Elliott
“Elliott, it’s fine I promise. He’s gone now. I’m not seeing him anymore. It was nothing serious anyway.”
“Well, he better stay away then.”
Looking across at her, a ‘V’ appears between her eyes making me realise how stern I sounded. Gripping her hand with mine I try to appease her.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want you hurt.”
“You mean more than you hurt me?”
“Come on Cass, that’s not fair. There was a huge misunderstanding on both sides there.”
“I know.” She dips her chin in remorse, “I didn’t mean that…”
“No-one will hurt you again.” I tell her cutting her off as I reach across the table and lift her chin with the tip of my finger, “I mean it, that includes me, but, if that piece of shit comes within an inch of you - I want you to tell me. Okay?”
Nodding with me as a smile lights up her face, just like it used to.
I’ve missed this.
I’ve missed her.
Now that I’ve had her again there’s no way she’s getting away this time. What I’d give to lean across this table right now and kiss her. The pad of my thumb soothes across her chin, her eyes beholding mine and just for a short few seconds, I see the old Cassidy. The one that would give up her own life for me, but then it’s gone and tears her gaze from mine. Dropping my hand, I place it back on the table and look away.
“I better get going. It’s getting late I have... some, um... stuff to do.” She stammers nervously. I nod and take my wallet from my pocket. She reaches for her purse in her bag, but I stop her.
“My shout.”
“Thanks, Ell.” She smirks and grabs her bag, placing it on her shoulder. She bends and kisses my cheek and stands. “I’ve enjoyed this, maybe we can do it again?”
“Definitely, try keeping me away!” I tell her smugly as she walks around the table towards the front door… “Cass?” Looking back over her shoulder she waits patiently, “Thanks for letting me see Cam.”
She smiles wide, not saying anything and leaves. I know it’s going to take a while to wipe this smile off my face. Even knowing that little twat tried to get a little rough with her... but he’ll get his comeuppance.
I spend the next few days preparing to see my son. I’m still waiting for a time from Cassidy, I’m shitting my pants. What if he doesn’t like me or refuses to see me?! Fuck! I never thought of that. I couldn’t see him this week he had some school activities on and Cass wanted to break him in softly.
It’s Friday so I’m working tonight that’ll take my mind off it a little bit at least. Grabbing my things, I decide to head out to the pub early, I can at least have a drink before I setup then.
Pushing through the door with my guitar in hand, I nod to Carson and carry on through to the back. I dump my guitar case on the stage and go back through to the front.
“Pint when you’re ready, mate.”
Carson nods back as he serves a customer as I take a seat at the bar and wait.
He places my lager in front of me on a mat and smirks. “What’s happening then, dude?”
“Not much. Fancied a pint.”
“It’s not like you to drink before a set.”
“I’m not going to get shitfaced, am I?”
Frowning at his stupid comment. Carson makes a lot of stupid comments if the truth is to be told - it’s part of his appeal. We were a lot alike when we were kids, not now though. It looks like we’re worlds apart, chalk and cheese.
“I suppose not. So, what do you have lined up for tonight?”
Taking the top off my beer, I lick my lips before answering…
“That would be telling wouldn’t it?”
The place has started to fill up already, I’m not on for another hour yet. My eyes find a familiar blonde standing at the door, smiling at each other she makes her over.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey yourself.”
She carries on into the back room to dump her stuff and slips behind the bar. It suits her being there. I would never have guessed she’d ever be a barmaid - I bet her mother didn’t agree with that.
“So, are you ready to see Cam on Sunday?”
“Of course!” I say a bit too over enthusiastically that she sees right through me.
“It’s okay to be scared you know.” She tells me softly.
“I know. I’m not scared - just a bit nervous…”
“What’s this then? Elliott Chase is scared of something? Yeah, what the fuck ever.”
Cass turns to face Carson with that look on her face, the one she used to give me when she wanted to make a point. Her lips purse and an eyebrow raises as she’s about to go on the attack.
“If you must know Carson. Elliott is going to meet Cameron on Sunday! So yeah he may be a little frightened.”
“Wow, that didn’t take long!” Carson answers shocked.
“Woah,” I cut in, “I’m not frightened…”
Cass smirks at calling me out. She’s much more comfortable around me these days. Turning from Cass I look at my so-called best friend...
“What the fuck is your problem Carson. First, you’re telling me not to hurt her and now you’re making sarcastic comments! Well, fuck you, I’m going to set up.”
“Elliott, man…” Ignoring his pathetic pleas, I walk away. Cass shakes her head at him then walks away from him herself.
I sit on stage and pull out my guitar, getting the pick from the case and strumming a few notes. I set the height of the mic and stand before it…
“Testing, testing...one, two.”
The chords to Keep the Faith by Bon Jovi start to play, my head bopping with the beat, and I sing the first line of the song. My eyes flicker open as the beat changes to find Cass watching me. I carry on singing, taking the song to the chorus, I stop. Cass walks towards me.
“I used to love watching you all rehearse. It was amazing. You were so good. I felt warm inside when you sang, it felt like I was the only one in the room - like you were just singing to me. I know you weren’t....” she shrugs.
“How do you know?” I cut her off as I take the guitar from around my neck and stand it against the wall. “How do you know I wasn’t singing to you?”
“Because you had a whole room to satisfy, not just me.”
Jumping from the stage, I stand in front of her, as close as I can but so as we’re not touching. She tips her head back slightly to look at me. “I only ever wanted you. You were my inspiration, I only ever saw you, Cassidy Summers.”
Her breaths are short gasps of air and I know if I put my hand on her chest, her heart will be beating rapidly. My hands shake as I stop myself from touching her... I promised her we wouldn’t do this yet, but I have to tell her.
“I still see you Cassidy. You’re my girl.” I whisper, my breath catching in my throat.
“Please don’t, you promised me.” She asks me in a shaky but breathy voice. I take her hand and lift it to my lips and kiss her knuckles tenderly.
“I can wait, can you?”
Her mouth drops open slightly, then her teeth sink into her bottom lip.
“I have to finish up my test.”
She nods. I kiss her forehead and walk back to the stage wondering how the hell I’m going to manage to keep her in the friend zone while we sort this out.
My set tonight consists of some of the old classics. Meatloaf, Whitesnake, Def Leppard. We had a good crowd in that loved the classic rock, so once Carson took his arse out of his hands and stopped sulking, we discussed over a beer on making some theme nights while I wait for Cassidy to finish up. More than once I noticed her stopping what she was doing to listen to me, a soft smile gracing her face - a happy smile.
I’ll do my best to keep that look there.
She throws on her coat as she walks around the bar to me.
“You didn’t have to wait, I have my car…”
“I know you do.”
Grabbing my case, I knock back the rest of my pint and follow her out.
There are a few people hanging about outside the pub. Cass places herself closer to me as we walk past them, they’re harmless I think - just loud and a little rowdy. They shout goodnight, so I lift my hand in reply and carry on to our cars.
“Cass? Do You need to go home right away?”
A smirk crosses her face as her gaze meets mine
“It depends on why you’re asking doesn’t it?”
I thought we could spend some time together...”
My hands ball while I wait for her answer.
“Elliott…” she cuts me off. “We can’t.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” I smirk.
“Go on then.”
Our gazes don’t shift from the other.
“What I was going to say was, how about you tell me a bit more about Cameron, but if you don’t want to its fine.”
A grin sneaking on my face as I roll my eyes away from her.
“Don’t give me a guilt trip.”
Her hand smacks my shoulder playfully and a small smile plays on her lips.
“Fine. I have half an hour.”
She tells me as she looks at her watch checking the time.
“Get in,” I tell her quickly before she changes her mind. Pressing the key fob of my Audi, she jumps into the passenger seat while I put my guitar in the boot and join her in the front, starting the engine and driving away.