he stood up.
I could hear mumbles of calling for an ambulance, then something about a coroner. I could see nothing apart from the dashboard in front of me, my hair was constricting my view luckily of my sister. "Miss?" the voice of Parkman returned "Can you tell me if your hurt?"
'Not physically' I though "My head hurts" I mumbled
"Just your head?"
"My shoulders, just a little" through my voice I could hear the crunching of gravel around the other side of the car, someone was checking on Cam.
"What's your name?" Parkman asked "Mines Matt" I titled my head just a fraction so I could meet his eyes with my own
"Cassandra Adair" I answered, not distracted by Parkmans questions I tried to keep things silent so as I could hear what was going on at my sisters side of the car.
"How old are you Cassandra?" I kept silent for a while, hearing mumbles of not moving her before we get the girl out and Parkmans gathering the information. "Cassandra?"
"Sixteen" I answered "My sister Cameron is nineteen" I followed an afterthought that made Parkman frown "Was nineteen" I heard sirens, closer by the second then the halting of tires and a slamming of doors. Parkman straightened up so I could only see his legs again
"I don't think her spine or legs are damaged at all, she can turn her head and talk coherently, she did mention soreness in her head and shoulders though"
"Probably from being thrown, look at the thing" a female voice imputed "What about the other?"
"Shes a D.O.A" Parkman said "Just take a look at the poor girl"
"Craig go around and look at the D.O.A, write the report for the coroner" with the order I heard again the crunching of gravel, I tried to move my head to where Cam lay but I knew I couldn't bare what I would see so I remained still. "Hey you" said the female voice, a blonde head appeared at the window now, upside down as Parkmans had been "I'm Dixi, nickname not the real one" she smiled, reaching down into her bag. "Officer Parkman told me your name is Cassandra" a pair of scissors was pulled from the bag, Dixi reached in and positioned them over the seatbelt wrapped around me "Can you brace yourself Hunny?" she asked "Place you hands on the roof and tighten your legs under the dash so you don't fall" I did so then nodded in signal. Dixi went to work and within minuets I was free and was being pulled from the car by her and Parkman.
"Ok" the officer mumbled, "Now to the ambulance" They helped me over to it, then to climb in the back "You want me to come with?" the young officer asked. I nodded.
Parkman climbed into the back with me as Dixi shut the doors and moved round to the front. "Lets go get you all patched up"
Present
I stepped out of the door and onto the pavement, I instantly pulled my coat tighter to shield myself from the cold of New York Coty and headed in the direction of home. Out of my pocket I retraced my i-pod ear phones and placed them in. One of my sisters past favourites filled my ears, 'Oasis, The importance of being idle' 'So another session over' I thought, glad to have one more out of the way. Dr Bennet had been assigned to my 'case' a few weeks after the crash, when I was out of hospital the Police had questioned me about the theft, about all the previous ones too and had let me off with a caution, plus conditions.
Counselling was one of them.
The other?
Parkman, bloody Parkman, I had to live with a damn escort until I turned at least eighteen, which I had done obviously. No longer did I live with him and his girlfriend, thank God because she was a tad overbearing, I had my own small apartment which I loved not to far from the Parkman home.
I had a job, finally making money the legal way, at a little gallery a few blacks from where I lived, I got it through a contact of Dr Bennets, Mel Keller. 'Oh Damn' I though as I turned left and came fact to face with an old crumbling building, one that resembled an old fashioned theatre 'Work, starts in two hours' I paced into a slow jog while approaching the door, usual routine….opened, closed then headed up to my apartment on the top floor.
Within seconds of opening my front door I was inside pulling off my coat then items of clothing, I grabbed a quick shower then headed to my closet to find my 'work clothes' While this was happening the answering machine bleeped.
"Cass" it was Mels voice "Meet and greet today, Noah Bennet is bringing an associate of his, some high flying business woman named Angela, put on your best threads" she informed "Oh and a car will be round in an hour" ended the message.
"Wonderful, I have to see him in my personal time too" I mumbled, re-reaching into my closet to pull out a backless black dress, I searched the draws to pull out a deep red shrug then perused a pair of black heals. Ready within seconds to spare my phone rang as a signal of the cars arrival. "Here we go" I said to myself, exiting then locking up my home "Mrs Angela better be worth it"