I am so sorry!! It's been a whole month! I started college classes and they have been taking up all my time:(( I literally get no breaks and when I do I'm too exhausted to write. I really hope y'all will stick with me and this story. The next chapter will be posted tomorrow! Also, I decided to change this chapter to part 1 instead of the last chapter because it'll make more sense soo...enjoy

Chapter 7: Matters of the Heart pt. 1

Listen to your heart...our minds don't always know the right answer.

Those words have been running through Sam's head all day. He could barely concentrate on the tasks at hand in the fear of making a mistake. His palms were sweaty and for the first time in his career as a surgeon he was nervous. He was so used to being confident but now he was feeling anything but that.

Sam walked out to the second floor balcony of the hospital to get some fresh air. He ran his hands through his hair, clasping them on the back of his neck. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Thinking about his day, so far nothing had gone wrong and he hate to admit that he was a little worried about the events that'd happen next.

He had performed two surgeries which had gone smoothly. He had a few ER situations that weren't anything too drastic. He made sure to be cautious of every move he made. It was now the end of his shift and nothing bad had happened to him. Maybe Cassie's intuition was off this time?

Opening his eyes, he took a second to look upon the city lights as they glistened in the night. It was around 8pm and after his last long day he was anxious to get home and relax.

Exiting the hospital, he felt a buzz in his front pocket. He took his phone out to see a text from Cassie.

Hey, thought I'd let you know I'm at the shop.

Sam raised his eyebrows slightly at this.

Are you feeling better?

No not really but I accidentally left my phone here and I needed the walk.

Walk? Oh. He forgot that Grace had taken her car for the evening.

Need a ride home?

Yes please :) unless you want me to walk alone in the dark.

Sam laughed to himself.

Be there in five.

...

At Grey House, Cassie had been doing everything she could to keep her mind at ease. Except, there was one minor problem. Nothing was working.

She tried cleaning, baking, reading, meditating and she even finished all the paperwork for her shop, but her thoughts kept drifting to worst possible cases scenario. Overwhelming senses of nausea and nervousness washed over her constantly to the point where she could barely stand.

Feeling like her legs were about to give out, she lied on the couch with a book in her hands. Exhausted mentally and physically, her eyes struggled to read the words on the page as they grew heavy and her mind could barely comprehend what she was reading. Soon, she dozed off into a much needed rest.

What felt like minutes later, she stirred to the whisper of a man calling her name.

"Cassie, Cassie?"

Her eyes opened slowly and Ryan was there, leaning over her. He tapped her on the shoulder, his face close to hers, almost to close for comfort.

"Ryan?"

He backed away slightly. "Good afternoon sunshine," he chuckled. "What are you doing here, I thought you'd be at the shop?"

Cassie sat up, closing the book in her lap setting it on the coffee table. "I-I haven't been feeling good today, so I came home hoping to get some rest and feel better."

Ryan sat next to her. He brought a hand to touch her forehead then slowly glide down to her cheek. He looked at her lips briefly, unnoticed by Cassie. Suddenly that feeling came back to her and she shot up.

"I should probably get back to the shop," she said suddenly.

"But I thought-"

"I, uh, left my phone there earlier." She lied. Her phone was in her purse, she hadn't taken it out since Sam dropped her off. She realized whatever was making her feel off had to something to do with her old friend in front of her.

He stood up and stepped closer to her. She backed up subtly, not trying to make it obvious.

"Let me give you a ride there, it's the least I could do for your warm hospitality."

"It's fine Ryan, really." She pointed out the window, "The sun is just starting to set, I'll make it to my shop before dark."

She gave him no time to respond as she turned her back towards him and walked quickly out the door, forgetting to grab her jacket on the way out.

Cassie quickly walked down her driveway and started to make her way to the Bell Book. The nauseating feeling almost had completely gone and she wondered why the feeling had been so strong in the presence of Ryan. He'd been acting differently but it was nothing she felt she needed to be concerned about. Right?

Maybe this awful sense has to do with something else. Grace maybe? Cassie hasn't seen her since she ran off but wasn't too worried because she knew Grace had gone out with some friends. She'd come around to talk with her eventually. Cassie just hoped her own daughter wasn't the reason for causing her distress.

Lost in her thoughts Cassie almost passed her shop but looked up just in time to see it a few steps in front of her. She unlocked the door and the bells chimed as she entered. Taking a long look at each corner of the shop, she let out a heavy sigh.

Walking over to the register, she sat down on the chair behind her front desk. She pulled out her phone and texted Sam to let him know where she was. She felt kind of guilty for going against Sam's word about only coming back to her shop if she felt better, but she just needed to get as far away from Ryan as possible.

Why was she feeling this way? Maybe Ryan's hiding something from me? She thought. Maybe he's going to hurt me?... No. He wouldn't do that. He's a friend, one of the good guys.

Cassie suddenly noticed her hands begin to twitch and then slowly begin to lose control, shaking and tapping on the surface of the desk.

Her head jolted up when the door opened and Ryan came through. Neither of them said a word. Cassie seemed to be unable to form any words. He walked over to her and grabbed hold of her hands. She pulled them away from his hold and distanced herself from him.

Stood a few feet away from him, nausea washed over her, the same feeling she got yesterday when she stood in the same spot with Sam. Cassie put her hands over her stomach and looked Ryan in the eyes.

"What are you doing here? I told you I'd make it here without trouble."

"Well I thought you might need a ride home since your car is occupied after all."

"Actually, Sam is going to pick me up. I texted him already so I'm fine."

He rolled his eyes. "Sam, Sam, Sam. He's just always around isn't he? What about the times when he wasn't? What about the time when I was there for you?"

"Ryan?"

"You know I was the one there for you when Jake died. I was the one there when you needed a shoulder to cry on. I was there for you when Grace, Lori, Brandon or anyone needed anything. I was there, not Sam!"

"Ryan! What is this about? What are you getting at?"

"I'm saying that I should've been the one you chose Cassie, me! It was supposed to be me and you, not you and anyone else!"

Cassie scoffed. "Sorry Ryan but that decision isn't yours to make."

He stepped closer to her.

"I want to be with you Cassie! I don't think you and Sam are meant for each other."

Cassie's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"I-," he hesitated, "I'm in love with you and I always have been-"

"Stop! Please don't say that."

She tried to walk past him but he blocked her path. He grabbed her arms and kept her in place. Their faces were close and she tried to pull away but his hold was too strong. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Cassie, I love you! Can't you see that! I have waited so long to tell you, I have been so patient but after everything, you chose someone else!"

His voice became angry, he was almost yelling at her. She attempted to push him away again but he only pulled her closer.

"I don't love you Ryan! Please get off of me, please." She pleaded. His firm hold starting to hurt her.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow pass by the window and grabbed the back of her neck. He forced his lips on to hers, Cassie didn't respond and tried to pry herself away.

He finally let go and a familiar feeling came through to her. She turned towards the door. Sam

TBC