Not Just Another Cliché

"Emmmmm." Casey whines but I just turn my head to look out the window.

"Emily if you don't answer me, I will stop this car until you do." I ignore him.

"That's it then." He turns into the side of the road causing other cars to honk at him and over take him.

"Talk Emily."

After 2 minutes of Casey begging me to speak and me continuously looking out the window ignoring him, I decide to open the car door and get out, picking up my crutches from the car floor.

"What are you doing Emily?"

"Walking."

"W-what? Are you crazy? It's just highways from her to OakWood Em." Casey says and gets out of the car to stop me.

"Well if you aren't gonna drive what other options do I have? I've to babysit Liv and I've to get home."

"I'll drive. I promise. I'll drive. Just get in the car Emily, please."

I look at him for a second and do as he says.

"I'll drive, if you talk to me."

"You tricked me." I say.

"I'm Casey. It's my second pulse." He says and I hit him in the arm repeatedly.

"Ow ow ow ow. Em, Emily stop. Ow." He says through laughter as he holds up his arms for protection.

"You're a jerk." I say crossing my arms as Casey pulls away from the side of the road onto the interstate.

"I know. I shouldn't have defended Amber and Katie."

"It's not the fact that you defended them, it's the fact that you think they've changed. They're the same as they were 8 years ago Case."

"I get that. But we are all leaving high school so, all these awful memories will be all behind us. Why can't we start now?"

"Those awful memories will be told to my kids to show what bullies are. They'll never be forgotten, not by me anyway maybe by Amber and Katie and you, but not by me."

"And yeah, I am annoyed that you defended them." I pout making Casey laugh.

"Are we okay?" Casey asks.

I sigh,"I guess so."

I look at Casey and smile giving him a side hug.

"Hey, I'm driving." He laughs.

I jump back and bite my lip," sorry."

We arrive at my house 5 minutes later and Casey takes my back pack off me and we walk to my house.

"I'm home." I call out.

My mom walks out in her police uniform. Oh did I forget to tell you my moms a cop?

"Hey guys. Liv is in the front room doing her homework with Toby."

"Toby?" I question.

"Her boyfriend." My mom smiles.

"Let me have a look at this guy." Casey says but I pull him back while I lean on my crutches.

"Have fun at work mom. Be careful."

"I will sweetie. Dad will be home by 5:30." She walks over to me and kisses me on the top of my head. She rubs Caseys arm and then walks out yelling goodbye to Liv.

"Okay you wanna go up to my room and do homework." I say.

"I wanna keep an eye on Liv and.... Toby." He says his name with such disgust that I can't help but laugh.

"They're 7 years old, what are they gonna do? High five."

"I don't wanna find out and that's why we are doing our homework in the front room."

"Casey, they are in the first grade, the homework they get is colouring. They'll be finished it in 15 minutes and we are seniors who have mid terms to study for. I'd rather not hear screaming while I study the civil war."

"Screaming? Screaming? Why would they be screaming?"

I sigh and squeeze the bridge of my nose letting out a chuckle, "good luck to your wife and children." I pat him on the shoulder and walk into the kitchen. Looks like Casey wins.

"Hey Livvy, who's your friend?" I smile walking into the living room.

"This is Toby, my boyfriend and best friend."

"Oh really. I thought Meg was your best friend."

"Me and Toby are soul mates."

I start to laugh but quickly sober up when Liv sends me a death glare.

"Okay he's your soul mate but check back in with me in 15 years."

"30." Casey says coming up beside me.

"Who are they?" Toby asks.

"My sister and her boyfriend but he's like a big brother to me."

"He's not my boyfriend, Liv. You know that." I say.

"Uh-huh." She smiles and I feel my face heat up.

"Well we will be just in the kitchen if you need anything." I smile before leaving them to their own devices.

"So what do you think of Toby?"

"He's quiet," he looks in at them,"maybe too quiet."

"You're such a nerd." I laugh as I hit his shoulder making him laugh too.

"I'm glad we're okay." He smiles.

"Me too. But you know us Case, we can never fight for longer than 5 hours."

"That's true and I'm okay with that."

"Me too." I smile.

I sit down at the table placing my bandaged foot on the chair in front of me as Cassy sits down in the seat beside me.

We start our homework and an hour later I throw my pen in frustration.

"Math?" Casey guesses and I shake my head.

"No because I actually like math but this is English and I have to write a 2 page essay on art history and make up a freaking poem about it."

"Just talk about Leonardo Da Vinci and Michael Angelo."

"I have and it only made a page and a bit. I need another page of art history."

"You know what this means right?" Casey asks and I look at him confusingly.

"We need a homework break." He says.

"Can't argue against that." I say closing my textbooks and sitting back.

"I'm calling Griffins. Pepperoni and ham?" Casey questions.

"Yes please." I smile.

Casey quickly orders the pizza and sits back down beside me.

"I hear Jamie asked you out."

"Um, yeah, he did. He asked me yesterday while I was tutoring him for the algebra test that is tomorrow. Crap. I still need to study for that." I say instantly getting my algebra books out.

"Chill Em." Casey laughs. "If you are tutoring other people in algebra then I think you can handle it yourself."

"I guess you're right. I should spend my study time finishing this freaking essay."

"Holly is in art history class right?"

"Yes." I drawl not seeing where this is going.

"Ask her to grab an assignment example off of Duncan's desk tomorrow. I'm sure that question is on an exam he has for his students so the correcting scheme is clearly there."

"So I could get the answers?" I ask.

"Exactly."

"No Casey. You know me, I don't take short cuts. I'd rather get in trouble for not having it done then have it done but cheat."

"I know it was wild luck." He smiled.

"I don't even know why you're so interested in school. If a scout comes out and watches you cheer and gives you a scholarship to a cheerleading university, you don't need to know Algebra and art history." Casey says.

"But what if that doesn't happen? I still need to go to college, get a job, make a living and have money."

"I guess you're right. I don't know what I'll do if a scout from Kentucky doesn't come to the homecoming game. It's the biggest game of the season. We are playing LakeRidge."

"LakeRidge? Amazing. I hate their cheerleaders. At half time of every homecoming game, they have a cheer off with the captains and Nicole Astrid is their captain."

"Wait? Isn't that Nicole Astrid who left Ocean View because she got STD's."

"Well the student body gave her STD's. It was a rumour and because it got so out of hand, she moved to Quintin High but because that school is so close to this school and we all have mutual friends there, the rumour spread so after 2 days in that school she moved to LakeRidge." I say honestly feeling bad for the girl.

Cheerleading is competitive. Cheerleading is what made Nicole the awful person she is. Cheerleading is what made most awful cheerleaders the people they are. You just need to learn not too get overtook by it all.

The doorbell rings and I wobble over to the door.

I take $10 out of Caseys jacket that's hanging on the door and open the door for the pizza man.

When I open the door, the sight in front of me knocks me off my feet.

"Katie? What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I live here."

"Where's my brother?" She asks.

"Your brother? Who's your br- ohhh."

"Liv, Toby has to go home now." I call into my sister.

I look behind me to see if their coming and see Casey standing behind me sending daggers towards Katie.

"Hello Casey." Katie says flirtatiously.

"Katherine." He nods.

"My name isn't Katherine." She says.

"It is now." I chirp in.

Toby and Liv walk out holding hands and I put my hand on Caseys stomach to prevent him for pouncing on the young fella.

"Bye Toby." Liv says.

"Bye Liv."

Katie grabs Toby by his bag and pulls him out of the house.

"Bye Katherine." Me and Casey both call out making her groan and yell back 'that's not my name'.

"Liv, you didn't tell me Toby's sister was Katie." I say looking down at my baby sister.

"How was I supposed to know? We haven't met the family's yet."

I begin to laugh but fight it back,"but Toby met us today."

"Hasn't met dad yet. Good Luck to him when he does." Liv sighs.

"I'm sure if he made it pass Casey, he can make it past dad." I laugh.

"Casey! I forgot you were here." Liv says jumping into his arms.

"Thanks kiddo, means a lot." Casey says ruffling her hair making her giggle.

There's another knock on the door and I open it to see a familiar face holding the pizza.

"Hey look it's Ms Coast." Alex says and I laugh.

"Emily, but you knew that." I smile and he laughs.

"Here's your pizza. That'll be $9.20." He says and I hand him the money and take the pizza off him.

"Keep the change." I say.

"So is this your little family." Alex asks me looking at me Casey and Liv.

"No, no no no no no. No." I say and he laughs.

"This is my little sister Liv who's 7 so if I gave birth to her I would have been 10." I explain and he intakes air through his front teeth and nods his head.

"And this is Casey, you've met him before."

They quickly give each other head nods before Casey takes the pizza off me and heads into the kitchen with Liv.

"Thank you for the pizza." I smile.

"It's what I do." He says and I laugh.

"Eh Emily, do you wanna go for a pizza later this week?"

"Can my crutches come?" I ask and he looks at me confusingly.

I lift my foot and point at the bandage.

"Sprained my foot."

"Did that have anything to do with the chick who left your house just before I showed up? She looked pretty feisty." He laughs and so do I.

"Something like that." I laugh.

"Okay well I've your number. I'll text you." He says and I smile.

"Please do." I say and then close the door.

I hop into the kitchen and sit down beside Casey and in front of Liv.

"2 dates in 2 days. Go Em." Casey says and I look at him when I hear distaste in his voice and his eyes showed a bit of hurt but it quickly washed away.

"It's not a date."

"It's a date."

"Liv are you finished your homework?" I ask changing the subject.

"Yep. I want to sit with you and Casey now." She smiles.

"We have to study Liv. Will I set up a movie in my room?"

"No! I wanna sit with Casey."

I look at Casey and and he holds his hands up in defence.

"Looks like someone has a little crush on Casey here." I say.

"No. I have a boyfriend." Liv says shaking her head.

"Uh-huh." I say mimicking her actions from earlier.

"Well maybe Casey can watch Frozen in the front room and he will keep going into you. Right Casey?" I say looking at him.

"Yep definitely."

"Okay." Liv gives in.

Casey jumps off his seat and runs over to Liv throwing her over his shoulder making her chuckle.

He is going to be such a good father.

20 minutes later, Casey walks into the kitchen and sits beside me.

"How's Ana and Elsa?" I ask through a laugh.

"6 times Emily. She made me sing Let It Go, 6 times. Do you know what that can do to a guy?" He says and I laugh.

I pat him on the back while I continue laughing at him," you poor soldier."

We get back to homework and studying and soon Casey asks me a question.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

"Um, I don't know. I guess it depends on the moment."

"The moment? Like soft music playing while you dance with your perfect guy. You are both laughing and suddenly you look each other in the eyes and bang, you are the only two people that exist." He whispers and we both have leaned in closer. Centimetres apart.

"So do you believe in love at first sight Emily?" He whispers.

I nod and move in closer as does he.

We both move our eyes from each other's to our lips.

We are about to move in ever closer to close the tight distance when we hear a childish scream.

"Casey Casey Casey, my favourite part is coming up. Quickly." Liv screams.

We jump apart and stare at each other for a little bit.

"I better go into her." He says.

"Yeah, you should." I say with a weak smile.

I look ahead of me and bring my fingers up to trace my lips.

Would we have done it?

What would it mean?

"Emily stop studying and come in and play hungry hippos with us." Liv calls.

I close all my books and pile them into my bag before walking into them.

Half way through the game, my stomach growls and I freeze out of embarrassment. That was hella loud.

"You hungry Em?" Casey smirks.

"I'm about as full as these hippos."

Casey laughs and stands up,"I'll get you the rest of the pizza so."

"Thank you." I smile feeling butterflies erupt in my stomach.

God I really like this guy.

****

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