Cassandra
My entire body shakes as soon as his eyes meet mine, making my skin crawl. Standing still, my feet were frozen to the floor as his palm touches mine and he shakes it. The warmth of his hand suddenly thaws my frozen body and I swallow the dry lump that has formed in my throat.
"It's nice to meet you, Cassandra. Welcome to the team." I hear him say, my mouth agape with incredulity.Nice to meet you? Wait...he doesn't remember who I am, does he?I run my tongue against my suddenly dry lips, clear my throat, and close my mouth before I speak."Uh, yeah, you too," I gripe, my eyes narrowing on the monster before me.How can he be a police officer? We're meant to protect others from evil, not be evil and disguise ourselves as good."Cassandra, you are good to go for today. You'll start your regular shift with Crayvin tomorrow." Chief's voice snaps me out of my thoughts."Lovely," I mutter under my breath. My eyes roll at Crayvin as I catch his blue eyes scanning up and down my hidden body.Thank heavens for how these uniforms leave loads to the imagination. I'm no longer chunky monkey, am I Crayvin?I force a smile at Chief and step outside of his office, huffing. My face feels warm, and internally I am boiling with anger."How did it go in there?" Drew asks, turning around in his chair as I grab my things and lock my drawer up. His desk is right in front of mine."Oh, just peachy keen. Just met my partner," I say."Cool, who'd you get?" Clearly he didn't catch the sarcastic tone that was laced within my first answer.I hear the opening and closing of the door behind me, Chief's door, and I turn around to see Crayvin stepping out. My eyes glower as he walks to the desk opposite me and takes a seat.Can this day be any more of a joke? Not only am I stuck with this prick for six months, but his desk is next to mine too.Refraining from bumping my forehead to the desk and making a scene, I huff out another exasperated breath and bring my attention back to Drew, whose brows are now furrowed."Crayvin," is all I manage to say through gritted teeth."Right on. Guess that means I don't need to introduce you two like I tried to do the other night." He chuckles and I feel my glaring intensify.The other night?"Are you talking about the bar?" I ask.My eyes wander over to Crayvin for a second, where his stupid large hands are typing away on his stupid computer like he's pretending he's working. I look back to Drew and he nods, answering my question."So, that's Houdini huh?" I ask, referring to his so-called friend who disappeared the other night. Drew lets out a not-sure-how-to-react-to-that laugh and rubs the back of his neck with his medium-sized hand.I can't believe how small this world is. Or rather, how small my luck is. Of course, the friend from the bar with broad shoulders, making out with the blonde and ditching Drew, ends up being that tool.I roll my eyes dramatically, exhaling at the uncanniness of this situation."Are you kidding? Crayvin? As in the Crayvin Smith who destroyed your life in school?" Tarra's tone of voice and wide-eyed expression both show how she's clearly baffled as I am about my unfortunate and unexpected turn of events."Yes, that Crayvin," I moan, running my hands over my face, and slumping my body into the white couch next to my sister.I've only been home for a couple of hours, waiting for my sister to get home from work so that I can tell her everything."Wow, I had no idea he worked there," Tarra says."I'm not sure what's worse though. The fact that he has no recollection of who I am and what he's done to me, or the fact that after all I've gone through, my reward is getting stuck with my nemesis from school. It's like a bad dream I can't wake up from."The oven beeps and I stand from the couch to go and pull out the food. Tarra and I take turns cooking dinner and tonight would've been her turn, but since I got off early I figured, why not?I set the lemon pepper chicken, zucchini, and salad onto two white plates and place them on the breakfast bar for us to eat. Tarra gets off of the couch and joins me at the breakfast bar as we take a seat on the stools to eat."So, how was everyone else at the station? I still can't believe that the hot neighbor is a cop too." She giggles and adds, "That can be interesting if you guys do end up dating. For instance, sex with uniforms on! Oh, and the handcuffs are included!" She wiggles her brows with amusement.I laugh with her as I bring my fork to my mouth, taking another bite of the savory chicken. "There will be absolutely no sex in uniform." I shake my head and continue. "Everyone is good. Bernie and Miles are still there." I notice Tarra fidget in her seat and a smile pulls on her face at the mention of Miles. She's always had a soft spot for him."And a few of the other guys, but a lot of them are new. For instance, Drew and...""Crayvin," Tarra finishes for me, saving my poor lips from having to spit that dreadful name out. I shudder at the thought that I'm going to have to be in a car with him for twelve hours tomorrow."For fuck's sake, you know what else annoys me, is that after all this time the man still has perfect pearly whites and broad shoulders. The only thing that has changed now is that he has a short boxed beard lining his perfect jawline, and I swear his muscles grew." I rant.Tarra shakes her head, smiling as she brings the zucchini to her mouth, finding humor in my misery. "It's no wonder you didn't become a dentist."She looks at me and I arch one of my brows.Why the hell would I have been a dentist?"You know since teeth are a deal-breaker for you," she answers me as if she had read my mind.I shrug my shoulders, grabbing my plate to put it in the dishwasher. "Teeth are a big deal. You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their teeth. For instance, hygiene. If they have horrible teeth, do they take care of themselves?" I ask her and she shrugs."No, they most likely don't," I answered. "But no, I would never be a dentist. I'd probably puke all over my patients at the sight.""I think there's some flaw in your logic there, Sis. I mean, mister pearly whites is a dick."She has a point. Crayvin does have a perfect set of teeth and his blue eyes are a bonus, they are my favorite color; ocean blue. And as much as I don't want to say it, the new facial hair is kind of adorable.Too bad his wretched personality ruins all of that."I can't believe I used to have a crush on him," I complain, smacking my forehead with the palm of my hand at the recollection of my teenage stupidness.Tarra rolls her eyes and pats the couch, gesturing for me to sit. I take a seat next to her, leaning my head back on the couch with my arms folded over my chest. The familiar music of the opening credits to Stranger Things plays in the background for the billionth time; I swear she only watches this because of Billy. Tarra doesn't do scary.Like my day tomorrow, now that's scary."Good morning, Em," Crayvin says as he takes a seat at his desk. I shudder at the use of the nickname he gave me. Although I admit, it's kind of catchy."You may call me, Cassandra or Porsse," I insist, looking away from Crayvin.I observe Drew's top lip curl as he tries desperately not to do a full-on grin. My morning was so peaceful talking with Drew for the first fifteen minutes before Crayvin showed up.I hear Crayvin's chair squeak as he stands from it. From the corner of my eye, I watch as he slithers over, the vile snake that he is, and leans on my desk with his arms folded across his broad chest. I gulp and look up. His freakishly tall build, still to this day towers over me whether I'm sitting down or not.A grin grows on his perfectly sculpted face, bearing those pearly whites.Oh, how I wish I could smack that grin right off of his face."Well then, Porsse. You ready to go?"I grab my belt with my holsters attached and stand from my chair, not realizing he has bent forward enough that when I do, we are face to face. His cologne seeps through my nostrils and his sultry blue eyes gaze at me. Instead of letting that affect me as it may have in the past, it's time for Crayvin to realize for himself, I'm no longer that pathetic girl in school that was bullied and walked all over. And I certainly won't melt at his stupid smoldering face."As ready as I can be, Smith," I say with confidence, puffing my chest out and raising my chin to show superiority.I remain the same when he stands upright, his face looking down at me. I size him up and wait for him to say something but... nothing."Well, lead the way, Smith," I grunt. His eyes flash with confusion when he nods and turns on his heel. I follow suit, taking a quick glance at Drew.He smiles and mouths, "Have fun." I return the smile, knowing I may just do that.After all, maybe making Crayvin squirm a bit could be fun. I do have the upper hand here since he has no idea who I am.Time to make Crayvin's life hell, like he did mine.Cassandra"I can't believe that this is really happening, Tarra. I'm officially starting high school today!" I exclaim as I unbuckle my seat belt and get out of my sister's small car. I may be small, but I like bigger vehicles. One day, when I'm allowed to drive, I plan on getting a truck of some sort.Tarra's hazel eyes glimmer as she observes the school, exhaling nervously and pulling her books tighter to her chest. "I can't believe it's officially my first, last day."I watch as my sister stands still, taking it all in. I know she's just as nervous as I am. Tarra turns her head so that our eyes meet."Ready, Sis?" She asks, her tone containing more confidence now. There's my sister. She's normally the confident one, whereas I'm the nervous, scared shitless of my own shadow type. I nod my head and walk by her side as we enter the rather large building.
CrayvinMornings like today are the ones that I appreciate the most. The traffic is flowing smoothly, no domestic violence calls, no dead bodies. Just the sweet silence that fills the unit...Slurp! Slurp!I exhale as I look over at the bane of my existence, my partner. Her eyes meet mine and I glare at the raven-haired woman as she rolls her doe eyes. I rub my temples and rest my forehead to the steering wheel.Slurp...slurrrp!"What the hell are you drinking over there? Or should I say trying to drink," I huff.Fuck, she annoys me.Cassandra lifts her perfect arched brow, her eyes glinting at me. She makes me feel so small when she looks at me like that. I hate it."It's my morning shake," she states."What's in the shake?" I ask, not sure why I even want to know or ask for that matter.She shrugs her
CassandraI smirk, watching a distressed Crayvin run his fingers through his disheveled hair. His eyes meet mine through the side mirror, and without even thinking, I raise my middle finger and flip him off. I scowl when I see him laughing since that is not the reaction I would've liked to have seen.Drew chuckles by my side and I turn my head to face him. "That's not the usual reaction Crayvin gets from women. They normally moan awe's and ooh's when they see him. Basically they flip their skirts up, not their fingers.""Well, I can promise you, Drew. I'm not what you're used to," I admit with a smirk.The light turns green and he presses the accelerator, giving a slight side smile. "I know. It's refreshing honestly. I like that about you." I feel my cheeks warm at his unusual compliment. Normally, a guy wouldn't be all too happy with the best friend not getting along with the girl.His car is comfortable for being as small as it is
Cassandra"Good morning, Bernie," I greet through the speak thru in the bulletproof glass.Bernie's crow's feet expand as he smiles and gives me a faint wave. A small, light brown colored stain is visible on the collar of his white uniform top. Bernie presses the buzzer and I walk through the door."Good morning, sweetheart. How are you doing today? Oh, and what do we have here?" He asks, his smile widening as his eyes narrow in on the cup holder in my hand.I giggle and hand him one of the four cups. "Iced tea, of course.""My favorite. Thank you, Cassandra. You be safe out there, okay little lady," he remarks with a gentle smile. After I return it with one of my own, I bring my hand to my forehead and act as if I'm saluting him.I enter the office and walk towards my desk. A quick glance over at Crayvin's desk, which sits empty but makes my stomach turn. All morning I've been stressing on whether or not he would remember our
CassandraSpirit week in high school was supposed to be fun. For a week, you can dress up to match the theme of the day instead of everyday school clothing. Each day allows us, students, to have fun and be nerdy without having to worry about the repercussions. Though, for me of course, it didn't go as well as I had planned. No surprise there.I finish curling my hair and add the final touch, the golden headpiece to match the dress. Today is a Disney theme, so naturally, I went with my favorite movie, Beauty and The Beast. I glide my hands over the sides of the layered ball gown and smile at my reflection. I chose not to eat for the last couple of days, hoping to fit into the dress a bit better, but with the zipper feeling as if it may blow at any moment, I guess it was no use.I turn slightly to see the back, and to my horror, my back fat is oozing over the material of the dress, the zipper about to implode.
CrayvinToday has been anything but slow. We're barely about to reach the six-hour mark into our twelve-hour shift and we've already had thirteen calls. Granted, they've just been minor things, but still. Watching Cassandra walk out of Keva Juice with her weird-ass, green smoothie, I groan as the signal over the police scanner becomes audible once again with the dispatcher's voice.Dispatch: "Units available for possible four-five-nine, respond."Cassandra gets into the vehicle and buckles up, looking over at me and quirking her eyebrow in amusement. "Another one?" She asks.Argh."Sounds like it. Hope it's not another drunk walking around."All these damn public intoxicated calls are driving me mad. Damn Spring breakers. It's the same thing every year during this time. College kids come from all areas and party here in Phoenix and Lake Havasu.Cassandra nods her head in agreement as she
Cassandra"Sissy, I don't think the place can get any cleaner," my sister says, looking around the apartment. "Seriously, it's spotless. Besides, if you keep cleaning, you're going to be all sweaty and gross when Drew gets here, and the dinner won't be done."I stop dusting the fan and step down from the stepladder. "Shit, dinner! I need to start cooking, what time is it, Tarra?" I ask while I rush to put away the cleaning items."It's four p.m," she replies and I gasp."Shit, shit, shit!" I walk down the hall to the bathroom, my steps padding hard against the carpet. Tarra laughs in the background, her laughter echoing into the hall. "You're enjoying this way too much," I call out before closing the bathroom door.As I remove my shorts and baggy shirt, my usual outfit I wear for cleaning, I turn on the shower and wait for the water to warm up.As I take a step into the shower, Tar
Crayvin"Official?" I ask, grunting as I set the heavy-duty barbells in my grasp down. I sit at the edge of the weight bench, lean over to grab a white cloth on the floor, and wipe the sweat from my face.Drew gets off of the treadmill, resting his hands on his narrow hips and throws his head back in exhaustion. His chest heaves with hard breaths and he's sweating as much as me.It is nice having a best friend being in the same career field as you, especially when it is crucial you stay healthy and in shape. It is also nice when said friend lives in a fancy apartment complex that has a gym that I utilize to my advantage. Normally our conversations were about the woman we slept with the night prior and the crazy, kinky things we would do, or simply discussing fuckheads that we had to deal with work. Today's conversation was far from normal, leaving me baffled beyond comprehension."Yeah, I asked her last night," he says with an exasperated
CassandraThe last time I sat in a therapist's lobby for the first time, I was full of disbelief, destruction, doubt, and anger. My father brought me to Dr. Loraine, so I felt forced, trapped almost. Now, I see how therapy truly works if you open yourself up to it.One year since my last therapy session with Loraine, I sit in another therapist's lobby office. While again I am here not out of personal choice, my perspective is to just finish this so that I can go back on duty."Cassandra Porsse?" I rise from the chair I had been sitting in for almost twenty minutes when a tall woman calls me."That's me," I admit nervously.With a small, genuine smile, the woman tucks a piece of her toffee blonde hair that fell from her messy bun behind her ear and extends her hand. Her clothes are sleek and professional. A huge contrast to the colorful Lorraine, she wears a black conservative two-piece suit. The skirt is knee-
CassandraFat ass. Short ass. Miss Piggy. Ugly piece of lard. Fat piece of shit. Oompa Loompa.These are only some of the names my peers would call me at school. Though now homeschooled, even the distance from my tormentors wasn't enough to ease all of the damage. While leaving was some relief, the memory of how I was treated also left with me like mental scars.I hate that place. I hated it so much that I nearly made Tarra late every morning as I dragged my feet every step. Up to the point before I left, I'm surprised she didn't place Dad's cuffs around my wrists to force my ass there. But she knows why I hate it. The constant bullying, the ear-deafening cackles, skinny bitches, and asshole guys are everyday torture that I succumbed to.My weakness, my attachment to the hateful comments and treatment, is what brought me here, to Loraine's office. Last night, Tarra and Dad dropped the bomb on me tha
CassandraI remember when my Dad would watch UFC fights and the loud sound of fists hitting faces and crunching bones would make me cringe.None of those fights compared to the sound Tarra made when her palm connected with Drew's cheek. The echo practically radiates through our apartment and I am eternally grateful it didn't cause Crayvin -who is still tending to the burning sauce- to come running out.Tarra's fiery gaze was enough to make me want to bunker down and cower, and I wasn't even the one on the receiving end of that glare."In case that slap across your face didn't knock some sense into your dense, Marshmallow ass, I'll repeat myself. What the fuck do you want?" Tarra spits.Drew releases a tear as he brings the palm of his hand over his now reddened cheek.Pretty sure the tear isn't from the slap though."I deserved that but look, I don't want to fight. I was hoping to have a word with Cassandra," he says and th
CassandraDeath is on its own clock and I could have sworn I heard the ticking stop when the bullet struck me. I will not forget the feeling of leaving everything and everyone I love. Scared shitless, I remember frantically pulling at the hem of Crayvin's shirt as I continued to bleed out, begging for him to save me. The look he gave me still shatters me to my very core, the look that reminds me of how my near-death experience nearly broke the man that I love.Though, if given the chance to save his life, I would do it all over again.When my sister rushes to the hospital, a strong sense of guilt hits me like a tidal wave when she smacks my arm after smothering me in hugs and tears. "You sissy swore we would always be there for one another. How the fuck did you expect to stand by that promise by jumping in front of a bullet? Never. Never do that to me again, Cassandra Juliet Porsse," she demands.Tarra is eerily quiet as I am finally leav
CrayvinAs a police officer, I've seen a lot of shit in the past four years. I've seen the worst in some people, a lot of bad accidents and circumstances, pure evil monstrosities where bodies were involved in a pool of blood. While some days are harder than others, four years on the force hardened me against the harsh realities, like an emotional set of armor.All those years of hardened resolve were shattered the instant two bullets pierced through the body of the woman I love.My mind is going crazy from what little sleep I don't get. A recurring nightmare makes me feel as if I am stuck on a carousel, going round and round on the highest frequency. The same dream resurfaces when I close my eyes; it's never-ending. Each time the carousel circles, I see red... blotches and blotches of red.The same red that had stained Cassandra's white top when she was shot. The same blood red that coated my hands.When we get to the hospital, Cassa
Tarra"Tarra, come here my love so I can get a good look at you," my mother says in an unrecognizably brittle voice, crooking her pale finger at me and motioning for me to approach.I look at my father, who gives me a weak smile and an encouraging nod. Sucking in a sharp breath of air, smelling the sterile, nearly choking environment of my mother's confined hospital room, I rise from my chair and shuffle small strides to stand by her side. Cassandra, her eyes glossy and red, kisses Mom on the cheek, then walks away. She takes my previous seat next to Dad, burying her head into him."Mom," I croak at her bedside. "Are you going to get better?"I stare at my mother's small body and dark eyes. Her beautiful features resemble my little sister so much that the comparison hurts to acknowledge.Our mother was always beautiful, full of laughter and light. Looking at her now, I don't recognize her. Wher
CassandraHave you ever wanted something so badly in your life, that when you finally get it, it's taken from you just as fast? Leaving your heart completely and utterly broken. You were happy one moment, and then fucking destroyed and shattered the next.Well, me too. That's exactly how I feel now. Finally landing the guy that I have always wanted, just to lose him the second I do.Two shots were fired and there was no taking them back. Once the two bullets were released from the barrel, they had to go somewhere, right?It was like the world decided I looked too happy and in one moment the reason for my happiness was removed from my life."Crayvin!" I shriek.I drop to my knees, hitting the gravel parking lot. My pants are immediately pebbled with debris and dirt. My eyes quickly avert to Drew who charges towards Stormy. He yanks the gun from her grasp and takes her to the ground, holding her wrists behind he
Cassandra"Tarra!" I call out, scrunching my nose. "Mommy and Daddy are kissing again!" I whine, deliberately forcing myself to look into the contents of my cereal bowl, rather than my disgusting, groping parents.Tarra giggles as she joins us at the table, excitement in her eyes. "I can't wait to be in love," she coos.I stick my tongue out. "Eww, gross. Boys are nasty.""You say that now because you're only ten. Wait until you grow up, you will have a whole different outlook," Tarra argues.I shake my head, dismissing that thought, because... no. All the boys in my school are gross. I have seen some pick their nose and eat their boogies, scratch their booties while at recess, and the other ones are mean. They never leave me alone. My mother and sister say it's because they have a crush on me since they act like that, but I beg to differ.If you like someone, why would you be m
CrayvinWhen I manage to drag myself off of the pavement and into my house, Piggy is sitting in the foyer with droopy, sad eyes. A rush of guilt hits me like a damned truck, causing me to not be able to see clearly. A sea of thoughts floods my mind.I want approval.Acceptance.Forgiveness.I want her to see that I can, in fact, be a good guy. I don't want her to think I am some kind of monster that she has to starve herself to be with."I don't deserve you in any way, do I?" I say quietly more to myself than anything.I rake my hands through my hair, exhaling as I avert my stare to the floor.What the fuck is wrong with me?I bury myself into willing women's bodies who let me fuck my cares away. Any trauma or shit that I see at work, is gone and replaced by unchained pleasure. Uncommitted fun, no loyalties.But, then I look at Cassandra, and it's like someone releases the chains around my heart. I want to er