Chapter 10

Oh, was I angry.
A) I had learned how to dance for the stupid party and didn't even get the chance to show off,

B) All that rich food at the party had given me a massive stomach ache, and oh yeah

C) ROBERT WILLINGS-JERK PROPOSED TO CASEY AND SHE SAID MAYBE!

The ride back from the party had been in awkward silence. Sara was on the verge of crying, Casey was fidgeting, and Willie and I had enough sense to keep our mouths shut.

But were back in the cabin now and I was pacing the room in a vain attempt to control my temper. It was wasn't working.

"I don't know why you're so upset. It's not like I said yes," Casey commented.

I stopped pacing and just looked her stupified. Did she really not get it?

"I just don't know what you were thinking!"

She sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Everyone was looking at me. The whole room just got quiet, I mean, what was that about? And I didn't say yes. I said maybe. How can that be considered a yes?"

"Because," I replied through clenched teeth, "maybe isn't NO."

"Yeah, well, I couldn't very well come right out and say that, could I?" she huffed and walked over to the wash basin. "I mean, he's Robert Willingsworth, rich guy, lots of friends and a very important person, et cetera."

Really? Was that the kind of guy Casey was into? Casey who shoots quail with slingshots and steals clothes from clotheslines at risk of getting shot? Casey who delivered a baby while I made toast? I couldn't believe she'd be content to be a trophey wife for a snotty, rich, popular guy? I guess I pegged her as less superficial than that.

"It would have been inconsiderate of me to embarrass him after he'd been so generous inviting everyone to his mansion."

"Hrmph," I snorted, "So he's a VIP, but what about Sara Watson, hmm? Anyone can see she's crazy about him." Though I stll think he's not worthy of a smart girl like Sara.

"Everyone except Robert." She paused as if debating the truth of that. In a different tone, she asked rhetorically, "Why do you think he would propose dot me with a room full of people watching? He was trying to manipulate me into saying yes, can't you see that?" She stomped over to her side of the makeshift curtain and I averted my gaze as she undressed and scurried into bed.

Maybe Casey had a point. That was a really jerk move by Willingsworth to ask for her hand in marriage in front of everyone like that. Still, she's a perfectly capable 21st century girl. She should have said no outright.

"More than anything I hate how this hurts Sara," she continued, "but I don't think humiliating her family in front of all of Boston would have helped."

Couldn't she see that Sara was humiliated anyways? I turned to stare at Casey through the sheet. Casey blew out the candle and I was left standing in the dark. I thought I was falling for this girl, but now I wasn't so sure. Not if she was going to allow bastards like Willingsworth to manipulate her like that. The guy had f-ed everything up and now I wasn't even sure what to think. So what if the situation was "complicated," she should have been honest and straightforward.

Ugh, but was I any better? Here I am, crushing on Casey, but afraid to tell her how I feel because it would make the brother/sister charade much more awkward in the past and we're not exactly in the same social circles in the present. Does that make me just as awful a person as Robert if I let our own complicated situation dictate my level of honesty? I scowled. No, I resolved, Iwasgoing tobenothinglikeWillingsworth. Even if that meant being honest with Casey and telling her how I feel. Having made up my mind to have that conversation with Casey tomorrow, I undressed in the dark and crawled into my own cot, falling into a fitful sleep.