Cass' mother was busy in the kitchen preparing a pot roast and some fried chicken. The sounds of pots and pans clanking together would come every now and then, much to Cass' distaste. She shut her door and flopped on her bed, kicking her feet up.

She felt kind of bad that her mother was so hard at work while she was being so lazy. She considered helping her mother, but it always so awkward talking to her these past few days. She accepted that her mother was dating, but it was just so different and new. She felt like her mother was a different person. She didn't know how to talk about it with her, much less how to act when Daniel and Albert were coming over today!

"It's our first ever first ever get- together! Aren't you excited, Cass?" her mother had said a few hours earlier while they were eating breakfast.

"Wha?" said Cass. She had heard her mother, but she didn't ever think she would have to be around Daniel and Albert. She thought her mom and him would just go out, and she wouldn't be there.

"Cass, I know this is... new to you, but please, do this for me, okay?"

Cass, not wanting to disappoint her mother agreed and said, "OK."

So now she was stuck eating dinner with Albert, who her mother had specifically told her to call Albert, and just Albert, and she was totally lost on what to say or how to be around them. She was most scared of all of facing Daniel, who her mother had told her to call Daniel, and just Daniel. It was silly, but she felt embarrassed that it was her mother making his dad date in the first place.

Maybe Daniel is feeling the same exact way, she thought to herself. Maybe we could talk about it together. Besides, he might end up being your brother some day, so you better had get real friendly with him.

All of a sudden, she heard the doorbell ring. She took a deep breath in and sighed it out. She braced herself, then ran down the stairs.

"I'll get it!" she yelled. She didn't stop to look at her mother, she just kept running. Just then, she decided to fake it to make it. She would pretend to be happy. Even if she was feeling really nervous, she would just pretend she was happy. It was a plan.

She anxiously opened the door knob, where Daniel and Albert were standing, smiling.

"Hey, Cass!" said Daniel.

"Uh, hi. Come inside!" she said, almost forgetting her plan. The two stepped inside a little uneasy, and then Cass' mom came.

"Albert!" she said, stepping on her tip toes and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Cass sneaked a look at Daniel to see how he was taking this all in. He looked more confused, if anything else at all. Cass went over to stand next to him.

"So," she started, "How are you taking this all in?" She felt unsure of herself. And then she forced herself to be happy.

"To be honest... I'm not sure. I feel... weird."

"Tell me about it," she said. And then she thought of another question she had been dying to talk about with him. "So, um, have you ever thought about us being siblings?"

"Are you kidding?! Like, only 1,000 times! I swear, I've thought of every single thing this dating thing could lead to. Even bad things."

Wait- so then he must have thought them being siblings wasn't a bad thing!

"Well, lets eat!" said her mother, walking to the dining room. Her hand reached for her chair, but Albert stopped her.

"Allow me," he said, and he scooted the chair out for her. Cass and Daniel watched, their hearts about to thump out of their chests. The three sat down, Cass' mother waiting. They started eating their dinner in silence. Finally, Albert started started talking.

"So, Cass, hows that survivalist thing going?" He seemed a little nervous. Cass felt paralyzed and stiff.

"Oh, um, good. I mean I saved Max-Ernest from- never mind."

"Go ahead honey," said her mother, which wasn't the way you think she said it. It was more like, "Tell him what you were going to say RIGHT NOW."

"Well, Max-Ernest was passed out, and I performed CPR perfectly and, well, saved his life I guess."

"You guess? Dude, that's kind of a big deal," said Daniel.

"Cass! You never told me this!"

"Way to go, Cass!" cheered Albert. Her mother gave him a look. One that said he shouldn't have been cheering her. He looked a little ashamed.

"Honey, why did this never come up?"

"I wasn't going to tell you because I thought you would freak out that his kitchen was on fire or something."

Oh crap.

"His kitchen was on fire?" asked Daniel, looking at Cass and back to her mom.

"Look, everything is okay now, alright? I called 911 and everything and he's alive, now isn't he? I didn't think it was worth mentioning."

"Cass! You did something so heroic! Of course it was worth mentioning!"

Cass looked at her mother. She wasn't looking at her, though. She wasn't looking at anyone.

"Come on, Mel, lets just forget about the fact she didn't tell you and congratulate her for a job well done!" said Albert, trying to be otomistic.

Her mother looked at him, and she didn't look too happy.

"Congratulate her?!"

"Well, yeah."

"That is the exact opposite of what you should do! What if we get married, Albert? How am I supposed to even trust you as a father?"

"Whoa, Mom, don't you think you're taking this a little too far?"

"No! I feel like you never even talk to me anymore and I so tired of it!"

Albert and Daniel were looking at Cass now.

"Mom, if you wanna talk to me could you do it in private?"

" There is nothing left to say, Cassandra." And then she left.

Cass smiled awkwardly. Although she didn't think pretending to be happy was the best thing right now.

"Maybe we should go," said Albert. Great. Now they thought her mom was insane.

"That's probably for the best," she said.