"You look great, you don't need to change." Cassandra followed Rachel to the bedroom.
"Thank you." But Rachel didn't look like Cassandra had convinced her. "Where are we going?"
"My mother chose the restaurant, it's a French place. I can never remember the name, but it's nice." Rachel took her phone and called someone. "Hey, it's me...yes...everything's okay Kurt... We're going out. I just called to ask you a favor...can't tell...exactly!... I think the white one...okay. And Kurt?...Thank you so much! See you."
"So, what was that about?"
"How nice is this place?"
"Nice nice? What kind of question is this?"
"Is it jeans nice? Are your father and brothers going to wear suits?"
"Yes, why?"
"So, I should not wear jeans."
"Well, you look beautiful to me no matter what, but when I have something to say on that matter-" Cassandra slowly walked towards Rachel and wrapped her arms around Rachel's waist.
"Yea, well, I have to wear something. When do we need to be there?"
"They meet at 5.30, but we will be there at six."
"Why are we on purpose late?"
"Just because."
"I won't be late and I'll take a cab if you're going to be late."
"So you're going to meet my family without me?"
"I won't be late." Rachel frowned. She tried to make a point.
"They'll know something's up, I always come a few minutes later."
"You still can." Rachel gave her a quick kiss. "Can I take a shower?"
"Can I come with you?"
"No."
"Why, aren't we in a kind mood today."
"Maybe we can shower together after you've been at the restaurant on time."
"That's blackmail."
"I don't care as long as I am on time and hopefully not alone."
"You could have tried to be nice and make me come with you."
"Yea, that's not my style and besides I think satisfaction is a good leverage."
"Cocky, aren't we?"
"Maybe." She put a sly smile on and smoothly freed herself from Cassandra's embrace and left to her bedroom. Cassandra just stood in the middle of her living room. Cassandra decided to just wait in the living room. Thankfully the doorbell rang; Cassandra walked over, opened the door and waited on the couch for Kurt.
It knocked on the door before Kurt appeared in the doorframe.
"Hey, can I come in."
"No, I always open the door so people can stay outside."
"Okay." He walked inside and closed the door behind him. "So, where're you guys going?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Rachel asked me to bring this over." He raised one of the boxes from Rachel's room, Cassandra remembered that in at least one of them was a beautiful dress.
"Kurt!" They both turned around, neither of them had heard Rachel come into the room, but she obviously just got out of the shower. She had a towel wrapped around her hair and was only in her undergarment. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome. Where are you going?"
"We're going out, I don't know the name of the restaurant, Cassandra won't tell me, but she said its a nice place, so-"
"So, this will be the perfect."
"Yes!" Kurt handed her the white box and they both were smiling brightly, completely ignoring Cassandra.
"It's so nice of you to talk about me, with me in the same room and in my apartment, as if I wasn't even there." Kurt didn't say anything and Rachel just gave her a small smile.
"Do you have somewhere to be, or would you like something to drink while I change?"
"No actually, I gotta go, Isabelle asked me to come to the office. She says hi by the way."
"Okay, thank you so much Kurt." Rachel put the box on the coffee table and hugged Kurt tightly.
"It's okay, I better get going now."
"Okay." She walked with him to the door, they hugged again and Kurt turned to Cassandra.
"It was nice to see you dressed this time."
"I wasn't undressed last time. And what about her?" Cassandra pointed towards Rachel.
"I've seen her plenty of times like that. Okay, bye and have fun."
"Thanks, we will, bye." Then Kurt left and Rachel grabbed the box.
"Have you looked through these too?"
"I think so."
"But you haven't seen me in this one yet."
"I guess not."
"Okay." Rachel was still smiling and quickly walked into the bedroom before Cassandra could say anything. Just before Cassandra was about to follow Rachel, she returned. "So. What do you think?" Rachel looked as if she was expecting something.
"You should do something else with your hair."
"Very funny."
"Okay, no. You look hot."
"I look hot?"
"Oh yes." Cassandra looked her up and down and Rachel really did look hot. The dress was fitting her perfectly, it was white, sleeveless and had a red belt. In the same color as the belt were her shoes. "You look hot." Rachel beamed. "But are you sure you should wear these shoes?"
"Yes, why not?"
"Hmm, I don't know. Let me see, maybe because of your injured foot and my father's gonna be there and he'll tell you otherwise and than he'll ask my why I didn't talk you out of it."
"Okay, I see your point. But. When Henry's driving us I can take them off until we get there. So most of the time I will sit with them and not actually walk."
"Not convincing."
"Okay. I don't have any other shoes with me and yours don't fit me."
"Well, that's more convincing."
"Okay then." Rachel beamed. She looked so happy and Cassandra smiled.
"I won't let you dance unless he gives you a note that you can."
"You can't stop me from dancing and I thought we're going for dinner?"
"In school and yes I can."
"That's mean!"
"It's for your own good." Rachel was about to say something, but Cassandra continued. "I better get changed too and you better do something with your hair." Rachel raised her hand to her head and realized she had still just a towel wrapped around it.
Twenty minutes later Cassandra was changed and still had to wait for Rachel. She was sitting on her bed and couldn't stand it any longer, so she walked into the bathroom.
"Good god, girl, what's taking you so long?"
"What do you mean?" Rachel was still fixing her hair.
"You've been in here at least half an hour." With a surprised look on her face Rachel checked her phone for the time and then gave Cassandra a look.
"Hardly even twenty minutes."
"Hardly?"
"Well, it will take longer if we keep talking."
"What will? You're done aren't you?" Rachel's hair looked okay, loose curls were hanging down her back.
"No." Rachel took a red hairband and put it in her hair, Cassandra just shook her head, but was smiling. "Now I'm done."
"That's good since you didn't want to be late."
"Yes. I'm ready, we can leave."
"Finally." They walked Ito the living room. Rachel walked to the door, but Cassandra stopped her. "You'll change your shoes."
"I thought we talked about this."
"You did. You'll wear your bandage and regular shoes until we get there, you can change and leave them in the car." It looked like Rachel was considering her options or as if she was looking for a reason to get out of this. "You wanna be late?"
"Argh! Okay!" Rachel quickly grabbed the shoes from Cassandra and walked to the couch to change them. "Satisfied?"
"No." With a smirk on her face she followed Rachel outside. Rachel pouted, but Cassandra was sure it was just to make her point clear. Even though Rachel knew Cassandra is right. Inside the car Cassandra had enough of Rachel's behavior.
"You do realize, that if you don't talk to me you have to talk to my family. And I won't stop them from integrating you."
"I'm sorry." And Rachel really did look like she was.
"You don't have to be, just don't act like that. You know I'm right. You're stupid enough to walk in there with these shoes."
"Stupid?"
"Would you go to your doctors office with these shoes?" Rachel didn't answer the question, but she didn't have to, they knew the answer anyways. "See? Hopefully for you my mother gave my father a prep talk."
"...okay." Cassandra realized that she'd confused Rachel.
"Um, she really wants to meet you and she doesn't want him to screw it up." Now it was Cassandra's turn to look away.
"But I've met him before."
"Let's hope she did it anyway."
"Why?"
"What?" Cassandra knew exactly what Rachel meant, but that didn't mean she was going to admit it.
"Why does she want to meet me?"
"Because we're in a relationship. I'm sure when your fathers knew about us they'd want to get to know me too." She had hoped that if she made Rachel feel a little guilty shed stop asking, but of course Rachel was too stubborn for that.
"But you said 'she 'really' wants to meet me'."
"Yea?"
"Why does she 'really' want to meet me?"
"She likes to see me happy."
"Cassandra!"
"Okay, I usually...don't introduce my relations to them. They know Isabelle and...that's it."
"Your relations?" Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"When you say it, it sounds like I'm introducing someone else every other week.."
"That's not what I meant."
"And it's not how it is. My parents just haven't met anybody since...well, at least not for two or three years."
"Okay." By now Rachel felt a little intimidated and wished she hadn't asked, it kind of made her feel more pressured to make a good impression. It's like she was one of the few worthy people Cassandra felt comfortable with introducing to her family. While it made her feel special, it also made her feel even more self-conscious.
"What's up?"
"Nothing."
"How many times do I have to tell you, that I caught your lie, to make you believe me?"
"Really, it's nothing."
"'It is' indicates that there is something. Nothing just means you don't want to talk about it."
"Okay." Cassandra kept looking at her and Rachel knew at some point she had to tell her. "What are we going to tell them?"
"What do you mean?"
"About how we met or my age or anything, I mean, what are they going to think about you for dating your student."
"I'm not 'dating' you and I don't care what they think and you shouldn't either."
"I wanna make a good impression."
"My mother's probably gonna love you, my father already likes you, so do Ajax and Daria. So there's only my mother and Bacchus left, and as I've said, I'm not worried about my mother." The answer didn't calm Rachel, but she had no choice to discuss the matter anymore. Henry pulled over and stopped and before he could, Cassandra opened the door, got out and offered Rachel a hand.
"I didn't change my shoes yet!" Was Rachel's answer.
"You better be quick, I can already see my parents car."
Ten second later Rachel got out of the car. "That was...quicker than I thought it would take you." Cassandra mentioned for Henry that they were ready and that he could leave, right after he did, her parents car parked in his space. A woman, obviously Cassandra's mother got out of the car. She looked like an older version of Cassandra, just as gorgeous and graceful though.
"Hey Mom." Cassandra stepped forward, hugged and kissed her mother on the cheek. Then she turned and smiled at Rachel. "This is Rachel."
Rachel could feel that she was flushing, Cassandra was looking at her with such an expression of adoration and a smile in which Rachel almost lost herself in. But then there was Cassandra's mother, almost with the same expression, the same charming smile and Rachel felt very self-conscious.
Cassandra stepped besides Rachel and put her arm around her waist.
"Rachel, this is my mother."
"It's very nice to meet you Missis-"
"Oh no dear, please, call me Aglaia. And the feeling is mutual, I've been looking forward to meet you." Aglaia smiled at Rachel, one of the most genuine smiles Rachel had ever seen from a stranger.
Scott stepped around his car and was quickly besides his wife.
"Hello Rachel, it's nice to see you again, I'm glad you came." He smiled at her and turned to Cassandra. "I'm surprised Cassandra, you managed to be here right on time." Cassandra didn't answer, they just looked at each other and Rachel hoped something would distract them. Soon. Her hopes were heard, Aglaia turned her head and looked behind Rachel. Rachel followed her gaze and saw Ajax, next to him was a man that looked a lot like him, so Rachel figured this must be Bacchus.
Aglaia greeted her sons and so did Scott, then Ajax turned to Rachel and Cassandra.
"Hey."
"Hey Ajax." Cassandra hugged him after he hugged Rachel.
"It's nice to see you again." He smiled at her and now that almost the whole family was together Rachel realized, they all shared the same smile. Ajax turned his attention back to Cassandra. "I suppose Rachel wanted to be here on time?"
"Would I be here by now, if she didn't?"
"Probably not." Cassandra didn't seem to mind when Ajax asked her about her punctuality, they were joking about it, the exact opposite of her and Scott's conversation about it. Rachel was ripped out of her thought quickly.
"Hello Bacchus, this is Rachel. Rachel, my brother Bacchus." Bacchus stood besides Ajax, with the same smile that made Rachel uncomfortable now. Actually she loved Cassandra's smile, but it was just too much from four people.
"Hello Rachel, it's nice to finally meet you." Finally?
"It's nice to meet you too." They shook hands and then Bacchus turned to Cassandra.
"Hey Cassie." He was the first that used the nickname.
"Alright, shall we go inside?" Everybody's attention turned to Aglaia, even though Scott asked. Aglaia smiled at Scott and walked inside, followed by Scott, who had laid a hand on her lower back. Ajax and Bacchus followed them as well, but Cassandra turned to Rachel before they went inside.
"Well..."
"What?" Rachel knew Cassandra wanted something, otherwise they would be inside now.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes." There was something else Cassandra wanted for know.
"So, what do you think?"
"You look a lot like your mother."
"I know, I didn't mean-"
"Yeah, I know, I don't know yet, I guess I like them."
"You guess?"
"Yeah." With frowned eyes Cassandra looked at her. "I just met them...Oh, look, Daria's coming." Thankfully for the distraction, Rachel walked towards her, with a big smile on her face. "Hey Daria."
"Hi Rachel, what's with the smile?"
"I, um, I'm just glad you came."
"Yah sure." With a raised eyebrow and a smirk on, Daria turned to Cassandra. "Hi, where are mom and dad?"
"Already inside."
"Okay."
Rachel wanted to follow the rest of the family and Daria inside, Cassandra walked besides her and held her by the forearm as soon as Daria was inside.
"You're not off the hook."
"Off the hook?" Rachel gave her a disapproving look. "I think we should go inside, after all we're here for dinner. And by the end of the night I might have an impression about all of your family members." Cassandra let to of her arm.
"You already have an idea on what you think about them."
"And since when do you care what others think?" With that Rachel walked inside, closely followed by Cassandra. They followed Daria, who was greeted by everyone, to the table. After everyone was seated again, a waiter brought the menus.
"They're in French?" Rachel leaned over and whispered to Cassandra.
"Yeah, I told you it's a French place didn't I?" Cassandra sounded a little confused.
"Yah, you did, but... I don't speak French."
"Oh, sorry I didn't ask. I can translate if you want." She quickly offered, but Rachel shook her head.
"No, but you could order something for me?"
"What do you want?"
"I don't know, just choose something." With that Rachel closed the menu and set it down. She looked around, everybody else was still looking through the menu, everybody except Aglaia.
When they walked inside Rachel didn't pay much attention to her surroundings. Now she wished she had, because they sat at a round table and Aglaia sat right next to her.
"Did you already choose dear?" Aglaia's attention was completely on Rachel.
"No." For a moment Aglaia looked confused, so Rachel continued. "I don't speak French."
"I'm sure Cassandra can translate for you, or I could if she's busy." Aglaia was already picking the menu up again.
"No, thanks. I asked her to choose for me." The older woman raised both eyebrows, but put the menu down.
"I'd like to get to know you better Rachel. It's been quite some time since I met..." Aglaia stopped a moment to think. "Well, I suppose you're in a relationship, so since I was introduced to someone significant." Somehow Rachel got the feeling that the subject made Aglaia uneasy.
"Yes, I know. Cassandra told me." Aglaia smiled slightly.
After another they all put their menus down, a waiter came immediately and took their order. To Rachel's surprise they all spoke French with him. When he left, Aglaia put a hand on Rachel's forearm to gain her attention back.
"My husband told me you've had your foot injured. Is it better?"
"Oh yes, it wasn't that bad."
"But you had it in plaster, right? He told me he removed it."
"Yes, it was just precautionary, because I was upset when he told me I couldn't dance."
"Oh you like to dance? That's wonderful."
During their conversation a waiter came with drinks, Rachel didn't notice until Aglaia took her drink and suddenly felt thirsty herself. The talk with Aglaia wasn't really uncomfortable, but Rachel felt a little helpless. If they were to get to an unpleasant subject there was no way getting out and they came pretty close.
"You know, I made Cassandra go to ballet lessons and she hated it, everybody was surprised when she decided to make it her career." Definitely close. "I think at some point she started to enjoy it and just pretended not to. She's too stubborn for her own good."
"Okay mom, stop right there." Rachel quickly turned around, she didn't know Cassandra was listening and by the look on Aglaia's face, neither did she.
"Oh Cassie, you do know I'm right."
"Whatever, but it's kinda weird when you and my girlfriend talk about me behind my back." The word girlfriend made Rachel beam.
"Actually, she's sitting next to you and therefor were not talking behind your back, we're talking next to you." Cassandra dramatically rolled her eyes. "But I see your point, I am sorry, it won't happen again." Aglaia looked sincere and Cassandra didn't respond, so when Scott said something to her she turned her attention to him. It was a weird feeling, sitting between mother and daughter during an argument, so Rachel was glad it was over. Cassandra added something though, just under her breath.
"Sure it will." Aglaia didn't hear it, or just ignored it, but Rachel did.
"I'm sorry."
"Yah, yah. I didn't mean to interrupt you, actually I wasn't listening until I heard my name."
"But you were right, we shouldn't have talked about you."
"I didn't hear you say a word about me."
"She didn't tell me anything I didn't already know."
"Well that's good- hey wait, what?" Two waiters came with their orders and placed it in front of everyone, which stopped Rachel from responding. It was quite impressive that they got everyone's order right without asking.
"Thank you." The waiter smiled nicely and left after be put his last plate down, then Rachel turned back at Cassandra. "Don't worry, I still like you."
"Like me?" Rachel just smiled.
While eating nobody talked much, Scott and his sons talked a bit and when Cassandra was annoyed by Daria, Aglaia intervened. It was interesting to watch all of them interact, Rachel mostly just watched them. When Cassandra asked her whether she liked what Cassandra had ordered for her or not and if she wanted to drink wine she answered though. The food was delicious, Cassandra had order ratatouille for her, but it wasn't the usual recipe, there was tofu in it and something else was different, but Rachel hadn't figured it out yet. She turned down the offer for a glass of wine though.
After they'd all finished, the waiters came again and took their plates, surprisingly though was that two other waiters came with dessert, at least for Rachel it was a surprise. Maybe just because she didn't understand a word that was said to the waiters. They all had the same dessert, crème brûlée with a few sliced strawberries on top. Rachel quickly turned to Cassandra.
"I can't eat that."
"I know, I didn't order it." Rachel felt very uncomfortable, she didn't know who ordered it, though she had an idea, and worse she didn't know how to decline it nicely. "Mom, did you order this?"
"Yes I did, don't tell me you don't like it, I know you do."
"No, well yes I do, but Rachel's vegan, she can't eat it." Aglaia's face quickly changed from genuine happy to uneasy.
"I'm very sorry Rachel. I didn't know, we can order something else if you want, I won't mind."
"Oh no, no it's okay. I don't think I can eat anymore anyway, but thanks I appreciate the thought." Aglaia gave her a small smile, but it was obvious, that she still felt sorry for her mistake. The uneasiness Aglaia's somehow changed everybody's mood and now it was Rachel's turn to feel guilty.
"May I ask what you do?" Rachel got the idea, if she talked to Aglaia it might change her mood, the woman had tried all night to get to know and talk to Rachel. So why not give her what she wants and make her happy.
"Oh, of course." Aglaia seemed surprised by Rachel's question, but happy, which immediately lightened the mood. "Well, my children don't like me telling their friends what I do, but since you asked." Rachel hoped she didn't pick the wrong subject that would make everything worse. "I'm a psychiatrist." It wasn't and in Rachel's opinion it was a fitting professionalism for the woman, she could imagine that people opened up to her. Rachel turned to Cassandra.
"Why don't you like it when she tells people?"
"Well, since I don't introduce many friends it wasn't so much me that told her to stop telling them, but it kind of creeps them out." Cassandra seemed as if she was holding something back, Rachel was confused and turned back at Aglaia.
"I think it's great." The older women's face lit up.
"Thank you, maybe you could tell this to my other children too. What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, what do you do? If I may ask." As if Rachel, or anybody else for that matter, would say ever say no.
"Oh, I um, I go to college."
"I remember my college time, it met Scott back then." Scott, who was listening the whole time, took Aglaia's hand and kissed her knuckles lovingly. A moment passed while they just looked into each others eyes, before Aglaia's attention returned to Rachel.
Ajax, Daria and Bacchus were talking with each other so the next moments weren't as horrible as they could have been. "Which one?"
"Which college?"
"Yes." Didn't Scott tell her, or were they trying to confuse her? Rachel definitely was startled and speechless, she opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. How did that happen? Should she tell the truth? Scott already knew the truth so whether she lied or not didn't really matter.
Rachel's inner-monologue was over within seconds, but she didn't answer Aglaia's question.
"NYADA." Cassandra did.
"You must be very good, it's a good school and they only accept the best." That kind of reaction surprised Rachel, she thought Aglaia would say something or react different at all. Aglaia just raised her eyebrow in astonishment, but kept smiling.
"I...got in because of my singing not my dancing."
"That's wonderful, so you're singer. I'd like to hear you sing."
"Well, ... I..." Rachel opened her mouth to say something, anything, but she just stumbled a few words out.
"Oh dear, I didn't mean now, but some day maybe. You must have a lovely voice." That was pretty much the end of their conversation, Aglaia finished her dessert and so did the rest of the family. After a while Bacchus said that he had to leave and Ajax wanted to leave with him. They said their goodbyes to their parents and siblings, then Ajax came to Rachel.
"Goodbye Rachel, it was nice to see you again. I'd like it if you'd come to my office sometime." Rachel looked confused, so Ajax clarified. "You seemed to like my work, and I want to show you something."
"Okay, you got my number, so just give me a call."
"Yes, I will. Enjoy the rest of your night."
"Thanks, you too." Bacchus approached her right afterwards.
"It was nice to meet you, even if we didn't really get to talk." He was very polite.
"It was nice to meet you too." Bacchus looked honest when he said that, but Rachel didn't think he liked her much.
"Maybe next time we can get to know each other a bit more."
"Yes, I'd like that." Then surprisingly he hugged her and she hugged him back.
When they left, Cassandra got in an argument with Daria and Scott tried to help them settle it.
"It appears that you're very much liked in his family."
"Hm?" Rachel wasn't really listening to the argument, but she was a bit confused when Aglaia talked to her.
"We like you."
"Oh, okay."
"I know you were worried that we wouldn't."
"I..um..."
"You don have to say anything, I just wanted to let you know."
"Okay. Thanks?"
"You don't believe me." It wasn't as question.
"Well, I just... I mean how do you know?"
"That we like you or that you were worried about us not liking you?"
"Both I guess."
"Okay, first, I know my family. Cassandra must like you, very much for that matter, Scott likes you he told me about you the day you've met. Ajax spoke about you, he mentioned a little misunderstanding, but it seems you've already settled that." She paused a moment and turned to her daughters, it seemed that Scott wasn't doing a good job of settling their argument. "Oh and Daria likes you, she said you two had a good time the day she skipped school." Rachel didn't respond, but when Aglaia mentioned that Daria skipped school and they went shopping instead made her feel guilty, so she looked down. "Don't worry, she always skips school, I don't like it, but she has good grades, so I won't complain."
"Okay."
"So there's only Bacchus left. He talked to you, so that's a good sign and he didn't mention not liking you, what he usually does. Which tells me, he likes you." Rachel felt relieved, though she wasn't sure about Aglaia's words. She wasn't so sure about Bacchus as the older woman, but she knew that Cassandra's other siblings did like her. Aglaia didn't mention one person though. Rachel frowned for a second, but Aglaia saw it. "I'll answer your question if you answer one of mine."
"What question?" Rachel was confused.
"Why are you worried?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've met the majority of my family prior to this night and still you seem quite anxious."
"When I met them I didn't know they were Cassandra's family and the circumstances weren't...the best. I wasn't sure what impression I've left and...I guess I just wanted to make sure that I at least make a good impression on you. Not that I don't care what her brother thinks about me, but-"
"I'm her mother."
"Yes."
"You shouldn't worry, you're an astonishing young woman." Rachel flushed deeply, compliments always made her flush, but Aglaia was more insistent in some ways than other people.
"Thank you."
"You're quite welcome, my daughter seems happy with you and in a bizarre way you have a good influence on her." Rachel frowned. "I know it's sound silly, you're so much younger than her, but, like I said, she seems happy. I haven't seen her like this in a long time." A smile appears on Rachel's face. "And you somehow managed to get her here on time. I don't know why, but my daughters seem to like to be late." This made both of them laugh, which gained the attention of the rest of the table.
"What are you laughing about?"
"Nothing." Cassandra raised an eyebrow, even more suspicious now and looked at Rachel. "Don't try to persuade her." Rachel couldn't hide a smirk, it was interesting and funny to see Cassandra in a situation like this. Where she wasn't the one in charge.
The evening went on for a little longer, but eventually a yawn escaped Rachel.
"Okay, I guess it's time." Rachel liked to see Cassandra with her family, it was a different side of her, one Rachel hadn't seen enough of yet. "Let's call it a night." Too tired to argue Rachel just let it go. Scott also wanted to leave.
"We better get going too, I've to be in the office tomorrow morning."
"Okay then."
"I've to use the restroom before we leave." Rachel stood up and with her Daria.
"I'll come with you." Daria didn't really went with Rachel, she lead the way, which was okay, because Rachel didn't know where the facilities were. They were quickly done and when they walked outside Cassandra waited near the entrance.
"Mom and Dad are waiting outside."
"Okay." Daria walked outside.
"We can leave, I was just waiting for you."
"Did you pay for me?"
"Why?"
"I can pay for myself."
"So, if I'd payed for you, you'd be mad?" Rachel's look was enough of an answer. "Then it's a good thing I didn't, my parents did." Now Rachel looked bashful. "You're not gonna be mad with them?"
"Well..." Cassandra shook her head, but was smirking, so Rachel figured she wasn't mad with her. Rachel followed her outside, where the others were waiting. Cassandra said goodbye to her father and sister and Aglaia approached Rachel.
"It was lovely to meet you, I enjoyed tonight very much." They hugged and Rachel thought Aglaia was done, but she continued. "I haven't answered your question yet." There was not time for Rachel to say or ask anything. "You made a good impression, you don't have to worry. I like you, I don't think you're too young for my daughter or that you two shouldn't be in a relationship. Though I think you two should think about the consequences, but that's non of my business." This time Rachel couldn't say anything, she didn't know what and felt panic rise. She looked besides Aglaia, where Cassandra still was talking to her father. For the first time this evening she wanted Cassandra to save her from a conversation, but of course it didn't happen. "You shouldn't worry what other people think about you Rachel." Cassandra obviously got that idea from her mother. "You don't need to." With that and without giving Rachel the chance to answer, Aglaia walked to her daughter. Rachel was a little confused, but was quickly hugged by Daria.
"I'm glad you came, though we didn't talk much. At least my mother was occupied."
"O-kay." No July seemed to want to wait for Rachel's respond, because Daria too left before Rachel could wish her a good night. Scott was quickly by her side.
"Well, it was nice to see you again."
"You too." Rachel really wanted to say goodbye at least to one of them.
"I'm looking forward to the next time."
"Me too."
"You should reconsider your footwear though." Rachel looked down and realized what he meant, she flushed a little which made him smile. Then he walked to his car and got in.
"You coming?" Cassandra stood at the limousine and Rachel looked confused at her. A moment later she walked towards the car, Cassandra was opening the door for her and got in.
"When did Henry get here?"
"While you talked to my mother."
"Oh."
"So?" Rachel knew that Cassandra wanted to know what she thought about her family.
"They're...a lot o take in."
"That's one way to say it."
"I didn't really got to talk to your brother."
"Bacchus? Yea, that's probably a good thing. He likes to point out my bad characteristics to people I introduced."
"Why would he do that?" Rachel looked confused and a bit shocked, which made Cassandra chuckle.
"Oh that's a funny thing, I asked him the same thing, he said he didn't think they were good for me and he told them all the bad stuff about me so they would leave me."
"That's horrible."
"Kinda, but he was always right. I think it's his weird way of protection, I don't know. We don't get along as good as Ajax and I."
"He shouldn't have done it anyway."
"He's one reason I try to avoid to introduce anyone to my family."
"Yes, I might do the same if I had a brother like that." They drove a few moments in silent, but eventually Rachel managed to build up her courage.
"What's the other reason?"
"What do you mean?" Cassandra knew what Rachel meant and Rachel's look told her Rachel knew too. "Well, like you said, they're a lot to take in. Most people felt intimidated by my brother and my mother. But Daria can be very annoying too."
"Bacchus didn't really talk to me at all."
"I know, it's weird."
"Your mother though-"
"Oh yeah, that's not weird at all. You responded, so she was encouraged. I hope it wasn't too much for you." Cassandra looked concerned.
"No, not really."
"I was a bit occupied with the rest of my family."
"It's okay. I like her. You're very much like her."
"I got the feeling my family tried to keep my occupied on purpose, so my mother could talk to you."
"Well, it was okay." Cassandra didn't look convinced. "Really. A little...different than usual conversations though."
"You shouldn't have told her you like her job, otherwise she would have tried a little harder to act normal."
"I think she was normal, she is just very observant. Like you."
"I think I can take that as a compliment."
"Yes you can." Rachel leaned over to Cassandra and huddled up against her, a little yawn escaped her.
"I'm glad it's over."
"I didn't expect it to be so exhausting."
"What did you expect?" When Rachel yawned again, Cassandra looked down at her, she liked that Rachel was so close and kissed her on the top of her head. Another yawn escaped her.
"I don't know."
"You're tired." It wasn't a question, but Rachel answered anyway.
"Yah...I wanna go-" Another yawn. "-to bed."
The rest of the drive went by without another word, but it wasn't much of a drive, so Cassandra didn't think anything of it. Until they arrived her building, when she looked down, Rachel was asleep.
"Seriously? You couldn't have stayed awake for a few more minutes?" Nothing came back. She shook Rachel gently. "Rachel, you've to wake up."
"Hmm."
"We're home."
"Home?"
"Yes and you can go to bed, once we're upstairs."
"Kay." Rachel rubbed her face, opened her eyes slowly and smiled at Cassandra. "I love you." That came out of nowhere and Cassandra couldn't respond, because as soon as Rachel said it, she got out of the car.
For someone who just woke up, she sure was awake.
Cassandra wished Henry a good night and followed Rachel into the building and expected Rachel to wait at the elevator, but she wasn't. There was nowhere else Rachel could've gone and she did go inside, so she must've already gone upstairs. A little irritated, Cassandra followed her and upstairs, she found her apartment door open. It made Cassandra smirk, Rachel used the key, but leaving the door open is not okay, even if she knew that Cassandra would be there in a moment.
"Rachel?" No reply. "Seriously?" Cassandra walked into the bedroom and found Rachel asleep. "I liked you better with crutches." She stripped her clothes off and put them aside, before she went to the bathroom and got ready for bed. It didn't take her long and she went to bed too.
"No, you didn't." As soon as Cassandra laid down, Rachel had said it and, she almost fell out of the bed.
"What the fuck?! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Cassandra wasn't mad, but startled.
"No." Rachel chuckled and got closer to Cassandra, when she laid back down. "Aren't you wearing...?" Rachel didn't finish her question, but she had her arm around Cassandra's waist; her face buried in Cassandra's neck and one leg entwined one of Cassandra's. so Rachel knew exactly what Cassandra was, or wasn't, wearing.
"Not really, but you already know that." Rachel kissed Cassandra's neck slightly. "Not so tired anymore, huh?" She felt encouraged and did it again.
"No, not really." In a smooth move Rachel almost completely laid on top of Cassandra. "But you already know that." Even through the darkness Rachel saw the smile on Cassandra's face and covered those lips with a passionate kiss.
"I like that."