Cassandra

The force of the strike easily knocked me off my feet. The pavement beneath me was hotter than I had anticipated. I groaned as the pain from my side overwhelmed me... I was almost positive that something had been broken.

I struggled to sit up and face Brianna but she was on me in an instant.

"Who are you to think you can go through MY room and take possession of MY personal items?" Her green eyes had darkened and were now a deep crimson colour... Much like Creighton's. I could easily see the hate that simmered underneath those huge eyes of hers. She took a hold of my collar and stared me down. She let out a deep growl and I could see her body trembling. Sadly, I knew all too well what it would lead to.

I grabbed her waist and, with much effort, threw her into the tree she had previously been in. I couldn't fight her now... Not here. Not in front of...

Scott.

I stole a glance at him. He had fallen to his knees and was staring, wide-eyed, at the two of us. Brianna noticed him at the same time I did. Without a moments hesitation, she launched herself at him.

The sickening snap of his bones as they both crashed to the ground sent a chill through my body. Scott's agonizing scream echoed through my soul, allowing instinct to take over. Ignoring my injury, I raced toward Brianna and yanked her off of him. A terrifying growl ripped through my own body as I crouched down and readied myself for anything.

The scream from Scott distracted me long enough for Brianna to make her escape. Within an instant, I was at his side. His nose was definitely broken; there was blood pouring from it and smeared all over his face. You could tell that the bones in his left arm had been shattered and his knee was dislocated. I gently lifted him up, ignoring his constant pleas to be left alone. I sat him down in the cab of the truck and, carefully, took the keys out of his pocket.

"Caaaass... it hurts so bad!" He was leaning against the window and I noted to drive as slowly as possible. The blood that continued to poor from his nose was starting to give me a headache. I attempted to clear my head but it wasn't working. My vision was already tinted red.

I pulled over and leaned on the steering wheel. I knew that if I gave in, it would be bad.

The temptation was getting stronger. I rolled the window down and turned the A.C. on full blast. The red tint faded to a light pink by the time we were down the road. It wasn't too long before we pulled into the parking lot at Connecticut Valley Hospital.

"Oh, wow. What happened to the both of you?" The doctor turned his gaze from me to Scott. Thankfully, he wasn't in critical condition. Just a few broken bones.

"We were hiking in the woods and we were.. attacked." I avoided his eyes and kept my focus on Scott.

"Attacked? By a bear?"

"Uh, yea. It came after me but Scott distracted him and got hit the hardest." He nodded and continued to put a cast on Scott's arm.

I gazed down at my best friend. He looked better than he had before, but was still in really bad shape. He smiled weakly at me, but I couldn't return it. His once rosy cheeks were now pale, as if they were dead.

I sat against the wall and attempted to breathe deeply. I felt sick. I never should have said anything. If we went directly to the mall, Brianna wouldn't have seen us... This was all my fault.

"Dear, are you alright?" The nurse that had been assisting the doctor was at my side.

"I'm fine. Just a long day, you know?" She nodded, thoughtfully, and left to get more supplies.

I couldn't look at Scott. I could feel him staring at me, but... I just couldn't look at him. Tears started brimming my eyes and I attempted to blink them away. One managed to escape. I turned quickly, facing the door, and wiped it away.

"Cassie, look at me." Scott's melodic voice drifted through the room and touched my heart, making the tears flow.

"W-why?" My voice broke. Great.

I heard him groan as he attempted to sit up, but was told to stay still. I gave up and made eye contact with him. He seemed so broken, so... limp. The smile he flashed me was so genuine and happy. How could he smile when I put him through all this?

"That's my girl." He motioned for me to sit in the chair next to him. Hesitantly, I sat beside him.

I hadn't meant for any of this to happen. My best friend was in the hospital because of me. I should have talked him into staying at my house. I should have-

My thoughts were interrupted by Scott's fingers intertwining with my own. I stared down at our hands. It looked so natural and right. That familiar spark returned as we sat there in silence. The doctor was reviewing the x-rays with Scott's dad. Slowly, I closed my hand around his.

I couldn't bring myself to think about Scott or even talk to him. I completely lost myself within old memories.

"Sissy! Sissy, it hurts!" Brianna called out to me. She had been learning how to ride with only two wheels when the breaks failed and she toppled over. Our parents were out of town and we were too far from home for me to leave her.

I pulled her into my lap and started to distract her with tricks my father had taught me.

"It's alright, Brianna. See? It's not even..." There was no blood. There was no bruise, scrape, or cut. Nothing.

Later that night father explained to us what Brianna was becoming and what I would soon become. As my sister continued to question father about where we came from I walked into the kitchen to get a drink. I peeled off my band aid that was covering the paper cut I had gotten two days before. It was still there.

It's not fair... I was still me. How come Brianna got to change and I didn't? I shook my head and sauntered up the stairs and into my bedroom.

The knock at the door should have made me jump, but I was too upset to focus.

"Cassie?" Brianna called from the doorway. I rolled over and patted the bed next to me. She bounded over and plopped down next to me, giggling.

"Sissy, are you mad at me?" She had stopped giggling and looked at me with way too much concern than a child should possess. I opened my arms and waited for her to curl up into my lap before I spoke.

"Of course I'm not mad at you, Brianna. I think it's so cool that you're changing!" I kissed the top of her forehead and completely forgot about the paper cut that was still visible on my finger.

"Cass, how come you're not changing?" She looked up at me with those big forest green eyes of hers and I simply smiled.

"Because, sweetie... FIRST THE WORST, SECOND THE BEST!" I laughed as she play punched me. I was sure I would change soon enough. Best not to rush it.

My memory ended and I was back in the hospital room. Holding hands with my best friend.

"Cassandra?" Scott's voice sounded unsteady.

"Since when do you call me that?" I stuck my tongue out at him, but he didn't smile.

"Uh, Cassie, do you remember... way back when..."

"That doesn't help me remember, Scott. What's up?" I raised an eyebrow at him as he continued.

"When we," he whispered the next part, as if he didn't want to be overheard, "dated."

I shook my head without responding. The fact that he seemed reluctant to say we dated hit me pretty hard. We had agreed to pretend as if it never happened, but when we actually talked about it, neither one of us resented it. I braced myself. I figured that maybe what happened today made him realize he didn't want to be friends with me anymore. I mentally shook myself. Of course Scott wouldn't do that!

He stared down at our hands. "Well, I was thinking. You told me a huge secret today, and, that really took some guts. Not only that but you saved my life from your sister," he looked at me this time, "which we are going to talk about later. But... I have a secret that I wanted to get off my chest, too."

I laughed, "You're not a vampire, are you?" I continued laughing till I realized I was the only one.

"I love you, Cassie."

I smiled. "Aw, I love you too, Scott." His expression changed a bit, but he maintained his composure.

"Cassandra Elaine Faratheen, I love you. I always have and I always will." His eyes bore into mine as what he said registered.

I couldn't say anything. All I could do was stare blankly at him. His expression saddened. My hand had gone limp by now and Scott's grasp was the only thing keeping it in place. Scott returned his gaze to our hands.

Three minutes had passed without either of us saying a word. I could tell how upset he was. He confessed his love for me and said nothing. What was I supposed to say to him? Of course he's my best friend and all but... Do I love him the same way?

The nurse came back in with a wheelchair and I helped her move Scott. We met up with his dad in the waiting room and proceeded to go home. The ride was anything but quiet. Mr. Kane wanted to know everything that happened and kept asking me if I was alright.

By the time we arrived at my house the questions had ceased. As we were pulling in the driveway, I spotted something on the roof. When I looked again, it was gone. I shook my head; I was seeing things.

"Thank you for the ride, Mr. Kane. Sorry about the whole accident." I smiled, sheepishly. He flashed me a huge grin and ruffled my hair. He was such a sweet man. I turned around to say goodbye to Scott, but he was asleep. I grabbed his good hand to try and get his attention, but he didn't wake up. I sighed and said goodbye before jumping out of the car and following my father inside.

"Of course, Mrs. Faratheen. You have nothing to worry about." The voice cut through the silence and pierced my heart. I know that voice...

I walked into the kitchen to find my mother handing a glass of water to a man whose face I couldn't see.

"Oh! Cassandra, this is Derek. He's going to help us find Brianna." He turned around to greet me.

My stomach clenched. It was Creighton. "Hello, Cassie."