Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(62)

“I sure hope I don’t mess this one up, Cass,” he said sadly.

She nodded, “You still like her, then.”

Sean nodded, too, “A lot. I like her more now, after last night, than I ever have. I just…hope I don’t screw it up, you know?”

“She is tough, I think,” Cassie said reassuringly. “She is tough and she likes you. Ray said she wouldn’t even look at you until you stopped playing games. If it took her this long to give in, it will take her longer to give up. I have a good feeling about this one, Sean. I really do.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Cassie got up and flicked him in the head. “I’m always right, you should know that by now.”

Sean mock huffed as she left the room.

~*~*~*~

Later that night Cassie met up with Krista at her house and braved public transportation to the Mission, against Sean’s better judgment. They were both dressed in going-out attire, which meant cle**age, tight pants, and sparkly jewelry. Krista made sure to tell Cassie not to overdress, though. Skinny jeans and a cute shirt would suffice. The Mission was a casual place and they should fit in. For a crowd that pretended they didn’t care what people thought, hipsters had some serious rules to live by.

On the way to the bar, Cassie asked, “So, how’s it going with my brother?”

Krista was immediately on her guard. “Am I talking to friend or foe?”

“Friend. Confidante. Advice center should you need it. I really want him to be happy, and you make him happy. He...has a hard time with attachments...”

“He is his own worst enemy. He told me why.”

She sighed, apparently feeling like a load was taken off. Krista didn’t plan to warn her about sighing around Jasmine. The fun was in the surprise.

“Yeah, our parents. I have a similar problem, but not nearly as bad because of Sean. He’s the oldest, which means, according to my parents, he was the first to ruin their lives. I came along four years later, so their lives were already destroyed by that point. I was only reminded what I kept them from when I was in trouble—mostly by my mother. Sean was reminded constantly, by both. Their marriage was his fault, as was their divorce. As were most of the fights. He had it pretty hard.”

Cassie shrugged, her eyes faraway, “But despite that, or maybe because of it, he always looked after me. He helped me with my homework, he played with me—he even caught a bus once, at ten years old, to watch my first dance recital because my parents weren’t planning to go. He got in trouble for it, too. He was my guiding light growing up.”

Krista nodded, but she didn’t know what to say. Cassie didn’t have to tell her any of this. It was extremely personal. But helpful, too, in a way. Krista had no idea he’d had to deal with that. His whole life. Probably still. She also had no idea what it was like. It was a kind of emotional abuse she hadn’t even learned about through movies.

“I didn’t mean to ruin your day,” Cassie said with a sad smile. “Just thought it would help you. He means well, but sometimes he has a problem with self-worth. As you can imagine.”

“I can’t imagine, actually. I knew nothing of that growing up. My parents are still married. They tried for me for three years. Nearly gave up. I was the gleam in their eye, so to speak. I was their miracle. Spoiled rotten, too, until my sister came two and a half years later. Then we were both spoiled rotten. She and I are rivals in everything, but I’m bigger, so I beat her up.” Krista snickered. “She’s a clever little bitch, though. She plays some pretty outstanding, though mean, practical jokes.”

Cassie laughed, “I would have liked to have had a sister. Or a normal family. Or someone to mess around with. I couldn’t really mess around with Sean. When I tried to be mean, or punch him, or if I threw a tantrum, he just waited patiently until I stopped and then lectured me on why that was bad behavior. I wouldn’t trade him for the world, but one fight might be nice.”

“You guys are really close.”

“Yes, we are. Much to the irritation of my boyfriends.”

“You would think they’d be thankful it was your brother and not your first love or something.”

“Men,” Cassie rolled her eyes, watching a man at the back of the train with the largest pants they’d ever seen. The man wasn’t obese, either. He was young and in shape. The pants were decorated on the pockets with rhinestones and colored thread, held up by an overworked belt. He was a fashion statement that mumbled.

“Say no more,” Krista laughed. “But yeah, we nearly had a meltdown last night. We made it through.”

“I like how you say ‘we,’ even though I’m sure you were his guiding light.”

“Not so much guiding as bitchy. I threw a lot of emotional crap at him to even be friends. Now it’s his turn to be unhinged.”

“You have such an honest, refreshing way of communicating. I can see he’s in good hands.”

“I wouldn’t know about him being in good hands--I’m as screwed up as anyone you’ll probably meet. But as far as honest, you’ll get a whole lot of that with Kate and Jasmine. It kind of rubs off.”

Cassie looked at her searchingly. She could tell Cassie was really rooting for her to succeed with Sean. It made her realize just how dire Sean’s issues really were. Krista never backed away from a challenge, and nothing ever seemed easy, but she wondered if she was in over her head with this one. She was no psychiatrist.