Shelby stood staring to Cassandra as she asked her question. "I went to college" Shelby said with a shrug. "I went to college and I got a good job, it's how I afforded to stay" Shelby shrugged. Cassandra laughed. "It's weird, because I swear my mom told me that your dad had practically disowned you, because of me…you must have grovelled a lot, either that or you're lying" Cassandra laughed bitterly raising and eyebrow as she looked at Shelby's nervous behaviour. "It's none of your business how I managed to stay here…so just…..shut up" Shelby said her voice quietening as she thought back to how she had really been able to stay. Cassandra tilted her head. "Hmmm someone looks guilty there, I mean how else could you afford my medical bills?" Cassandra continued standing up so she was closer to Shelby, at the mention of the medical bills Shelby cringed, her eyes closing softly. "I suppose I should cut you a cheque? After all….they weren't cheap" Cassandra smiled as she realized she had caught out Shelby. Shelby felt herself edging towards the door. Cassandra thought more to herself as she took a step towards Shelby with every step back the brunette did. "So you said that you have a daughter right?...yet they don't live with you and are in NYADA…" Cassandra said quietly the realization seeming to seep in, knowing full well the circles her mother mixed in when she was younger. "meaning…you were about 19 when you had her…so" Cassandra paced slightly her tone full of accusation, Shelby couldn't help but look down, her heart heavy and knowing full well what Cassandra was implying. "Oh just say it" Shelby bit out looking up to Cassandra with hurt, tear filled eyes. Cassandra swallowed and felt her own tears build as she looked upon the guilty brunette her mind not being able to understand how her Shelby could have done something like she was imagining. "Did you…become someone's surrogate?" she asked simply. Shelby stayed looking down and nodded slowly and wordlessly allowing tears to drop from thick eye lashes. Cassandras eyes widened and she swallowed again. "You did that?...to pay for my bills?" she asked quieter, knowing that people could still hear them. Shelby looked up in disgust. "Not just for you…so I could live here, 9 months work for a fee which could leave me jobless for a while, while I found my feet" Shelby corrected. Cassandra stared to Shelby, guilt rising and forming a lump in her throat, she looked to all the sadness in the brunettes deep chocolate eyes…seeing that the girl of 19 had clearly had no other choice all those years ago. "Why didn't you tell me?...I could have helped" Cassandra asked, her tone soft and reflecting some of her 19 year old caring self. "Helped? Yes, because being in a coma would have allowed you to help. I ran out of options and that was there, besides it got me away for a while, which was what I needed more than anything" Shelby admitted, Cassandra visibly wincing at her words. Shelby sighed and looked to the door. "Cass, this is old news and a part of my life I am not ready to relive, can we not just leave it…you know now and that should be enough. I'm just tired and want to live my life now, not keep finding myself back in the past" Shelby almost pleaded softly, Cassandra sighed and looked to her feet. "I'm so sorry Shelby…I really am, but please don't just leave me again…meet me for dinner, I want to get to know you. Whilst you can't love me, at least be my friend?" Cassandra asked gently. "If you still want to hate me after dinner, then you can go…I promise" she urged. Shelby turned away from the blonde and went to leave, she paused before opening the door. "Fine, meet me at Demi's around 8pm…like we used to" she said before leaving the blonde to herself.
18 years ago, New York City-Cassandra Cassandra murmured and shifted in the bed as she came round from her coma, her eyelids fluttered as she tried to open her eyes, her mind full of confusion as to where she was. She strained to tilt her head to the side looking for Shelby. She coughed and groaned trying her best to speak. "Shel-" she tried but she felt a hand upon hers, she looked over to see her mother's face and her heart dropped immediately. "Cassie, I'm happy to see you're awake sweetie" her mother said happily, even if her tone lacked some affection that a mother should have. Cassandra's eyebrows knitted together as she looked upon her mother, not understanding why Shelby was nowhere to be seen. "Where's…Shelby?" she asked, breathlessly trying her best to speak. Cassandras mother sighed and sat back in her chair. "She's not here, she's out of town as far as I know Cassie. But I'm sure she means well" the older blonde assured keeping hold of Cassandras hand. Cassandra felt tears surge and she tried her best to move so she could sit up, her heart screaming out for her to find Shelby. Cassandra felt herself growl out loudly as wires constricted her movement. Her mother pushed her back down on the bed carefully. "Cassie, easy does it…I'm sure Shelby will be back soon, but for now you have to rest…its lucky that you're alive, so its going to take some time" her mother said slowly taking her hands from the blonde as Cassandra lay back staring up at the ceiling. "I'll go and get the nurse okay?" her mother said standing and making her way over to the door, leaving Cassandra alone with her thoughts, the blonde lay rigid as she looked up to the light on the ceiling, it blinked occasionally and Cassandra stared through it as she thought about Shelby. She knew she had lost her, why had she gotten herself so drunk in the first place? Was she really that insecure deep down? Cassandra shifted again, pulling a wire that made her groan again. She needed to find the brunette, she needed to tell her she was sorry. Shelby was the only person Cassandra could say that word to, and she knew the brunette needed to her it.