"Mouth, thanks again for the flowers." She smiled, they really were one of the sweetest presents she had ever been given. "Lillies are my favorite." She beamed at her friend.

Mouth nodded. "I know. You've told me that before."

Cassie laughed. "I can't believe you actually remembered that. Most guys never remember anything like that. It just goes to show how truely great special you are."

Mouth grinned. "I remember everything you tell me." He admitted.

"I know, you are such a great friend to me." Cassie said not knowing she was breaking his heart.

Mouth had always been considered by girls to be a good friend or like a little brother, but they never thought about him any other way. He had known Cassie since he could remember and since the day he met her, he had had a crush on her. She was one of the most special people in his life, she always gave him the time of day no matter what, if she made a promise to him she never broke it. He wanted to tell her exactly what he thought about her; that she was sweet, kind, caring, funny, intelligent and gorgeous. He wanted to tell her he liked her and that it wasn't just the like as a friend, but he was terrified she wouldn't reciprocate those feelings. When he had heard about the accident he was scared he would never get the chance to tell her how he truly felt. So he had decided to finally let the truth come out. Worst case scenario, she wouldn't feel the same way, but at least she would know how he felt.

"Cas, there is another reason I wanted to see you." He said.

"Oh and what reason would that be?" Cassie asked placing the flowers on the table beside her bed. There was a knock on the door and Cassie yelled for the intruder to enter or more intruders.

Brooke and Peyton entered with Haley trailing close behind.

"Hey guys." Cassie's smiled brightened even more as her three friends took turns hugging her and giving her presents. She was so busy talking to Brooke, Peyton and Haley she hadn't even notice Mouth quietly slip out.

"How you doin girly?" Brooke asked putting on her cheeriest expression.

Cassie shrugged. "Ive been better, my leg is broken and my ribs are broken as well so no cheerleading for me until I'm healed." She said sadly as Brooke nodded.

"I know your mom and Keith told us, we ran into them in the hallway, they were on their way to see Luke." Brooke said.

"Don't worry Cas." Peyton said sitting on the edge of the bed. "You've got the entire squad pulling for you, plus Haley." Peyton said holding up the girls arm.

"Yeah, I was wondering why Haley is hanging with the two of you." Cassie smiled at her best friend. "Am I to assume you guys are actually getting along?"

Haley nodded. "Actually I'm taking your place on the squad at least until you heal."

Cassie smiled. She had worried that Haley would feel that her friendship with Brooke and Peyton would overshadow their longtime friendship. It was nice to know that was not the case.

"So why aren't you visiting my brother." Cassie more or less directed the question at Brooke and Haley, she had no idea what was going on between Lucas and Peyton.

"Your mom and Keith are with him, they told us to visit him after they check on him, so we decided to come see you." Brooke smiled.

"And Haley refuses to see him for some reason." Peyton added causing Cassie to look at her friend questioningly.

"Haley whats going on? I know I was angry at Lucas before the accident but I had no idea you were fighting with him too." Cassie said.

"Well I kind of saw something I shouldn't have." She looked at Peyton and then back at Cassie. "

I confronted him, there was some yelling and I walked out refusing to speak to him again and then the accident happened and I was so afraid I would never get to apologize to him, but now I know I can but I just don't know what I would say." Haley said.

"Get in line, I've got my own apologies to give to him." Cassie sighed. "But I guess we'll have to wait until he's at least conscious."

Everyone in the room nodded and continued talking for the next 15 minutes before a nurse entered and asked them to leave and let Cassie rest. They did so and Cassie managed to close her eyes but was awoken suddenly by a dark shadow entering the room. She saw who it was and a strange, almost creepy feeling crept over her.

"What do you want?" Cassie hissed at the man in front of her.

"I wanted to see how you were." The man said and sat down in front of the girl with a evil smile plastered on his large face. His blue eyes piercing into hers. "After all I am the one who saved you."

"What are you talking about, Dan?" Cassie asked. As far as she had figured Keith had pulled her out of the car and got her and Lucas to the hospital some way.

"You mean my brother didn't tell you?" Dan smirked, he should have known Keith would try to steal his thunder as usual, but it would never work. "I saw the accident, I pulled you and your brother out of the car, I drove you to the hospital. Your Uncle Keith was in to much shock and under the effects of alcohol to do anything."

Cassie shook her head at the man. "No, he wasn't drunk, he had one beer. And who cares if you did save us, don't expect a medal. It doesn't make you dad of the year by any means and it definitely doesn't mean that it makes up for your lack of parental involvement with me and Luke." Cassie spat.

Dan looked at her, almost looking sad. "Well I guess a near death experience hasn't changed anything for you like it has for me."

"What are you rambling about now?" Cassie wondered.

"Well seeing that accident and knowing you and your brother could have easily died, opened my eyes. I realized that I do want to get to know you, I do regret not being involved. I always have, I was just to stubborn and stupid to admit it." Dan said sounding almost sincere.

Cassie sat there for a moment completely quiet, not sure how to respond. She then started laughing and Dan didn't understand what had cause her sudden outburst, but whatever it was had him laughing too. Cassie definitely had her mother's laugh, Dan noted, it was the infectious laugh that had made him fall in love with Karen all those years ago, well that and her loving spirit and zest for life.

Cassie's laugh soon faded and a firm expression entered her face. "You know, you almost had me there, believing that you actually cared."

Dan realized she had not been laughing for a good reason, she had been laughing because to her what he had said was sounding ridiculous. "I do mean it Cassie."

"Its Cassandra to you. Only my friends and family call me Cassie. Better yet, why don't you just not call me anything at all." Cassie said.

"Why don't you just leave Dan." Karen's voice could be heard from the entrance to Cassie's hospital room. "Leave her alone."

Dan looked up, almost defeated. Before leaving he turned to mother and daughter who were now side by side. "This isn't over. I do want to know you Cassie, and I will prove it to you." He said as he left.

"What was that about?" Karen asked concerned for her daughter.

Cassie shrugged. "Who knows, its Dan." She said. "So how's Luke?"

"In recovery, actually they are wheeling him down into this room as we speak, I requested it. It will be easier for me to be with the two of you in the same room." Karen explained.

Cassie nodded. "So he's ok then?" She asked.

"He will be, he's still unconscious and may not wake up for another couple of days." Karen answered.

"Oh." Cassie looked around. "Where's Uncle Keith?" She asked.

Karen stood there wide-eyed. She didn't know what to tell Cassie, or how to explain how angry she was at him without upsetting her daughter. "Ugh Cas, there's something you need to understand." She started.