CHAPTER 2

C A S S I D Y

"What the hell is going on?" Jake whispered.

"I could ask the same thing. Elouise what are you doing here? You said you were going to meet up with a friend" I asked, super confused.

"What are you doing here? Jake is my friend" she asks equally as confused and pointing towards my prick of a stepbrother.

"I live here" I sighed piecing everything together. "You were never planning to go to the meal were you" I turn my attention to Jake, who is just standing there shocked.

"No, I wasn't. Do you really think I want to sit through that torture of your family when I could go out with my mates? Not a chance" he spat back at me. Just as I was about to bite back at him, a familiar voice caused me to stop.

"Cassie?" the voice called. I turned around to see Elliot, Elouises twin brother and one of my best friends in the entire world. I ran towards him and jumped straight into his arms.

"Oh my god, I have missed you so much!" he exclaims. Let me tell you a bit about Elliot. Standing at 5'10, the blue eyed, brunette weirdo was the most adorable person ever.

"Elliot, please don't tell me you are actually friends with the devil!" Jake spits out.

"I'm the devil? Really. What have I ever done to make you hate me? Huh. I just met you yesterday and my whole life has been turned upside down in the last few months!" I shout at him.

"You are your father are the reason that my family broke up. It's all because of you" he growls and then storms inside. What was that about? What have dad and I ever done? We literally lost Mom last year.

"Cassidy?" Elouise says.

"I'm fine. I'm just going to go and get ready for later" I say and force a smile before I walk off and into the house, heading straight for my bedroom.

I fall onto the bed and just cry. Cry for my Mom, cry for everything that I've lost, and cry because my new family hates me.

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"Cassidy" someone knocks my bedroom door, pulling me out of sleep.

"Josh? What time is it?" I ask, rubbing my eyes to wake up.

"We have 30 minutes till we need to leave. Your dad sent me up here to let you know" he muttered and then walked away. I quickly jumped out of bed and started to get ready. I searched threw my closet for something to wear and finally decided on a pair of blue distressed jeans and a white jumped tucked into the jeans. I put on two of my favourite necklaces and threw my hair up into a messy bun. Once I was ready I went downstairs to find everyone waiting in the kitchen.

"Oh Cassidy, you look just like your mother. She would have been so proud of you" My father gushed, causing me to tear up.

"Thank you Dad" I smile back. "Right, should we go?".

"Yes. Cassidy and Josh, you two are fine to ride with Jake right?" their mom, Christine, asked.

"Sure" I muttered and forced a smile, not wanting to let them see that anything was wrong. I turned to look at Jake as our parents walked out, only to see him already looking at me and glaring.

"You better not make this night any worse than it already is" he says and then walks straight out the front door to the car. I soon follow after him, Josh walking out after me and locking the door before we both get into Jakes car.

"Trust me, I don't want to be around you tonight any more than you want to be around me" I muttered. The whole ride to the restaurant was quiet and awkward, none of us wanting to speak at all. After 10 minutes, we finally arrived and I wasted no time jumping out of the car and racing into the restaurant.

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"I'm going out" Jake announces as soon as we walk back into the house.

"No you are not. You can have a friend round but you are not going out tonight mister" Christine tells him firmly.

"Fine. I'll invite Tiff round then" he huffs and stalks up the stairs. I follow quickly behind him, walking straight into my room to get ready for bed.

I'm halfway through brushing my hair in the bathroom when the door opens to reveal a tall skinny blonde pushing her way into my room. Who does this girl think she is. She can clearly see that this is some ones bedroom.

"Oh sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here" she apologises. However when she looks at me, her face turns to one of hatred and jealousy.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my boyfriends house?" she spits at me.

"Um, I , um, I live here. I'm Jake's new stepsister and you are kinda standing in my bedroom" i explain awkwardly.

"Right. Well stay out of our way" she snarls before walking out and into Jakes room. This could be a long night.

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I was right. All I could hear through the paper thin walls of my bedroom, was Jake and his girlfriend getting it on. And trust me it isn't a nice sound. So I decided to do what I do best. Be annoying. I turned on my speaker in my room and began blasting out 'Social Casualty' by 5 Seconds of Summer. It was exactly 30 seconds later that I heard loud knocking on my bedroom door.

"Cassidy I swear to god, you better turn that music down or else" Jake threatened.

"What are you going to do about it huh? Nothing. That's what I thought" I bit back. I have had enough of this boy and its only night two.

"Don't make me come in there".

"You won't do anything. Can't leave your precious girlfriend waiting now can you Jakey" I laughed.

"You're just jealous. Anyone would kill to have a night with me. And she is not my girlfriend" he says before I hear footsteps walking away from my door and his bedroom door slamming.

The sound of my phone pinging pulls me away from my thoughts. I reach for it and see that Elouise had text me inviting me to a party at Aiden's, and that Josh said he would come and get me if I wanted to go. I quickly reply back and tell her that I will be ready in 15 and start looking for something to wear.

I end up going for a red lace bodysuit and a white leather skirt with black heels and leaving my hair in a messy bun. I reapply a little bit of makeup and by the time I'm ready, Josh is here to pick me up.

"Yo Jake, Cass and I are headed to Aiden's. You coming?" Josh shouts through Jakes bedroom door. A few seconds later the door opens to reveal Jake shirtless and sweaty. Ew.

"No I'm not, and neither is Cassidy. You know what Aiden is like" Jake says glancing at me and then turning his attention back to his brother.

"I am going and there is nothing you can do to stop me" I say. He looks me up and down, smirks and then says:

"Well be my guest. At your own risk of course". God, what am I getting myself into.