Home Room/ Study Hall

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

Yukito rolled his eyes before whispering to Erin, "I'll see you later, then?" He gave her another kiss before quickly adding, "That was a goodbye-kiss, so it doesn't count to your dozen."

"Good," she said with a smile, and he couldn't help but return it with a genuine smile of his own. You are gorgeous, and you are mine.

"I love you." he found it easier to say now, better to say now. It was by no means the most casual thing to say - but maybe that would be something to be casual about in the future...maybe. Erin sent him a look that made him start to believe she was thinking along the same lines, and she pulled him to her until their cheeks were sitting next to each other, a sort of head-hug that made him arch an eyebrow and smirk.

"I love you, too!" she declared happily.

A smirk was called for at her chipper response, and he teasingly urged, "Now go, before you get suspended again or something."

Erin, so easily distracted - and neither of them with the willpower to say no to just one more moment close to each other, gave him another kiss that sent shivers down his spine. But...as was his luck, a curt voice interrupted with, "Last I checked, this wasn't the Love Shack. Back in class. Both of you just earned detention. And a write-up is going to your father, Erin."

Yukito moved back, but kept his eyes on Erin's, humor shimmering in his eyes as he held back laughter. "Sorry," Erin started off down the hallway, and he could feel the empty space she left behind her, "Bye, kareshi!"

He waved at her as she left, quietly saying to himself, "Bye..."

When he turned back to the classroom, he tried his best to keep a solemn and unfazed expression that didn't totally give away how much his hands were itching to stay busy, or how distracted his thoughts were. Or how much his lips were tingling. I totally got busted for PDA. That has to be one of the coolest things ever. He sat in his seat, ignoring the stares around him, and felt a grin slowly inch its way to his face. Oh yeah. Mom is going to get a kick out of this. He blew off the bitter remark from his teacher, whose name he wasn't even going to bother remembering after today. He heard a couple whispers behind him, some of them negative, but some of them positive. And he wanted to laugh in their faces because he got the lucky card this time. He got to keep Erin. In your face.

Class was very boring after that.

Yukito the mushhead is finished here.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Erin squeaked with excitement and gave Cassie a hug before saying, "You're the best, Cassie, thank you! But you know I can't promise that!" and nonchalantly (as nonchalant as one can be while skipping happily through a classroom) walking out the door, ignoring the teacher's protests of, "Where are you going, Erin? Erin Spenser, we have hall passes for a reason!" Cassie shook her head and laughed quietly, inviting the attention of the teacher, who turned her suspicious eyes on her. "Cassie? Would you happen to have any idea where your friend is off to?"

Oh, crap, I did say I would cover for her...sorry, Erin, but this is the best I've got, no matter how embarrassing it is... "Um..." Cassie said, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her eyes, "I think she mentioned something about having cramps and not feeling all that great, Mrs. Sampere." She shrugged.

The teacher narrowed her eyes, studying Cassie as she attempted to process this excuse. "Well, then..." was her only response before turning back to her computer screen. Well...she probably didn't completely buy it, but it's enough to make her stop asking questions...at least, until Erin gets back. With her 'covering' duties out of the way for the moment, Cassie reached into her backpack and took out her sketchbook, choosing to pass the time until her friend returned by doodling absentmindedly, even while her unfinished science homework beckoned her by the minute. Go play in traffic, O Great Procrastination Monster....classic New Orleans rush-hour traffic, to be exact.

After what couldn't have been more than ten minutes or so, Erin returned to her spot next to Cassie, her smile stretched so big across her face Cassie thought it might break. It's great to see you finally being happy again, Erin. Let's try to keep it that way, okay? I'll try too.

"I'm back!" she proclaimed to Cassie and the rest of the classroom. Cassie grinned. "Fantastic. How's Yukito? Did you tell him I said hi? You're ridiculous, by the way...but that's why we love you." She lowered her voice. "And I apologize in advance for the excuse I had to give for you."

"Erin Spenser! So nice of you to return!" barked Mrs. Sampere, using the dreaded teacher voice. Cassie patted Erin on the shoulder. "Be strong. Remember--it was worth it." She smiled again and rolled her eyes.

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"I'm back!" Erin announced brightly, dropping in a seat next to Cassie, a dreamy look across her face.

"Fantastic," Cassie commented. "How's Yukito?"

"He's great," she responded airily, replaying their little meeting in her head. He really is great...

"Did you tell him I said hi?"

Erin broke out of her reverie at Cassie's question, an impish smile shifting onto her face. "We didn't exactly talk a lot, Cassie," she said, forcing back the urge to giggle. She sat back in her desk, sideways, resting her head on one hand and sighed. "Every day should start out like that, then school would be sooo way better."

"You're ridiculous, by the way... but that's why we love you." Erin raised an eyebrow, not really following, but let a bit of that giggle she'd been holding come out. "And I apologize in advance for the excuse I had to give for you."

Erin didn't have time to ask what excuse that might be-- what, she forgot to say 'She's going to the bathroom, brb?'--since her homeroom teacher interrupted her words. "Erin Spenser! So nice of you to return!"

"Be strong," Cassie told her with a pat on her shoulder. "Remember-- it was worth it." You don't have to remind me twice. Still bubbling over in her good mood, Erin just laughed a little as she excused herself: "I was in the bathroom, Mrs. Sampere. Better there than in here." Okay, so maybe that part should've been rethought, but oh, well.

"Your comments are not called for, Erin. Try to finish out the hour peacefully. I don't want to hear another outburst from this area," she ordered, gesturing to include Cassie, too.

Still grinning, Erin voiced, "Yes, ma'am!" in ascent, the joke being that she didn't have any intention of toning it down-- how could she? When you were excited about something, you weren't supposed to keep it in-- people never whispered "Happy birthday", or "merry Christmas", they shout it with exclamation points at the end.

Mrs. Sampere seemed satisfied with Erin's ascent, since she left them to their own devices-- god, what a pushover--, and Erin sat back once more, expression radiating her current lovestruck status.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"We didn't exactly talk a lot, Cassie," Erin answered, and Cassie rolled her eyes. "Oh, I see. So that's how it is. You're ridiculous, by the way... but that's why we love you." Erin giggled at this. "And I apologize in advance for the excuse I had to give for you."

Just then, Mrs. Sampere interrupted them with a reprimand for Erin. Cassie patted her shoulder in an exaggerated spirit of comraderie, as if Erin was marching off to battle instead of facing whatever the teacher had in store for her. "Be strong. Remember--it was worth it."

Erin laughed. "I was in the bathroom, Mrs. Sampere. Better there than in here."

Cassie snorted in amusement, quickly choking back her laughter at Erin's contagious happiness and general ridiculosity when Mrs. Sampere shot her a look. "Your comments are not called for, Erin. Try to finish out the hour peacefully. I don't want to hear another outburst from this area," she warned, lumping Cassie in with the term 'this area.' Cassie gave the teacher her most innocent smile as Erin voiced, "Yes, ma'am!" Cassie gave a mock salute, prompting more laughter from herself and an exasperated--but apparently placated--sigh from the teacher, who walked back over to her desk, shaking her head.

"Once again, I say--ridiculous," said Cassie before returning to her sketch. But after a moment, her head shot up, having suddenly remembered that Erin was not the only one with news that morning. "Hey," she said. "I've got something kinda weird to tell you. Good weird, don't worry, just kinda...I dunno...unexpected? Like one of those 'I didn't see that coming moments, y'know?" Idiot. Just get to the point already! "Uh, maybe not. But...anyway...that night, after you called me and stuff, Aidousan came over and...maybe you won't find it surprising, but I did, and..." Just speak! "And...well...he kissed me."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

She couldn't have hid the smile on her face if she'd tried, with Cassie's overly dramatic salute of assent. Maybe I actually am rubbing off on you, Cassie. Now I gotta watch myself more...

"Once again, I say--ridiculous," said Cassie, returning her attention to whatever artsy thing she was working on. Erin grinned at the comment that she took as a compliment, resisting the urge to talk some more so Cassie could focus. It wasn't an easy task. Luckily, she didn't have to try very long, because suddenly Cassie decided she did want to talk. "Hey," she said, and Erin cracked another smile. "Hey!"

"I've got something kinda weird to tell you. Good weird, don't worry, just kinda...I dunno...unexpected? Like one of those 'I didn't see that coming moments, y'know?" Erin's brow furrowed-- no, she didn't know-- but her impish smile remained. "No," she drawled, as if the word would draw out the words Cassie was hesitating to get out. "Uh, maybe not. But...anyway...that night, after you called me and stuff, Aidousan came over and...maybe you won't find it surprising, but I did, and... " The way Cassie was being so dodgy made Erin almost tell her to just drop it and tell her when she figured out what she was going for, but Cassie finally forced it out: "And...well...he kissed me."

Automatically Erin's hands flew to her mouth to try to cover the squeal, then she realized two things: 1) she wasn't supposed to be making more squeals, but more importantly, 2) maybe Cassie didn't think it was anything to squeal about. In short, Erin wasn't sure if she was supposed to be excited for her friend or mad at Aidousan. It depended on, well, a lot of things.

"Wait," she asked, words filtered through the hands covering her mouth that was still in a half-smile. "Am I excited about this or upset?" She dropped her hands and leaned toward Cassie eagerly, wanting very much so to be clued into what was going on while she'd been rambling drunkenly to Yukito. "Why did he come over to your house so late? What made him suddenly kiss you? Does he like you? Did you know? Do you like him? Did you like it? Kissing him, I mean," she bombarded Cassie, not able to hide her smile.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

At Cassie's words, Erin had to fight to suppress another squeal, her hands coming up to cover her mouth as she looked at Cassie excitedly. Cassie shot a glance over at the teacher, who coughed pointedly but said nothing. "Yeah," Cassie repeated, not really sure what else to say.

"Wait," Erin said. Cassie turned her attention back to her. "Am I excited about this or upset?"

Well, isn't that the question of the century, Cassie thought with a little shrug. She herself wasn't even sure what to make of this new development, any more than she had been when it was actually happening. Was he saying all that stuff just to be nice, or does he really have feelings for me? And how could I have been so completely oblivious? Honestly, if that's the case, I don't know why people put up with me...I should just carry around a rather large rock or something for people to whack me with when they feel the need.

"Why did he come over to your house so late?" Erin said, flipping the tables so now she was the one doing the interrogations and not Cassie. She looked away, embarrassed. "Um...probably because I called Yukito after I called you to yell at him, and he told me to call Aidousan, which turned into me freaking out and crying into his voicemail box? Just a theory."

"What made him suddenly kiss you? Does he like you?" Cassie gave a little chuckle at this. "Well, I might not be an expert at this sort of thing, but last time I checked kissing was a sign of affection, yes."

"Did you know?"

"Did you?" Cassie countered, only half-joking.

"Do you like him? Did you like it? Kissing him, I mean," Erin continued, her face still stretched wide in an infectious grin.

Yes, was Cassie's mental response, but instead she said, "I'm really not sure! I mean, everything just came out of nowhere and I was so tired and confused and worried and..." she trailed off. "But I did like kissing him. That much I remember. And he made me feel safe, Erin. Safe, for the first time since my dad moved out." She twirled a lock of hair around her fingers and looked at Erin shyly. "He said I was beautiful."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Wait," Erin said, hardly containing herself. "Am I excited about this or upset?" It drove her nuts the way Cassie only shrugged. How am I supposed to know if you don't tell me?!

She couldn't help but try to appease her curiosity. "Why did he come over to your house so late?"

Cassie looked away, as if the question embarrassed her. "Um...probably because I called Yukito after I called you to yell at him, and he told me to call Aidousan, which turned into me freaking out and crying into his voicemail box? Just a theory."

Erin's mouth unconsciously fell open. She hadn't realized she'd caused that much craziness... Had Cassie really started crying because of her? No, it had to be just... other things.. or.. something. Right? "Cassie, I didn't make you do that, did I? I swear I didn't mean to freak you out like-- wait, you called me? I thought I called you... and why'd you call Yukito to yell at him? Why were we all playing phone tag at-- at-- whatever time it was? What made him suddenly kiss you? Does he like you?"

Cassie gave a little chuckle at this. "Well, I might not be an expert at this sort of thing, but last time I checked kissing was a sign of affection, yes."

Erin grinned at that. "Did you know?"

"Did you?" Cassie countered, and Erin shook her head. "I suck at noticing things like that... Do you like him? Did you like it? Kissing him, I mean."

"I'm really not sure! I mean, everything just came out of nowhere and I was so tired and confused and worried and..." she trailed off. Erin felt kind of guilty... why had she been so freaked and worried? Yukito was there with her, so it was fine... "But I did like kissing him. That much I remember. And he made me feel safe, Erin. Safe, for the first time since my dad moved out." Erin's smile echoed her thoughts: she understood that, to a lesser level. But she understood it. Cassie twirled a lock of hair around her fingers and looked at Erin shyly. "He said I was beautiful."

"Awwww!" Erin tried to stifle the volume of the squeal. She hopped out of her chair and gave Cassie a huge hug. "Cassiieee!! Omigod, that's the sweetest thing! Well, except for the whole being freaked out and stuff and all, and I do kinda feel really bad about that, by the way, but Cassie, that's sooo precious!"

She sat back down and folded her hands under her chin. "Okay, what else happened?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie watched as Erin's mouth dropped open, and mentally kicked herself for mentioning anything about Erin's antics making her cry. She doesn't need that on her head as well as everything else...I'm sure her parents are grilling her about it enough..."Cassie, I didn't make you do that, did I?"

Cassie shrugged. "It's been a hard couple of months, and I was really worried...it's okay though..." She sighed as Erin said, I swear I didn't mean to freak you out like-- wait, you called me? I thought I called you... and why'd you call Yukito to yell at him? Why were we all playing phone tag at-- at-- whatever time it was?"

She thought for a minute. "Maybe you did call me--I was so tired I don't really remember everything that happened, you know? I called Yukito because I knew the reason you'd done what you did was because of him, and I knew he was the only person who could really make you come back home and stuff...I just thought he could help more than I ever could." She grinned. "And it looks like I was right, doesn't it?"

Erin continued to happily interrogate Cassie for a few moments, asking her whether she liked Kagayaki and why he had kissed her. Cassie answered them as best she could, but the truth was she was still as overwhelmed by the whole experience as she had been that night. "I'm really not sure! I mean, everything just came out of nowhere and I was so tired and confused and worried and...But I did like kissing him. That much I remember. And he made me feel safe, Erin. Safe, for the first time since my dad moved out. He said I was beautiful," she added reverently. That was the part she played over and over in her mind, the part that she still had trouble believing had actually happened. He had called her beautiful.

No one had ever said that to her before.

"Awwww!" Erin blurted out, leaping up to capture Cassie in a hug. "Cassiieee!! Omigod, that's the sweetest thing! Well, except for the whole being freaked out and stuff and all, and I do kinda feel really bad about that, by the way, but Cassie, that's sooo precious!"

Cassie laughed, a bit embarrassed. "No one's ever said I was beautiful before. I--"

"Erin and Cassie!" the teacher said angrily. "This is your final warning! One more outburst and you'll get a detention each."

Cassie nodded apologetically as Erin said, "Okay, what else happened?"

"Um..." said Cassie, thinking. "Not a whole lot...I kissed him five times, did I mention that?" she said, blushing. "And...he sort of spent the night in my room...he said he wanted to keep me safe or something, I can't really remember...it wasn't like that or anything, he slept on my desk chair--the purple one, remember? I didn't really think anything of it--I mean, it's Kagayaki! So...yeah. That's it. Was that bad or something? I just..."

"I just wanted to keep feeling safe for a little while longer."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Awwww!" Erin blurted out, leaping up to capture Cassie in a hug. "Cassiieee!! Omigod, that's the sweetest thing! Well, except for the whole being freaked out and stuff and all, and I do kinda feel really bad about that, by the way, but Cassie, that's sooo precious!"

Cassie laughed. "No one's ever said I was beautiful before. I--"

"Erin and Cassie!" came another warning, not like it really meant anything... "This is your final warning! One more outburst and you'll get a detention each." Erin looked from their teacher and back to Cassie with a giggle. No one actually got detention in homeroom; talk about an empty threat.

"Okay, what else happened?"

"Um... Not a whole lot...I kissed him five times, did I mention that?" she said, blushing, and for a second Erin's mouth fell open.

"Not a whole lot!? What planet are you on?" she asked, unable to hide her smile at the idea of shy, timid Cassie enjoying kissing Aidousan enough to repeat it a few times. Then, she couldn't help but mutter, "We didn't get to kiss that much on our first date..."

"And...he sort of spent the night in my room..." Cassie said casually, and Erin's mouth fell open again, only until she started, "What?! What, you mack with some guy that's not even your boyfriend and then he spends the night? What are you, friends--" She stopped herself from saying it too loud just in time-- "Friends with benefits or something?"

"He said he wanted to keep me safe or something, I can't really remember...it wasn't like that or anything, he slept on my desk chair--the purple one, remember? I didn't really think anything of it--I mean, it's Kagayaki! So...yeah. That's it. Was that bad or something? I just..." As Cassie explained, Erin wasn't doing such a great job of listening, only going over in her head the fact that Cassie had let that happen, that had it been anyone but Kagayaki, it could have ended really badly, that this was Cassie, not Erin, and that Cassie never did anything wrong or stupid or risky or questionable or anything!

"I just wanted to keep feeling safe for a little while longer."

"Cassie!" Erin repeated, reminding herself to stay quieter so the other 20 students didn't stare at them the whole time. "You can't do things like that, Cassie! You just can't! Yeah, it was Aidousan, but still! I didn't think you'd be okay with that. I mean, I know I did it, but he's my boyfriend, and I couldn't exactly go home like that, he had to keep me! It's different. It just is."

Erin let out a huff and turned sideways in her chair so she wasn't looking at Cassie but could still see her. "Sorry," she muttered, meaning it, though it might not have sounded like it.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie realized immediately that she should have rephrased that last sentence, or kept it to herself altogether, because Erin looked shocked. "What?! What, you mack with some guy that's not even your boyfriend and then he spends the night? What are you, friends--Friends with benefits or something?"

Cassie's mouth fell open before she could stop it. How could Erin automatically assume something like...like that had happened, without even batting an eye? Did she honestly think..."What?! No! Of course not! Nothing happened, I swear on my sister's life!" Not that it's much of one these days, though. "He said he wanted to keep me safe or something, I can't really remember...it wasn't like that or anything, he slept on my desk chair--the purple one, remember? I didn't really think anything of it--I mean, it's Kagayaki! So...yeah. That's it. Was that bad or something? I just..." She looked away. I just didn't want to be alone, okay? You don't get to judge me on that, you have people at home who are always there for you and your house isn't crushing you 24/7 and you don't have ghosts who wake you up in the middle of the night tapping on doors and running down the hallway. You're not constantly terrified of your own house, so you have no right to judge me for wanting things to be different!

"I just wanted to keep feeling safe for a little while longer," she added quietly. I wouldn't really expect you to understand that completely, but...

And Erin didn't seem to. "Cassie! You can't do things like that, Cassie! You just can't! Yeah, it was Aidousan, but still! I didn't think you'd be okay with that. I mean, I know I did it, but he's my boyfriend, and I couldn't exactly go home like that, he had to keep me! It's different. It just is."

"But...nothing happened! I don't get it...if you automatically think things like that then I guess you don't know him or me as well as you thought!" She looked away as tears stung her eyes. "I hate being home, Erin! My mom is never home at night anymore, she's with her boyfriend! It's just me and Shelby, Erin, and I'm scared! Why do you think I ask you to do sleepovers so much, huh? Why do you think I sometimes come to school in the mornings looking so tired? I am scared of my own house, Erin. So excuse me for not wanting to be scared for just once." A tear slid down her face before she could stop it, and she angrily wiped it away.

"I was just sick of being pathetic and afraid."

"Sorry," Erin offered after a minute. Cassie shrugged, looking down at her lap. "You couldn't have known. I never talk about it. I don't want to worry you."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Cassie! You can't do things like that, Cassie! You just can't! Yeah, it was Aidousan, but still! I didn't think you'd be okay with that. I mean, I know I did it, but he's my boyfriend, and I couldn't exactly go home like that, he had to keep me! It's different. It just is."

"But...nothing happened!" Cassie protested. Clearly, she just didn't get it. "I don't get it...if you automatically think things like that then I guess you don't know him or me as well as you thought!" Erin frowned, wrinkling her nose. It wasn't that she thought they'd do anything horrible or something, how could Cassi not get that? "I hate being home, Erin! My mom is never home at night anymore, she's with her boyfriend! It's just me and Shelby, Erin, and I'm scared! Why do you think I ask you to do sleepovers so much, huh? Why do you think I sometimes come to school in the mornings looking so tired? I am scared of my own house, Erin. So excuse me for not wanting to be scared for just once." Erin wasn't looking, but she could hear how upset Cassie was, and would bet if she looked over, Cassie would be at least tearing up. And it made her feel awful. So she said nothing, chewing on the inside of her cheek and scowling at the floor. Cassie didn't get that Erin only told that to her because she was worried, because she cared. So she sucked at showing it-- Cassie was smart, couldn't she tell?

"I was just sick of being pathetic and afraid."

That was something Erin couldn't identify with. She wasn't particularly fond of being at home a lot, but that's more because it was along the annoying and suffocating lines rather than the empty and fearsome lines... It must be awful for her... And Erin snapped at her like such a jerk, and Cassie didn't get it...

"Sorry," muttered Erin, still glancing at her Converses.

"You couldn't have known. I never talk about it. I don't want to worry you," Cassie said.

Finally Erin looked over in her friend's direction. It was kind of ironic, how Erin hadn't meant to worry Cassie though she worried her enough to make her cry, and then how Cassie didn't want to worry Erin, but she worried her anyway enough to make her snap at her protectively. "I kinda worried anyway, Cassie..." she told her quietly, venturing a small smile, but it faded quickly as she looked back down with an uncomfortable shrug. "I just didn't want you doin' something stupid, like me..." Erin felt awkward saying that, even though it was true, and she poked nervously at the seam of her jeans. "But I know you're smart and it's none of my business... Sorry..."

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Why did I ever bring it up in the first place? If Erin being mad at me wasn't enough, now she's gonna either think I'm crazy and immature and a baby for admitting I'm scared of my own home, or she's going to get all worried and beat herself up about making me feel bad...this is why I didn't tell you anything in the first place, Erin! This is why I don't talk about things like this, if I can avoid it. I knew something like this would happen eventually! Somehow, I just knew...just like I knew I should never mention anything like this. Everyone else has their own issues, I don't need to add mine to the mix...I never should have said anything at all! The tears started falling before she could stop them, sliding in hot streaks down her face and landing on her desk. She ran her hand across her face in what she hoped was a subtle way before someone noticed what was going on. Because getting caught crying in class would just make this day that much better.

"Sorry," said Erin finally. Cassie just shrugged, giving a lame excuse before adding, " I don't want to worry you."

Erin looked at her then, but Cassie only allowed a few brief moments of eye contact before she averted her gaze to wipe away the rest of her tears. "I kinda worried anyway, Cassie..." her friend said softly. Cassie looked up just in time to see Erin avert her own gaze, offering up a shrug. "I know you do," said Cassie in a small voice. "That's why you're acting like this. It's because you care. It's who you are, Erin. Me of all people should understand that, and not get mad at you for it."

"I just didn't want you doin' something stupid, like me...But I know you're smart and it's none of my business... Sorry..."

Cassie sniffled at this, looking up and brushing the remaining few tears away. "You are not stupid. Just a good friend. And it is your business...I would have done the same thing."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"I don't want to worry you," Cassie finished quietly, and Erin glanced over at her, even though her friend looked away.

"I kinda worried anyway, Cassie..." And, great, now she'd gone and made Cassie cry. Again. God, what a sucky friend she was, she'd probably cause Cassie to have a mental breakdown or something. I should have never done that, I should have known better than to call her like that, I should have known better than to freak out on her like that, god, Cassie, why don't you really get mad at me?

Erin looked down, missing Cassie's shrug. "I know you do," said Cassie in a small voice. "That's why you're acting like this. It's because you care. It's who you are, Erin. Me of all people should understand that, and not get mad at you for it."

She didn't say anything for a second, occupying herself with poking at the jeans on her knee for a minute before muttering, "I just didn't want you doin' something stupid, like me...But I know you're smart and it's none of my business... Sorry..."

She glanced over at Cassie, who was wiping the tears off her face. God, look what I did. "You are not stupid. Just a good friend. And it is your business...I would have done the same thing."

"Huh?" Erin had been talking about her stupid midnight romp, not her freaking out in class, even though that was kind of thoughtless, too. Cassie couldn't mean that wasn't stupid. She raised an eyebrow. "So you mean it wasn't stupid of me freaking you out the other night?"

The bell rang for the next period, and Erin had to make sure Cassie was okay before leaving her. "Hey, are you really okay?" She stopped, putting her hands on Cassie's shoulders and gave her a smile. "Hey, he kissed you-- five times." She couldn't help but giggle at that. "'Kay, later!"

Erin's left the mushroom.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Huh? So you mean it wasn't stupid of me freaking you out the other night?"

Cassie laughed, brushing away one last tear and sniffling. "Stupid? No, I've seen stupider. Maybe not entirely thought-out, yeah, but not stupid." She looked at her friend. "You know, sometimes you worry way too much about what other people think. Believe me. I should know. I do the exact same thing. It's probably one of the reasons we're such good friends, right?"

The bell rang, loud and piercing as always, and the classroom burst into life, chattering growing louder as the students around them prepared to go to their next class, throwing books into bags, grabbing jackets and lunches, running to catch up with friends already out in the hallway.

"Hey, are you really okay?" Erin asked as Cassie deposited her sketchbook into her bag. Cassie nodded, giving her friend a little smile. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm just...confused. And ridiculous. But I'll be fine." She smiled again. "I'll work on letting you know when I'm not, okay? It'll make it easier for both of us."

Erin's hands made contact with Cassie's shoulders, and she looked as if she was about to deliver another pep talk. "Hey, he kissed you-- five times." Cassie nodded, and Erin laughed as a grin came over Cassie's face. "Yeah. Yeah, he did."

'Kay, later!"

"See ya."

Cassie has left homeroom--rather blissfully.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Cassie/Jodie interaction YAY! BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

So, it was that time of year again.

Every Christmas, each homeroom class at school participated in the Adopt-A-Family program. They would pick a family to sponsor from various options local shelters and other programs would send out, and then as a class, they would team up to help give them a good Christmas. This year, Cassie's class had picked a little family of five, a mom with two girls and two boys, to sponsor, and as always it had been a major success. Now, as the holiday got ever closer, a handful of students in Cassie's homeroom had volunteered to stay after school for a little bit and help wrap the presents so they could deliver them to the family.

They'd turned it into a little party, with a couple of bottles of soda and Christmas music playing from the teacher's computer, and someone had even chipped in to get some cookies and candy canes. Now they stood in various little groups, passing colorful Christmas wrapping paper and rolls of Scotch tape back and forth as they chatted and wrapped.

As Cassie always did when she wrapped presents, she grabbed one of the self-adhesive bows, a festive sparkly green one, and stuck it on her head. According to her parents, she had done just that on her first Christmas as she watched her family unwrap gifts for her, but she had no memory of this. Still, it was another time-honored Christmas tradition for her, and she stuck the bow to her red curls with pride.

Securing the last piece of tape on the gift she was working on, Cassie turned to the person next to her. "Can you please hand me one of those gift tags? Thanks."