A/N: Yes, the secret about Sugar is revealed! And another secret from Cassi's past too. Sorry if this chapter isn't the best; I did a rush job on editing. Bad me! I'm sorry!
Their month off flew by for them. Before the famous five knew it, they had to get back into routine. Only Cassi and Sugar knew about the song. Cassi had given the boys a copy of the music so they could learn it, but not the lyrics. She was planning to sing it for the first time at a concert they were playing in Central park.
---
"None of you guys know this yet, But Cassiopeia was recently offered a few solo offers," Raph said to the crowd, and Cassi nodded. "She hasn't made a choice, but I think we all know what she'll choose." Turning her eyes to the crowd, she waited for them to start playing, but Raph continued. "She doesn't need us anymore." She looked back at Raph. He wasn't supposed to say that!
"Yeah," Leo agreed. "Honestly, I don't think she ever did need us."
"She's always been very independent," Don added.
"Cassi, we wish you the best with your new career," Mike said. Cassi stared in bewilderment at them.
"You know, it sounds like you're the ones who don't need me. That's fine," Cassi said angrily. "I'll go, but I'm not accepting any contracts. I was never going to." With that, she took off her microphone, placed it on the stage and ran off, not looking back.
---
Cassi got home to her apartment as fast as she could. It had been hard to slip into the crowd unnoticed and without giving herself away, but she did it. Her necklace was backstage in the dressing room, hung on the corner of the mirror so the four would know she was serious about leaving. Cassi couldn't believe what she had just done. She had left Shell Shock, the boys, everything she had worked for.
Panting from shock, Cassi leaned up against her door. She was still furious with all of them. Did they think she was clueless? Before the show began, Cassi had heard the four yelling at each other. At the time, she had thought it had nothing to do with her, but now she realized they were fighting about her. Cassi was proud of herself for not yelling at them in front of the audience. At the same time, she felt free. She didn't have to worry about a lot of things anymore.
The brunette sank down into a chair in her small living room and began to cry.
---
"So how was your show last night?" April asked, sitting down in Cassi's living room.
"It was okay, I guess," Cassi mumbled while getting April and herself a cup of tea.
"Just okay?" She asked, only to get a shrug in response. "Have you checked where your latest video is in the countdown?" Cassi shook her head. April turned on the television to the right channel.
"No, April, wait..." Cassi started, but it was too late. Footage of her walking away from the group was airing. She sighed and closed her eyes while her friend watched the tape in horror.
"You left the group?" April exclaimed. "Was this a publicity stunt?"
"No," Cassi whispered.
"That would explain why you're so upset. I'm sorry Cassi, I thought you were just tired," April apologized.
"It's okay, I am tired as well. I couldn't sleep very well last night." Cassi said while handing April cup of tea. The young woman sat down and the whole story spilled out. April listened patiently as Cassi explained.
"It seems silly to leave for that reason, don't you think?" April asked when she had finished.
"There's more to it. They're turning against each other because of me. They fight over and about me when I'm not around and I can feel the affects of it afterwards, even though they act like nothing happened. This just finally pushed me over the edge. I couldn't take it anymore."
"They're going to try to get you back." April warned.
"I know."
"You have to go back in a week or so, just let everyone cool off…"
"April, I'm not going back, ever." And she meant it.
---
April was right. Over the next few weeks, Leo, Raph. Mike and Don did everything they could to reach out to Cassi. They tried calling her, going to see her emailing her and sending her letters. After that, they would talk about it when they were interviewed. They even tried to get April to talk to her.
Cassi remained true to her word and nothing worked. She ignored their every attempt. She refused to talk to them or even listen to them. It really looked like she wasn't coming back.
All of New York (and the rest of the world) were devastated by Shell Shock's split up. They were one of the most popular and friendly bands, no one could believe that they had had a fight. On newspapers, magazines, radio stations and TV stations everywhere that seemed like it was all you'd hear about.
They may have lost their lead singer, but Shell Shock was still going. Leo took over as lead singer after the others heard him singing to himself one day. He was good. Everyone agreed that he wasn't as good as Cassi, no one was, but until they could get her to come back (if they could) Leo was their only option.
Before they knew it, the four were back on the road. They weren't doing an official tour, but they were playing a few cities here and there. None of them wanted to go without Cassi, but they had no choice.
---
"Cassi, we're leaving tomorrow morning," April told her.
"That's nice." Cassi replied, obviously uninterested.
"They are sorry Cassi. They need you back."
"They're doing just fine without me," Cassi replied with a cold tone.
"You're miserable without them, anyone can see that. They made a mistake and they want to make it right. Give them a chance. All four want you to come with us," April pleaded. It was no use. Cassi's mind was made up. "I do too."
"No April, I'm not giving them a chance, I'm not coming with you."
"Cassiopeia, listen to yourself! You're running away again!"
"What do you mean, 'again'?"
"Remember when you were pregnant with Sugar? You went to…"
"All right! Yes! I run! That's what I do when I'm scared, okay? I run, April." She sighed. "You can tell them the answer is no. I'm not coming back," Cassi said firmly. Although she wanted to, April knew it was useless to argue with her.
"Alright Cassi, if that's what you want. Just don't go as far as you did before Sugar was born. And by that I don't mean leaving Earth," April said, turning to go. She left Cassi's apartment, shutting the door behind her. A tear rolled down Cassi's face. She wiped it away with her hand, and as she did, she caught sight of the scars on her wrist. They were faint, but they were there, reminding the girl of another time.
April is right, I am miserable without them, but I'm not going back. I can't. I just cause them to fight with each other. They've been a team for years, and I'm splitting it up. They're better off without me. Maybe the whole world is.