"Stop." Actually there was nothing really to stop, but Rachel got the feeling they were about to pass a line, she did not want passed yet. When she saw Cassandra's disappointed face, or just the reflection of her guilt, she felt the urge to explain her sudden reaction. "I don't want to...do this." Rachel flushed and when she looked at Cassandra, who pulled back, just a few inches, she flushed even more. "I don't mean, not at all. I do. Just, not now." Frustration grew in Rachel, because Cassandra smirked now and did not say a word.
"Can you say something, please?"
"You talk too much."
"That's not what I meant." Rachel felt the heat in her face and saw that Cassandra's smirk grew.
"I know, but that's my opinion. We don't have to have sex and actually, that's not what I intended to do."
"Oh." Since she couldn't flush anymore, Rachel's face just stayed in this dark shade of red, because Cassandra reached for her towel, but she held on tight.
"What are you-"
"I wanted to see you naked again." Cassandra said it so simple, Rachel almost thought it was stupid of her to ask.
"So, you don't want to have sex, what do you want to do?" Rachel knew that this was coming.
"I don't know."
"You must know what you'd like to do, what did you do before me? Oh, but you didn't do me, right." Cassandra laughed and sat up and Rachel slightly nudged her arm. "Oh come on I'm kidding, you know what I meant."
"I waited for Kurt to come home or I met Brody to ..." Rachel stopped, she knew what she was usually doing, but she couldn't tell Cassandra.
"To...? What?"
"Hang out." Rachel wondered where that lie came from, but it wasn't really a lie it was just not the entire truth.
"I told you, you're a bad liar. And even worse, now that I know you're lying, I'm pretty sure you bitched about me." Rachel frowned, even though it was right, she didn't know how Cassandra could tell when she was lying.
"How can you tell?" Cassandra laughed.
"I'm not gonna tell you."
"It's not fair!"
"It's not fair?" Apparently Rachel sounded somehow funny, because Cassandra started laughing.
"Yes." It wasn't funny to Rachel, so she kept her serious face on.
"You're so adorable when you're upset." Cassandra smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I usually have dinner with Isabelle on Mondays, but I'm sure she'll excuse me tonight."
"I don't appreciate the subject change, I still want to know, but you don't need to change your plans tonight, for me."
"I didn't change the subject, we were talking about our plans. Anyway, we don't have to hang out with Isabelle." Actually, Cassandra didn't want to see Isabelle tonight, because of last nights disaster.
"I think you should go." That was Rachel's honest opinion and if Cassandra would go, she could read another book, because while she took a bath, showering wasn't an option with her foot, she finished the first book.
"What about you?"
"I stay home."
"That's stupid." As soon as Cassandra said it, she regretted it, because she knew Rachel would take it the wrong way.
"Excuse me?" And she was right, Rachel's face went blanch.
"I didn't mean it that way, but I'm not gonna leave you here alone."
"I think I can handle staying home alone."
"I don't doubt that, I just don't want to go out and let you stay here. You meant here right?" Cassandra wasn't sure when she thought about what Rachel said, because she said home and she assumed Rachel meant her home.
"Yes, but if you don't want to leave me here, I can go home." Rachel made it clear that she meant her apartment.
"No."
"No?" Cassandra's answer came so promptly Rachel felt a little startled.
"Yes."
"I think I´ll leave when I want to."
"I didn't mean it that way, I just don't want you to leave."
"Okay. I didn't want to either, but I don't want you to cancel your plans for me."
"This is gonna be a big deal, isn't it?"
"I don't make a big deal out of it."
"Okay, I'll talk to Isabelle and we do something together." Rachel just raised an eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that, get dressed." Cassandra shook her head, turned around and left the bedroom to call Isabelle.
Rachel could hear Cassandra talking on the phone, while she took some clothes out of her bag. Rachel chose clothes that fit most eventualities, black leggings, because she wouldn't have problems rolling up one leg, and her short candy-striped dress. She put the clothes on the bed and stood up, which wasn't as easy as you'd think, because she had to hold the balance on one foot, while the one with plaster unbalanced her.
First, Rachel dropped the towel on the floor, then she slipped somehow into the leggings. Rachel struggled a little with her plastered foot and the leggings, but after a few tries she liked the outcome and grabbed for her dress.
"Like what you see?" She realized Cassandra was watching her, she didn't see it coming, because she stood with her back to the door, but she couldn't hear Cassandra talking anymore, however she heard Cassandra's breathing. Rachel liked to tease Cassandra, it was fun to be the one that made the other crazy.
"Yep." To Rachel's disappointment Cassandra didn't sound teased, more like she enjoyed it, but Rachel didn't show her disappointment. She put the dress over her head, made it fit and turned around.
"What do you think?"
"I liked it better before."
"Funny."
"Anyway, I talked to Isabelle and she wouldn't mind if we'd stay home tonight-" Rachel looked very indignant.
"I told her you don't want me to cancel, so there's this gallery she wants to go, she always tries to get me into art." Rachel looked pleasantly surprised while Cassandra looked bored. "But I think you'll like it."
"What exhibition is it?"
"May I surprise you?"
"I don't like surprises." Rachel pouted, because she really wanted Cassandra to tell her, which made Cassandra smirk.
"Yes you do, everybody does. And besides, I like it how your eyes shine when you get surprised." Both of them flushed a little.
"Okay."
"You look great." This compliment made only Rachel flush.
"Thank you."
"I should dress up too." Cassandra quickly walked over to her closet.
"You look great." It was Rachel's honest opinion, but Rachel thought Cassandra always looked great, Cassandra just smiled at her and opened the closet anyway.
She looked through her clothes, looked at Rachel a few times while she decided what to wear and threw a few pieces on her bed, next to Rachel.
Rachel just watched her, when Cassandra knew what she was going to wear and had it all on the bed, she closed the closed and turned slowly around. She smirked, because she had an idea and when she slowly started to undress in front of Rachel, Rachel flushed, gulped and stared at Cassandra.
Rachel didn't quite know how to react, she just kept quiet and after she stared at Cassandra, and realized it, she looked into Cassandra's eyes and tried to keep it that way. It was harder than she thought, because she really wanted to see Cassandra's body.
"Like what you see?" She repeated Rachel's question and smirked, but Rachel did not respond, Cassandra knew the answer anyway. After she'd undressed herself, she dressed herself just as slowly as before and made Rachel watch. Cassandra liked how desperate Rachel tried to keep the eye contact and not look at her body.
"What do you think?" She asked Rachel after she was dressed.
Rachel gulped again and dared to look at Cassandra's body now, since she was dresses now, and Cassandra saw how Rachel flushed.
"I... Uh... You look amazing." Again, this was Rachel's honest answer, but this time she couldn´t look at Cassandra when she said it. Cassandra wore white skin-tight jeans, a black long sleeved shirt with an easy v-neck and a silver-grey vest, in the same color as the high heels she held up.
"Are you hungry?"
"Not really."
"I told Isabelle, we would pick her up at her office."
"Yah."
"You wanna do anything before we leave?"
"Uh...not really."
"I do." Before Rachel could ask Cassandra what she wanted to do, she was kissing Rachel and after that she smirked happily and waited for Rachel to get up, but Rachel was overwhelmed and needed a few moments to remember that she needed to breath, before she could get up, took her crutches and walked out of the bedroom.
Cassandra grabbed her phone and her keys and opened the door for Rachel. It took them about twenty minutes to get to Isabelle's office after leaving Cassandra's apartment. Cassandra teased Rachel a little, after she realized Rachel was in some kind of trance for a few seconds after they kissed. Rachel always needed a moment to steady her breathing after and Cassandra realized how beautiful Rachel was and found it hard to believe that this young girl fell in love with her. She just watched Rachel, avoiding eye contact.
They walked into the building in which Cassandra's office was and left the elevator on the right floor. When they walked pass a lot of people, who were working with Isabelle, Rachel noticed how they looked up for a second, when they saw them and looked away again and avoided further eye contact. It reminded Rachel of school, every student was avoiding looking at their teacher, just like these people did here. It was still an odd feeling to her, because these people, grown ups, some older than Cassandra, were also avoiding to look at Rachel.
Rachel knew she just followed Cassandra, but Cassandra didn't walk in front of her, she walked next to each other, as slow as Rachel and Rachel liked that Cassandra had so much respect for her. Cassandra opened the door to Isabelle's office and let Rachel walk in first, but she saw how shocked the people were about this, probably, because she treated these people like her students.
"Hi Izzy."
"Hey." Isabelle smiled at Cassandra and then at Rachel.
"Hi Rachel. How are you?" Neither could see it, but Rachel raised an eyebrow, because Isabelle smiled so very nicely at and gave her a hug, before she hugged Cassandra.
"Hi Isabelle, I'm great, how are you?" It was an awkward situation.
"Me too, thank you." Isabelle seemed glad, that Rachel wasn't mad at her for last night.
"Yea, me too. Anyway, are you ready?" Cassandra sounded lightly amused.
"I only need to send these faxes and I wanted to change before we go." She held up a few letters and sketches.
"Alright." Cassandra opened the door again and waited for Rachel to walk out, Rachel was a little confused about their leaving even though Isabelle only needed a few more minutes, but walked pass Cassandra after a moment.
"Where are we going?" After Cassandra had the office door closed and they walked a few steps, Rachel asked Cassandra.
"Well it's boring in there and we can already go upstairs."
"And it won't be boring there?"
"I heard you liked her closet." And Rachel did like it, there were so many beautiful dresses, but this time she wouldn't be able to try on anything. They walked to the elevator, got to the next floor and walked in. It was still an awe-inspiring feeling to walk in there. Rachel followed Cassandra, looking at all the clothes, because she had the feeling Cassandra had a destination.
They walked to the end of the room and Cassandra opened a door, which Rachel hadn't seen before. She turned around and looked at Rachel.
"Wait a sec." Rachel did and Cassandra walked a few steps and got a modern armchair for her, it looked pretty comfortable.
"Thank you." Cassandra just smirked, gave her a small kiss and enjoyed the view of Rachel coming back to present. She turned back to the hidden closet and looked through clothes.
"You want to change again?" Rachel's voice was a little hoarse, because she thought Cassandra would do the little show, Rachel had to watch earlier that night, again.
"You wish, huh? No I'm not changing again, I look fabulous." She made a quick pose, smirked and ran back to the closet.
"We're going to choose Isabelle's outfit for tonight."
"Don't you think she wants to choose by herself?"
"Yes."
"...and why are we-"
"She always needs so much time and I wanted to go to the opening tonight." Cassandra grabbed something from the closet and showed it to Rachel.
"What do you think?" She held up a nice blouse and a skirt, but it was striped in black and white.
"Nope." This went on for a few more outfits, Cassandra showed some really beautiful clothes, but somehow they wouldn't look good, but then she showed something Rachel liked. It was a simple black dress, sleeveless and knee long, with a red waist-belt and red pumps.
"This looks amazing." Rachel was stunned.
"Finally. You're almost as choosy as she is." Cassandra gave the clothes to Rachel and closed the closet, when Isabelle came.
"Why do you always want to choose my clothes?" Isabelle sat on the armrest of Rachel's chair, smiled nicely at Rachel. Cassandra smirked, but didn't answer.
"She said you need too long." Rachel handed her the clothes, after Cassandra gave her an outraged look to which she just answered with a shrug.
"Thank god, you have a good sense for fashion, then." Isabelle took the clothes and leaned closer to Rachel and whispered the last part. "She's right."
"I heard that." Isabelle had whispered to Rachel and Rachel was sure that Cassandra hasn't heard it. Isabelle just laughed and walked to the changing room. It took only, about three minutes and Isabelle came out fully dressed.
"That was quick." Cassandra sounded suspicious.
"You want me to go back?" Isabelle smiled, Cassandra made a grimace and Rachel laughed. "Shall we go now?"
"Yes. Don't tell her where we're going and what we're doing."
"It's rude to talk about me in third person while I'm in the same room." Rachel pouted a little, but Cassandra just smiled at her.
"She's right."
"Unbelievable!" Cassandra shook her head, because they were teaming up against Cassandra, but she offered Rachel a hand to stand up.
When they were back on the office floor and passing these people again, Rachel watched them again. It was a weird situation, first he looked at Cassandra, avoided further looks to her, then at Rachel and looked very curious and then at Isabelle and smiled happy at her, they even wished her a good night.
Rachel felt offended by their looks. Outside the building they saw Cassandra's car and the driver waiting be the door.
"I told him to be here by nine and you let him wait." It was just after nine, but Cassandra teased Isabelle anyway. He opened the door with a smile and closed it after them. They drove for a few minutes in silent before Isabelle started the conversation.
"When did you last talk to Ajax?" Rachel didn't know who Ajax was and tried not to look too curious, but Isabelle asked and she thought it wouldn't be weird to be a little interested.
"Not too long ago." Cassandra didn't sound convincing, rather a little guilty, like Isabelle asked just the one question she didn't want to answer.
"So, that long. This is going to be fun."
"Not really, I think we talked last February." The car stopped and the driver walked around to open the door for them.
"You're right, that's not long at all." Isabelle sounded sarcastic and gave Cassandra a stern look, before she got out of the car.
"Don't listen to her." Cassandra whispered.
"I heard that!" Rachel knew Isabelle wasn´t lying.
"I don't know what you guys are talking about anyway." Cassandra helped Rachel out of the car, before following her. She told the driver that they would get a cab for the ride back and wished him a good night, before turning back to Rachel and Isabelle. They walked towards the gallery and Rachel desperately wanted to know what exhibition it was, because Cassandra refused to tell her.
They walked in and Rachel smiled immediately, she knew this. It was an architecture exhibition and remembered one picture that hung on be wall from the book, it was one of the fictional drawings of Cassandra's brother. Then it hit her. Cassandra and Isabelle walked up to the reception, where a man checked a list for their names, realized that Rachel still stood at the door. Cassandra quickly walked over.
"Are you alright?" She looked very concerned.
"Your brother made these."
"Some, yes. I thought you liked them?" Isabelle stood at the reception and looked concerned as well.
"I do."
"Then, what's the matter?" Cassandra was confused.
"Your brothers name is Ajax."
"And?"
"He's here."
"I think so." She didn't get what Rachel was talking about.
"You could've told me I would meet another family member of yours."
"Ah... I'm sorry. I didn't realize that it would be so important to you."
"Me neither." Rachel flushed.
"You want to leave?"
"No!" Cassandra smiled happily and kissed Rachel.
"You want to go inside now?"
"Okay." Rachel was nervous to meet Cassandra's brother and tried not to show it. They walked inside and Rachel saw that a lot if people came. She heard Cassandra and Isabelle talking, but wasn't listening, she looked at the pictures and the and the model building that some architects had built.
One of the few waiters that walked around came to them and offered all of them a glass of champagne. Isabelle and Cassandra took one and even though Rachel didn't intend to drink anything Cassandra said something.
"You better not give her any alcohol, she's under twenty-one and you better tell you friends, or I personally kick you out of here." The waiter looked at Rachel, trying never to forget her face, nodded at Cassandra and quickly walked away.
"Why'd you do that?" Rachel wasn't offended, because she didn't want to drink anyway, but she didn't like how Cassandra treated that guy.
"I remember the last time you drank. Do you?" Rachel shook her head, not as an answer, but to show Cassandra her dislike of her action. They walked through the main room and exhibition together, but then Isabelle met someone and talked to them. In front of some big pictures were benches and Rachel found one from Cassandra's brother, she hasn't seen it in his book, but she remembered the design and told Cassandra that she'll sit down there.
"You're sure?" Cassandra seemed doubtfully.
"Yes."
"You like the exhibition?"
"Yes, it's amazing. These architects, some of them have great ideas."
"Just no investors."
"I guess. Look at this-" Rachel pointed Ajax big picture.
"No thanks. I had enough of these. I'll get another glass, do you want something to drink?"
"I'm good, thanks." Rachel smiled and turned towards the picture when Cassandra left to the bar. A lot of thoughts were on her mind now, whiles she looked at the picture.
"Hi." After a couple of minutes a guy sat next to her, made her jump out of her thoughts and almost jump for real.
"Oh, hi."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."
"I'm fine, I was just ..."
"You're enjoying the art?" Rachel didn't know who the guy was, he seemed nice, but it was still weird to talk to a stranger.
"Yes."
"You want something to drink?"
"I'm fine thank you."
"What do you like about this one?" He pointed to the big one Rachel was looking at.
"I ... I don't know." Rachel wasn't sure. "I just think it's a pretty building, I guess I'd like to live there, but I don't think I could afford it." She laughed a little and the man joined her. Then she actually looked at him the first time. He was a tall blond man, he looked athletic and Rachel thought he was handsome. He also had a good taste in clothes, he was wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie, very simple, but elegant.
"What do you do?"
"I'm going to be on Broadway."
"Oh really? Which play?" She laughed again, he was very nice.
"Not yet, I'm still going to school."
"I think you'll be on Broadway soon." She flushed, Rachel knew it was a stupid compliment, because he didn't know anything about her or her talent, but it was still nice to hear. "Actually my hole family is a big Broadway fan. If you ever want to go, I can get you tickets." It sounded like he was asking for a date, but Rachel didn't know how to decline the offer nicely.
"I'm pretty busy with school."
"Well, if you change your mind-" He gave her a business card and stood up.
"Give me a call, I gotta go and talk to someone."
"Okay, I will." They smiled at each other, but Rachel was glad that he left, she didn´t bother to read the card and just put it on the table next to her. After a few more moments she wondered where Cassandra was and looked for her. She found her talking to a few people and didn't want to interrupt her. Rachel watched her for a moment. Most of the people left, only one guy was still with her, but he was standing with his back to her and there were too many people walking through her view, to see who he was.
When Rachel saw that Cassandra was about to come to her with this guy, she quickly turned around.
"Rachel?"
"Yah?"
"I want you to meet my brother, Ajax." Rachel was sure she had the same expression on her face that she saw on his. The man that flirted with her before was Cassandra's brother.
"Hi."
"Actually we've met." He told Cassandra.
"Great." Cassandra sounded enthusiastic and gave Rachel a kiss. Rachel flushed, because Ajax was watching them and she couldn't look away.
"I gotta go." Rachel stood up a little to quick and almost lost her balance, because she forgot her crutches and that her one foot was heavier. If Cassandra wouldn't have caught her, she probably would have fallen down.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes. I just have to go to the bathroom." She faked a smile and left to find the bathroom. Cassandra and Ajax stayed there. She found the bathroom quickly and handled to open the door and walk inside, without looking like an idiot. She stared at the mirror.
"Rachel?" It was Isabelle.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Please, don't lie to me." Rachel frowned, because she didn't know how everybody could tell when she was lying.
"It's probably nothing."
"'Probably' doesn't sound good, talk to me, maybe I can help." Isabelle sounded so nice. "Let me make up for last night."
"I met Ajax." Isabelle looked confused.
"He's a nice guy and he has no problem with his sisters sexuality. And Cassandra only introduces people, she seriously cares about, to her family, I doubt that he was rude or something."
"No he was not rude." Rachel voice was higher than usual. "But Cassandra didn't introduce us, he came on to me. I mean she did, but-"
"Wait a second, what? What do you mean 'he came on to you'?" Rachel took a deep breath before answering.
"I sat there, looking at the art when he sat next to me, I didn't know who he was, and flirted with me."
"Are you sure?"
"He offered me a drink, he made me a compliment and he said he could get me tickets to a Broadway show if I wanted to see one, after I refused, he gave me his number if I'd change my mind."
"That sounds like flirting."
"Rachel what's going on?" They haven't heard Cassandra walking in and almost jumped.
"I'm going to leave you two alone."
"No, you won't, if there's something going on, some kind of misunderstanding you're involved in again, I want to set things straight right now." Cassandra sounded pissed and Isabelle looked offended.
"It has nothing to do with her or you for that matter." Rachel was angry. "We can talk, if you stop yelling around." When Rachel said we, she pointed at Cassandra and herself. Cassandra nodded and Isabelle was about to leave, when Cassandra grabbed her wrist.
"Sorry." Isabelle gave her a small smile and left. "So what's going on now?"
"You make it sound like I always have some kind of problem with something."
"You kinda do!" Cassandra started yelling and Rachel couldn't stop herself from yelling back.
"It's not my fault that you're mean or that your friend tells me how wrong our relationship is or that your brother-!"
"What about him?" Rachel regretted that she said any of this.
"Nothing."
"Are you kidding me?" Some woman was about to walk in and as soon as they heard it, Cassandra turned around and pointed to her. "Get out!" The woman looked frightened and left quickly.
"Stop yelling at people when you're mad at me!"
"Stop wailing!"
"You think I'm wailing?"
"Yes."
"I told you, we can talk if you stop yelling, you don't, so I assume you don't want to talk anymore."
"Stop being a wise ass." This time Rachel actually did look hurt. She closed her eyes, gulped and took a deep breath before she looked back at Cassandra. "I don't know what your problem is."
"You already know what your friend thinks about me and tonight your brother flirted with me and asked me out, I went here to think about how to handle the situation. Enjoy the rest of the night." Rachel had tears in her eyes and a hard time not to start to cry, while she walked closer and passed Cassandra when she said it. She only broke eye contact when she had passed Cassandra.
"Stop being so childish." Rachel stopped walking, the tears broke out and she was mad now.
"How often do you want to insult me tonight? It's not my fault, you know? If you don't like how people react about us, or how I react when I don't know what to do, just leave me alone!" The door opened and before somebody walked in- "get out!" But Ajax came in any way and Rachel flushed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you." Her voice abruptly changed from upset to calm.
"What do you want?" Cassandra sounded annoyed.
"Isabelle told me to talk to you guys. Listen, Rachel I'm very sorry for what happened, I didn't know you two were involved."
"I know that."
"God, I'm getting sick of this, get outa here Ajax." Both looked outraged at Cassandra, but since he said everything he had to say, he left.
"It was nice to meet you Rachel." He gave her a smile and ignored his sister.
"You too." Rachel smiled a little at him.
"Get out!"
"Would you please stop now?" Rachel gave Cassandra a look.
"No. You yelled at me and now it's my turn. You better listen to me now. I don't care what other people think about me or our relationship, I do care what they might think about you, I don't care if someone thinks you're single, I do care if you're flirting, or someone is flirting with you, I told you I love you and I don't want you to flirt with other people, I don't care men or women. If someone does flirt with you and you can't get rid of him or her, tell me I'll do it and if you're troubled, in any possible way, I want you to tell me right away. Do you understand?" Rachel nodded. "When I said 'I love you' I meant it."
"I'm sorry." They had calmed down by Cassandra's speech.
"I don't want you to be sorry."
"I don't know what to say now."
"You wanna stay?"
"I guess it'd look weird to leave now."
"I don't care."
"I know. ...what do you care about?" Cassandra took a moment to answer.
"You, the people I love and... I guess that's it." They just looked in each others eyes for a moment. "If you feel uncomfortable in any way I want you to tell me."
"I'm certainly not going to say something every time something is bothering me."
"Give me a sign." Rachel looked skeptic. "Yes a sign, I don't know what sign, you'll figure it out." She kissed Rachel slightly, Rachel wanted to deepen it more, but Cassandra already looked at her. "What are you looking at?"
"Your face."
"Why?"
"Checking your makeup, it's okay though." Rachel looked into a mirror and Cassandra was right, her make up was okay, but her eyes were red.
"It's not my makeup, you always look at me that way, you always did." Rachel liked it, but thought it was a little weird, because nobody was watching somebody else that much.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, in school you always looked at me and now again."
"You keep eye contact." Cassandra sounded like she admitted something.
"What?"
"With me, when you talk to me, or just when you see me, you keep eye contact. Not a lot of people do." Rachel looked like Cassandra just said something in a strange language.
"When we walk outa here, watch the people talking with me." She still looked skeptic, but looked in the mirror to check how she looked and followed Cassandra out. Ajax and Isabelle stood close by the door, talking to each other. When they looked at them, Rachel thought they looked like puppy's, not knowing how to act. Ajax came a few steps forward to them.
"Rachel, I'm sorry-" He looked honest, but Cassandra interrupted him.
"You know what I think about sorry people."
"I do, but I was talking to Rachel." Rachel tried to hide her smile and saw that Isabelle was doing the same.
"It's okay." Rachel smiled nicely.
"Thank you. You guys want to go out?" Rachel didn't and she quickly had to figure out some kind of signal for Cassandra.
"No thanks." He nodded.
"We'll get something to drink."
"Okay." Ajax smiled at both of them and turned back o Isabelle. Isabelle turned to Rachel and gave her a small smile, before she showed Rachel the way to the bar.
"Now, I'll show you what I mean, my brother and Isabelle don't count."
"Okay." They walked to the bar and Cassandra ordered a drink for her and a soda for Rachel.
"See that guy next to the picture of the red building?" Rachel looked.
"The one in the blue suite?" There were two men talking, but just one was wearing blue.
"Yes."
"Okay, he went to college with my brother, I've met him a few times, his name is Michael."
"Okay." Rachel followed Cassandra over to the man she was talking about.
"Hi Michael." She offered a hand. "How are you?"
"Oh, Cassandra. Hi, I'm great thank you, what about you?" He looked at her smiled slightly and looked then at Rachel.
"Me too, this is Rachel. Rachel, Michael." She introduced them and they shook hands.
"Oh, and this is Tom." He introduced the guy he was talking to. Tom nodded and quickly looked back at Michael.
"See you later Michael." And with that Tom vanished.
"Alright." Michael waved him goodbye, but he didn´t seem happy.
"Nice drawing." Cassandra pointed to the picture they were standing on front of and actually smiled.
"Thank you." He seemed shy to Rachel and she didn't know if Cassandra's theory was correct or if her feeling was right. He didn't look in Cassandra's eyes, that was true.
"You've seen your brother?" Rachel got the feeling he wanted to end the conversation, because he seemed to look around to find something to excuse him.
"Yea, I just thought we'd catch up a little."
"Oh, sure. So, what are you doing?"
"Teaching."
"Oh, that's great." He seemed genuine, but was figuring around with his drink.
"Yah. What about your career?" Rachel saw that she hit a soft spot, because he made a sad smile.
"You know, economy isn't that good." He explained it a little, but it was clear that he had no career. Rachel was sure Cassandra hit the soft spot on purpose, just to prove her point.
"You're married?" He looked a little confused by Cassandra's question, but she pointed to the ring on her hand.
"Yes, two years now."
"Congratulations." She even gave him a smile, which seemed sincere. He looked into her eyes for a sec with a smile and looked back down, but then he looked at Rachel.
"You two are...?" Since he was still looking at Rachel she had the feeling to answer, but she wasn't sure how.
"Yes." Rachel didn´t have to, because Cassandra answered. He looks directly back at Cassandra. "So, is your wife here as well?" Cassandra looked behind her, to the spot Michael was staring.
"Uh... Yes." He hesitated and that's when Rachel knew Cassandra was right, he looked into her eyes, but not into Cassandra's and he didn't want Cassandra to meet his wife. Rachel's jaw dropped when she realized it and Michael saw it. He glared at her and because of that, Cassandra looked too.
"I'm-" she wanted to say sorry, but she knew how Cassandra would've reacted. "I'll get myself some more soda." She struggled a little, because she couldn't return her glass to the bar, with her crutches and because Michael and Cassandra were just watching her, she gave it to Cassandra and left.
"Well, it was nice to meet you again."
"You too." Cassandra knew he lied, but didn't care, she was lying too.
"Maybe one day I'll meet your wife."
"Uh." He looked a little disturbed.
"Bye." He seemed glad she left and Cassandra was amused by their conversation. She followed Rachel to the bar.
"Well, he was just one guy, but what do you think?"
"What did you do to him?"
"Nothing. I think I met him, besides tonight, two times. For dinner at my brothers once and the other time for dinner with my brother too. I wasn't very nice, but I was polite, just like back there."
"And you say everybody is like that to you?" Rachel didn't want more proof, this conversation was ridiculous enough. If Rachel hasn't been there, she probably thought they were faking.
"Yes."
"Doesn't that bother you?"
"Most of the time not, but when people I care about act like that, yes."
"This is really weird. Why didn't he want you to meet his wife?"
"I guess, and I'm glad you noticed it too, because he's intimidated by me."
"Quite possible." It made Rachel shake her head in astonishment.
"Yes, people are intimidated. I mean look at me, I think I would be too." Cassandra was kidding and they laughed a little.
"I like your brother." Cassandra raised an eyebrow, because that came out of the blue.
"I thought his flirting confused you?"
"Not the flirting, and that's also not what I like about him, I was confused, because I didn't know how to react."
"I don't see the difference."
"For me, there is one."
"Do you have siblings?"
"That's complicated."
"I'm listening."
"My dads don't have another child, but my biological mother, who gave me up for adoption, adopted a baby girl, from one of my close friends."
"You're right, that's complicated." Rachel slightly smiled.
"Do you call that sibling?"
"Well, that's not up to me. I mean when you grow up with somebody, think he or she is your sibling and when your adults and find out the other one was adopted, does that make him less of a brother?"
"That's different."
"Yes it is, but in this case it would be their own decision to accept each other as siblings, why isn't it in yours? I mean you don't have to, if you don't want, but if you want, I think it's great to grow up with siblings." That actually made sense.
"You're right, but I get the feeling, to betray my dads when I'm with my biological mother and I feel that I betray my friend when I take care of her child as a sister."
"Your friend, she has to know that it's not her child, she gave it up for adoption, it has been adopted and now it has a mother. Your friend should be happy for the little girl, I'm sure she had her reasons and I'm sure your mother is happy with the girl."
"Yea..."
"And your dads, I don't think they feel betrayed when you want this girl to be your sister. You don't want to replace them with your biological mother, you might want to know her, but most adoptive kids do."
"Yea... Do you and your brother get along?"
"Most of the time. I have two more siblings." Rachel raised her eyebrows. "Yes. Ajax is the oldest, then there's Bacchus, I'm the third and then comes my little sister Daria." Cassandra finished her drink and ordered a new one.
"Wow."
"Yea, and we get along okay. Sometimes it's better, sometimes not, but when it comes to family, we stick together."
"That's great."
"Yes it is."
"But you don't seem to get along with your dad." Now Cassandra was glad she had a new drink and took a big sip.
"Nope, we don't." Rachel knew she hit a soft spot and asked no further questions. "My siblings do. I just... We had a hard time."
"You don't need to tell me."
"I know. I might do someday, but this isn't the right time or place."
"Can we leave?"
"You want to know so badly?"
"No, I mean if you want to tell me, I'll listen, but I'd just like to leave."
"Okay, I need to find Isabelle first." She stood up. "And my brother." Cassandra spotted them not too far away and walked over, Rachel was following her. "Hey." Isabelle and Ajax turned around. "We're going home."
"Already?" Ajax sadly smiled at them, he looked like he wanted to spent more time with his sister.
"Yes, I'm tired and I've seen enough of your art." They laughed a little.
"Okay." Cassandra smiled at him and turned to Isabelle.
"We'll get a cab, but my driver was supposed to be here in-" Cassandra looked on a watch. "-about 40 minutes. Do you want him to drive you home?"
"No thanks."
"Okay." They hugged and then she hugged her brother. "Good night. We'll talk tomorrow?" Isabelle nodded. "And we need to talk soon too Ajax, I miss you." All three were shocked by this and Rachel was sure Cassandra noticed it.
"Definitely. Rachel, it was nice to meet you, even though we had an...unlikely start." He looked for the right word and smiled at her.
"Me too." They shook hands, because it would've been too complicated to hug with the crutches, she also shook Isabelle's hand. "Night guys." And with that they left the exhibition, took a cab and drove home. Cassandra called her driver and told him, that he didn't need to pick them up, because they left early. It was a fast drive, because there was almost no traffic and while Rachel got out of the car and walked towards the building, Cassandra paid the cab driver.
"Gosh, I'm kinda glad we left."
"Yes?" Rachel thought they had left just because she asked to.
"I'm tired."
"Really?"
"Yes." Cassandra wasn´t sure why she had to clarify that she was tired.
"Oh." For some reason Rachel looked disappointed, so Cassandra thought of something they could do instead of sleeping.
"You want to watch TV or something?"
"Not really."
"I'm sorry, I really gotta go to bed."
"You're sorry?" Cassandra knew what Rachel's hint was about and smirked, she didn´t like anyone to use that phrase.
"I'll go to bed now. There's the remote and you know where the books are." She pointed to the table, turned around and walked into the bedroom. She changed into shorts and a tank top and walked into the bathroom to get her makeup off. Cassandra took some time and when she was done, she walked back into the living room, to Rachel. Rachel just sat on the couch, no TV, no book. "What's up?"
"Nothing." Rachel was not lying.
"Okay." Cassandra kissed her, passionately, but only a short kiss.
"Good night. I love you." They kissed again, longer, but Cassandra stopped again, because she really needed some sleep and she walked back into the bedroom and laid down. She immediately missed Rachel.
When she was half asleep, she felt Rachel snuggle up to her and had to smile. Cassandra thought she heard Rachel say 'I love you too', but was already asleep before she could think about it.