Chapter 10

Cassie decided to take a walk down to the Rivercourt. She had been coming there ever since she could remember and when she was upset it became her sanctuary. This place allowed her to think without being disturbed and that was exactly what she needed right now; peace and quiet. She sat down at one of the benches along the river and turned on her ipod.

She didn't hear footsteps approach the bench until someone sat down next to her. She looked up half expecting it to be Lucas, but to her surprise it was Nathan.

"What are you like stalking me now?" Cassie asked with a sarcastic tone in her voice.

Nathan shrugged. "Nah, I know this is where your brother hangs out, so I figured I would give it a try and see if you were here."

"Why were you looking for me?" Cassie asked.

"I wanted to make sure you were ok. So are you?" Nathan asked. "I'm really sorry Tim was such a jerk to you last night."

"I'm alright, I just really wish people would stop asking me if I'm ok." Cassie sighed. "So why do you even care? Its not like you've ever really talked to me these last 17 years, why now?"

"I've just been doing a lot of thinking, you know. I decided that it was time I tried to be a better person and to start off I would reconnect with my family, including you." Nathan said.

"Well you sound sincere, but no offense or anything its going to take a lot more then that." Cassie said.

"Cassie, I really do mean well. I really want to get to know you. I wish I could take back these last 17 years, but I can't so why can't we start off on a new foot?" Nathan asked.

Cassie shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe because my brother hates you and because since he has started the basketball team you and your friends have done nothing but torment him."

"I invited him to a freakin party." Nathan said. "The party we threw in his honor."

Cassie looked at him like he was crazy. "That party was just an excuse for you and your friends to terrorize him more, whatever happened last night when he went off really made him angry. He wouldn't even tell me what happened and we tell eachother almost everything." Cassie said.

"Look I'm sorry if something did happen to Lucas last night, I wasn't with him." Nathan said.

"No you were to busy pretending to flirt with my best friend, Haley who may I also remind you is Lucas' best friend as well." Cassie said frustratedly.

"Who says I was pretending?" Nathan asked.

"Look Nathan, whatever your doing just stop it ok. If your out to hurt my brother, you really will never be able to reconnect with your so called family because I will never forgive you."

"Why do you do it?"

Cassie was confused. "Do what?"

"Put up this wall. Whenever someone tries to get close to you, you won't let them through" Nathan said.

"I don't know what your talking about." Cassie said defensively.

"Yes you do. I'm trying to get through to you right now and your pushing me away." Nathan said.

"Maybe that's because you've given me no reason to trust you." Cassie spat back.

"Fair enough, but Cassie I'm completely serious about wanting to get to know you. In fact I've never been more serious about anything in my life."

Cassie could see by the look in his eye that he was being sincere, either that or he was a damn good actor. She sighed. "Well I guess maybe I could give you a chance, but you have to do me a favor and I'm not going to lie to you, for you this will be a big one."

Nathan nodded for her to go on. "Ok shoot."

"If I agree to give you a chance you have to agree to leave my brother alone. That means no more torturing him at practice, no more taking his clothes from his locker and no more inviting him to parties when you don't really want him there." Cassie said.

Nathan thought for a minute. "Ok I can live with that. Besides Haley already made me promise the same thing to her when I got her to agree to tutor me."

"Haley is tutoring you?" Cassie asked.

Nathan nodded. "Yeah for English, Science, and Math."

"Your failing all those classes?"

"Unfortunately and my moms threatening me with making me quit the team if my grades don't improve." Nathan sighed.

"Wow, but like that would ever happen. Dan would never allow it." Cassie said.

Nathan shrugged. "I guess, but part of being a better person means improving myself and my abilities, so to do that I need better grades."

"Well good luck with the whole self improvement thing." Cassie laughed and then stood up. "I better be going, I told my mom and brother that I was only going for a short walk. I'm pretty sure they both know where I am but I still want to get back in time for breakfast, my mom is the best cook in the world and she also makes the best pancakes ever." Cassie said.

Nathan smiled. "I wish my mom were home more to cook. You're lucky to be so close to your mom."

Cassie nodded. "Yeah I am. Look I'll see you around."

Nathan nodded. "Maybe we can meet back her sometime. You know talk more? I really liked talking to you. I can see a lot of myself in you."

"Ooh, I hope not." Cassie laughed. "Just kidding. See ya Nathan."

"Bye Cassie." Nathan smiled. Suddenly he wasn't sure where his plan was headed, he still wanted to go through with it to make sure Lucas didn't take his spot on the team. But on the otherhand he found himself genuinely liking talking to his sister and Haley. If he went through with this plan and someone found out he had been pretending at first, it would blow up in his face. What was he going to do?a