Chapter 11

Cassie walked through the front door to find her Uncle Keith already there talking to Lucas.

"Uncle Keith!" Cassie exclaimed hugging him. "You're early, mom told me you wouldn't be here till lunch."

Keith smiled at his niece. "Hey baby-girl." He loved the way her eyes lit up as soon as she saw him. He had always hoped Cassie would one day become his daughter legally and Lucas as well, but since he and Karen weren't exactly a couple that would likely never happen.

"Breakfast or should I say brunch is served." Karen said entering the small living room area.

Keith smiled. "It smells great Karen, and I'm sure it tastes even better."

"Somebody's sucking up." Cassie laughed. "Uncle Keith if you want seconds you can have mine." Cassie joked knowing the food was not really the issue.

"Uh Cas, you and I need to have a talk before we eat. It's urgent." Lucas said.

Cassie knew what he wanted her to do and she had other ideas. "Luke, I'm sure it can wait till after breakfast." She darted a glare at her brother.

Lucas glared right back at her. Karen decided it was time to intervene.

"Ok does somebody want to tell me what's going on? I wake up and find you two both huddled in Cassie's room obviously in very deep conversation about something, and now Lucas is set on another big talk. Is there something anybody would like to tell me?" Karen asked, not liking being kept out of the loop when it came to her kids.

"I second that, what's going on?" Keith asked.

"Nothing, I don't know why you would think there is. It's just stupid teenage stuff." Cassie said.

"No, it's not." Lucas said tired of her keeping it a secret.

"Lucas." Cassie warned him. "Not another word. At least let's eat breakfast in peace."

Lucas rolled his eyes and finally agreed. "Fine, but after breakfast."

"Yeah sure." Cassie said as she walked into the kitchen followed by Keith and Karen.

The family managed to get through breakfast without any major problems, but what occurred afterwards was a totally different story all together.

"Ok Cas, I think it's time to tell mom and Keith what really happened at that party last night." Lucas said.

Cassie's eyes widened. "Luke if you really want me to speak to you again then I suggest you not go there especially when nothing really happened."

"Cassie what's going on?" Keith asked. "I can see your obviously hiding something, so spill."

"Nothing, it's just Lucas being a moron as usual." Cassie said shooting glares like darts at her brother.

"Cassandra Marie Scott, apologize to your brother right now." Karen warned sick of her daughter's attitude.

"Fine, sorry Luke." Cassie said not really meaning it.

"Ok Cassie, I think you better tell us what really happened. It's not like you to start calling your brother names and keep secrets like this." Karen said.

Cassie just looked at her hands not even budging.

Lucas decided he had finally had enough. "Alright Cass, if your not going to tell them I will." He said as he looked at his sister who completely ignored him. "Mom, Keith something did happen at that party last night...something bad, really bad."

"Sweetie, you want to finish the story?" Karen urged her daughter who still didn't reply.

"I guess what happened was in a way my fault. I left Cassie alone at that party thinking she would be safe. I was way wrong, and I am sorry for that mom." Lucas said.

"Ok Cassandra, out with it." Karen said having enough of the attitude she was being given by her teenage daughter.

Cassie looked up. "Fine. I was almost raped. Almost being the keyword meaning it didn't actually happen. So can we just forget about it?" Cassie asked in tears.

"What?" Karen asked and her jaw dropped completely.

Keith felt anger boiled up inside of him. "Who?" He asked fearing he already knew the answer.

Cassie looked down, fiddling with the table cloth. "Tim Smith."

Keith nodded standing up and walking towards the front entrance.

"Uncle Keith where are you going?" Lucas asked.

"To kill Tim Smith." Keith said.

"Keith don't." Cassie screamed. "Please just let this go. Nothing really terrible happened and besides I'm sure Brooke's boyfriend or whoever he was already taught Tim a valuable lesson."

"Honey as much as I love you, I just can't let this go. The fact that someone even tried to do this to you, especially after I already told him to leave you alone, angers me beyond reason." Keith said and hugged his still crying niece. "Now if you'll excuse me."

"I will never forgive you for this Lucas Scott. I will never forgive you." Cassie ran to her room and slammed the door.

Lucas was torn. He wanted to go help his sister, but he didn't want his Uncle to do something he would later regret. He made the decision to follow Keith to make sure nothing too bad happened.

Karen looked at her son with tears glistening in her eyes and turned in the direction her daughter had just went.

Karen knocked on Cassie's door. "Cassie, sweetie you in there?" She heard muffled cries coming through the door. She decided to go right in despite the protest she might receive. "Baby-girl, you ok?" She asked using the nickname Keith had given Cassie when she was born.

Cassie was laying with her head buried in the pillow and her arms covering her head. "Mom, I swear nothing really happened. It could have been so much worse then it was."

"Honey I know how upset you must be but just remember this could happen again if something isn't done, maybe it won't be to you but to another innocent girl. Tim Smith is obviously a very sick boy, but we will make sure he suffers the consequences of his actions." Karen soothingly rubbed the girls back but as she touched her daughter's shoulder she heard Cassie wince. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"N...nothing. It's just my shoulder really hurts. I must have slept on it the wrong way." Cassie said.

Karen lightly pressed the spot again and again Cassie winced in pain. Curious to see what the problem was, she pulled the collar of Cassie's shirt a little and revealed a large black and purple colored bruise on her right shoulder. Karen had no idea where her daughter could have gotten such a big bruise.

"Honey where did this bruise come from?" Karen asked.

Cassie shrugged. "It must be from when Tim pushed me against the wall."

Karen felt the anger rise up inside of her. If Keith didn't harm that boy, she would. "Maybe we should get you to a doctor."

Cassie shook her head vigrously. "No, mom I'll be fine. No doctor."

"Ok fine, but I am going to get you some ice to put on that shoulder." Karen said.

Cassie nodded as her mom left the room. When she heard the door close she immediately got up and grabbed her sweater and shoes. She pulled her long hair back into a ponytail and snuck out the window.