AUTHOR'S NOTE
hehehhehehhehehhehehehheheh
Okay. My chapters have been like really short so far. That ain't cool. (To me. I mean, I have no idea what y'all be liking out there. Cuz...no one is reviewing...COUGH)
Anyway, I will try to make my chapters longer. K? Great.
Also, I just realized how legit Leonardo DiCaprio is in the Great Gatsby. Like, wow. (Well, he's always legit cuz he's Leonardo DiCaprio...)
Anyhoo...time for daily Top 5 with Merra...I think that's what I called it last time... well.
Top 5 Songs:
1. Every single song sung by Nate Ruess. Literally.
2. Prince of Thieves Overture FRENCH HORNS ARE BEAUTIFUL
3. Dragon Racing (score) from How To Train Your Dragon #2
4. The entire score of Titanic but I think my favorite is Hard to Starboard
5. Ehhhhhhhh... Beyonce's pretty cool, I guess...
Finally, I don't own Tommy or most of the characters. I do own Cassidy, so yeaaaa. Also, in this chapter, the lullaby is mine. Straight from my brain.
Okay! On with the show!
Cassidy spent the rest of the afternoon telling herself she shouldn't feel guilty about Tommy Ryan's feelings, because she didn't know him and would probably never see him again. And it's not like she said anything wrong! She didn't see why Tommy got so upset.
Once she got to her room, she quickly unpacked her suitcase. It looked like everything was in there. She did a mental list of everything.Envelope with photos? Check. Two dresses? Check. Purse of money? Check. And thank goodness, she thought. She glanced at the other items. Yes, they were all there. Cassidy didn't see any point in unpacking anything, so she dug around for a pack of cigerettes and went out on her private little balcony.
As she lit it, she looked out across the ocean back at Southampton. She couldn't see it anymore, of course. It was only a memory. She had already promised herself she would never return. She would make herself a new life in America and forget about Saouthampton. She planned to head to Wisonsin or Minnesota. From what she had heard, they were pleasant states, and Cassidy could use some pleasant stuff in her life. She looked back at the sea.
Hush, my child
the sea is singing
joy and fun and
laughter bringing!
Cassidy started. Why had she thought of that? That was the song her mother sang to her when she was a child to put her to sleep.
"Momma?" Cassidy said, clinging to her lamp.
"Sweetie? What are you doing awake at this time?" her mother said, crossing the room towards her. She was tired, but allowed herself a small smile. "Is your father snoring too loudly again?"
"No, Momma, there are ghosts in my room!" Cassidy said, her six-year-old eyes lit with fear. Cassidy's mother crouched down and embraced her.
"Honey, ghosts don't exist," her mother told her.
"But I heard them!" Cassidy protested desperately. "Don't make me go back to bed with them!"
"But they aren't real, darling."
"They're real to me," said Cassidy stubbornly.Her mother stood up. She smiled at Cassidy.
"Would you like me to tell you a story?" she asked.
"Yes, please! But out here, not in my room."
"Alright," Cassidy's mother said, sitting in her rocking chair and patting her lap. Cassidy jumped up.
"Once upon a time, in a city of little population, lived a small girl named Clara. She lived in constant fear, as did the rest of the city."
"Why?" asked Cassidy.
"They lived in a town of ghosts!"
"Just like my room!" whispered Cassidy in a hushed voice. Her mom just smiled.
"Now, one day, Clara was attacked."
"By a ghost?"
"No."
"No?"
"No," her mother said. "She was attacked by a young man."
"What was his name?" Cassidy wondered. "I bet he has a mean name because he sounds mean."
"Actually, the story never says what his name is. Anyway, when she was attacked, she fought back and the mean man went away. Clara realized she wasn't afraid of that man or anyone else."
"Well, that's good," Cassidy said. "But what about the ghosts?"
"Clara never saw another one."
"What? Why?"
"Because she was brave," said her mother. "You see, people who are brave aren't afraid of ghosts, so the ghosts don't exist. You are the bravest girl that I know. You just haven't realized it yet."
"I realized it now! I'm brave!" Cassidy said, leaping off her mom's lap. "I'm brave! Ghosts aren't real to me!"
Her mom followed her as she ran to her room. Cassidy jumped into her bed looking smug. "Mom, can you sing me to sleep, since ghosts aren't real?"
"Of course," said her mom, pulling a blanket over Cassidy.
"Can you sing the one with the sea? It's my favorite."
"Alright...
Hush, my child
the sea is singing
fun and joy and
laughter bringing
She waves to you,
she waves to me,
and invites us to dance
upon the sea
Hush, my child
for night is here
calm you must be,
for sleep is near
The sea must wait,
though she wishes to stay
but she knows that tomorrow
you can wake up and play
So hush my child,
the sea hushes too
as she waves goodnight
to me and to you."
Cassidy's mom smiled as she finished, for Cassidy was already fast asleep.
Knock, knock.Miss?"
Cassidy whirled out of her memory. Someone was knocking on her door."I'll be right there!" she called. She hurried across the room and opened the door. Standing outside her door was a flustered looking steward.
"Yes?" Cassidy asked.
"Are you Miss Cassidy Miller?" he asked.
"I am she," Cassidy responded. "Is there any reason you needed to call at my door right now?"
The steward nodded. "Yes, Miss, I was told to inform you that dinner is in a quarter hour from now. Mr. Joseph Dillans has cordially invited you to be his dinner guest."
Joseph Dillans? Cassidy was shocked. She hated Joseph Dillans! Mind, she hadn't seen him since she was probably thirteen, but from what she remembered, he was a little stuck-up. He was two years older than her, and she was forced to go places with him. Her parents didn't like him either, but they figured it was good for her to be social, so they allowed him to escort her places.
Jospeh Dillans was one of those rich people that flaunted their possessions and lorded them over other people. He was very class-based, and believed everyone with money was better than everyone without money.
She wanted to tell the steward no and slam the door in his face, but then she thought maybe Joseph had changed. Plus, it would be nice to have an escort to dinner and make a good impression.
Cassidy sighed inwardly.
"Tell him it would be lovely, and I would be honored to go to dinner with him."
Barf.
The steward nodded.
"He requests you meet him on the grand staircase in ten minutes."
Cassidy was overwhelmed by the vastness of the staircase. It was certainly very grand. She had quickly changed into her less fancy evening gown, and had put her hair up in what she hoped was an elegant twist.
"Miss Miller!"
Casidy glanced down at the voice. Joseph Dillans. He was almost exactly the same as whe. she had last seen him. He wore a fine satin suit, his dark oily hair was slicked back, and he wore a careless smirk on his face.
"Mr. Dillans," Cassidy acknowledged him. He held out his arm for her. Slowly, she walked down the staircase. When she reached the bottom, he reached out and kissed her hand. Then she held onto his arm and they began walking to the dining hall.
"Long time, no see, huh?" Cassidy whispered to Joseph.
"I missed you the entire time," Joseph whispered back.
Well, I didn't give a damn about what happened to you! Cassidy wanted to say, but decided against it.
"You...must have slipped my mind," Cassidy said.
Joseph grinned. "Not likely."
Perverted bastard! Cassidy thought. He's disgusting!
Hang on, give him a chance.
Cassidy took a deep settling breath as they entered the dining hall. Joseph didn't seem to notice. Maybe he was too busy looking at all the elaboratness of the room. Cassidy couldn't peel her eyes away from anything. There was a huge mantel with a clock, there were musiciand playing calming music in the corner, and there were people everywhere! Ladies hanging to the arms of there escorts, men smoking in the corner, waiters and waitresses running around with wine and food.
"Over here, Cassidy," said Joseph, leading her towards the nearest table. Cassidy noticed they sat in the only two spots left. The table was full of rich gentlemen and ladies who were old family friends.
"Mrs. Calaghan!" Cassidy exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in forever! How is Rachel doing?"
The woman Cassidy had spoken to smiled. "Cassidy! Haven't you just grown into a pretty young thing! Last time I saw you was...five years ago?"
Cassidy smiled. "Yes, I was twelve."
"Rachel was fourteen, then."
"Ah, yes," Joseph said. "She was two days older than me. She always bragged about it for some reason..."
"Ah, my daughter is a proud girl. Gets it from her father," Mrs. Calaghan added in a hushed voice. Cassidy laughed.
"Anyway," Mrs. Calaghan said, "Rachel is married to a young bank manager, and is expecting my first grandchild in July."
"Are you serious? That is awesome! Do tell her my congratulations when you see her next," Cassidy said.
"So what about you, Miss Cassidy?" asked another old friend, Sir Henrich. "How are your parents doing? I noticed they weren't on this ship with you when you boarded."
Joseph leaned over to pour Cassidy some wine. "Probably off on another vacation to see the King or something."
Cassidy had assumed this would come up in conversation, but she could not have possibly predicted how it would affect her; How vividly she would remember her grief of that night.
"Please allow me to be excused," Cassidy said, standing up and blinking back tears. "I need some fresh air."
She walked out of the room as fast as she possibly could and when she got in the hallway, she went straight to the poop deck, the first place she thought of. she ran straight to the rail. It was ther she let her tears fall, straight into the ocean.
"Lass?"