Chapter 10 - The Edge

It took more effort to look up at them all sat around the dinning table than she realised. Fangs and Toni were sat either side in the booth, Fangs turned around to look at her, his arm resting on his bent knee on the seat. Tobin was stood at the front of the 'bago, his face expectant and aware they were his sister friends.

"Hi, guys," Cassie said, awkwardly pushing her sweating hands into her jean pockets.

"Cass," Toni smiled a big teary smile.

"Jeeze, way to make an entrance," Fangs said giving her a warm smile.

"What can I say," shrugged Cassie. Finding it hard to keep eye contact with any of them. She couldn't even bring herself to look at Sweet Pea yet.

"Come here, girl," Toni said, shuffling trying to get out of the booth.

"Hold up, she was my friend first," Fangs jumped out of the seat and came rushing at her.

Cassie pulled her hands out of her pockets in time before he got her into a tight bear hug. She could feel the pressure on her new bruises but couldn't bring herself to upset the happy atmosphere.

"Put her down, fool," Toni said, slapping his back.

"Sorry, just good to have her back," Fangs smiled and put her down. He retreated back till he was sat in the booth.

"It really is," smiled Toni as she hugged Cassie.

"It's good to see you too," Cassie said softly. When Toni let go they both turned to look at Sweet Pea. He was no longer sat on the counter, but stood. Unsure whether to step forwards or not.

"Hi," he said, taking a small step forward.

"Hi, yourself," Cassie replied, feeling her face warm up and instantly hating herself for it.

Toni and Fangs looked between them in amusement. Toni rolled her eyes at Fangs, who had to rest his chin on his hand to stop from smirking.

"Oh, for the love of-" Toni said, and pushed Cassie towards Sweet Pea.

She wasn't expecting it and stumbled slightly. Cassie tossed a look behind her at Toni who leaned on the back of Fangs seat with a satisfied expression on her face. Cassie turned back to Sweet Pea who was now stood in front of her. He looked down at her, his dark hair curling into his eye slightly, with a small smile in the corner of his lips.

"Hi," Cassie echoed, struggling for something to say to break the awkward silence.

"Hi, yourself," Sweet Pea repeated softly.

"We've covered the hi's, get onto the good stuff," Fangs groaned.

Sweet Pea gave him a murderous look which made them both laugh.

"Welcome home," Sweet Pea whispered.

"Thanks," Cassie mumbled.

Sweet Pea moved closer to give her a hug, when someone rapped loudly on the door. Cassie jumped back and looked away in embarrassment, Sweet Pea frowned at the new distance between them.

"Boo," Fangs moaned and turned away from them to see who was at the door.

Tobin had to look away, thinking the person behind the door had good timing. He had seen the panicked look in his sisters eyes. Cassie looked at Toni who just grimaced at her and went to the door with Tobin. She could feel his eyes on the side of her face that was glowing a warm red.

"You okay?" he asked softly, as voices sounded behind them.

"I guess that's debatable," admitted Cassie. She looked up at his concerned face and felt her stomach flip.

"You beat me here," a familiar older voice said.

Averting her eyes from Sweet Pea, she saw Thomas coming into the Winnie and hand one of the box's he was carrying to Toni. Warm food smells drifted into the 'bago. He put them on the counter as Fangs and Toni began to pull out the food.

"Damn, Cassandra," Thomas said seeing her finally. "You have no idea the fright you gave us all."

Thomas squeezed past everyone who had started to load up the table with plates and food. Thomas enveloped her in a grandfatherly like hug and Cassie could feel some of the anxiety slip away. He let go and cupped her face in his dry warm hands. His eyes took in her black eye and lip.

"Look at you. Riverdale isn't what it used to be," he said sadly.

"So people keep telling me," Cassie said with a crooked smile. "But my experience of Riverdale is a lot different to others."

"What's happening about that, anyway?" Fangs asked, licking his finger that curled into his mashed potatoes.

"Manner's boy," Thomas said, giving his head a light cuff. Fangs smirked to himself and sat on the counter behind the table.

"Tuck in, Cass. Sweet Pea," Thomas said handing spare plates to them both. Since the near miss with the hug, both had been rooted to the spot. Unable to move past it.

"But we are finding out who did it, right?" Toni asked.

They were all sat around the table when Sweet Pea and Cassie sat on the edge of the two booth seats. Their plates getting loaded up by Tobin and Thomas.

"FP is looking into who attacked Cass yesterday. He's got his people on to it. Once he knows-" Thomas announced.

"I wasn't talking about that," Toni said.

Cassie and Tobin glanced at one another. Thomas looked disappointingly at his Granddaughter.

"Lets not talk about that right now," he said softly, but the command in his voice wasn't mistaken.

Tobin cleared his throat and said, "This looks great, Thomas."

"Thank you, son," Thomas said fondly. "Couldn't have you too go hungry."

"Yeah, I don't think I could stomach any more of Francie's candy bars," Tobin said softly, giving his sister a sly smile.

Cassie who had been starting at her plate since she sat down, looked at her brother. She snorted under her breath.

"So what's been going on lately?" Tobin asked.

As the talk stayed away from sore topics, the others shared funny stories of life in Riverdale since they left. But Cassie was struggling to pay any attention. All throughout the meal, she felt Sweet Pea's knee bump up to her's a couple of times and they both pulled away nervously. Not that there was much room to squeeze themselves into in the small space, so they both looked uncomfortable. She could feel her tongue tying itself in knots when she caught his eyes several times over the evening. She thought it would feel a little like it did before, but this was something else entirely. Before it was like he was always in her thoughts. But this was like being on the edge of a cliff. That feeling of pleasant unease flitting away in your stomach as you stared into the abyss. Both never wanting to leave the edge but also wanting to let go. Because you knew that flying would be the greatest feeling in the world.

"Cass?"

Cassie pulled her thoughts back to the table as she looked up to Thomas who was squeezed against the window side. He handed her a slice of pecan pie. They all looked at her in concern knowing she had barely said anything throughout the evening.

"It's your guys favourite," Thomas said warmly.

She took her plate and the warm cinnamon smell reach her nose.

"I remember," she smiled tentatively at him. "I think you tried to teach me how to bake it once."

"And I remember that you should never work an oven again," he replied handing the pieces out.

Everyone laughed. She looked around at the warmth around her, allowing herself a smile return. She had spent so long alone and cold. Why was she resisting this? She found that she couldn't answer.

"It's great, Thomas," she said, taking a bite. It was as good as she remembered, but the lump in her throat wouldn't let it go down without a fight. As everyone was laughing and joking about stories of the past, avoiding the subject of the late Devlin parents, Cassie subtly got up and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. People noticed but gave her some space. Sweet Pea couldn't take his eyes off her since the smile.

Cassie looked out to the fast fading light on the street. Grabbing the torch from side, she pulled on her boots and left the trailer, not looking at anyone as she passed the laughing table. Tobin watched her pass and went to follow, but Thomas reached over and shook his head. Toni and Fangs were arguing over what happened truthfully during his story.

Softly closing the creaking door, she took a deep breath of the cooler night air. There was still some work gear laying around ready to be resumed tomorrow. She looked up to the house. It was still dark and uninviting, but with the boards down it looked a little like home. A creaking sound came from behind her, as someone left the 'bago and closed the door behind them. It wasn't a surprise when Sweet Pea came to stand next to her.

"I thought I could go back in," she said softly twisting the flashlight in her hands. "Guess I'm not as brave as I am when I've had no sleep for three days."

"You are the bravest person I know," Sweet Pea said his is deep voice.

They didn't look at one another, just stood facing the house. Each too afraid to move and make the other one bolt.

"It's been a while since you've known me, Sweet," Cassie admitted.

"I've always known you. Always will," he said firmly, turning his head to look at her. She dropped her eyes.

"Just like I know that this won't beat you."

She looked up and met his eyes. Feeling the pull of flying again. She swallowed and turned back to the house. Putting one foot in front of the other, she led the way home. Sweet Pea followed shortly behind.

A smell of clean wood and fresh air welcomed her as she entered the house. Clicking on the flashlight she was surprised as the work that had already been down. Gone were all the dirty plates and half the old broken down counters. There was gaps in the kitchen where they once stood. But all the floor in the kitchen and dinning room was replaced with beautiful wooden floors. Half the floor in the living room was still concrete with the furniture piled neatly in the corner. Feeling the tall Sweet Pea behind her gave her a little strength to carry on. She reached the hallway and walked to her parents room. Smell of bleach could be smelt as she flash the light on the walls. They were all clean, but in her minds eye she could still see the smeared blood. Looking into her parents room, this looked like it was all completed. The floor replaced with her parents unmade bed against the wall. The net curtains blew softly in the breeze. They had left open the doors to clear the air. The mattress was gone and so was the pillows.

She quickly cast the light to the hidden corner compartment in the built in wardrobe. It was still jammed closed. She knew Sweet Pea was behind her, and felt the words on the tip of her tongue about what she found. But she discovered she couldn't tell anyone. Not yet. She needed a bit of time to herself with the secret.

Closing the door, and continuing down the hallway past Tobin's room and to the back door. Just like before the blood has gone and the flooring replaced the stained carpets. Even the cupboard doors were replaced with solid wooden new ones.

Turning around expecting to see Sweet Pea behind her, she discovered she was alone. Walking back up the hallway, she saw her bedroom door was open. Sweet Pea stood by the window, his imposing shadow cutting a striking figure in the moon light streaming through the net curtains. She never gave her old room a proper look the night before. But now she found herself looking at her old rock posters tacked onto the old pink wallpaper she had growing up made her shake her head.

She sat on the bed and looked at bedside table. It was exactly as she left it that night. Photos of her and Toni, Fangs and some other Serpent kids littered the wall. But the one in front of them all, was a shot of herself and Sweet Pea by the river. Both looking young and happy. Cassie pulled open her top draw and there on top of her childhood diaries was a silver foil packet that seemed like such a big deal that night. It was sealed. She had known for weeks that she wasn't ready for that step, but that night she had come closer than ever to feeling like she could be. Until Sweet Pea got called away.

"FP said that you blamed yourself," Cassie said, closing the drawer softly. '"About leaving that night."

When he didn't reply she looked over to see his tense shoulders as he looked out the window.

"I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn't," Cassie added. "I'm glad you left. I don't think I would have forgiven myself if anything happened to you."

He dropped his head and she could see him shake it angrily.

"What?"

"How can you sit there and say that? After what happened?" he turned around and said angrily.

"It's because I'm sat here that I can say it. If you had been there that night, things could have been a lot worse," she replied, standing up.

"I should have been there. I could have-"

"You could have done what?" Cassie asked angrily, staring at him. "Fought him? We were kids, Sweet. He had already murdered my parents. What could you have done?"

Sweet Pea gritted his teeth and looked above her head.

"I could have done something. Something to stop you from getting hurt. From leaving."

Cassie looked up. She realised she didn't have to crane her neck as much as she used to.

"I'm here now," Cassie said.

When he finally looked down at her, with his longer hair curling into his hard eyes.

"Are you?" he asked seriously.

She opened her mouth to reply, but slowly understood what he meant. She had put up such a good wall between herself and others, that it was hard not to notice the hurt feelings in people she once thought as friends, as family.

She wanted to say she was trying. But knew it wouldn't sound true. Not yet. Instead she reached up her hand and slowly cupped his face. Sweet Pea closed his eyes and let go of the angry breath he was holding. When they opened, they were less angry but something else was in them instead. He brought up his hand and ran his thumb lightly over her lips. Cassie could feel her heart pounding in her throat. It was Cassie who had to make the first move. She knew that. Holding his neck gently, she pulled him down and he lowered his head. It was a tender kiss as their lips touched. But her finger's ran into his long silky hair and it deepened into something much more. His arms snaked under arms, his fingers pulling her closer. The moment his tongue touched hers it sent a feeling through her, unlike any she had ever felt before.

A sharp pain broken through her euphoria. She pulled away slightly and winced. Her hand going to her lip. Sweet Pea's eyes were still heavy from the kiss but looking to see her touch her cut lip broke through the haze quickly.

"You should see the other guy," she said darkly, feeling him tense up around her. "I gave as good as I got."

He's eyes lost their murderous glare into something softer. He gave her a shadow of a smile.

"I don't doubt it," he whispered.

Cassie took in everything about him. Seeing the changes in him, how quick he was to anger and how he touched her without his younger hesitation. A strange feeling of jealously started seeping out feeling that he much of had girls since then. But she pushed them away foolishly. She slid her arms around his back and rested her head on chest. She could feel his racing heart beneath her ear. Resting his cheek on her head, he held her gently.

Now this, Cassie thought, finally felt like home.