Cassie's POV

"Don't stress, they're all super nice." I smile up at Fynn, trying to calm him down as my mom rings the doorbell. I can tell by his sweaty forehead and fake smile that he was freaking out inside, having to face Jake after everything they've been through in the past when it came to girls.

"HI! Come in! Come in!"Ryder says, gesturing to come in. We follow him to the dining room to be met with a set up table and delicious food set up. Ryder directs us into our seats.

"Jake will be down in a second." Ryder says, winking at me. I smile awkwardly in response, sensing Fynn squirming next to me.

Jake comes down and sits across from me, followed by Melissa.

Wait.

What is MELISSA DOING HERE?

I stare at Jake, who stares right back at me. He shifts his eye contact to Fynn, and grips the fork in his hand until his fist starts shaking.

"Dinner looks great mom." He says with a smile, slowly releasing his grip on the fork. I release the breath I have been holding and start to serve myself some homemade mashed potatoes.

"So Fynn, how long have you been going out with Cassie? This is the first time I've heard of you." Ryder chuckles, looking at Fynn with questioning eyes.

"Well we've actually only recently started to officially go out." He replies, looking at me with a smirk and moving his hand under the table to gently stroke my thigh with his hand. I look down and blush.

"Really? That's funny, because me and Jake have actually become official as well." Melissa pipes up, snaking her hand around Jake's arm, looking at me with a fake smile plastered on her face. My stomach drops.

When did they start going out? Does Melissa know what Jake told me a few nights ago? Does she know that he has feelings for me? I want to blurt it all out, but I know how mad Fynn would get if he knew he was basically my rebound. Sure, we never actually went out, but it was an emotional break up in a way, and having a rebound... helped. God, I'm an awful person. I'm just using Fynn to help me get over Jake.

I look up at Fynn, and bite my lip. This is a mistake. All of it. It's all a mistake. I should just tell him that I don't like him, I like someone else. But what will he think of me then? I do like Fynn, I really do. It's just... different.

"CASSIE! EARTH TO CASSIE!" I snap out of my brain dilemma, and see that everyone is staring at me.

"Umm, I'm sorry what was the question?"

"I was just asking if you could pass the salt." Melissa sneers. "Dumbass." She whispers under her breath.

I scoff and violently slam the salt next to her plate, causing the glass container to smash, salt and glass exploding everywhere.

Everyone gasps, including me, as we watch Melissa receive glass shards onto her clothes and her arms. A piece of glass cuts her arm, and blood starts to slowly come out.

"Oh my god, Melissa I'm so sorry, wait, let me help." I say, as I run over with a napkin, and am about to pick out a shard of glass from her top when she pushes me off, causing me to stumble.

"Get away from me crazy bitch!" She yells.

Everyone is completely silent, and I feel tears start to well up in my eyes. Avery breaks the silence by telling Melissa to go with her to the kitchen for her to help clean up the mess I concocted.

I slowly turn around and meet the eye contact of Jake, who is looking at me with anger and annoyance.

"What is wrong with you Cassie? Do you have any idea how insanely dangerous that was? You could have fucking put glass in her eye! Who the fuck are you?"

"Jake! Language! And don't bring Cassie down anymore than she already is. It was an accident, and she didn't mean to do it. Calm down." Ryder sternly says.

"Did you not just see what just happened Dad? She's a jealous freak."

I push past Jake and sprint out of the house, running down the street with tears streaming down my face. I stop at a random lamp post when I am out of breath from the running and the crying.

I sob uncontrollably, not able to stop myself. I wish the ground would swallow me whole. Jake actually called me a freak. Over all the time that I've known him, he has never called me a name like that, ever. He knew how much it hurt me, from when kids in kindergarten would call me freak because of my clothes and because of how I read books instead of playing during recess

"C-Cassie? Are you ok?" I look up, surprised that Jake came out of the house and all this way to comfort me. But as my blurry vision from my tears clears up, I realize that it's actually Fynn. I'm disappointed, but glad that he came for me.

He engulfs me in a hug, kissing the top of my head. I wrap my arms around his torso, and snuggle in his warmth in the cold night.

"I know it's stupid and dramatic of me, but I just... I just wasn't expecting it from him."

"I know, and you don't deserve that. Please, don't think of yourself like that, Cassie. Your are an amazing person, and I honestly still can't believe that you let me be your boyfriend. You deserve the best. And as you definitely already know.. I haven't always been the best." He places his hand on my cheek, slowly stroking my cheek with his thumb, looking directly in my eyes. "But because of you, I am such a better person. Cassie, I just want you to know that I will always be here for you. You can trust me with anything. And I trust you more than a lot of people. Cassie, I... I love you."

I'm speechless. I search his eyes, looking for any sign of deception, of lies, but find nothing. This human being in front of me, has such strong feelings for me. I've never had that before. Usually I'm the one who is always pining for the affection of another. Wanting to be wanted. I was always a person that others settled for. Yet, here was a person who wanted to be with me and hoping that I feel the same way.

"I really, really, like you Fynn. I know that might not be enough for you, but when I say the l-word, I want to make sure that it is real for me, that I am being honest, and not at all conflicted with anything else. Fynn, you mean so much to me, but, I need to take things slow. I need to make sure that my feelings for you are as strong as yours are for me."

He nods. "I understand. And take all the time you need. I know this is sudden, I honestly wasn't really expecting this to happen right now," He laughs nervously, "It's just... you look pretty when you cry."

//AN//

Hey y'allllllllll

How was everyone's Monday?

Hope you like the chap :)

Question of the chap:

What is your favorite color? Random I know lol

Mine is black, cuz I'm classy ;)

Hope y'all have a great week!!!!!!

-Zoe