It was getting close to 6 p.m. and Cassie was still not ready for the big dinner. Keith had told her not to bother dressing up, but she knew she she should. This was not just some normal dinner party, this was probably one of the biggest nights of her life. What happened tonight would either make or break a relationship with her grandparents, who were the only ones she had. Cassie had clothes strewn across her room and a big pile of shoes and bags flooded her bed. She could find nothing that she felt were dressy enough. Most of her clothes consisted of t-shirts with cheesy sayings and band names on them, jeans, sweats and sweaters. On any normal day Cassie would be perfectly happy throwing on her jeans and Keith's Body Shop sweater on over a tank top, but this was not the day for that.
She pulled her one and only dress out of her closet. It was black and was what she would wear to a funeral, not a dinner party. "I've got nothing." She cried out in frustration. She knew her brother would be no help, and neither would Haley, who like Cassie really didn't care what she wore as long as it looked clean. Cassie then got the idea to call Brooke. She dialed the number she had for Brooke's house and waited for her to answer.
"Brooke, its Cassie." She said once she heard Brooke answer.
"Cassie?" Brooke sounded confused. "What's up? I just saw you at the game."
"I know, but I need your help with something." Cassie said.
Brooke was now completely shocked. "Ms. Brainiac needs my assitance? It must be big." Brooke said hearing Cassie laugh on the other side of the line.
"Yeah, its kind of a clothing emergency and I figured who better for the job. I kind of have this dinner party to go to, you know I'm meeting my grandparents for the first time, and I kinda have nothing to wear." Cassie sighed.
"Say no more, I'll be right over." Brooke said right away. "Is it cool if Peyton comes? Were kinda hanging out."
"Sure, the more help the better." Cassie said. "Just hurry I've only got like an hour."
Ten minutes later Cassie heard a knock on the door and ran to answer it. She was relieved to see Brooke and Peyton standing on the other side.
"Thank god you guys are here." She grabbed both their arms and led them to her room.
"Whoa, C. Scott it looks like a tornado blew through here." Brooke laughed.
Peyton immediately found all her band t-shirts. "You have a Fall Out Boy shirt? And Jack's Mannequin. Man I've been trying to find one of them for ever."
Cassie looked at her. "Take em' there's more where those came from."
Peyton jumped and hugged her. "You are so my new best friend." She laughed.
Cassie laughed with her but then knew they had business to take care of. "No offense or anything but I've got 45 minutes to do my hair and find the perfect outfit."
"No problem." Brooke said pulling out something from behind her. It was a long, light purple satin spahgetti strap and she had dark green blazer to go over it. "This will go perfect with a pair of jeans which I see you have plenty of."
Cassie screamed happily and hugged her new friend. "Brooke this is perfect. How did you do that so fast?"
"Well the shirt and blazer are mine, but you can have them and I knew we were about the same size, so it was easy." Brooke smiled. "Your gonna rock this outfit tonight Cass."
Brooke hugged her again and ran to the bathroom to change. Three minutes later she returned and Brooke and Peyton smiled at her. "You look awesome." Brooke said sincerely.
"Now come on girly girl its time for the hair." Peyton said pulling out her curling iron. Peyton sat Cassie down and proceeded to do her hair. Cassie's hair, like her moms, was naturally curly but she straightened it for the most part.
Twenty minutes later Cassie was completely ready. Brooke and Peyton had insisted on taking pictures of their masterpiece.
"Beautiful." They both cheered. "Now get going. We'll clean up. Have fun and good luck from what Nathan's told me about his grandparents, their just like Dan." Peyton warned her.
Cassie nodded. "I know. Thanks you guys seriously saved my life." And with that she grabbed her phone and was out the door.
Keith waited outside the entrance to the Scott mansion. Dan answered the door after a few minutes. His eyes narrowed when he saw his big brother.
"Boozy." He welcomed him into the household.
Keith shook his brother's hand. "Not now Danny."
Deb caught sight of her brother in law and smiled. "Keith." She said as she walked over to greet him.
"Hey Deb." Keith smiled politely in return, although he had always liked her. "I invited a guest if thats ok."
Deb nodded. "Of course. When is Whitey coming?"
Keith shook his head. "He's not, its someone else this time."
"Well, well if it isn't our oldest son, Mae." And overpowering voice said.
"Nice to see you two pop." Keith said shaking his fathers hand and hugging his mother.
"Did I hear something about a guest who isn't Whitey?" Mae asked and Keith nodded.
"Well who is it?" Royal demanded to know.
"You'll see, she should be here anytime now." As if on cue the doorbell rang and Deb answered it as Keith followed her, knowing who it was.
"Cassie." Deb smiled as she hugged the younger girl. "I'm glad you could come. You look absolutely gorgeous."
"Thanks Deb." Cassie said as she hugged her back. "Hey Uncle Keith, I was on time for once in my life."
Keith laughed as he wrapped his arm around the girls shoulder. "You ready for this?" He asked.
Cassie sighed. "Ready as I'll ever be."
"You really do look beautiful, kiddo." He smiled genuinely at her.
"Thanks. If its ok Brooke and Peyton helped me get ready. I know I'm grounded but its a special night." Cassie reminded him.
Keith nodded. "Its fine honey, now I think there are two people who are waiting to meet you."
Cassie took a deep breath and stepped further into the house, with her Uncles arm still wrapped around her protectively. She saw Dan and wished him a happy birthday, just to be polite. To her surprise he actually said thank you and seemed to mean it.
"Mom, dad...there is someone I'd like you to meet." Keith said as Cassie buried her head in his shoulder, shyly. "This is Cassandra, your granddaughter."
Mae's hand immediately flew to her mouth as she let out a shriek. She immediately pulled the younger girl into her arms and almost squeezed the life out of her. "Oh my god."
Cassie relaxed a little in her grandmother's arms, glad at least one of them was happy to meet her. As Mae pulled away she caught sight of Royal staring at her, his face firm. He seemed to be studying her intently.
"I'm Cassie." She said in hopes to break the tension.
Royal's face split into a grin. "Well get over here sweetheart. We've been waiting to meet you your entire life." He said as he held out his arms, Cassie immediately walked over and into them.
Keith and everyone in the room, with the exception of Dan, had tears in their eyes.They were all surprised by Royal's reaction, but were glad he didn't show any feelings of resentment towards his granddaughter.
Deb walked over and tapped Cassie's shoulder. "Honey, would you mind going to find Nathan? He should be in his room. It's the second toward to the right as soon as you walk up the stairs.
Cassie nodded and followed Deb's instructions, leaving the adults to talk.
Mae was the first to speak. "Well she sure is a beautiful girl."
Royal nodded. "Looks just like her mother at that age. She has Karen's voice and everything."
Keith nodded. "She's exactly like her mother, more then just looks, its her whole personality and outlook on life."
"So where's the boy?" Royal asked Keith.
Keith shrugged. "Probably out with friends, you can't really blame him for not wanting to come tonight. You've never given him or Cassie reason's to want to get to know you. Your just lucky Cassie is so much like Karen. She gives everyone the benefit of the doubt."
"You listen here boy..." Royal stopped midsentence as Cassie and Nathan entered the room. The doorbell rang and in walked Haley. She looked shocked when saw Cassie standing there.
"Cass, what are you doing here?" Haley asked.
"Meeting my grandparents." She said simply. "You're here with Nathan?" Cassie asked her friend as she and Haley both took seats next to eachother at the table.
Haley nodded. "He invited me. I guess I'm just surprised to see you here."
Cassie nodded too. "I'm surprised I'm here." She laughed.
"Well is everyone ready for dinner?" Deb asked as the room went silent.