CHAPTER FOUR:
Revelations

The group had less than three days to grab people's attention for the Radio Free Roscoe 'New Recruit' party. Feedback was great, and anticipation levels seemed high in regard to hearing Chaos' first broadcast.

The afternoon of the party, Lily found Cassandra in the spare bedroom she now called her own across the hall. The desk was scattered with school texts, and botany and entomology books that Lily was surprised to see. "I had no idea you were interested in this stuff, Cass," she remarked.

Cassandra rolled her eyes, continuing to dig around in the closet. "Yeah, well, there's obviously a lot you don't know about me."

A sudden, irrational anger surged through Lily. "You know, I'm really trying to get along with you, no matter what we've been through in the past. You're going to be living here for a while, and for god's sake — you're even on RFR!" Her features softened as she held eye contact with the cousin she hadn't seen in years.

Cassandra seemed taken aback, as she'd never seen Lily explode like that. Lily had always been the sweet, mild-mannered one, and she the not-so-sweet party girl. Lily touched her arm. "Listen, I'd like us to be friends. We're almost 17 years old, and I think it's time we finally got along."

Narrowing her eyes, Cassandra tossed a skirt and top onto the bed behind them. Surveying her cousin's face, seeing the honesty and truth in her sky-blue eyes, Cassandra's defenses faltered. For the first time in her life, she gave an authentic smile, finally realizing how much she really did love her cousin. Without Lily, who would argue with her, and keep her striving to come out on top?

Lily tentatively held out her arms, pulling Cassandra into an embrace. They both remembered when they were 6 years old, playing in a sandbox at the local playground. Lily had stolen Cassandra's shovel and buried it in the sand. After their mothers had forced Lily to dig it up and give it back, Cassandra had shoved Lily to the ground, and they'd both ended up in tears.
But now, neither girl was hiding or hurting, and just maybe, things would be okay.