"Well you guys, the party was a complete success." Cassie smiled as she sat around a booth in Karen's cafe with her friends. "We raised a ton of money for Nathan and Haley."
"Yeah to bad that Deb had to show up and give them such a hard time." Lucas sighed.
"I still say tutorgirls pregnant." Brooke said. "I don't know why you guys didn't insist on baby gifts."
"Broooooke." Cassie pleaded. "I already told you she's not pregnant, she would have told me by now if she was."
"Brooke, Haley straigtened you out at the party." Peyton reminded her. "She's just happy in love, that's all."
"Yeah well if I was in love I wouldn't run on and tie the knot while I'm still in high school." Brooke said.
"Who cares I say. If their in love they should be able to do what they want. Wasn't it Haley's Dad who said that you can go to war at 18, drink at 21, and retire at 65, so how old do you have to be before your love is real." Cassie said. "I totally agree with that. I don't care what the rest of you say so long as their happy then I'm happy for them."
"I'm with Cass, I say we just let them be." Lucas agreed. "Look now that this place is cleaned up I really gotta get going. Cassie you coming?" He asked.
Cassie nodded and as she walked out the door with her brother she said "I think this place would make such a great place for a new club."
Lucas just rolled his eyes and nodded.
The next morning Cassie woke up to shuffling in the kitchen and voices as well.
"Mom, Keith?" Cassie asked as she yawned walking into the kitchen.
"Morning sleepyhead." Karen laughed.
"Sorry Cassie didn't mean to wake you." Keith laughed as he watched his niece run a hand through her messy dark hair.
"Whatever, what was it you two were talking about so heatedly?" She asked. "Don't even try to deny it, I heard you."
Keith sighed. "I'm just trying to convince your Mom to go after her dreams.
"Again?" Cassie laughed. "Mom, I thought it was your dream to go to cooking school in Italy."
"It is, it was." Karen said. "This is nothing."
It was then that Cassie noticed the flyer on the table and picked it up. "Tree Hill Community College? Mom were you thinking of applying to college?"
"Not thinking, she's already been accepted, she is just being stubborn." Keith said eyeing Karen.
"You were? Mom thats great." Cassie said as she hugged her Mom.
"What's great?" Lucas asked walking into the kitchen yawning, still in his pyjamas.
"Mom's going to college." Cassie said.
"What?" Lucas asked. "Mom, that's awesome." Lucas said going to hug his mother.
Karen stopped him. "I'm not going, so don't get to excited."
Lucas stopped. "Why not?"
"Because I'm so busy, with you two and the cafe. I don't have time to go to school to, without giving up one of the other things which I won't even consider." Karen said.
"Mom, Cassie and I will be fine. You'll still have weekends with us." Lucas reasoned.
"Yeah Mom, you have to do this. You totally deserve it, you should go for it." Cassie agreed. "If you've already been accepted there's nothing to stop you. I'll run the cafe the same way I did when you were in Italy, Deb will help. Luke can look after the household chores." Cassie volunteered her brother who nodded hesitantly.
"I don't know guys, what about money? That will be an issue." Karen reminded them.
"Mom, it's always an issue. You've never let that stop you before. We'll get through this. Trust me." Lucas said.
"Do this." Cassie said.
"You heard the kids." Keith said standing behind his niece and nephew. "You've got no choice now Kare." He smiled when she looked defeated and resigned.
"Fine, I'll do it. Cassie, if your grades drop from being so busy at the cafe, or if either of you find yourself overwhelmed you just tell me and I will drop this idea right away." Karen said.
"Mooom...were not 5 we can handle this. It's only a one year program right? The Business Class is what your taking?" Cassie asked.
Karen nodded.
"Well then it'll be fine." Lucas said and checked his watched. "Crap, Cass we have to get to school."
"Oh right." She sighed. "Duty calls." She rolled her eyes. "See you guys later." She said giving her Mom and Uncle a hug followed closely by Lucas as they walked out the front door.
Three hours later it was lunch time and Cassie had met up with Brooke and Haley.
"So Hales, you already moved into Nate's place right?" Cassie asked.
"Yep, I'm officially moved in." Haley smiled.
Brooke jumped up right away. "You do know what this means?"
Haley shook her head. "No Brooke what?"
"Your apartment is totally going to be party central." Brooke squealed in delight.
Cassie and Haley rolled their eyes.
"Brooke we are not having party's at my house all the time. There are rules you know when you have an apartment of your own." Haley said with a laugh.
"Aww come on Haley. Live a little." Brooke whined as Cassie burst out laughing.
"Yeah Hales, live a little." Cassie mimmocked Brooke who darted a glare at her. "Whoa who's that?" Cassie asked as she noticed a tall dark-skinned guy with a muscular build and dark hair.
Brooke winced when she saw who it was. "Oh great."
"What?" Haley asked.
"That's my new neighbor." Brooke sighed. "I thought he was the new pool boy my parents hired."
"Why would you think that?" Cassie asked with a laugh.
"Well because he was swimming in my pool...naked I might add, and he spoke spanish so I thought he was the new Mexican pool boy. Turns out he was playing me the whole time." Brooke said.
Cassie and Haley burst out laughing at Brooke as the guy walked over to their table.
"Ladies." He said as he sat down next to Haley. "The name's Felix and who might you be? I didn't think Tree Hill had so many babes, none as beautiful as the two of you anyway." He directed the comment at Cassie and Haley, both who thought he was charming but creepy at the same time.
"I'm Haley and this is Cassie." Haley introduced her friend.
"Hi." Cassie smiled.
"Well it is definitely nice to meet you." Felix smiled. "Brooke you didn't tell me you had such gorgeous friends."
"Coming on strong much?" Brooke asked. "What do you want anyways?"
"Oh come on, I know we got off on the wrong foot but I was hoping we could change all that. I wanted to apologize for how I acted this morning." Felix said.
"Well you've said it now leave." Brooke said. "Come on guys." She said to Haley and Cassie who both stood, eager to get away from the new guy.
Felix obviously didn't know how to take no for an answer as he followed them.
"Care to show me around the school?" Felix asked putting an arm around Cassie who shrugged it off. "And maybe a few other things." He said with a sly smile on his face.
"Listen creep." Cassie said turning around to face him.
"Hey step away from my girl." Kyle said appearing out of nowhere and draped Cassie into a protective hug.
"Your girl huh?" Felix laughed. "Could change all that." He said stepping up to meet Kyle who had stepped forward in front of his girlfriend.
"Why don't you back off?" Kyle said as he shoved Felix.
"Why don't you." Felix shoved him back as Kyle fell to the ground but stood up right away and went after Felix.
"She said to leave her alone." Kyle said throwing a punch and connecting with Felix's jaw.
Cassie pulled Kyle back. "Kyle, he's totally not worth it. Ignore him."
"What's going on?" Lucas asked seeing the commotion. "Cass, is this guy hassling you?"
"Luke, it's nothing really. Kyle took care of it." Cassie explained.
"What is this girl? You got two guys who fight for you. Threesome much?" Felix laughed. "Care to add to that equation."
Cassie almost threw up. "Gross, that may be acceptable where you come from but here in Tree Hill, its frowned upon. Sorry to disappoint you."
"Whoa you got a mouth on you girl." Felix said.
"Alright why don't you just back off." Lucas said standing face to face with Felix.
"And who are you?" Felix asked.
"I'm her brother, who's about to kick your ass straight out of this town." Lucas said.
Felix backed away slowly. "Fine, if thats the way its gonna be." He walked over to Haley. "That's ok cause you are totally..."
Haley interrupted him. "Married." She held up her finger as Nathan walked up as if on cue.
"Back of jerk." Nathan said.
"Whoa, totally didn't see the ring." Felix defended. "So bun in the oven?"
Haley rolled her eyes. Why did everyone think that? "No, just in love." She said angrily.
"I saw you hitting on my sister and now your moving on to my wife? What are you desperate man?" Nathan asked. "Cause all these girls, are taken." He pointed out.
"Really?" He looked at Cassie. "Another brother huh?"
Cassie nodded.
Felix threw his hands up in surrender. "Fine I give up."
"Good, now get lost." Brooke said as Felix walked away and the bell rang signalling the end of the lunch hour.