The room felt like it was spinning, my head was pounding. I tried to focus on what my math teacher was saying, though I felt my mind going in and out. I couldn't even focus enough to write down my notes. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. I looked over and saw Mike scribbling notes down in his notebook, I sighed, knowing I could just copy them from him later. The pain in my head was nothing that matched the pain in my stomach. My stomach literally felt like it was eating itself from the inside out. I hadn't eaten in two days.

I excused myself from class to go to the bathroom. I walked in and looked at my reflection. My natural olive-skin was a little on the pale side, my eyes were covered in concealer to hide the dark bags under them. My natural plump lips were pale and cracking. I pulled my chapstick out and made thick coat across my lips, trying to rid myself of the dryness. I had lost ten pounds - I felt great. I looked at myself once again, taking in the fact that I now had extremely skinny fingers and wrists, there was no fat left on my once chubby cheeks either. My thighs had even started to slim down, and my stomach was flatter than anything. I smiled at myself and walked back into class right before the bell rang.

"Eat," Mike commanded as he pulled food out of my purse, "It might make you feel better."

All I wanted to do was grab the bag of Cheetos and the PB&J sandwich from his hands, but instead I grabbed an apple. "Yeah… maybe…" I said with a smile, "Thank you for always looking out for me."

"It's my job," he gave me a peck on the cheek.

Katie sighed, "Cass, you've been sick for months, don't you think you should go to the doctor to get everything checked out?"

I shrugged, "I'm pretty sure it's just a bad cold. You know I never get real sicknesses."

"I know but you've thrown up a few times in the morning and…"

"I'm not pregnant, Katie," I laughed. "If I was pregnant I'd be gaining weight, and I'm actually doing the opposite."

"I'm just worried about you," she frowned. "I feel like you're just wasting away."

I rolled my eyes, "Don't worry about me. I am fine!"

"Maybe it would be for the best…" Abbey sighed.

"Leave her alone," Mike mumbled from beside me. "Cass is capable of taking care of herself, guys. You know that if she really felt like it was something serious she would have gone to the doctor by now."

"Thank you, baby," I blushed and leaned my head on him before taking a bite of my apple. "Mike's right, guys. You know that."

Abbey smiled, "Alright. I guess you are healthy enough to continue to cheerlead so I'm not going to worry about it."

"And we're going to kick some major ass at competition!" I grinned. "I can't believe we're competing for regionals in this weekend."

"Our routine better fucking win," Katie grumbled. "I don't even know how many times I have pulled a muscle during practice for this."

"You're telling me. I think I'm going to need my knee reset after this season," I laughed.

"That's disgusting," Mike groaned from beside me and set his sandwich down and pushed it away from him.

"Get over it," I laughed. "Like you don't have gross bones…"

"My crooked fingers are not nearly as gross as your knee," he huffed. I moved my leg under the table and placed my knee on his thigh, then stretched it to make it pop. He cringed, "Cassandra!"


The rest of the day went by in a blur. The apple I had for lunch had helped a little bit with my head and stomach pains, but I also ended up popping six ibuprofen after lunch to make the pain go away. Cheer practice dragged on and on, because now that we were going to regionals we had practice from three to eight with a half hour break at 5:30. I hit all my stunts perfectly, my whole stunt group was amazing. Katie winded up getting a cramp butt somehow, which ended up making coach sit us all down and scream at us about how we better "stretch the shit out of ourselves" before regionals this weekend. Regionals was a two day competition that was on Saturday and Sunday. This meant that I was going to have to be up at 6 AM tomorrow. Luckily, after this weekend I would be getting a break from cheerleading for two weeks because of winter break.

"Alright, girls! I will see you all tomorrow at 7:30! Be dressed and have your hair and make-up completed!" Coach yelled as we all walked out of the gym. "If I see any hangovers tomorrow I will hang all of you!"

Abbey laughed, "I really wanted to drink tonight."

I shrugged, "That's like the worst thing to do before such a big competition."

"I wouldn't know," she shook her head. "This is my first year on Varsity."

"No drinking, no smoking, no doing anything that will make you slow down tomorrow." I said as we walked towards Mike's car. She nodded. I walked up to Mike, whom was smoking a cigarette while leaning against his Camaro, and kissed his lips softly, "Abbey is staying at my place."

Mike nodded and got in the car. I put my bag in the backseat then let Abbey crawl in before getting in my seat. Mike's hand automatically came over to the passenger side and intertwined his fingers with mine, "Does this mean I have to sleep on the couch?"

Abbey laughed, "Like Cass' Mom would let you sleep in her bed."

"She has lately because Cass hasn't felt well, smart ass," Mike chuckled.

I laughed, "No, baby. You can sleep in my bed. Abbey can sleep on the futon; I just have to put all my laundry away."

"How about you both sleep on the futon and let me get the bed!" Abbey giggled from the backseat.

"Never happening," I laughed. "I'd rather be all smushed up in my twin sized bed with Mike than be on that futon. It kills my back."

"You suck," she mumbled. "I'm just going to cuddle with Jackie all night." We all laughed. Abbey always cuddled with my dog when she came over; sober or drunk. We would wake up the next morning to find her arms wrapped around Jack and his face in her neck.

Mike pulled into my driveway and cut his car off then helped bring our bags inside. He put them upstairs while Abbey and I rummaged through the kitchen, looking for something to throw together as dinner. I knew I had to eat tonight because of competition tomorrow.

"Hey girls," my mom smiled with Frankie on her hip. He had just gotten out of the bath tub because his little mohawk was a soppy mess. "How was practice?"

"Tiring," I laughed.

"Very tiring," Abbey chimed in.

My mom laughed, "There's some left over mac n cheese in the fridge. I had made it maybe three hours ago… it's homemade. There's enough for both of you."

"Mikey back!" Frankie screamed in my mom's arms. She put him down and he went running towards Mike who had just walked down the stairs. Mike scooped him up in his arms, "Sissy! Mikey taught me drums today."

I raised an eyebrow as I pulled the macaroni out of the refrigerator, "I didn't even know Mikey was over here today."

"I needed someone to watch Frankie while I was out to dinner," my mom sighed.

I looked at her with my eyebrow still raised, "You went to dinner? Like a date?" She nodded and I slammed the bowl onto the counter, "I love how you tell my boyfriend that you're going out on a date yet you don't even tell me."

"Cassie," she sighed.

"Let me guess even Frankie knew you were going out on a date?" I scoffed, "Does Dad know you're dating?"

She grabbed the bowl from my grip and tore off the plastic wrap before putting it into the microwave, "You know that your father and I are never getting back together, Cassandra."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, I forgot that you always push me to support Mike when he needs me the most but you can't even support the guy who you married and bared his children." She went to talk again and I cut her off, "Save it, Mom. I really don't want to hear it."

She sighed and grabbed Frankie from Mike's arms, "Frankie, let's get you to bed." She then kissed me on the top of my head, "Don't stay up too late. I'll be in your room to wake all of you up at six." She then walked up the stairs and I heard her door close.

My eyes fell right on Mike who was shifting from one foot to the other. I finished chewing the food that was in my mouth, swallowed, then looked at him unamused. "I swear to god, Cass, she called me right when I got home," he put his hands up in defense. I nodded and he sat down at the table with Abbey and I, "I hate watching you guys fight."

"She pisses me off," I mumbled and took another bite of my food.

"She's your mom, Cass, she tries the best she can," Abbey said softly.

I rolled my eyes, "It's still no excuse to go dating people while my dad is gone."

Mike reached forward and ran his hand down my arm, "I know you keep wishing they will, baby, but you know they will never get back together."

I pushed his hand away and got up to put my bowl in the dishwasher, "Either way I think it's disrespectful. Are you visiting me with him on Christmas?"

"Of course, baby," he stood up and wrapped his arms around me. "Your dad needs to know that someone is home taking care of his little girl while he's gone."

I looked up at Mike and smiled, "I love you."

"I love you more," he grinned and gave me a peck on the lips.

"Would you two stop? You're going to kill me with the cuteness," Abbey pushed me out of the way and put her bowl in the dishwasher. "Let's just go upstairs and watch a movie. I need to go to sleep if I am getting up so god damn early."

I nodded and we went upstairs. I changed into a pair of cheekies and the shirt that Mike had on. Abbey put on her pjs and then made a little bed on the futon in my room. Mike stripped down to his boxers and climbed into my bed. I walked up to the TV and put on Edward Scissorhands before crawling into bed with Mike.

"Please no fucking while I'm in the room," Abbey laughed.

I rolled my eyes and placed my head on Mike's chest. I gave him a few kisses on his collar. He wrapped his right arm around me and I grabbed his left one. I traced over the few tattoos he had scattering it, and then the scars on his wrist. His breathing always changed when I touched them. It would go from calm and collect to harsh and deep. I pulled his wrist to my mouth and pressed a kiss to it. I heard him sigh and then he pulled me even closer to himself. He placed a kiss on the top of my head then muttered that he loved me.


6 AM came way too fast. Mike sat in bed while Abbey and I rushed around the room getting ready. My mom had come in and out a thousand times, helping us with getting dressed, as well as our make up and hair. We all had a small breakfast, something I really didn’t want to do but I knew it would be for the best, and then we went to day one of competition. It sucked that we had to be backstage the entire time, while Mike sat out there with Frankie and my mom. I was still mad at my mom about the whole dating ordeal, and also kind of hurt that my father wouldn’t see me competing at regionals once again. I brushed off the feeling when Mission Bay was called out on stage at noon, ready to perform and give it my all. Everything went smoothly, no injuries, no screw ups, no non-smiling faces. I felt on top of the world when I was out there doing flips over top of my stunt group. I smiled to myself when we got off the stage and were sitting back watching the other cheer teams perform. I knew we passed regionals this year.

Notes

So not a very exciting chapter, I know.
This kind of gives you insight on what's going on in Cassie's head
Such as with losing weight and some family problems.

Where do you guys think Cassie's dad is?
I'm not going to give it away just yet.

Next update in a few days.
New chapter of Sam's Town up tomorrow!

Thank you everyone for the feedback.
xoxoxxoxo