Cassi woke the following morning, late as usual, still hating her parents for scheduling her for the damn interview. Lily was apparently already awake and downstairs, so Cassi had the room to herself.
As she sorted through her closet, she mentally began to form her plan for the day. After selecting her outfit, skin tight tattered jeans with a black and equally tight belly shirt, she made her way into the bathroom. Reaching into the hidden cabinet she produced all her various boxes of hair dye. First she touched up her blonde, making sure it was as platinum as Marilyn Monroe, then she took the box of fiery red hair dye, and with a unique precision she had mastered over the years, dyed her tips blood red. After she finished applying her makeup, heavy eyeliner, and the whole nine yards, she changed into her clothes, and made her way downstairs.
"Whoa, Cassi, ahh, Hun, what look are we going for exactly?" Sirius questioned over donut.
"Haven't decided yet," she smirked, "it's still a toss up between 'screw the world' or 'damn my parents' either way I like it."
"Alrighty then," Sirius replied with arched eyebrows, in his personal opinion Cassi was pushing in a little far, but he wasn't about to start a fight over it, "want a donut?"
"Of course I don't want a donut." Cassi smiled. "We have to go though," she mumbled with a mouth full of water, "I need to make a few stops first." She smirked as she picked up her purse and marched toward the door.
"Cassi," Lily whispered, "really what's going on?"
"Nothing is going on Lily, I'm pissed, and I'm not going to sit around and be pushed around as a political puppet." Cassi shot.
"Umm, Miss. Montgomery, where do you need to go?" Jim asked starring at her in the rearview mirror.
"I would like to stop at the Jewelry Shack on East 82nd and Constitution." Cassi grinned.
"Sweetheart," Sirius asked calmly, "why are going to a jewelry store?"
"Because Baby, I need to get some holes reopened." Cassi said as she reclined in the seat.
"Cassi, come on," Sirius pleaded, "don't you think you're taking this just a little too far?"
"No, I don't," she retorted, "I thought you, if anyone, would be behind me on the Sirius."
"Cas, I support you, I just think you've gone a little too far, I know you're mad at your parents, but come on, is this really what you want to do?"
"Yes, yes Sirius it is." Cassi said with a firm resolve as she looked out the window; behind her James, Lily, and Sirius exchanged glances.
As the pulled up to the store Cassi didn't wait for Jim to open the door, she hopped out and sauntered in."Cassi fabulous, is that you?" A twenty something year old man with spiked blonde hair asked.
"It is Nigel, how are you?" She smiled as she hugged the man.
"What can I do for you Darling?" He grinned.
"Well, you see I had a row with my parents . . ." Cassi smirked.
"Ahh say no more Missy come back here with me. Your friends will be okay out here won't they?" He stated more than asked as he led her into a back room.
"Of course, I'll be out in ten minutes guys, don't worry." She smiled as she followed the man called Nigel.
"Well," James started, "interesting morning eh?"
"Ya." Lily sighed.
"Who was the man?" Sirius fumed. "Why in Gods name is she doing?"
"Take a pill Padfoot, I have a feeling we're seeing a side of Cassi that even Cassi doesn't fully understand. She'll be fine." James said as he put his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Whatever," Sirius snapped, "something is not right, there's more eating away at her than just her parents. Who, by the way are the biggest assholes I have ever met, they're as bad as my mum and dad."
"Well mate, if and when she's ready to tell you she will, don't be an ass and push it on her." James said attempting to calm his friend down.
"Don't go telling me how to deal with my girlfriend Prongs!" Sirius almost yelled. "I will push her all I want!"
"Thank you Nigel dear." Cassi said as she exited the room sporting some piercings she hadn't had awhile ago."
"Any time Darling!" He waved as the four of them exited.
"Off to People now miss?" James asked as they climbed into the car.
"Not yet Jim, could we go to Daisy's on 33rd and Madison?" Cassi asked as she seated herself.
"Cassandra," Sirius said firmly with crossed arms, "what the hell is going on?"
"Nothing that concerns you Sirius, now please stop acting like my father." Cassi shot back.
"No Cassandra, I am concerned, what are you playing at, this can't be healthy for starters, and furthermore when exactly is the last time you ate?" He said eyeing her.
"Sirius Black it is none of your damn business when I ate last. Stop giving me the third degree." Cassi glared at him.
"No, what is going on here Cassandra; it takes more than your parents to set you off this much." Sirius retorted.
"Shut it!" Cassi screamed at him as the car came to a stop outside a flower shop. "Wait here, I'll be back in a minute."
"Fine!" Sirius growled. "What the hell are we doing here?" He snapped after Cassi had closed the door.
"I don't know Sirius, but tone it down would you; this is exactly what I meant when I said not to push her." James said eyeing his friend.
"No James, something is going on with her and I'm going to find out what it is!" He barked moments before Cassi exited the floral shop carrying a bouquet of red roses and entered the car.
"Arlington, please Jim." Cassi said as she got back in.
"Miss. are you sure?" Jim asked looking at the girl he had known for seventeen years in the rearview mirror.
"Yes Jim of course I'm sure." Cassi snapped.
"Who are the flowers for?" Sirius questioned.
"None of your damn business." Cassi retorted.
"Loose the attitude, what the hell is Arlington?" Sirius shot back.
"Oh shove it!" Cassi shouted as she started out the window. She put her head to the cool glass and shivers ran up her spine. Cassi watched the huge buildings of the city fade behind her as the rolling hills of Arlington National appeared before her. Silently she wiped a tear from her face and tried not to remember the last time she was here. Jim pulled to a stop in front of the gates, and this time Cassi let him open the door for her. "Give me a few minutes, I'll be back soon." Cassi mumbled as she climbed out of the car, flowers in hand.
Silently Cassi followed a path she barley remembered. Head bent she tried not to let the tears flow, she didn't want to be an emotional basket case every time she came. Verging off the path Cassi wove through the white, some whiter than others, headstones, glancing at each one as she passed. When she reached the one she had been looking for, she sat down in front of it. Placing the flowers next to the headstone, she buried her head in her hands and let the tears she had desperately been trying to hold back flow.
"Cassi sweetheart." she heard Sirius quite voice behind her as he took a seat next to her and wrapped his arms around her. Burying her head in his chest she cried harder.
HEY EVERYBODY!!!!! HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE THIS CHAPTER, LIKE A FEW OTHERS IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT I ABSOLUTLY LOVED WRITING IT, SO I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK SO I CAN GET A FEELING FOR WHAT YOU GUYS WANT. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REVIEWED, AS ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A QUESTION, COMMENT, SUGGESTION, OR CONCERN! MUCH LOVE!