Cassandra did not know what was going on exactly, but obviously they knew each other.
"How are you?" Isabelle asked, while walking inside.
"I'm great. Except for these." She smiled and pointed to her crutches.
"What a coincidence. You two know each other?" Cassandra was slightly confused, but she closed the door and followed to the living room.
"Kurt works at her office."
"Yes, he's the intern I told you about."
"I see." It still was very confusing to Cassandra.
"So, should we eat now, before it gets cold?" Isabelle held two bags up in which was the food.
"Yah. You two... Do whatever, I'll get us plates."
"Okay. Hey Rachel I didn't know exactly what you like, so-" Cassandra walked towards the living room table.
"That's okay. I'm sure I like it, whatever it is."
"I ordered a salad and two kinds of pasta for you."
"Thank you." Rachel helped to put the boxes on the table.
"I wasn't aware that it was you."
"It's kind of funny. I was a little afraid to meet you." Both of them chuckled.
"Why?"
"Okay, I still am, because you're important to her and I have the feeling you're here to approve of me somehow."
"Oh come on, you don't need to be afraid. I would never tell Cassandra who to date and who not, I just don't want her to get hurt." She smiled at Rachel.
"I don't want to hurt her." Rachel was now standing straight and looked serious.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. You're still worried I won't 'approve' you?" She was right, Rachel was and Isabelle could tell from Rachel's look. "Okay. It's weird. She's your teacher, it's not usual, but-" Rachel was confused about the situation, but she didn't understand how something so wonderful could be wrong and it wasn't like Cassandra was taking advantage or anything like that. "-but-" Isabelle saw that Rachel wasn't listening, but thinking about what she said. "-she seems happy and if she's willing to take that risk, it's up to her." Isabelle shrugged.
"I don't want to put her in that risk." Rachel realized what them being together meant and it shocked her that she hasn't thought about it earlier. Isabelle was shocked too, because that's not how she wanted things to work out.
"Here we go." Neither of them heard Cassandra coming, but Rachel was glad that she obviously wasn't listening to their conversation. Cassandra set the plates, sat down and grabbed the box of food that was handed to her by Isabelle.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." They ate almost in silent and Rachel saw Cassandra raising an eyebrow now and then and watching them. Mostly Cassandra and Isabelle talked and when they laughed Rachel did too and when she was spoken to she spoke too, but mainly she was thinking about what this relationship meant. When they were finished and Rachel stood up to walk in the kitchen, even though there was no reason for her, Cassandra followed her with the plates.
"I can help you two."
"No no, you brought the food." Cassandra was smiling, she meant what she said and she wanted the moment in the kitchen with Rachel alone. That's why she followed Rachel quickly.
"Rachel." Rachel was about to walk back to the living room, but Cassandra stood in front of her and gave her no choice than to stand there or to back up.
"What's going on?" Rachel didn't look in her eyes.
"Nothing."
"Sure. You barely said a word." She sounded very sarcastic.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, just tell me."
"I... I have a headache."
"Are you sure?" Cassandra was not convinced.
"Yes."
"You want some aspirin?"
"No, thanks... Can we go back now, please?" Cassandra let her pass and put the dish in the sink before following her. She had to know what was going on and thought about how to find out while walking back into the living room.
"Dinner was great Isabelle." Rachel sat down on the couch and smiled.
"You liked what I chose?" To Rachel, Isabelle looked honest like she really cared, but Rachel wasn't sure, that the concern on her face was just about the food.
"Yes, it was delicious."
"I'm glad you did." Cassandra looked like she really was, but also concerned.
"Yea, it was great, I wonder how you knew what I'd like." Isabelle and Cassandra smiled at each other. They talked for a while, just like when they ate. Isabelle and Cassandra did the most of the talking and Rachel just sat there. Rachel knew she had to chime in to the conversation, before she could politely get out and was trying to figure out what they were talking about, because she wasn't listening. It took her a moment, but then she realized what about and just chimed in.
"You remember the dresses in my apartment?" She said to Cassandra.
"They're yours too?" Cassandra looked at Isabelle and Rachel was glad she could say a few things before finding a reason to get out.
"Yes, Kurt brought Rachel over, we were in my closet upstairs and I just loved how they fit her."
"You're right; they look amazing on her." They both smiled at Rachel.
"Yes, they're great, I can't thank you enough."
"They're a gift, they're great and I love them, but they look much better on you." Rachel flushed about the compliment and because Cassandra and Isabelle were smiling at her.
"Thank you. I don't want to seem rude, but-"
"You want to go to bed?" Isabelle smiled nicely.
"Yes." Rachel felt a little guilty.
"I won't mind."
"You make it look like I would mind." Cassandra raised an eyebrow and looked sarcastically at Isabelle. "If you don't feel good, of course you can go. Just feel at home." Cassandra had a bright smile on her face, Isabelle looked skeptic and Rachel had to fight the urge to start crying.
"It was great seeing you again." Isabelle stood up and hugged Rachel.
"Yah, you too."
"Looking forward to the next time." Rachel just smiled at Isabelle.
Cassandra walked with her to the bedroom door and she wanted to kiss her, but Rachel turned lightly so that it was just a kiss on her cheek.
"Good night Rachel." She didn't know what was going on and she didn't like that feeling, nor did she like to see her girlfriend like that.
"Good night." Rachel walked o the bed, sat down and put the crutches on the floor, before she looked for her tank top and boxers in her bag. Cassandra watched her for a moment giving Rachel a moment if she wanted to talk, before she returned to the living room and sat on the couch again.
"What happened?" Cassandra was totally frustrated. "You met her before, she's not like that." Cassandra kept her voice quiet, because she didn't want Rachel to hear what they were talking about and because Rachel wanted to sleep.
"Actually, the last time I met her, she was exactly like that." Isabelle looked sorry for her friends worries.
"I've never seen her like that, not even when I was mean to her. She's always... I don't know, but not like that. I don't know what happened and she won't talk to me. Did you guys talk?"
"Yes. A little."
"You two like each other, right? I mean why would you give her your dresses?"
"I like her. I think she's an amazing young woman. She's smart, beautiful, kind, I mean she's great."
"Doesn't she like you?" A moment later she answered herself. "I don't think so, she wouldn't have been so happy to see you, would she?"
"I don't think so." Isabelle actually knew what was going in, but she wasn't sure if she was supposed to tell and if she was, she didn't know how.
"It's so frustrating."
"Maybe you should talk to her, not to me." It made Isabelle uncomfortable to keep the truth from her friend, but it was non of her business, they should talk it about it themselves.
"I told you I tried, she said she had a headache. I don't believe her."
"You really shouldn't talk to me."
"Oh my god! You do know what's going on." It hit her, Isabelle didn't look in her eyes and avoided the conversation. "Tell me."
"I do not know. I just ... Assume."
"Yah, well, tell me your assumption." She was pissed by now.
"First, you calm down, she wants to sleep and I don't want to wake her up." When she saw Cassandra calming down, she continued. "Second, I really don't know, we were talking and suddenly she was like that." Isabelle pointed to where Rachel sat before.
"What did you talk about?"
"Uh, the food, that I didn't know what she liked and you, obviously, that she was intimidated by your mysterious friend, me, she didn't know if I would approve of her, as your, well you know."
"Girlfriend." It was clear that Isabelle didn´t want to say it out loud, so Cassandra did and she put a lot of emphasize on it, to make it clear to her friend.
"Hey it's not that I don't like her. It's just strange to call her that. I mean she's so young and you're her teacher." Isabelle actually sounded nice, but it hit Cassandra.
"That's what you told her!"
"Calm down." Cassandra was angry and stood up, she started acing around and was the exact opposite of calm.
"Isn't it?"
"Yes, but you need to calm down anyway!"
"What else?"
"I guess I just said some things. I didn't mean anything by it." Cassandra saw the guilt on Isabelle's face and got guilty herself, for being so mad at her friend. "I said it's a risk for you, actually it's a risk for you two, and-"
"What risk?"
"You could get fired, maybe even sued and she could get kicked out of school and this school is her dream."
"I need to set it straight." She was already walking towards the bedroom when Isabelle stopped her.
"You won't do that now. Just let her sleep about it and you'll talk to her tomorrow."
"I don't know what's the matter now, she knew all that."
"Maybe she didn't realize it until I told her."
"You make it sound so nice." Cassandra sounded sarcastic.
"I'm sorry."
"Me too." She didn't want to be mean to her friend. "Are you sure I shouldn't talk to her?"
"Yes." He sat back on the couch. "How serious is this?"
"I love her."
"Wow." Wow in fact, a few hours earlier she was shocked about this feeling and now she's talking about it. "What about her?"
"I'm not sure. If she's afraid to get kicked out of school, I can leave, its not like I need the job."
"I don't think that's a good idea." That´s absolutely not what Isabelle saw coming.
"Why not?"
"Do you think that's what she would want for you?" She took a moment to think about it, but she did not know.
"I don't know."
"She doesn't want to put you in that risk."
"Of getting fired?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"She told me." This actually made sense to her and she smiled, because Rachel was so caring.
"Isabelle, I love her. She met my father. And creepy enough he likes her."
"Yes, that's creepy."
"And you do too. I don't want to lose her about my job." Cassandra also had to fight the urge to cry, because she never cried and she wasn't about to start today.
"You're really serious about her, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"What's so special about her?"
"I don't know, maybe because she knows who I am and that I am mean and still likes me. I mean I give her names in school, I treat her like... Well not nice, I tell her she can't dance, even though she's a great dancer."
"Why do you do that?"
"First I wanted to push her away, because I liked her too much and then I saw that she worked harder and got even better, because she wanted my respect."
"You were really mean, weren't you?"
"I'm not proud okay?" Isabelle laughed a little, but Cassandra couldn't.
"I should go home, it's a little late already." They stood up and walked to the door, Cassandra felt miserable about Rachel and Isabelle felt miserable about Cassandra.
"If you love her and she loves you'll find a way, talk to her tomorrow." Cassandra opened the door and they stood there for a moment.
"If."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know." Isabelle hugged her, gave her a kiss on each cheek and smiled optimistic. "Don't fight, don't get too mean and keep calm when you talk."
"I'll try my best."
"You love her, try harder."
"Alright."
"Good night."
"Call me tomorrow?"
"Okay, bye." Isabelle waved before she entered the elevator and was gone. She felt tired too and went into the bedroom, at first she considered to sleep on the couch, because it was a little awkward, but then Rachel chose her bed and they didn't fight, so there was no reason not to sleep next to Rachel.
She didn't want to wake up Rachel, so she didn't turn the lights on and because she couldn't see anything she just took off her clothes and went to bed. She set her alarm and quickly fall asleep, but she woke up a few times through the night, because she, in her sleep moved closer to Rachel and Rachel, in her sleep, or Cassandra at least thought so, moved further away.
She did not sleep well and when she heard her alarm going off she quickly turned it off, Rachel stirred, but it did not look like she woke up. Cassandra didn't want to go to work, but she knew she had to, she quietly took clothes out of her closer and walked into her bathroom.
After her shower she quietly left trough the bedroom and was glad that Rachel sounded asleep again. She took Rachel's sick note, put it in an envelope, got her keys, cellphone and cash and was about to leave, but then she looked for her spare keys and wrote a note for Rachel.
Good morning gorgeous, I hope you slept well and you're better now, I went to work. I got your sick note. I left you spare keys and I'll tell the doorman that you can come in anytime. That's my drivers number and here's some money, I don't think I have any vegan food and I don't know what you want to do, but you can spend it all if you want.
-C.
She put her drivers business card and $200 on the table and left the apartment. She thought a moment about if $200 seemed too much, but she doesn't have any vegan food and she didn't know what Rachel liked to do and she would easily spend $200 a day. Also, she actually wanted to write that she loved her, but she hasn't said it yet and it would be weird to write it before actually saying it.
She grabbed a coffee at Starbucks and took a cab to school. When she walked into school the students avoided her and she liked it, but she missed the little girl that didn't, that tried to keep eye contact when she glared at her.
Yes. She missed Rachel and she let everybody know. She went to the principle office and gave the secretary Rachel's sick note and left. Cassandra's first class started. It wasn't good, neither for her nor for her students, they were miserable and she was too. She was frustrated, not with her student, but she let it out on them.
Everyone was glad when it was over and she had two more classes before she could get home. The other two classes were almost as bad as the first, but she got trough it. Every time she walked through the floor she felt amazing, because everybody was avoiding to look at her, but she missed Rachel every time she saw Brody or anybody else from her class.
By the end of the day, when she was quickly leaving to get home to Rachel someone caught her.
"Miss July."
"Brody. What do you want?"
"I just wanted to ask what's going on?"
"Nothing." Yes, she was snappy.
"I was just concerned."
"You don't need to."
"Oh and do you know where Rachel is? The principles secretary won't tell me and I thought maybe you'd know."
"Why would I know?"
"I don't know." She knew she hadn't hinted anything and just walked away.
"Miss July." By now she was annoyed, because she just wanted to go home and talk to Rachel.
"What is it?"
"When you go to the principles office-"
"I won't."
"If, would you ask about Rachel?"
"Why do you care?" She actually wanted to know.
"I kinda like her."
"Kinda?" She knew what kinda meant and even if she didn't know how he meant it she could tell by his face.
"She's really nice and not like the other big city girls." Right now she felt jealousy growing inside her, but she had to overplay it somehow.
"Big city boy and small town girl? Sounds great. In a song. But actually it's the other way around, anyway I don't think it'd work out for you." He looked hurt, but Cassandra didn't mind, she needed to fight the competition and she wasn't sure herself whether Rachel was gay or straight. Rachel had boyfriends before and she didn't know for sure if this relationship was just a one time thing for Rachel or serious. "Anything else?"
She was annoyed and the question wasn't honest, because she already turned around ale walked out of the building. She got a cab and was lucky that they didn't hit any traffic, like usually at this time. In her building, she got her mail and headed to her apartment.
When she arrived, she got nervous, she stood a moment in front of her apartment door until she figured that it was ridiculous to be scared to walk into her own apartment. Cassandra opened the door and walked inside, but didn't see Rachel, she saw the note on the desk, with the keys and the money untouched, then she walked into her bedroom, Rachel's bag was gone.
"God, this girl is unbelievable. When I'm mean, she falls in love with me and when I'm nice she runs away." Cassandra walked out and left her apartment again, determined to find Rachel. She took a cab to Rachel and Kurt's apartment, while calling Kurt, but she just reached his voice mail, she also tried Rachel's phone, but she didn't answer. Cassandra was sure Rachel wouldn't open the door if she was home, that's why she told the driver to change the direction and called Isabelle. "Hey."
"Hey, how are you?" Isabelle sounded concerned.
"I haven't talked to her yet-"
"Why not?"
"I will. Is Kurt still working?"
"Yes, why?"
"Would you mind me talking to him for two minutes?"
"I'd rather see you talking to Rachel, but I guess-"
"Thanks, see you in five." Cassandra just hung up, she didn't like to be told what to do. She rushed into the building and found Kurt, before she found Isabelle.
"Kurt!" He was a few steps ahead of her, but turned around.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Can I borrow your keys?" He looked confused.
"I wanted to grab Rachel's books after school, but I forgot her keys and it was easier to come here and ask for yours than to go home and get Rachel's." She was always good at lying.
"Oh, yah sure." He got the keys out of his pocket.
"Thank you." He smiled nicely.
"You're welcome. I'll be here for the next three hours."
"I'll bring them back to you."
"Alright. I see you then."
"Yes." This time she smiled at him and left. She opened the door to Rachel's apartment, but Rachel was not there like she assumed. In fact there was no indication, that Rachel was there at all. Cassandra called her again, but again voice mail.
"This is great... the greatest city to find someone, who doesn't want to be found." She left the apartment again and returned to Isabelle's office. When she didn't find Kurt, she walked into Isabelle's office.
"Hi." Cassandra walked in and sat on the chair in front of her.
"What happened?" Isabelle looked concerned.
"I can't find her."
"What do you mean?" Cassandra saw Isabelle's confusion.
"She's not in my apartment nor in hers. I left her the spare keys, but she didn't take them."
"From the beginning please." Isabelle still looked confused, so Cassandra started again. "I went to work this morning-" Cassandra saw that Isabelle wanted to say something but she just raised her finger and continued.
"I already called in yesterday, anyway, when I came back earlier, she wasn't there anymore and her bag wasn't there too, I assumed she went home but she isn't there either."
"How do you know?"
"I asked Kurt for his keys and checked."
"He gave you his keys just like that?"
"I lied of course." She just waved her hand as if it wasn´t worth mentioning, she knew Izzy didn't like when she did it and she already saw her friend crossing her arms and giving her a stern look.
"Of course."
"She's not answering her phone."
"What do you wanna do now?"
"I want to talk to her." Obviously.
"Go home." Now, Cassandra was confused.
"And how's this supposed to solve this situation?"
"Well, if she does not want to be found, you won't find her. We're talking about New York." Cassandra had already figured that out.
"Maybe she comes back, or calls, but she can't hide forever. She has to go to school again."
"I don't want to wait that long."
"I know, but maybe you don't have another choice." Cassandra had to accept that Isabelle was right, but she still didn't like it.
"Alight." She stood up and was about to leave. "Oh, could you give Kurt his keys back? I couldn't find him."
"Yes, of course."
"Thank you." Isabelle took the keys and smiled at Cassandra. "Bye."
"Bye." With that Cassandra left, she felt miserable and it felt like eternity to come home, but when she finally entered her apartment, after sitting in a cab, walking into her building and trying to call Rachel again, she thought she heard a noise. She stood there for a moment and waited if she'd hear it again, but nothing, so Cassandra walked in and closed the door quietly.
Finally, Rachel answered the phone.
"Hello?" But then there was the noise again.
"Wait." Cassandra walked slowly into her bedroom and pushed the door open. She didn't feel fear, but was glad she knew how to defend herself, but when she opened the door she almost jumped.
"What are you doing here?" She hung up on Rachel, because she stood in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Rachel flushed immense, because she just came out of the bathroom, in which she had problems getting dressed with her plastered foot.
"I live here." Cassandra's eyes looked Rachel up and down and she liked what she saw, but was still very confused.
"And I slept here!" Rachel quickly took a towel and covered herself, but it got clear pretty fast, that it wasn't as easy as Rachel thought. Cassandra turned around, because Rachel glared at her.
"I thought you left."
"Excuse me?" Confusion was evident on Rachel's face.
"I thought-"
"I heard you and you can turn around again. What do you mean?"
"Thank you." Cassandra did turn around.
"I thought you weren't here anymore."
"Why?"
"I don't know! I also don't know what happened yesterday. Would you mind explaining that to me? Maybe I wouldn't need to worry then, if I can't find you!"
"What do you mean, can't find me? I was right here when you came in." Rachel was confused, because she stood there, naked, when she was on the phone with Cassandra, when Cassandra walked in.
"I was already here, I left again to look for you."
"I was in the bathroom."
"I'm sorry, I just saw that your bag was gone and that you haven't left a note." Cassandra was pissed, but she didn't exactly know why, probably because she was too stupid to look really for Rachel and making an assumption too early. "I took my bag with me to the bathroom, that's why I didn't leave a note." Rachel had a sarcastic tone.
"Don't talk to me like that! If you haven't acted so weird yesterday, maybe I wouldn't have today."
"I'm sorry." And Rachel did sound sorry which made Cassandra feel sorry.
"Don't. I don't want you to feel sorry. Can you please just tell me what's going on?" Cassandra's voice was calm now, but determined.
"I don't know. I... I just freaked out."
"Why? You knew Isabelle and it seemed like you two get along." She couldn't tell Rachel what Isabelle told her the night before, because even bough Isabelle was her best friend she didn't want to give Rachel the feeling they were talking behind her back.
"Yes, it's not that."
"Then what?"
"Don't you think it's wrong? I mean...us?" Rachel looked down and flushed a little.
"No. Why would you ask?"
"You're my teacher." Because Rachel was still looking down, Cassandra sat on her bed next to where Rachel was standing.
"I know. I knew that and so did you."
"I know, I know. It's just... people are telling me that it's wrong."
"You mean Isabelle."
"Yes." Rachel couldn't stand anymore and sat next to Cassandra.
"Do you think it's wrong, because I'm your teacher?"
"I don't know..." Rachel looked frustrated and confused. "No, I don't think so, I don't think this, what we have, can be wrong." Cassandra wanted to make sure that Rachel understood the consequences.
"It depends on what you see as wrong. It's not legal, some people consider this as wrong. I could lose my job and you could get kicked out of school."
"I know."
"I'd quit for you."
"Your job?" Cassandra saw Rachel's shocked face and had to smile.
"Yes."
"Why would you do this for me?" Rachel still looked shocked, but now she also looked curious.
"I love you."
Isabelle felt like the time stopped and the fact that Rachel didn't say anything made it seem like eternity. After a moment Rachel moved closer and kissed Cassandra. It was a passionate kiss and Cassandra loved it, Rachel's lips were so soft and gentle and Rachel smelled so fresh.
Cassandra remembered the smell, lemons, and had to smile, because it was her shower cream that smelled like lemons. Rachel slid with her fingers through Cassandra's hair and in a soft move Cassandra laid Rachel down, leaned over her and continued the kiss.
They stopped for a moment to breathe and when Cassandra leaned back down, Rachel put her hand on Cassandra's chest to push her away.
"I don't want you to quit your job."
"Okay..." Cassandra thought Rachel liked the fact that she was more important than the job to Cassandra.
"And I don't want you to get fired."
"Or to get kicked out of school?" Cassandra didn't like to talk so much about herself and she didn't care that much about her job.
"Of course, but that would be my due, for my mistake. Don't get me wrong-" Rachel saw that she'd raised her eyebrows at that. "I don't think you're a mistake. But I don't want you to lose your job because of me."
"Okay."
"When something comes up, I don't know what, I'd have to break up."
"Okay..." Cassandra wasn't sure if she understood Rachel correctly and also did not know why Rachel was talking so much, she just wanted to kiss her again.
"And I will deny us." That hit Cassandra.
"You're serious about this, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"I guess, I've to go with it."
"And-" Now, she was just annoyed, because Rachel already said so much and couldn't think of anything else what they needed to talk about, right now.
"Seriously?" She sounded annoyed.
"I love you." That made Cassandra smile, she had to kiss Rachel now and Rachel kissed back. This time their kiss was sensual and steamy. Rachel held Cassandra's face with one hand and she had the other one around Cassandra's neck, to keep her close, while Cassandra moved her fingers through Rachel's hair. She stopped the kiss for oxygen and looked into Rachel's eyes.
"If you deny me, ever, I'm gonna show them how much I love you and how much you love me." She sounded a little threatening and it gave Rachel goosebumps.
With that she gave Rachel a little kiss on her lips, before she could answer.