The Last Conversation: Part II

Chapter Fourteen

Casey looked around the hotel ballroom for Cappie. She hadn't seen him come in yet. Everyone else in the wedding party was seated at the head table. She looked down the table at Cappie's empty chair between Calvin and Dale. Where was he?

Rebecca gently squeezed her shoulder. "Looking for Cappie?"

"Yeah," Casey said. "I just thought he'd be here by now. Almost all the guests are seated at their tables."

"Maybe he had to stop and get something. Or car trouble?" Rebecca offered.

"Maybe," Casey said quietly. She had checked her phone a couple of times to see if Cappie called. She sent him a couple of texts, but hadn't heard anything. Casey was about to put her phone away when she noticed Cappie and Natalie walk into the ballroom together. Cappie was putting his tuxedo jacket on and adjusting his shirt. Natalie was running a hand through her hair and fluffing it and straightening her dress out. Casey's eyes narrowed with suspicion as she noticed Natalie was wearing a different dress. She was no longer where the light blue sweater dress she had on at the ceremony, Natalie was now wearing a tight pink dress that had a low-cut v-neckline and long sleeves. The dress fell just below her butt showing off her legs. Casey couldn't help but think she looked like a high-priced call girl.

"What do you think that's all about?" Rebecca whispered. "And seriously, can she even sit in that thing?"

"I don't know," Casey said with annoyance. Just then Cappie walked towards the head table and smiled apologetically at everyone. He looked at Casey and smiled sheepishly and shrugged. Casey gave him a small smile and quickly looked away. She noticed Natalie take a seat next to Beaver and Wade. She had a satisfied look on her face and when she noticed Casey looking at her, she smiled and winked. Casey gasped and rolled her eyes at Natalie. Whatever game she was playing, Casey didn't want to be involved.

"What's up?" Rebecca asked.

"Something is up with Natalie. She's giving me another one of her smiles and this time she winked." Casey said.

Rebecca looked out at the other tables for Natalie. Her brown eyes narrowed in disgust. "She's a bitch. Plain and simple."

Casey smiled at her friend. "Thanks for trying to make me feel better. I guess Cappie will give me the details after dinner."

As they ate their dinner, the room filled with laughter and voices. Casey didn't notice Cappie walk up behind her. He leaned down and kissed one of her shoulders. Casey turned towards him and smiled. "So, why so late?" She asked, arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

Cappie shook his head and rolled his eyes. "You don't even want to know. If I didn't feel bad for Natalie, I would've left her."

Casey smirked. "You should've," she said with a laugh. "But seriously, what happened?"

"We were almost near here when Natalie spilled her diet coke on her lap. I don't know how it spilled; it wasn't like I hit any bumps or anything. Anyway, we had to stop by her place for her to change. I swear she tried on everything and then she settled on that." Cappie said, nodding in Natalie's direction. "I mentioned that I thought it was kind of inappropriate, but whatever."

Casey shook her head. "Oh well, the important thing is that you're here."

"I know," Cappie said, his face softening into a smile. "I wanted to get here as fast as I could."

Casey reached out and squeezed his hand. "And I'm glad you're here."

"So, you ready to dance?" Cappie asked.

"Of course," Casey said. "But I have to talk to someone first. Meet you back here in 15 minutes?"

"Sure," Cappie said. He helped Casey out of her chair. He wrapped his arms around her.

Casey closed her eyes and breathed in Cappie's familiar scent. She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss. "See ya in a bit." She walked away from him and towards Beaver's table. She was sure by now he knew she and Cappie were back together. She also wanted to clear the air between them because of the uncomfortable incident earlier that morning. Casey smiled as she noticed Beaver sitting by himself at the table.

"Hey Beaver," she called to him.

Beaver turned towards her and smiled. "Casey, to what do I owe this surprise?"

Casey laughed and gently touched his arm. "Do you think we could go somewhere and talk?"

"Sure," Beaver said, standing up and throwing his napkin on the table.

"Let's go out in the hall," Casey suggested, leading the way towards the doors. Beaver walked alongside Casey as they both left the ballroom.

Cappie was talking to Evan when he noticed Casey leaving the ballroom, what was more shocking was seeing Beaver follow her out. Was that why Beaver was being so weird earlier at the church? What was going on there? Cappie shook his head and dismissed any suspicious ideas. Beaver would never betray him like that; neither would Casey. He focused his attention back to Evan's story about a recent golf trip that he'd taken.

Unbeknownst to Casey, she hadn't realized that Natalie wasn't far from where Beaver was when Casey approached him. Natalie noticed Casey and Beaver leave the ballroom and she snuck out after them. Beaver and Casey were talking in an empty conference room. Natalie snickered as she noticed the door was ajar, so she crept slowly until she could hear their voices. Natalie was all smiles as she witnessed their exchange.

"So Case, what's up?" Beaver asked.

"I'm not sure if you know, but Cap and I are –" Casey started saying.

"Back together," Beaver finished with a smile. "We all figured it out at the ceremony. I'm really happy for you both."

"Really? Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure things weren't weird between us because of what almost happened this morning." Casey said. When she noticed Beaver was quiet, she quickly said, "Damn, maybe I was wrong. It was premature of me to say anything. Maybe I imagined it?"

Beaver put a hand up to stop Casey's rambling. "You didn't imagine it."

"Could we perhaps go back to being just friends and forgetting about it?" Casey asked.

"Consider it forgotten," Beaver said with a laugh. "Maybe it was just the moment or something."

"Yeah," Casey said with a nod. "Well, if my life wasn't so complicated and you weren't Cap's best friend, maybe it would've been nice."

"I think so," Beaver told her. "But I'm glad that we've gotten closer this weekend. I really hope we carry out this friendship."

"I'd really like that," Casey told him.

"So, what are you and Cap going to do?" Beaver asked.

Casey shrugged. "Take it one day at a time," she said. "I definitely don't want to rush it; but I think Cappie and I can finally really do this. It only took eight years, but hopefully we're both wiser and the games are done." As Casey thought about the word game, her face darkened.

"What?" Beaver asked.

"I think Natalie's up to something. She's been giving me these smiles all day and it's creeping me out. I know Cappie told me she was assaulted last night, but what if she's faking it?"

"You really think she'd do that?"

"I don't know, to be honest. Would someone who was assaulted wear a dress like that?" Casey said. "I should say something to Cap, right?"

"If you think it's important, then yes, you should." Beaver said.

"Thanks Beav," Casey said. "You're a good friend."

"Right back at you." Beaver said. "Let's go back because I can't wait to boogie down!"

"I bet," Casey said with amusement. They left the room and made their way back to the ballroom. They were laughing and talking and didn't notice Natalie hiding in the shadows.

There really was a God, Natalie thought. Casey just gave her the best reason to break her and Cappie's newfound relationship. Nothing may have happened between Casey and Beaver, but she sure could plant the idea in Cappie's mind. Natalie straightened her dress and smoothed her hair as she made her way back to the ballroom. She had to find Cappie before Casey did. She couldn't wait to destroy Casey's perfect little life.

Natalie noticed Cappie talking to Evan and she made her way over to him. She looked around for Casey and she was engrossed in conversation with Rebecca and Ashleigh. Perfect, she thought. She waved a hand to Cappie to get his attention.

Cappie turned towards her and gave her a small nod. He excused himself from Evan and made his way over to her. "Natalie, what's up?"

Natalie gave Cappie a sympathetic look. "Oh Cappie, I just heard some terrible things and I needed to tell you."

Cappie gave her a confused look. "What are you talking about?"

"I just came back from the bathroom and I noticed Casey and Beaver were alone in a conference room." Natalie said quietly.

Cappie's eyes narrowed. "Really?"

"Yes, and I'm not sure if I heard it correctly or not, but I thought I heard Casey say something about how she was happy that the kiss didn't mean anything to Beaver either."

Cappie looked around the ballroom for Beaver and Casey. Beaver was joking around with Wade and Casey was talking to Rebecca and Ashleigh. No, he thought. Natalie must have misheard. "Maybe you misunderstood what they were saying."

"I don't think so," Natalie said. "I couldn't believe they would betray you like that."

"I don't believe it either," Cappie told Natalie. "Next time, don't eavesdrop on my friends, okay?"

Natalie looked like she was going to cry. "You've just been so nice to me and when I heard that, I thought I'd be a good friend and let you know. I just don't want Beaver or Casey taking advantage of you."

"Look Natalie, I appreciate the concern. But I doubt Casey or Beaver would ever try anything with each other." Cappie said. "They wouldn't."

Natalie shrugged. "Okay, I guess you would know them better than me."

"Yeah," Cappie replied. "Anyway, there's nothing to worry about." As Cappie said this, he looked at Beaver and Casey again. This time he noticed Beaver walk over to Casey, Rebecca, and Ashleigh. He saw Beaver put a hand lightly on Casey's back. It was almost tender and Cappie definitely did not like it. He saw Casey look up and give him a big smile. Cappie definitely did not like that either. Was Natalie right? Had something happened between Beaver and Casey ? Cappie shook his head and groaned in disgust. He was annoyed with himself and scared at the same time. What if Natalie wasn't wrong? What if something did happen?

Before he could think about it anymore, the DJ made an announcement that the bride and groom would have their first dance. Everyone stood around the dance floor and watched as Rusty and Jordan danced to "The Way You Look Tonight" – Michael Buble's cover of the Frank Sinatra song. Cappie smiled and watched the couple glide across the dance floor. His eyes locked with Casey's hazel ones. She gave him a big smile and it left Cappie assured that nothing had happened between her and Beaver. He wanted to get to Casey so that they could have their first dance together.

When Rusty and Jordan's dance was finished, the DJ played another slow song, Cappie made his way towards Casey and his path was blocked by Natalie. "You promised you'd dance with me."

"Look Natalie, I will, but I'd like to dance with Casey, if you don't mind," Cappie said.

Natalie hung her head and sighed. "Fine," she said. "I'll just go sit and be ignored."

Cappie was conflicted. He felt bad for Natalie, yet at the same time he saw Casey watching them and she was giving him an encouraging smile for him to come to her. Cappie was about to, when Natalie grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor. She put her arms around his neck and placed his arms around her waist. "Natalie," Cappie told her, removing her arms from around him. "I want to dance with Casey."

Natalie smirked as she looked over at Casey, who was no longer standing by herself, but dancing with Beaver. "It doesn't look like she needs a partner," Natalie said.

Cappie's eyes darkened as he watched Beaver looking down at Casey. It wasn't like he was holding her close; they stood a good distance apart from each other, looking proper and formal. Beaver had one hand on her waist and the other held her hand as their arms extended outward. There was nothing romantic about the way they were dancing but it still bothered him. He noticed they were laughing as they danced and then something snapped in Cappie as he saw Beaver lean down and whisper something in Casey's ear. She laughed and was smiling up at him.

Cappie rushed towards them and grabbed Beaver's shoulder. Beaver turned towards Cappie and asked, "Dude?"

Before either of them could react, Cappie punched his friend in the jaw. As Beaver fell down, Casey turned towards him and her eyes darkened with anger. "What the hell Cappie?"

"I could ask you both the same thing." Cappie muttered.

By now a group had gathered around them. Casey bent down to help Beaver up. "Cappie, what gives, man?" Beaver asked as he put a hand up to his jaw.

"You don't think I noticed you two sneaking off earlier." Cappie said with disgust.

"Okay," Casey said, gesturing for Cappie to calm down. "I don't know what ideas you're having, but trust me, Beaver and I are just friends."

"What about this kiss you two shared?" Cappie asked. Several of their friends gasped as they heard him.

Casey knew her face was getting red. "What? We never kissed, okay. There was a moment, but nothing happened."

"There was a moment?" Cappie asked angrily.

"Just a fleeting moment, Cap." Casey said dejectedly. "It was nothing."

"Really? Is that why you kept it a secret?"

"There is no secret because there's nothing to hide," Casey exclaimed.

"I don't believe you. My source overheard you two." Cappie told her.

"Your source?" Casey asked with a snort. "Oh, this is good." Casey said sarcastically.

Natalie's eyes narrowed and she spoke up. "I heard the both of you. Maybe next time when you're having a private conversation, you should keep the doors closed."

Casey's turned towards Natalie and rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't trust a word she's telling you, Cap."

"Case," Cappie said with a warning. "Don't do that."

"Wow," Casey said with mock surprise. "Beaver and I have known you for over 10 years and this tart comes along and tells you lies and you think we're the liars. I was wrong about you."

"Why would Natalie lie?" Cappie challenged.

"Are you dense?" Casey shouted. "She obviously wants you all to herself. In fact, I think she's lying about being assaulted. She's manipulated you this whole time, Cap and you're just too nice of a guy to see it."

"Natalie's not lying. How do you explain the bruises?" Cappie asked.

"That girl is crazy enough to inflict them upon herself." Casey said, giving Natalie a smirk. "Isn't that right?"

Natalie's eyes widened with anger. "How dare you?" She screamed.

Before anyone could respond, Rusty gave them all annoyed looks. "Could you perhaps take this outside?"

Casey gave her brother an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Rus," she turned towards Cappie and Natalie and rolled her eyes. "There's nothing more to say. This conversation is over."

"Case?" Cappie called to her in a firm voice.

Casey turned around, tears glistened her cheeks. "Yes?"

"We're over." Cappie told her, shaking his head. He looked at Beaver. "I thought you were my friend." Cappie turned his back on them and put an arm around Natalie. "Let's get out of here," he said.

"Cap, you have the wrong idea here," Beaver called after him.

"Let him go, Beaver," Casey said sadly. "He's not the guy we know."

Cappie's eyes blazed with anger as he and Natalie walked out of the ballroom. He didn't care about Casey or Beaver at this point. The fact that they would even deny their kiss bugged him. The hardest part of all was that this act of betrayal really hurt him. It was reminiscent to what happened during their freshmen year at CRU. Cappie's heart was broken when he saw Casey in the arms of Evan. The scene was all too familiar and it brought back hurtful memories. He didn't think Casey would ever come between him and a friend again; but he was wrong.

"Will you be okay?" Natalie asked, her brown eyes full of concern.

"I'll be fine," Cappie said. "And I'm sorry for the awful things Casey said in there about you."

Natalie shrugged. "I've forgotten all about it."

"Good," Cappie said. "Want to go back to my place?"

"Sure," Natalie said. As they neared Cappie's car, Natalie pushed Cappie against it and pulled his face towards hers. She kissed him hard.

Cappie pulled away. "What's that for?"

Natalie nodded towards the doors of the hotel. "Casey's watching."

Cappie looked towards Casey's direction and saw she was standing there. Cappie hoped Casey enjoyed the show. He pulled Natalie into his arms and kissed her hungrily. When he looked back up, Casey was gone. He looked down at Natalie and played with the hem of her short dress. "Should we continue this at my place?"

"Most definitely," Natalie said with glee.

Cappie knew it probably wasn't the smartest idea to get involved with Natalie like this, but he was feeling really low at the moment and he needed to feel good. Besides, if he didn't keep his mind occupied he would be thinking too much about Casey and Beaver. Why did they have to kiss? It was just wrong on so many levels. Cappie's mind escaped as he felt Natalie run a hand up and down his arm.

She gave him a salacious smile. "I need you now," she said huskily.

Cappie grinned at her. "I need you, too," he said. Any thoughts of Casey were erased from his mind as Natalie straddled him and moved her body against his. Natalie was exactly what he needed.

A/N: Please let me know what you think? I had so many ideas of how to end their little reunion, but I liked this idea best because of the reminders of the Evan-Casey-Cappie thing.

Don't worry....Natalie will get hers soon enough. I can't wait to get rid of her.