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Author's Note:

Yes, I am really updating, this is not an April Fool's joke. So much has been happening, see the author's note below for my full excuse.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Rated: T

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Chapter 6

Jake woke up to find Cassandra sitting on the coffee table staring at him, her eyes were unblinking.

"You talk in your sleep," she said. "Did you know that?"

"Um. . . no? Nobody's ever mentioned it to me before," Jake answered. "I didn't say anythin' too embarrassin', did I?"

"Who's Mable?" Cassandra asked bluntly.

Jake frowned and sat up quickly. "Mable?"

"You kept asking Mable not to go," Cassandra explained. "Who is she? Is she your girlfriend? Did she break up with you?"

"No."

"No she isn't your girlfriend? Or no, she didn't break up with you?" Cassandra asked, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees and her fists resting under her chin.

"She didn't break up with me," Jake answered cryptically.

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "What happened to her? If you didn't break up then why isn't she here with you?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," Jake replied.

Cassandra looked like she wanted to nag him for more information, but she nodded and accepted his answer and Jake got the distinct feeling that she always been a dolce girl, always looking to please people.

He sighed.

"Mable was my girlfriend back in Oklahoma," he finally answered. "But she died a couple of months ago. Cancer. She barely had time for chemo, hardly had time to live the rest of her life and she had her whole life ahead of her."

Jake left it there, even though there was more to the story. Like how they wanted to get married and have a whole baseball team of kids and see the world together, how she had implored him to go to Europe without her, to let people see the beautiful parts of him. But he couldn't form the words to share these details with Cassandra.

"Oh. . ." Cassandra trailed off, her face falling. "I'm sorry, Jake. Is that why you're here? To get over her?"

"Sort of. . . yes," Jake admitted. "I couldn't stay there, everything reminded me of her. I would have probably spent my whole life with a broken heart if I hadn't left."

"And?" Cassandra prodded. "Did leaving help?"

Jake paused for a second, he hadn't really thought about it since Cassandra had appeared in his living room. "I dunno," he finally replied. "Maybe."

Cassandra smiled at him gently. "Well, I hope it does. . . eventually."

"Me too," Jake said. "How 'bout we go and get some breakfast?"

"Sounds good," Cassandra agreed. "But I can't promise that I'll eat anything."

Jake chuckled. "Ha! You're funny sometimes, Cassie."

She stood up and beamed, spinning around the room like a girl in a brand-new dress, happy with his compliment. She stopped and looked at him, placing her hands on her hips and observing him, like he needed looking after. "Well, aren't you going to go and get breakfast?" she asked.

"I'm right behind you," he answered, lifting himself up off of the couch.

"You're going to need to get the door," Cassandra reminded him.

"I'm comin'! I'm comin'!" Jake said, passing her and opening the door, waiting for her to catch up with him and exit the house first.

"Thank you," Cassandra said, smiling a little wider at him as he followed her and closed the door behind them, locking it quickly.

They went to the only diner in town and Jake ordered breakfast for one, while he was idling over hash browns and coffee, Jenkins joined him. He sat down without invitation and looked the Okie straight in the eyes.

"Have you and your friend heard the news?" He asked.

Jake took a sip of coffee. "My friend?"

Jenkins lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Cassandra!"

Jake frowned and put his mug down. "Obviously this news isn't that she's woken up. Because she's sitting right beside you."

Jenkins rolled his eyes. "Obviously. No, she hasn't woken up yet but you better pray that she does soon. I just got word from young Ezekiel Jones that Eve is planning on pulling the plug if she doesn't."

"No!" Cassandra said. "Jake, you have to convince her not to!"

"So, unless you can convince her not to pull the plug then our friend is going to be six feet under," Jenkins told him.

"What is it that you want me to do?" Jake asked, addressing Cassandra more than he was addressing Jenkins. "Tell her that I'm talkin' to girls in comas? That might very well get me committed!"

"Yes, I see what you mean," Jenkins answered thoughtfully. "Eve isn't much of a believer; if she were then maybe she would be able to see Cassandra too. Although I am not entirely convinced you are seeing her because you're a quote, unquote 'believer'. I was doing some reading on it and I think maybe the two of you need each other and that's why you're the only one who can see her."

"It makes sense," Cassandra said.

"I dunno why I would need her though," Jake told Jenkins, ignoring Cassandra.

"Come now Mr. Stone thatcannot be true. There has to be something that happened to you for you to see her. Especially when nobody else around here can."

Jake shook his head while Cassandra nodded enthusiastically.

"It's true, Jake. There isn't really any reason for anybody around here to see me. Everybody is stable, everybody is whole."

"I'm not unstable!" Jake retorted.

"Nobody said you were!" Jenkins replied.

"Sorry, I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the. . . to Cassandra," Jake said.

"Of course. Anyways, I'll leave you to finish your breakfast. I just thought you'd want to know they're thinking about signing papers to take Cassandra off of life support."

"Thanks," Jake answered. "I guess I'll see what I can do. But I can't make any promises, I hardly know Eve, I don't know how I'm gonna convince her to keep her friend alive."

"You'll think of something. I know you will," Cassandra said looking at him like he was Prince Charming and she was his damsel in distress.

Jake sighed and pushed his plate away, the last of his appetite had disappeared when Jenkins had delivered the news about Cassandra to him. He only hoped he would be able to save the young woman he hadn't actually gotten a chance to know for real.

He settled the bill and then gulped the last of his coffee, not ready to face anything.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note II:

I apologize for the delay in posting this chapter. My life has gotten ten times crazier in the last few weeks, my sister got engaged and she opted to get married at the end of this month. I am in the middle of trying to deal with planning her lingerie shower, getting my dress and shoes and underwear to be a bridesmaid and dealing with the fact that I am 25 and still single, where she is 20 and getting married and that she's moving out of state.

Anyways, enough about that.

Forgive me, dear readers. I will try to be more constant in updating. I promise!

Love,

Holly. 4/1/2015_