CHAPTER 7 "Here Goes Everything"
Cassandra's eyes fluttered open and she lay still for a moment not knowing where she was. After a moment the previous night's events came back to her. She didn't remember getting into bed though. She must have fallen asleep on the couch and Shawn must have carried her to bed. Speaking of Shawn," she thought, Where is he?" A soft snore drifted to her ears answering her question.
With a giggle Cassandra climbed out of bed and tip-toed over to the couch. Shawn lay on his back, one arm hanging off the side of the couch, the other flung carelessly above his head. He looks so sweet, she thought mischievously, Almost too cute. Cassie leaned down and taking a few strands of her hair in her hand began to tickle his nose. Shawn began to squirm vainly trying to bat away whatever was disturbing his slumber. Cassandra bit back another giggle. Again she tickled his nose and let out a surprised squeal as his hands lashed out grabbing her and pulling her down on top of him.
"Think that's funny, you little minx?" Shawn asked as she looked down at him with wide eyes, "Well," Shawn said with naughty grin "Let's see how you like it. Shawn began to tickle her and she screamed between helpless giggles. Desperately she reached out and let out a cry of triumph when she realized he was ticklish as well. They lie laughing and squirming on the couch until the world seemed to drop out of from under them sending them crashing in a pile to the floor.
Shawn landed first onto his back and Cassandra ended up sprawled across his lap. Cassandra struggled, still laughing hysterically into a sitting position. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Shawn replied still laughing as well and sitting up with a groan. Now finding his face close to hers, Shawn leaned forward and kissed her lips softly.
Cassandra sighed as she reluctantly broke the kiss. "We'd better get moving," she told him standing up and extending her hand to help him to his feet as well.
Cassandra showered while Shawn ordered breakfast. When Cassandra had finished showering Shawn took his turn. Cassandra went to her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed Stephanie's number and waited.
"Cassie," Steph cried, "I've been so worried! Where are you?"
Cassandra smiled slightly at the concern in her sister's voice, "I'm okay," she reassured her sibling, "I'm with Shawn."
"Daddy told me what happened," Stephanie replied, "He really thinks he's doing what's best for you."
Cassandra sighed, "I know, Steph," she told her sister sadly, "But I'm a big girl. I should be able to date whoever I want to."
"I know," Stephanie replied. "I can definitely relate. But," she continued hesitantly, "Are you sure about Shawn? Is he treating you right? What if you're rushing into this too fast?"
"Oh, Stephanie," Cassandra sighed, "I've never been this sure about anything. He's wonderful. Shawn is taking really good care of me."
"He'd better be," Stephanie huffed, "If he doesn't he won't have to worry about Daddy. I'll get there first. Shawn may be the Heartbreak Kid but he better never break your heart."
"I love you," Cassandra told her sister with a laugh warmed by her sister's protectiveness.
"I know," Stephanie replied primly. After a moment Stephanie sobered, "Daddy's cut off your expense account," she told her younger sister, "How much money do you have?"
"Enough to get me by for a while," Cassandra said after a minute, "You know how I saved up as a little girl, but I don't have a lot. I was supposed to start getting paychecks with the company but now . . ."
"Oh no," Stephanie cut her off angrily, "You'll get those paychecks. I'll make sure of it. We just have to get you an official position within the company. Look, I'll talk to Mom. We'll figure it out."
"How?" Cassie asked, "What do you have in mind?"
There was a long pause on the other end, "How much do you want this," Stephanie asked, "How far are you willing to go?"
"I'll do anything," Cassandra returned determinedly.
"I'll get Mom to give you a wrestling contract," Stephanie told her after another brief pause.
"A wrestler! Me?" Cassandra gasped, "Steph, . . . I don't know."
"It's the only way Cass," Steph reminded her, "If you want to be there, if you want to stand up to Daddy, this is the only way to get into the company and get a pay check." When Cassandra remained silent Stephanie tried to encourage her, "You've had more wrestling training than either Shane or I. You just need to take that step and put it to use."
Cassandra took a deep breath, "I'll do it."
On the other end Steph nodded, "Good," I'll call Mom and make the arrangements. You'll be signed to RAW by next Monday."
"Thanks," Cassandra told her sister gratefully.
"No problem," Stephanie assured her, "I gotta go but I'll talk to you later."
The two sisters bid each other goodbye and hung up just as Shawn stepped out of the shower. His still damp hair fell down his bare back "Did you talk to Stephanie?" he asked seeing the phone in her hand.
"Uh yeah," replied slowly, "Um it seems my father has cut off my expense account," Cassandra informed him.
Shawn frowned, "Vince wants to starve you into submission," Another thought occurred to him, "Do you have any money of your own?"
"A little," Cassandra replied with a shrug, "I was supposed to start getting a paycheck from the company. I haven't been working for years like Shane and Stephanie."
Shawn plopped down on the couch and sat quietly for a moment studying the young woman in beside him. "Princess," he drawled, "I can see the smoke comin' out of your ears. What are you up to?"
Cassandra took a deep breath, "Well, Steph is going to get Mom to give me a wrestling contract," Cassie explained, "That way they have to give me a paycheck. Daddy won't be able to stop it."
Shawn sat silently for a moment, "Wrestling is dangerous. So is your father when he's been crossed. Are you sure?" Shawn asked slowly. Cassandra flushed angrily and Shawn help up his hands, "Whoa! Whoa." Shawn added hastily, "Now I'm not saying you can't do it. But . . . do you know what you're getting into?"
Realizing he was just concerned Cassandra forced herself to relax and shrugged, "I know the risk if that's what you mean. If you want to know if I can wrestle the answer is yes. I trained where Stephanie and Shane did, plus Hunter taught me a lot." Cassandra raised her chin proudly, "I can do this, Shawn," she pleaded, "Please trust me."
Shawn sighed, "I trust you, Cass. I just don't want you to get hurt." Shawn hesitated before continuing, "You know Vince is going to be furious, right? You know that there is no telling what he'll do?"
"I know," Cassandra acknowledged sadly, "but I really don't have any other choice," Cassie looked up shyly, "I was hoping that you could give me some pointers. You know help me train?"
Shawn smiled at her shyness, "Of course I will," he told her reaching out to cup her cheek, "We're in this together, Sweetheart," he told her softly.
"Thank you," Cassandra whispered gratefully, leaning forward to kiss his cheek, "I couldn't do this without you."
Still smiling Shawn stood pulling her with him. Shawn hugged her tightly, "I'll always be there, Princess. I promise." After a moment the Heartbreak Kid pulled away, "Go get dressed," he told her gently, "We've got a lot to do today."
Cassandra nodded and headed off to get dressed. Shawn watched her and sighed thinking, That girl is either going to be my death or my salvation.
Cassandra's eyes fluttered open and she lay still for a moment not knowing where she was. After a moment the previous night's events came back to her. She didn't remember getting into bed though. She must have fallen asleep on the couch and Shawn must have carried her to bed. Speaking of Shawn," she thought, Where is he?" A soft snore drifted to her ears answering her question.
With a giggle Cassandra climbed out of bed and tip-toed over to the couch. Shawn lay on his back, one arm hanging off the side of the couch, the other flung carelessly above his head. He looks so sweet, she thought mischievously, Almost too cute. Cassie leaned down and taking a few strands of her hair in her hand began to tickle his nose. Shawn began to squirm vainly trying to bat away whatever was disturbing his slumber. Cassandra bit back another giggle. Again she tickled his nose and let out a surprised squeal as his hands lashed out grabbing her and pulling her down on top of him.
"Think that's funny, you little minx?" Shawn asked as she looked down at him with wide eyes, "Well," Shawn said with naughty grin "Let's see how you like it. Shawn began to tickle her and she screamed between helpless giggles. Desperately she reached out and let out a cry of triumph when she realized he was ticklish as well. They lie laughing and squirming on the couch until the world seemed to drop out of from under them sending them crashing in a pile to the floor.
Shawn landed first onto his back and Cassandra ended up sprawled across his lap. Cassandra struggled, still laughing hysterically into a sitting position. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Shawn replied still laughing as well and sitting up with a groan. Now finding his face close to hers, Shawn leaned forward and kissed her lips softly.
Cassandra sighed as she reluctantly broke the kiss. "We'd better get moving," she told him standing up and extending her hand to help him to his feet as well.
Cassandra showered while Shawn ordered breakfast. When Cassandra had finished showering Shawn took his turn. Cassandra went to her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed Stephanie's number and waited.
"Cassie," Steph cried, "I've been so worried! Where are you?"
Cassandra smiled slightly at the concern in her sister's voice, "I'm okay," she reassured her sibling, "I'm with Shawn."
"Daddy told me what happened," Stephanie replied, "He really thinks he's doing what's best for you."
Cassandra sighed, "I know, Steph," she told her sister sadly, "But I'm a big girl. I should be able to date whoever I want to."
"I know," Stephanie replied. "I can definitely relate. But," she continued hesitantly, "Are you sure about Shawn? Is he treating you right? What if you're rushing into this too fast?"
"Oh, Stephanie," Cassandra sighed, "I've never been this sure about anything. He's wonderful. Shawn is taking really good care of me."
"He'd better be," Stephanie huffed, "If he doesn't he won't have to worry about Daddy. I'll get there first. Shawn may be the Heartbreak Kid but he better never break your heart."
"I love you," Cassandra told her sister with a laugh warmed by her sister's protectiveness.
"I know," Stephanie replied primly. After a moment Stephanie sobered, "Daddy's cut off your expense account," she told her younger sister, "How much money do you have?"
"Enough to get me by for a while," Cassandra said after a minute, "You know how I saved up as a little girl, but I don't have a lot. I was supposed to start getting paychecks with the company but now . . ."
"Oh no," Stephanie cut her off angrily, "You'll get those paychecks. I'll make sure of it. We just have to get you an official position within the company. Look, I'll talk to Mom. We'll figure it out."
"How?" Cassie asked, "What do you have in mind?"
There was a long pause on the other end, "How much do you want this," Stephanie asked, "How far are you willing to go?"
"I'll do anything," Cassandra returned determinedly.
"I'll get Mom to give you a wrestling contract," Stephanie told her after another brief pause.
"A wrestler! Me?" Cassandra gasped, "Steph, . . . I don't know."
"It's the only way Cass," Steph reminded her, "If you want to be there, if you want to stand up to Daddy, this is the only way to get into the company and get a pay check." When Cassandra remained silent Stephanie tried to encourage her, "You've had more wrestling training than either Shane or I. You just need to take that step and put it to use."
Cassandra took a deep breath, "I'll do it."
On the other end Steph nodded, "Good," I'll call Mom and make the arrangements. You'll be signed to RAW by next Monday."
"Thanks," Cassandra told her sister gratefully.
"No problem," Stephanie assured her, "I gotta go but I'll talk to you later."
The two sisters bid each other goodbye and hung up just as Shawn stepped out of the shower. His still damp hair fell down his bare back "Did you talk to Stephanie?" he asked seeing the phone in her hand.
"Uh yeah," replied slowly, "Um it seems my father has cut off my expense account," Cassandra informed him.
Shawn frowned, "Vince wants to starve you into submission," Another thought occurred to him, "Do you have any money of your own?"
"A little," Cassandra replied with a shrug, "I was supposed to start getting a paycheck from the company. I haven't been working for years like Shane and Stephanie."
Shawn plopped down on the couch and sat quietly for a moment studying the young woman in beside him. "Princess," he drawled, "I can see the smoke comin' out of your ears. What are you up to?"
Cassandra took a deep breath, "Well, Steph is going to get Mom to give me a wrestling contract," Cassie explained, "That way they have to give me a paycheck. Daddy won't be able to stop it."
Shawn sat silently for a moment, "Wrestling is dangerous. So is your father when he's been crossed. Are you sure?" Shawn asked slowly. Cassandra flushed angrily and Shawn help up his hands, "Whoa! Whoa." Shawn added hastily, "Now I'm not saying you can't do it. But . . . do you know what you're getting into?"
Realizing he was just concerned Cassandra forced herself to relax and shrugged, "I know the risk if that's what you mean. If you want to know if I can wrestle the answer is yes. I trained where Stephanie and Shane did, plus Hunter taught me a lot." Cassandra raised her chin proudly, "I can do this, Shawn," she pleaded, "Please trust me."
Shawn sighed, "I trust you, Cass. I just don't want you to get hurt." Shawn hesitated before continuing, "You know Vince is going to be furious, right? You know that there is no telling what he'll do?"
"I know," Cassandra acknowledged sadly, "but I really don't have any other choice," Cassie looked up shyly, "I was hoping that you could give me some pointers. You know help me train?"
Shawn smiled at her shyness, "Of course I will," he told her reaching out to cup her cheek, "We're in this together, Sweetheart," he told her softly.
"Thank you," Cassandra whispered gratefully, leaning forward to kiss his cheek, "I couldn't do this without you."
Still smiling Shawn stood pulling her with him. Shawn hugged her tightly, "I'll always be there, Princess. I promise." After a moment the Heartbreak Kid pulled away, "Go get dressed," he told her gently, "We've got a lot to do today."
Cassandra nodded and headed off to get dressed. Shawn watched her and sighed thinking, That girl is either going to be my death or my salvation.