Cassidy's eyes fluttered open slowly. Her vision blurred for a few seconds before it gradually began to focus. She was lying flat on the floor of the corridor outside her room, staring up at the ceiling. After a disorientated moment she let her eyes drift to her left, where someone, a certain green-haired someone, was crouched down beside her looking concerned.
"Cassidy?"
At the sound of his voice, she smiled. "Butch," she said weakly. "What...happened?"
"I don't know. I was coming back to our room and I found you lying here out cold," Butch replied, staring at her. "Did you faint or something?"
"I think so," she mumbled. She hauled herself upright, still feeling slightly lightheaded and dizzy. She rubbed her forehead for a few seconds and then looked back at a bemused Butch. "I think I'm ok."
"C'mon, then, get up," Butch said, before putting an arm around her supportively and helping her up from the floor. Cassidy loved the feel of his arm around her again, warm and protective. Did this mean he had forgiven her? She wavered a little when she stood upright, but luckily Butch still had his arm around her, supporting her.
"Thank you," she mumbled awkwardly, regaining her nonchalance and tossing her strawberry-blonde hair back.
"Ok."
Cassidy averted her eyes for a second, not knowing what to say to him. He was looking awkward, staring down at the ground with his hands in his pockets. She was secretly ecstatic that he was back, she had to try hard to stop herself from smiling and giving him a big hug, as she sensed that probably wouldn't be a good idea considering he wasn't even looking her in the eye. "Where did you go?" Cassidy questioned after a silent moment.
"Some motel nearby. I had to be away from you for a while."
Cassidy swallowed nervously. The guilt that had only just been starting to disappear, all came flooding back. "I'm so sorry, Butch." It suddenly dawned on her that the word 'sorry' hadn't escaped her lips on the night of the argument. This made her feel worse. She had been far too wrapped up in making up more lies and excuses that she'd completely forgotten to say the word that mattered the most. Although 'sorry' was probably meaningless to Butch now.
Butch looked at her, though he could only look her in the eye for a few seconds. He'd been furious at her these past few days. He'd wanted to stay away from her for longer, really make her worry and feel bad. But he couldn't do it. He wanted to stay mad at her, she deserved it after what she'd done, and the rest. But staying away from her just made him feel sorry for himself and miss her. He was angry at himself for always being so weak-willed whenever it came to Cassidy. It was no wonder she treated him how she did.
"I know it doesn't mean much, but I haven't stopped thinking about you these past few days," Cassidy said quietly. "I was worried you weren't coming back."
Butch stayed silent for a moment. "Why'd you do it, Cass?" he finally said feebly, giving her an unintentional hurt look.
There were so many lies and fake reasons to give rushing around Cassidy's mind that she panicked a little. "I don't know," she blurted out suddenly. "I honestly don't know. I guess I wanted attention. I've been feeling really down recently, I don't know if you've noticed, but I have," she swallowed, and looked away from him before she carried on speaking, hating herself. "And you...um...it's like, I wanted attention because you've kind of been neglecting me recently." She felt like kicking herself for saying this. Of course he hadn't been neglecting her, quite the opposite. But at least if she made him think he was in the wrong she could justify herself.
Butch blinked. "I haven't, have I?"
Cassidy nodded reluctantly. "Or maybe it's just me. But I've been feeling so alone. So that's why I told Wendy that lie, I knew it would at least gain me some attention from you, good or bad. But it was stupid, I shouldn't have done it."
Butch narrowed his eyes at her. Was she lying again? It was hard to tell. She looked so innocent and hopeful that he was willing to believe her either way. He hadn't realized he'd been neglecting her though. He was always giving her attention, half the time she seemed like she didn't want it. "I don't think that's exactly true."
Cassidy felt her heart sink. She was so sure he was going to believe her. Maybe he was finally starting to be able to notice when she was lying. She did it often enough. "Maybe it's just me then," she replied. "Please, can we just forget this whole thing?"
Butch glanced at her wearily. She knew the way she looked at him with those stunning violet eyes was enough to make him forgive her. 'Stupid gorgeous eyes...' he thought, looking away from her. "Ok," he finally said. "But Cassidy, next time you have a problem, will ya just tell me instead of making up lies and hiding it from me?"
Half of Cassidy wished he wouldn't be so gullible, she didn't deserve to be believed or forgiven. The other half was relieved that he had believed her. "Of course," she said, even though she was knowingly lying and hiding things from him right that very moment.
"Good, and maybe quit being grouchy with me too."
"I will, darling, things will be different from now on, I promise," Cassidy replied. She paused. "Can I have a hug, then?"
Butch gave her a feeble smile and outstretched his arms, Cassidy collapsed into his hug, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her head tightly against his chest.
"Hey, blondie!"
Cassidy and Butch's arms dropped to their sides and they both parted quickly, turning to their right to see Domino storming down the corridor looking furious. Cassidy's heart began beating a little faster and her breathing increased as she remembered the incident at Giovanni's office earlier. Domino had walked in on what was happening.
Domino stopped in front of them, arms crossed and a scowl on her face. "I've got a bone to pick with you, Cassidy."
"Oh," Cassidy mumbled, before turning back to Butch. "Butch, will you wait in our room for me, hon?" she said, trying hard to sound carefree and breezy as she gave Domino a warning glare.
"Why?" Butch narrowed his eyes, looking from Domino to Cassidy. "What's going on?"
"Oh, of course you wouldn't want him to know, would you, Cassidy!" Domino gasped, a smirk appearing on her face. "All the more reason for me to tell him."
"What?"
"Butch, just go away for a minute, please? I'll be five minutes, I just need to sort something out with Domino," Cassidy said desperately.
"But why-"
"Butch! Just go in our freakin room!" she snapped.
Butch stared at her blankly as if she'd just slapped him in the face. "Aw, ya know what, I give up!" he snapped, before aggressively shoving through Cassidy and Domino and storming off down the corridor.
"For god's sake, Butch!" Cassidy yelled after him, but he ignored her and carried on walking. She turned back to Domino with a look of despair. "See what you made me do!" she hissed.
"Never mind that, you slut, stay away from Giovanni! He doesn't want you! He's using you, I'm the only woman he loves, so just back off!"
Cassidy snorted, though her heart was hammering. Domino must have gotten the wrong idea when she walked into the office earlier, and it was obvious by the way she was talking she was possesive over Giovanni. Being his right hand woman and top elite officer had obviously, somehow, deluded her into thinking she was something 'special' to him, even though that probably wasn't the case. "What are you talking about?"
"I saw you two in his office. he was holding you, and then when I came in he dropped you like a hot potato," Domino sneered. "I don't know what he'd see in you anyway, not when he's got me."
"Ok, hold it right there, Domino. You've got totally the wrong idea! There's nothing going on between me and Giovanni, for god's sake, I wouldn't even think about doing anything with him, he's my boss! The truth is, he wasn't 'holding' me in the way you make out, he was angry at me because Butch and I failed a mission, so he was making sure I knew who was boss," Cassidy insisted, forcing herself to stay calm and composed. Clearly she could be a first-class liar when she needed to, especially in situations where she had to get herself out of trouble.
Domino narrowed her eyes, secretly feeling a little foolish for believing that her precious Giovanni would have anything to do with Cassidy in the first place. "Yeah...well, you just make sure it stays that way, understand?"
"A-ha."
Domino gave her one last look of disgust, before turning on her heel and flouncing off, her blonde curls bobbing with each step. Cassidy let out a breath of relief as she watched her walk away, then she remembered Butch had stormed off, so she made her way down the corridor, almost running. She hurried down two more corridors, hoping to catch up with Butch- which she did, but not in the way she hoped. He was standing at the side of the corridor, chatting to a very familiar red-head. Cassidy stopped, and her face fell. What was he doing talking to Jessie of all people?
"What the hell are you doing?" she snapped suddenly, storming up to Butch and Jessie, and giving them both looks of disgust, feeling awfully jealous. They both looked a little taken aback.
"We were just t-"
"I don't believe you, Butch! You have the nerve to storm off on me because you can't control your freakin temper, and now you're talking to this bitch?"
"Don't make out like I'm doing something wrong! You told me to go away, so I did! And for your information, I don't belong to you, I can talk to whoever the hell I want!" Butch replied furiously.
"So why her? Also, I didn't tell you to go away, idiot, I told you to go in our room, but noooo, you'd rather have a temper tantrum like a fucking three year old and go walk off and cry about it!"
"Y'know what, I shouldn't have even bothered coming back!"
"Oh here we go!"
"What's that s'posed to mean?"
Jessie watched awkwardly as the couple spouted insults at one another, until she had finally heard enough. "Ok, ok, shut up!" she snapped. Butch and Cassidy turned and looked at her blankly. "You're like a married couple, for goodness sake. Look, blondie, for your information, Biff was only telling me that he was really pissed off and upset because apparently you're treating him like dirt, all I was doing was offering advice!"
Cassidy felt hugely relieved but also even worse, now that she knew Butch thought she was treating him like dirt, though he was overreacting slightly...wasn't he? And it was nowhere near an excuse to talk to Jessie. "And what advice was that, then, Jessica?" she sneered, crossing her arms.
"I told him to leave you!"
"You fucking bitch!"
"Take a look in the mirror!"
Butch sighed in annoyance. There had been so many of these petty arguments between Jessie and Cassidy, that it had gotten to the point where they were always using practically the same old comeback and insults every single time. He wasn't a fan of Jessie, by far, in fact he thought she was bitter with jealousy over Cassidy- but he still thought the two girls should stop their childish fighting and leave each other alone. He began to walk away without giving either a second glance.
Cassidy noticed immediately and raised a manicured middle finger at Jessie before hurrying after Butch. "Don't just walk away like that! God, what's gotten into you today?" she snapped as she caught up to him.
"What's gotten into me? What has gotten in to me? What's gotten into you is what I wanna know! I thought you'd at least have the decency to be civil to me after what you did, but you can't even go five minutes without being a bitch to me!"
Cassidy realized he was right. "It's not intentional, hon," she said gently.
"Well, when's it gonna stop? There's only so much a guy can take and if you carry on like this I..." his voice trailed off before he finished his sentence.
Cassidy stared at him impatiently. "What?"
"Well, like I said, there's only so much I can take, I...I don't wanna be in a relationship where I'm always being snapped at..."
"You want to break up with me?" Cassidy blurted out, feeling her heart tearing in two. Just the thought of Butch leaving her was enough to send her into depressed mode. Not to mention she'd never been dumped in her life, so it would be horrible to be dumped by the only person she'd ever loved.
"Did those words ever leave my mouth?" Butch snapped, giving Cassidy a taste of her own medicine. "No I don't wanna break up with you, I love you to pieces, and I think you know that. But don't push it, ok, Cass?" he said, the snappiness gradually disappearing from his voice.
Cassidy didn't reply due to that choked up feeling she always got when she was near to tears, a lump in her throat. She felt horrible. She'd never really experienced the feeling of 'guilt' before in her life. She often found it pleasantly satisfying being cruel to people and making others unhappy, she could clearly remember how she used to be in Training Academy- she had her little cliche of bitches, and everyone else she bullied and taunted, deliberately making them hate her because she got a kick out of being 'the most spiteful bitch in the academy'. But now, she felt the guilt was overwhelming. She was hiding things from Butch, lying to him and being snappy with him for no real reason, so much so that he had considered breaking up with her.
When they got back into their room she sat at the top end of the bed, staying completely silent, afraid of what she might say if she opened her mouth. She didn't seem to be able to control her cruelness and belittling remarks, maybe it was just best if she didn't speak at all.
Butch stood in the center of the room awkwardly, his eyes falling on Cassidy, who appeared to be either ignoring him or waiting for the right moment to yell at him. Butch shrugged and sat at the end of the bed with his back to her. He wasn't going to speak up. Everything that came out of his mouth seemed to annoy her, so what was the point? He wished it could go back to the days when they were like best friends, when they shared a bond that was really something special.
Cassidy figured Butch was ignoring her, which meant he was mad at her. That lump in her throat wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, and before she knew it a tear was rolling down her cheek. Then another, and another...
Things were just so hard. The Giovanni situation and how she had to lie to Butch about it, how the incident that had happened with the fire at the barn wouldn't stop repeating itself in her mind, how she was pushing Butch away unintentionally. It was all too much. She sniffed, a little too loudly.
"Cassidy?"
Cassidy sniffed again, it seemed she couldn't stop now that she'd started.
Butch looked at her for a moment, seeing the tears streaming down her cheeks. Then he felt bad and moved up the bed to sit next to her. She looked at him through tearful eyes. "I'm fine, carry on ignoring me," she mumbled, before she started sobbing, feeling like a fool for crying in the first place.
The loud sobs took Butch a little by surprise, and he hoped he wasn't the reason she was upset. He put an arm around her, looking at her sympathetically. "Hey, don't cry, Cass," he said gently, bringing a hand up to her cheek and wiping away her tears.
"I hate arguing with you," Cassidy sniffed, looking at him. "I was lost without you when you left."
"I was lost without you too. That's why I came back," Butch said softly, as soft as his voice would go, anyway. He wiped away another of her tears. "Listen, babe, forget what I said about us breaking up. Whatever stupid arguments we have, it doesn't matter to me, 'cause you're worth it. Who said relationships were easy, huh?"
The corners of Cassidy's lips upturned, she secretly felt so warm inside, so happy that he felt that way. She grinned. "Pft. What a corny little speech that was."
"Well I tried!" Butch smiled and pulled her closer, knowing that she was joking.
"I love you, you know that, Hutch?" Cassidy said gently as she looked up at him, cuddling up to him and resting one hand on his chest.
"Butch knows that, but Hutch doesn't."
"Dope," Cassidy smirked.
"C'mere, Cass," Butch said softly, taking hold of her chin with one hand and gently lifting her face a little before leaning inwards. Cassidy twined her slim arms around his neck as their lips touched lovingly. Their kissing gradually got more passionate, and before they knew it they were caught up in the moment. Cassidy pulled off her short dress over her head, making her golden-blonde hair a little disheveled, and revealing black lace underwear. Butch took no hesitation in ripping off his black Rocket shirt, and everything else. He reached around Cassidy's back to unhook her bra, blushing a little when he still hadn't managed to unhook it after what seemed like a lifetime. Cassidy pushed his hand down and unhooked it herself in a matter of seconds, then she bit her lip, and gave him a little smirk as she shook the thin black straps off her shoulders...
Oh dear god I hope that didn't sound awkward...I didn't want to go into the graphic details and scar you reader for life, so I just INSINUATED that they, y'know. I don't know if I was too descriptive or not lol. I had the worst writers block ever for a while, so I am SO sorry I didn't update for so long. Oak-ay! Review people!
