The week came and ended quickly. The Ravens had one the basketball game at the Sparkle Classic and the Tree Hill Cheerleaders managed to make out not to badly with Brooke winning the award for Most Original Routine. Brooke and Peyton seemed to be getting a long a little better, but were still freezing out Lucas. Haley and Nathan were growing closer then ever and Cassie couldn't have been happier for her brother and best friend. Lucas even seemed to be ok with their relationship now, he and Nathan were getting along a little better as well.
Friday finally arrived marking the day of the big date. Cassie had been both anxious and excited for this day to come. She had been through her entire closet a thousand times it seemed but when she still had not found anything to wear on her date with Kyle, she turned to Brooke for help. Brooke had taken her to the mall right away and they found the perfect outfit. A dark blue satin halter and a jeans that fit Cassie's small form perfectly. The blue halter even brought out the color in her eyes.
"Cass, Brooke is here." Karen called to her daughter.
Cassie threw open the door and pulled her friend into her room right away. "I need your help with my hair, I have no idea whether to go straight or curly."
Brooke laughed. "Well you have naturally curly hair, which by the way I am so jealous of, I wish I had curly hair. So I'm going to suggest you leave it down and curled."
Cassie nodded. "Ok, I didn't feel like straightening it anyways. Thanks Brooke, your a life saver. What are you doing here anyways?"
"Well I figured since I helped you get ready for this date, I reserved the right to see what the finished product looked like." Brooke said.
"And what do you think?" Cassie said with a laugh.
Brooke spun her around. "You look gorgeous Cass, Kyle's not going to know what hit him." Brooke noticed her shaking. "Nervous much?" She laughed.
Cassie looked down at her hands. "Well yeah, this is kinda my first real date. I mean up until this year no guys have really paid any attention to meet, with the exception of the Rivercourt guys, but their friends so they don't count."
"Well if I'm not mistaken Mouth seems to like you...a lot." Brooke said.
Cassie shrugged. "I know, but I think he's moving on from his crush on me. Have you seen the way he's been looking at you lately."
Brooke laughed and then nodded. "I think its sweet. He's gotten to be such a good friend to me."
"Yeah, he's like that, we've known eachother forever it feels like." Cassie smiled. "Thats part of the reason I don't want to start a relationship with him. I'd hate to ruin our friendship."
Brooke nodded. "I know, I mean I've never really had a guy as a friend before but I know relationships can ruin friendships, I know that all to well."
"So how are things going with that? You know, you and Peyton." Cassie asked.
"Well were talking again, but I don't think we'll ever get back to where we used to be." Brooke admitted sadly and then looked at her watch. "Well I better get going, I've got a boy toy action to get to. Sucks that your not going."
Cassie laughed. "I've got the boy, who needs the auction. Luke's in it though and Haley's going to bid on Nathan of course, which is weird because last year we spent the entire time making fun of the whole thing."
"Well your apart of our crowd now...and I'm glad." Brooke said giving Cassie a hug. "I'll catch ya later, good luck with the date." Brooke said with a wink.
Cassie laughed and threw a pillow at Brooke as she ran out of the room.
Ten minutes later Cassie was almost ready when there was another knock at the door. Probably Lucas. Cassie thought to herself. She was expecting her brother any minute to come give her a lecture. Lucas thought he reserved that right as her brother. He had spent most of his adolescent years watching over his sister, even thought she was only a few minutes younger then him. Anytime a guy came near Cassie, her brother gave him the third degree and usually scared the guy away.
Cassie was surprised when her Uncle entered the room. "Keith." Cassie's smile widened and lit up her entire face. She hadn't seen Keith since before the Sparkle Classic, which was strange considering she usually saw him everyday. She figured it was because he was trying to keep his distance from her Mom.
Keith walked over to his niece and gave her a big hug and kissed her cheek. "Hey baby-girl, long time no see." He laughed as Cassie did as well.
"Yeah whats with that." Cassie said.
Keith sighed, Karen still hadn't told her. "I guess you still don't know."
"Know what?" Cassie asked confused.
"I proposed to your Mom and she turned me down." Keith said sadly.
"What?" She shrieked. "When was this?"
"Monday night, after you guys got home and you and Lucas were at his game." Keith explained.
"She turned you down?" Cassie said and when Keith nodded she could see the sadness in his eyes. "I'm so sorry." She hugged her Uncle.
Keith tried to shrug it off. "It's ok, its not your or Lucas' fault honey."
"Does Luke know?" Cassie asked.
Keith nodded. "He just found out today when he came to see me at the shop."
"So this is why you have been keeping your distance. Are things that awkward with my Mom?" Cassie asked in fear that this would ruin her Mom's relationship with the man she had always thought of as a father.
"Yeah, but I haven't been meaning to keep away from you and Luke, I've just been busy." Keith explained. "Cass, I'm going to tell you something that I just told Lucas, I don't want you to tell your Mom though."
Cassie nodded. "Ok."
"I've been asked to take a job as a Mechanics teacher in Charlotte. I'm thinking of moving there, Cass." Keith said and saw the tears well up in her eyes.
"You're moving? When does this job start?" Cassie asked.
"In two weeks. I'd be leaving at the end of next week if things work out." Keith said.
"I'm going to miss you so much." Cassie said as she threw her arms around her Uncle, feeling the tears start to pour from her eyes, not caring whether it had just ruined her make-up job.
Keith tightened his hold on the young girl he loved with all his heart, as she started to sob. He pulled her into his lap like he used to do when she was a little girl and gotten hurt or scared in some way. They sat like that for a few minutes while Cassie's sobs quieted and she dried her tears.
Keith smiled at her as he wiped a remaining tear from her cheek. "Hey, no more of that." He said trying to lighten the mood. "It's not the end of the world Cass. You'll still see me."
Cassie nodded. "I'll come visit you as much as I can."
"Baby-girl, you better." Keith laughed as she got up, still limping because of her leg but she was now able to manage without the crutches, at least for a little while.
"So, I hear you have a big date tonight." Keith changed the subject to which Cassie was grateful. She nodded.
"Luke tell you?" She asked.
"Yeah." Keith said.
"I'm surprised I haven't gotten the long lecture from him yet." Cassie said with a short laugh.
"Well according to him, he approves. Kyle's a friend of his." Keith explained.
"I guess, but still its weird for him."
"Well for the record you look beautiful." Keith smiled as he stood up from her bed. "I better get going, but have fun tonight, and try not to be to upset with your Mom over this, she was doing what she thought she needed."
Cassie nodded as Keith kissed her forehead and left.
She checked her make-up which was still pretty much intact, thank god for waterproof mascara, and walked out of the room to find her Mom looking dressed up.
Cassie's eyes widened. "Mom, where are you going?"
"I'm going out with Larry." Karen smiled at her daughter. "You look great."
"Well, so do you." Cassie said but then her tone changed. "So you turned down your proposal from Keith to date Peyton's dad?"
"He told you about that?" Karen said sounding surprised.
Cassie nodded. "Why'd you turn him down?"
Karen sighed really not wanting to get into it. "Cass, I explained this to you. I don't feel the same way about Keith, he's my best friend and I love him, but not like that. Please honey, don't push this, this was something I needed to do."
Cassie slowly nodded. "Ok, I guess I understand, can't control your feelings right Mom."
Karen nodded. "Do you need a ride to Kyles?"
Cassie shook her head. "He's picking me up here." The doorbell suddenly rang. "And I'm guessing thats him."
"Have fun tonight, Cass." Karen hugged her daughter goodbye.
"You too, just don't do anything that I wouldn't do." Cassie joked earning herself a glare from her mother, but then Karen started laughing.
"That goes for you too."
"Whatever you say, Ma." Cassie laughed as she answered the door.
She opened the door to find Kyle wearing a dark blue shirt underneath a black leather jacket and dark blue jeans.
"Wow, Cassie you look amazing." He smiled as he took her arm.
"You don't look so bad yourself." She laughed as they walked to his car. "Where are we going anyways?"
"Ahh, thats a surprise." He laughed as opened the door and then both got in. He started the ignition and they took off.
Ten minutes later they arrived at the Marina.
"What are we doing here, jacking a yacht?" Cassie joked.
"Not exactly." Kyle said as they got out and walked to the end of the docks. There Cassie saw that a table for two had been set up and candles placed in the middle. The moon was shining, and the faint sounds of the waves hitting the beach could be heard in the distance, it was like something out of a romance movie.
"This is incredible" Cassie said and turned to face Kyle who smiled at her. "How did you do this?"
He shrugged. "I've got connections. Besides" He said as he helped her sit. "After everything you've been through, you could use a night out I figured."
Cassie nodded. "Boy, could I." She noticed the spahgetti on the plate in front of her. "Spahgetti." She smiled. "How did you know this was my favorite food?" She then stopped herself and thought for a minute. "Lucas." She asked.
Kyle nodded. "He just happened to mention it to me."
"Uh huh, so what else have you and my brother been talking about behind my back?" She asked with a giggle.
Kyle shrugged. "Not much, he warned me not to hurt you or else I would be dealing with him." Kyle laughed as did Cassie who had started eating already.
"I wouldn't be too afraid of Luke, he's kind of a wuss." Cassie laughed. "I can take him if I try."
Kyle laughed. "Want to dance?"
She nodded. "I'd love too, but there's no music."
"Who needs music?" Kyle asked as he pulled her to her feet and they started swaying. "Just listen to the ocean."
Cassie smiled. She had been so nervous about tonight, but this was turning out to be one of the best nights of her life.
An hour later they had finished dinner and dancing and were now ready to leave.
"So, what's the next part of this big date?" Cassie asked.
"Well Luke told me how much you loved going to the baseball diamond." Kyle said with a sly smile on his face.
Cassie made a face. "He did, did he?" She was going to have to have a chat with her brother.
"So I figured we'd go the the the Mini-golf course." Kyle laughed.
Cassie smiled, relieved. She hated baseball. What a useless sport.
"We could go to the one on top of my Mom's cafe." Cassie said.
"There's a Mini-put on top of Karen's cafe?" Kyle said surprised.
Cassie nodded. "Nobody knows about it, though. Haley, Luke and I built it a while ago." Cassie explained. "It's kind of our secret so promise not to tell anybody I told you."
Kyle nodded. "Lead the way."
They arrived at the cafe and Kyle helped Cassie up the stairs to the rooftop of the cafe. She opened the door and was immediately hit square in the head with a water balloon.
"What the..." Cassie said picking up the now blown-up balloon.
"Cassie, is that you?" A voice called.
"Haley?" She asked.
Haley walked out revealing herself and Lucas followed close behind.
"What's going on guys?" Cassie asked.
"Could ask you the same thing." Luke said to his sister.
"Kyle wanted to go mini-golfing so I took him here." Cassie explained. "Why are you two together? Hales, I thought you would bid on your boyfriend." Cassie said.
Haley shrugged. "I wanted a night out with Luke, we haven't hung out in forever. Peyton bid on Nathan to keep him away from all the crazy women who were there."
"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Kyle asked very aware of the history between Peyton and Nathan.
Haley nodded. "It'll be fun. You guys want to join us or are you still on your big date."
Cassie looked to Kyle who shrugged. "I guess we could join you."
Cassie nodded. "It'd be fun. But can we please golf, screw the balloons."
Lucas laughed. "Yeah your just lucky it wasn't a milk balloon that we hit you with."
"Your using milk balloons?" Kyle asked.
"Yeah, it was kind of my idea in the first place." Cassie explained with a smile on her face.
"Well, that sounds entertaining." Kyle laughed.
"Oh it is, and by the looks of it, Haley got one." Cassie laughed noticing the stain on her friends shirt."
Haley looked down and laughed. "Hey, I hadn't even noticed that. Thanks Cass." She turned to toss a glare a Luke.
They played golf for two hours and it was nearing midnight. Lucas and Haley decided to call it a night based on the fact that the rules of the Boy Toy Auction said there had to be a kiss done by midnight. Cassie and Kyle decided to head home as well.
Kyle walked Cassie to her door. "So did you have fun tonight?" He asked.
She nodded. "Tons, did you? Sorry we kind of got blind-sided by Haley and Luke."
"No, it was fun. I'm glad we did this. Maybe next time we could have a date to ourselves though?" He asked hopefully.
"Assuming there is a next time." Cassie joked but noticed the look on his face. "Relax I had a blast and I definitely want to do this again." She assured him.
He smiled looking relieved. "Cass, would you mind if I kissed you? I've been dying to do it all night, but with your brother there, it was kinda awkward."
Cassie smiled and nodded. "I'd be angry if you didn't kiss me."
He pulled her closer to him and held her head in his hands as he leaned into to kiss her. Deepening the kiss, Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. The kiss lasted a few minutes before either pulled away, breathless.
"Well I'll let you get inside, it looks like it might rain." Kyle said looking towards the sky.
"Talk to you later." Cassie said as she started to head inside but was stopped by Kyle.
"Cass, for the record your a great kisser." He said as she turned around and smiled at him before walking inside her house and closing the door.
This was definitely a night to remember.
Well thats all for now. Hope you liked it. I know things are a little out of order (i.e. Keith's proposal to Karen) but I'm trying to move things a long a little faster. The next chapter will be up tomorrow or the next day. Thanks for reading, and please continue to review...they mean a lot to me.