If Everyone Cared

Cassie had been walking around town for the past half hour, she was pretty sure her mom was freaking out right about now but at the moment she didn't really care. She had to get out of that house. She wasn't sure where she was headed but suddenly she found herself on the doorsteps on the Scott Mansion. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Luckily for her, Nathan answered.

"Cassie, hi." He exclaimed not sure why she was there. "Are you ok? What are you doing here? You look like you've been crying."

"That's cause I have. I just had to get out of my house, I couldn't stand being there right now and I didn't know where else to go." Cassie said. "I guess maybe I could have gone to Haley's."

"No...thats ok. I'm glad you came." Nathan reassured her. "Come on in." He said.

Cassie smiled gratefully for it was starting to rain a little. "Thanks."

They walked into the large kitchen and Cassie took in the entire house. It was just how she had always pictured it. Big rooms with marble floors and solid oak doors. A big winding staircase that led upstairs welcomed you as soon as you walked into the house. The place was like one big palace, maybe even a little fancier.

"Nice play you've got here." Cassie told Nathan who just nodded.

"Yeah it's alright I guess. It's not exactly the most homely place though." Nathan said.

Cassie peered into one room that had a label on the door that read "Trophy Room" and that's literally all it contained. The walls were lined with all kinds of basketball trophees, mostly belonging to Dan. But one wall seemed to be in honor of Nathan. There were pictures of him holding game winning trophies and a little league uniform.

"You play baseball?" Cassie asked.

Nathan shrugged. "A little, I played when I was younger between basketball seasons. I never really liked it but my dad said that it would keep me in shape, plus he was the coach." Nathan laughed. "What about you? Any sports?"

"Well I played soccer for awhile and of course basketball in the junior leagues but my love has always been for dancing. I think I got it from my mom." Cassie said.

"Yeah Brooke told me that she asked you to join the Ravens." Nathan said. "I think thats a great idea."

"Glad you think so, Lucas sure doesn't." Cassie said and let out a long sigh.

"Want anything to eat or drink?" Nathan asked upon entering the kitchen.

Cassie shook her head and then noticed they weren't alone. "Haley?" She asked.

Haley looked up after hearing her best friend's voice. "Cassie. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Cassie said.

"Well I'm tutoring Nathan, you know that." Haley said.

"Could have fooled me, it sure doesn't look like thats what you were doing. There's no books out." Cassie said.

"Well we were, not that its any of your business. I'll ask again, what are you doing here?" Haley asked.

"I came by because I needed someone to talk to." Cassie said. "And Nathan and I have been talking more."

"Uh huh, and why couldn't you talk to Lucas?" Haley asked.

"Because he's the main problem." Cassie said. "He told my mom what happened at the party."

"Oh I'm sorry, Cas." Haley said. "But your mom had a right to know and you weren't going to tell her."

"So thats my business, and since when do you always side with my idiot brother?" Cassie asked.

"Since I agree with his decision." Haley said.

"Whatever, I didn't come here for your opinion anyways." Cassie said. "But if you guys are busy, I'll just go. My moms probably flipping out right about now."

"She doesn't know your here?" Nathan asked hearing the tail end of the conversation as he came back with some water for Cassie.

Cassie shook her head. "Not exactly, I kind of snuck out."

"Cassie that's not like you." Haley said. "What really happened?"

"What's the use in telling you Hales, your just going to take Lucas' side."

"Cassie, I'm really sorry but I do agree with Luke. But you know that I'm always on your side and so is your brother. You can tell me anything." Haley said.

"Fine. After Lucas told my mom and Keith what happened and they found out who did it, Uncle Keith went ballistic. He wanted to kill Tim, I've never seen him that angry before. Luke went to try and stop him and my mom well she reacted exactly how I thought she would." Cassie said. "She looked so hurt and upset that I didn't tell her and I know she was already upset over what happened. This is why I didn't want to say anything to her. I didn't want to hurt her."

"Cas, your mom is like the strongest person I know. She can handle it, its you I'm worried about." Haley said concerned.

"I'm ok Hales. I promise. Its just going to take me a few days to get over." Cassie said.

"Cassie maybe you should call and tell your mom where you are." Nathan said. "Sneaking out doesn't sound like you, it sounds like something I would do. And as for Lucas, his intentions were good. He's just trying to be a good brother."

Cassie nodded. "I know, he loves playing the protective brother role and he's good at it. But there comes a time and a place where I have to learn to take care of myself and Lucas has to get over the fact that I'm not 5 anymore. He doesn't have to chase all the boys away."

Haley laughed. "Cas, I know what your going through."

"I know Hales. You have 3 brothers, but none of them are as close in age to you as Luke and I are. Sometimes I wish we weren't as close as we are, it can get annoying fast." Cassie said. "I should go, leave you two to your studying." Cassie said and then winked. "Nathan thanks for letting me get this off my chest. It helped alot just to be able to talk."

"Anytime." Nathan said. "And don't worry, Lucas will come around."

Cassie nodded still completely stunned about the sudden changes Nathan was making. He really seemed like he was trying to be a better person.

"See you guys later." Cassie said as she walked to the front entrance bumping into somebody along the way. She looked up into the eyes of none other then Dan, her estranged father.

Dan looked at her wide eyed, not knowing why she was there.

"Did your mother send you?" He asked.

Cassie just shook her head, not scared of his intimidating stature.

"Well then why are you here?" He asked.

"To talk to Nathan, not that its any of your business." Cassie said.

"Look whatever this is, you tell your mother and my boozed up brother they can kiss off." Dan said.

"Ugh no offense or anything Mr. Scott..." Cassie said refusing to call him dad or even Dan. "But thats what we should be telling you."

Dan glared at the girl he had abandoned. She looked and sounded way to much like her mother for her own good. Looking at her brought back a thousand memories for him, some good and some terrible. "Listen you little brat, you go home and live your life. You and your brother stay away from Nathan or else." He warned.

"Sorry but I don't think thats possible." Cassie smirked at him. "Seeing as how Lucas is on the team, and I will be on the Cheerleading team, and for your information Nathan was the one to come to me, I didn't go to him." Cassie said as she walked out of the house leaving Dan completely shocked.