A/N: I know, it's been a long time since I've updated. Chances are nobody
is going to read this and if they do, I doubt they'll like it. But I feel
like I have to try to finish this. So here is Chapter 6. Flame, whatever,
but I'm going to finish this. Also this story isn't too Animorphish, it's
more like the remaining Animorphs getting back together then, binding the
old friendship.
**
The next morning Cassie woke up early, fixed breakfast for herself and her daughter while her husband slept in. After she finished washing the dishes she couldn't help but think about what Marco had said.
He deserves the truth...
She covered her hand over her mouth to hold back the sob that wanted to come out. She still loved him, she always would, how could she not? She was always by his side, willing to fight, especially for him.
She took out the piece of paper that had his phone number on it. Surely a simple phone call wouldn't hurt.
With shaking hands, she dialed his number.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring...
"Hello?" said a deep raspy voice, despite the fact that Jake's voice was more mature and older, she knew it was him.
She froze, what could she say? She cleared her throat.
"Jake? It's me, Cassie," she said nervously, her stomach doing flip-flops.
Calm down, she told herself, you're a grown woman not sixteen anymore.
But Jake always managed to make her feel weak in the knees even to this day.
There was a pause and a deep sigh. "Cassie...it's been a long time, I don't know what to say..." he said, his tone slightly clipped.
Yes, how times had changed. There used to be a time when they would talk casually and now it was like they were strangers.
"Jake, I know. I miss you, and I know things are different, but if you're willing, I want to be friends, I miss that," she said truthfully.
"Ok, so what do you have in mind?" he asked friendly.
"Let's start from the beginning," she said simply.
He laughed softly. "You never change. Ok, whatever you want."
For a second the old Jake shinned through, the hopefulness and the excitement, just like when they were about to do something crazy.
"Let's meet at the old coffee shop, how about tomorrow? Around noon?" she said, inwardly hoping he would agree.
Another pause. "Alright, I'll be there."
"Bye."
"Bye."
They both hanged up.
**
The Next Day
**
She walked through the doors of the shop and spotted him immediately. She waved and smiled and made her way over, sliding into the booth across from him.
"Hey Jake," she said, smiling.
He smiled back. "Cassie."
She looked down at her hands. "Part of the reason I wanted to meet you was because...I'm worried about you."
He raised a brow. "Really?"
"I mean, when it was all said and done, I know it must have been the hardest on you, being the leader and all," she said quietly. "And another reason is because I miss being able to read you like a book, and now, I can't tell anything about what you're feeling."
He leaned forward. "We're adults now, you're married and you have a wonderful husband and child and here I am, right back were we all started and ended. I say I'm happy just to be alive."
His words did not convince her simply because his eyes showed pain, pain that no young man his age should know.
She reached for his hand. "You're wrong about that. Marco is here by your side, and so am I. I remember when you didn't want me around, but I still stuck by your side, now it's my turn again. I'm here for you."
His blue eyes gazed into her brown eyes. "Cassie, it's not the same. We're not the same people...Everything is different."
Tears filled her brown eyes. "I know, everyday I wake up I know that."
He caressed her hand, the motion shocking her. Suddenly it was like de vu, they were young again, going out for a drink, and he would always hold and caress her hand.
How she wished for those days.
Rachel.
Tobias
Ax
Marco
But that was a long time ago.
"I'm sorry, I hit a sore spot," he said, smiling sadly.
He noticed more tears running down her face and he cursed himself for saying such a thing. He made a quick decision and moved beside on her side of the booth, taking her into his arms and holding her while she sobbed against his chest.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I wish I could have been a better leader," he whispered into her hair.
She pulled out of his embrace. "I just wish things were back to the way they were before...I want those days back, Jake. Even the fighting, I would pick the war any day just to have the people I loved back again."
That said a lot, especially remembering how much Cassie hated violence. It said it all.
He said quietly, thinking of his brother especially and Rachel. "Me too, Cassie, me too."
She looked up and smiled sadly.
It was a start.
The healing process.
**
A/N: More I promise. Next chapter: Hopefully get Mike out of the picture, start the romance going again around Jake and Cassie and see what the Drode is up to. Typos, sorry I didn't proofread it, bare with me.
**
The next morning Cassie woke up early, fixed breakfast for herself and her daughter while her husband slept in. After she finished washing the dishes she couldn't help but think about what Marco had said.
He deserves the truth...
She covered her hand over her mouth to hold back the sob that wanted to come out. She still loved him, she always would, how could she not? She was always by his side, willing to fight, especially for him.
She took out the piece of paper that had his phone number on it. Surely a simple phone call wouldn't hurt.
With shaking hands, she dialed his number.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring...
"Hello?" said a deep raspy voice, despite the fact that Jake's voice was more mature and older, she knew it was him.
She froze, what could she say? She cleared her throat.
"Jake? It's me, Cassie," she said nervously, her stomach doing flip-flops.
Calm down, she told herself, you're a grown woman not sixteen anymore.
But Jake always managed to make her feel weak in the knees even to this day.
There was a pause and a deep sigh. "Cassie...it's been a long time, I don't know what to say..." he said, his tone slightly clipped.
Yes, how times had changed. There used to be a time when they would talk casually and now it was like they were strangers.
"Jake, I know. I miss you, and I know things are different, but if you're willing, I want to be friends, I miss that," she said truthfully.
"Ok, so what do you have in mind?" he asked friendly.
"Let's start from the beginning," she said simply.
He laughed softly. "You never change. Ok, whatever you want."
For a second the old Jake shinned through, the hopefulness and the excitement, just like when they were about to do something crazy.
"Let's meet at the old coffee shop, how about tomorrow? Around noon?" she said, inwardly hoping he would agree.
Another pause. "Alright, I'll be there."
"Bye."
"Bye."
They both hanged up.
**
The Next Day
**
She walked through the doors of the shop and spotted him immediately. She waved and smiled and made her way over, sliding into the booth across from him.
"Hey Jake," she said, smiling.
He smiled back. "Cassie."
She looked down at her hands. "Part of the reason I wanted to meet you was because...I'm worried about you."
He raised a brow. "Really?"
"I mean, when it was all said and done, I know it must have been the hardest on you, being the leader and all," she said quietly. "And another reason is because I miss being able to read you like a book, and now, I can't tell anything about what you're feeling."
He leaned forward. "We're adults now, you're married and you have a wonderful husband and child and here I am, right back were we all started and ended. I say I'm happy just to be alive."
His words did not convince her simply because his eyes showed pain, pain that no young man his age should know.
She reached for his hand. "You're wrong about that. Marco is here by your side, and so am I. I remember when you didn't want me around, but I still stuck by your side, now it's my turn again. I'm here for you."
His blue eyes gazed into her brown eyes. "Cassie, it's not the same. We're not the same people...Everything is different."
Tears filled her brown eyes. "I know, everyday I wake up I know that."
He caressed her hand, the motion shocking her. Suddenly it was like de vu, they were young again, going out for a drink, and he would always hold and caress her hand.
How she wished for those days.
Rachel.
Tobias
Ax
Marco
But that was a long time ago.
"I'm sorry, I hit a sore spot," he said, smiling sadly.
He noticed more tears running down her face and he cursed himself for saying such a thing. He made a quick decision and moved beside on her side of the booth, taking her into his arms and holding her while she sobbed against his chest.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I wish I could have been a better leader," he whispered into her hair.
She pulled out of his embrace. "I just wish things were back to the way they were before...I want those days back, Jake. Even the fighting, I would pick the war any day just to have the people I loved back again."
That said a lot, especially remembering how much Cassie hated violence. It said it all.
He said quietly, thinking of his brother especially and Rachel. "Me too, Cassie, me too."
She looked up and smiled sadly.
It was a start.
The healing process.
**
A/N: More I promise. Next chapter: Hopefully get Mike out of the picture, start the romance going again around Jake and Cassie and see what the Drode is up to. Typos, sorry I didn't proofread it, bare with me.