Chapter 406
My mom and dad were sitting on the couch when Aaron and I walked in, and my sister was there, too, in a chair, leaving the smaller loveseat for Aaron and I, which was really awkward. I felt like Cadence should’ve gotten up and switched with me, but then I also thought if my mom tried to kill me, maybe he’d protect me. Not that I couldn’t save myself, but I wouldn’t want to be the one to try to restrain my own mother from beating me upside the head.
We all stared at each other for a long time, and I knew that Aaron wanted me to start, but I wasn’t ready for that, so I just sat there, even after he literally nudged me with his shoe. We were having a stare down, and I wasn’t going to be the first to shout chicken.
So my mom finally said, “Cassidy, what is this all about? Your father left work to be here. Do you want to explain?”
No, not really. Another nudge. “Uh, well, Mom, you know, ever since I moved out, I feel like you and I have been getting along a lot better than we were before. You know, ever since you and dad moved down here, it’s been... trying, to say the least.”
“Yes, I do,” she said, her head bobbing up and down. “Part of that is because you insist on seeing exactly what it takes to kill you, and I’m trying to prevent that.”
Now was not the time to start debating whether or not I could actually die—which I was pretty sure I couldn’t. “Right. Well, I feel like the arrangement we have is really working. I’ve been completing all the extra math, which you’ve seen. We’ve had some nice lunches together. And I can’t even remember the last time we had an argument.”
“I can,” my mom said, and then she got a nudge from my dad. “Yes, dear. I agree. Our relationship has been much better since you moved out. I’m glad that your sister was willing to take on the responsibility I was clearly incapable of fulfilling myself.”
“Mom, it’s not that,” I assured her. “It’s just... you’ve never had to parent a half-Vampire daughter before. No one has. It’s hard. And... I know my attitude changed drastically when my body did. So... you shouldn’t be upset at yourself. It’s not your fault.” I swallowed hard, forcing the words out, though I hardly agreed. “It’s mine.”
Once again, my mom nodded. “While I appreciate that, Cassidy, I have a feeling that isn’t why everyone is here.”
“No, Mom, it’s not. You see, I didn’t exactly move in with Cadence when I left.”
My mom’s eyes instantly shifted to my sister who didn’t make eye contact with either one of my parents. My dad stared, too, but not as intently. “What do you mean?” Mom asked.
“I... asked her to cover for me. I know I shouldn’t have, but I did.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Cadence said. “But... I thought you’d feel better if you thought Cassidy was with me. The good news is she’s been perfectly fine living with Lucy. I’ve been checking up on both of them, and they’re making good decisions. It seems to be working really well.”
Minutes seemed to tick by as my mom stared slack jawed at my sister. I felt terrible for Cadence, too. Especially since she didn’t even know the real truth. I was hoping that was it, and I could just get up and go now, but the nudger was back. “Actually, Cadence, that’s not quite the truth either.”
Now I had three pairs of eyes boring into my head. “What’s that?” Cadence asked me.
“You’re right, we have been very responsible. I’ve self-imposed a curfew, and I’ve never been late once. I’ve been doing my own laundry, making my own meals, cleaning up after myself. It’s been great.”
“Where?” my sister asked.
“Yes, Cassidy. Where have you been living?” I could see in my mother’s eyes she was afraid my answer was going to be something like, “with Brandon and Elliott,” so at least it wasn’t that bad.
“I have my own apartment.” The words came out easier than I had expected, more cheerful. Maybe if I stayed positive, so would they. “It’s great. I don’t have to worry about anyone else’s feelings. I have my own space, and I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes. It’s really been the best thing ever, next to you and dad moving down here, of course,” I added, though I’m sure my mom wasn’t buying that. “It’s just one floor up, so we are still under the same roof.” I chuckled, but no one joined in. “So... I’m sorry that I wasn’t completely forthcoming with my new arrangement, but it has been for the best, don’t you think? I mean... we’ve been getting along so well. And I haven’t gotten into any trouble. I think, it’s all been for the best.” I plastered a cheesy grin on my face and watched my mother process. My dad was still staring from one of us to the other like he wasn’t sure who might launch themselves across the room at the other.
I could’ve jumped into my mom’s mind and tried to figure out what she was thinking, but I decided to wait instead. Regardless of what she said, I wasn’t going to move back in with her. If it meant I had to move in with Cadence for real—or with Lucy—or to the moon--there was no way in the world I was moving back there. Eventually, she turned her attention to Aaron, which I thought was kind of odd, but I wasn’t complaining. “How long have you known about this?” Her tone was more curious than accusatory, but there was an undertone there, like she assumed he was in on it.
He literally checked his watch—like he didn’t have an eye computer that has the time on it. “Twenty-two minutes.” I think we all got the point pretty quickly, and my mom shrunk back a little bit, like she was sorry she’d sort of accused him of pulling one over on her.
“This is completely me, all me,” I said, even though it wasn’t. But I wasn’t about to throw my one accomplice under the bus. I might need him again later. “I know it’s difficult to see that I might actually be able to articulate my own needs at just almost-seventeen, but that is the case, Mom. I needed to move out. I needed my independence. For both of our own goods. And it has been good. So... as sorry as I am for lying to you, it was a necessary evil.”
“But you did lie to me. Again, Cassidy. Granted, this isn’t nearly as potentially life altering as the last time, but it’s still potentially horrific!”
“The last time I was right, Mom.” I kept my voice even despite my growing emotions. “Even if the way I went about it was wrong. It was the only way it was going to happen. As much as I hated hurting you and Dad, going behind my boss’s back,” I gestured at Cadence, “and tricking Jamie, I needed to do that.”
“You need to wait and listen to the grown-ups!” my mom argued.
I could see my apartment slipping through my fingers, and I had no idea what I was going to do. I couldn’t move back in with my parents—I just couldn’t.
