Secrets (Codey #1) (2 page)

"Sorry, I'm Mike.  Didn't you hear me screaming for you to get out of the way?" She continued to give him the evil eye. Well, she was trying to look at him the way her mother looked when she was angry. Cassandra smacked his hand away.

One of the other boys spoke next. "Hey there, I'm Leo and this is my brother Luis." Once on her feet, Cassandra dusted herself off and checked to make sure the money was still in her pocket.

Mike smiled again and pointed at the two boys. “Those two goofs are my younger brothers. Are you new in town? Don’t think I’ve seen you around before." Cassandra was still not sure if she should be talking to them or not, but figured it would be ok since they were kids.

"Yes I am, but that wasn’t a friendly welcome to the neighborhood." She frowned at them. People back home were tuff, but getting rundown here was unexpected.

Mike put his hands up as if in surrender. "You were the one not watching where you were going.” The smile on his face grew. “So what's your name?" Unbelievable, was he trying to blame her for getting run over? Cassandras anger started dying down when she realized that he really did think it was her fault.

"Cassandra Michaels. That’s my name." She responded still wearing an unfriendly scowl. Mike was still looking amused.

"Casey, I like that." Then they rode away as her eyes followed them. When his words registered she screamed after them. “My name is Cassandra not Casey, you idiot.”

Cassandra stomped all the way to the store while thinking about the boys. Mike must be around fourteen and Leo seemed to be around her age and so did Luis. Well they would have to be the same age, seeing as they were twins. Then it hit her. She stopped before the store door and smiled. "I think I just made some new friends."

Wearing the smile, she continued the task as her scuffed up little legs took her into the store. After selecting the coke, a loaf of bread was next on the list. She decided to get a shopping cart and picked up a couple of other things. Her mother went out on a regular basis in Chicago. Why would it be any different here?

Once home, Cassandra took her mother the coke and then returned to the kitchen to put the other things away. After thinking for a while, she made her mother a sandwich and added a bag of chips to the plate. She walked to the bedroom door and knocked lightly. The door opened to reveal her mother getting ready for a night out.

Cassandra was going to be left alone in a strange house. Her mother looked up and smiled at the food. “Well look at that. We just found another reason I should be happy I kept you. Now bring it here and get out.”

That night, Cassandra turned on all the lights in the house. One by one, each room was inspected. Each closet and under every bed too. Once she was happy with the fact that no one was hiding there, all the doors were locked. All night was spent listening to the sounds the house made. Each sound created images of someone breaking in. At some point, sleep finally came.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next day, Cassandra felt exhausted and cranky. Yet she resolved to have a good day while tiptoeing to her mother’s door. A peek inside showed her sprawled on the bed, still wearing her clothes and shoes. Cassandra had always removed her shoes and tried to make her more comfortable. Yet today, that wasn’t going to happen.

After having cereal she went outside to play. There really wasn’t much to do. So Cassandra climbed the tree and broke off a branch.  There was a patch of dirt where grass should be and it served as an easel. With the pointy part of the stick she drew a house with a family in front of it. There was a mommy and a daddy. There was also a daughter and a son.

She had been working on drawing a dog when a sound made her look up. "Hey new girl. Is this where you live?" Luis asked, or was it Leo? They looked so much alike it was impossible to tell.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Well, don't you see me here? Do you think I just go to strange houses and play in front of them? Idiot."  Yes, little Cassandra had an attitude.

"Man, our mom would never let us talk to anyone that way." Leo said as he looked at his older brother Mike for back up.

Cassandra smiled at his words. "Well my mom could care less what I say or do. She doesn’t even care about me." It was the truth, why hide it.

"Ask your mom if you can go on a ride with us. We still have an hour before we have to go home. We can show you around the area.” Mike gestured to their surroundings. Cassandra looked at him and frowned. Her mother had left once more about 20 minutes ago. God only knew where she went.

"I don’t have a bike.” Her cheeks burned in shame. Mike smiled and pointed to the tubes sticking out of the center of his back tires. “Mom's not home, but I'll leave her a note in case she gets back before I do.” Cassandra flew up the stairs and scribbled a quick note. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That day marked the start of their friendship. They were even enrolled in the same schools. Their parents had a farm about fifteen minutes away from where she lived. They were cattle ranchers and had so much land. That she found out one day when they took her horseback riding. Her friends were so attentive.

That would prove to be a problem a year later when they figured out that her mom left her home alone when she went out at night. "I'm from Chicago, we don't get scared." Cassandra told them when Mike tried to scold her. It was the truth. It had taken a couple of months, but she wasn’t scared anymore.

"Maybe so, but you've lived in Texas for a year. Now, you’re one of us." The slight drawl Luis had always made her smile. “You’re a girl and there are crazy people everywhere.”

Her smile faltered as thoughts of the man that still came to drop off money to her mother popped in her head. She realized that the frequency of his visits corresponded with how hard she partied. Cassandra would hide so he wouldn’t see her.

He really gave her the creeps. The older she got, the creepier he seemed. Especially when he would look at her in that strange way on the occasion their paths crossed. Cassandra heard him tell her mom that she was to be kept inside with the exception of school. He must not know her mother was almost never home. So there was nobody there to do as he demanded.

Cassandra didn't have too many friends with the exception of Mike, Leo and Luis. Girls didn't like her because she was more of a tomboy. That was more than ok for her. They had so much fun together as they snuck around.  Until now, she had yet to meet their parents and they had yet to meet her mom. She figured they might be embarrassed that she was poor and they had money. If their parents were snobs, she didn't want to meet them. They had not met her mother, for obvious reasons.

Cassandra never mentioned the man that came to her house to them. How would you even go about telling someone you think your mother sold you to a guy when you were eleven years old? Not to mention that he was waiting until you’re old enough to collect? It's what he wants to collect that scared the hell out of her.

On one particular night. She found herself walking home after having had a hotdog with the boys. A car pulled up alongside her. Cassandra turned when she heard the window lower. There he was, looking as mad as ever.

“What the hell are you doing out this late?” She didn’t utter a word. “Get in the car.” She turned her head to face the road and kept walking. The man, was crazy and followed alongside her. “If you don’t get in this minute. I’m calling your mother.”

That made her stop to smile at him. “Really? Good luck finding her.” The tires squealed as he stepped on the breaks. Before Cassandra had a chance to run, he was on her. He bodily picked her up and placed her in the car. She was surprised at how gentle he had been. The drive home was done in silence.

Up until now, the man had stayed away. It worried her to think he might try something next time. So she called the only person who could keep the secret, her best friend Lucy. Cassandra opened the flood gates and cried as the story was finally told. Lucy insisted she call Mike and ask for help. Yet Cassandra wasn’t ready, to tell them everything.

When she called him all she disclosed was the information about getting left alone often. To her surprise, they spoke to their mom about it. They were given permission to have her stay in the little shack on the land closest to their home. They called it a shack but it was beautiful to her.

They even gave the place a name and christened it, the club house. The boys would sneak out on the occasion she would stay there. Those had been the times of her life. As the years went on, they grew closer.  Everything was great. Until she turned 18.

Chapter Two

“This is going to be the best summer ever. Today your 18 years old Cassandra Michaels. You will have fun tonight with the guys at that fancy restaurant.” Casey said out loud to herself as she eyed her reflection in the mirror.  Leo was taking Mindy, he had been dating her for a year now. Luis was taking his latest flavor of the month, Monica. She had managed to stay with him two months. A record for Mister Gigolo, Luis Codey.

  That left Mike as her makeshift date, since they were both going alone. She didn’t date and Mike had been busting his butt working with his dad. After graduating high school, he started to learn their business. He was the oldest son and the one who one day would take over after his old man croaked or retires. Whichever came first? So he hadn't dated for over a year.

The sound of pounding at her door made her run downstairs. "There's the Birthday girl." Mike said as she swung the door open. Casey smiled and all she could think was, “man did he grow up good.” He had the dreamiest blue eyes she had ever seen. Working on a ranch sure did do a body good. He was taller than her 5’ 3" stature and towered over six feet.

Mike was all hard muscled, a very masculine man, far from the gangly kid he once was. The need to shake her head to clear the impure thoughts was needed. Finally clarity appeared and a sigh escaped. There was no way a man like him would ever see her as anything more than a little annoying sister. Especially not looking the way she did.

Casey looked down at her plain jeans and large t-shirt. The shirt was baggy but the larger size was needed. The moment her damn breast grew, everything changed. The darn things just got in the way. There was nothing to do but wear tight sports bras in hopes that they hid how much was really there. It didn’t make for an attractive look, but she was more than ok with it.

“Would you like something to drink?” Casey could feel the heat that burned her cheeks and hoped he didn’t know what she had been thinking. When he said no, Casey excused herself and headed for the kitchen. The need to stick her head in the freezer was great, but all she did was pull a Coke out. To her utter horror, the moment the tab was pulled the cold liquid sprayed all over.

The sound of his laughter earned him a dirty look. "What’re you laughing at? Now I have to go and change. This is the only dressy t-shirt that’s clean.

He stopped laughing. “I'll be right back.” The next thing she knew, he was out the door. Casey muttered as the mess was cleaned. The sound of Mike singing “Happy Birthday to you.” When she looked up he was standing there with a goofy grin. In his hands Mike held a box that was wrapped in gold paper and a silver bow was on it.

Casey screamed. "I love presents. What did you get me?" Her mind was racing a mile a minute trying to figure out what was in the box. She shook it but no noise came from it.

Mike smiled. “Don’t be silly. Open it and find out what it is."

She ripped at the paper dying to see what was in it. When the top was freed, Casey froze. "What the hell is this?” An incredulous look overtook her face. Did he not know her at all? “You got me a fucking dress? Are you crazy?” Had he not realize in all these years, that dresses were not her thing?

"No, I am not crazy. It's high time you started looking more like a young lady and not a little boy," Casey glared at him.  "You’ve already made a mess of yourself with the soda. Now go change into the dress.” She continued to glare. "Guess what? There’s a pair of shoes in there too.” Casey couldn’t believe him; there’s no way in hell she was wearing a dress!

Just then the door swung open and Luis and Leo walked in singing. “Happy Birthday." Mindy and Monica wakked in behind them. “What did we miss?” Leo was making his way to them.

Mike turned to his brother. "She didn't like my gift. I’m guessing she’s trying to burn a whole into me with her evil eye.” The brothers laughed as they enjoyed her pain.

Leo looked confused before asking. “What did you get her?"

She could have smacked the smile that spread his features. "A dress." Once again, laughter at her expense ensued.

The ladies on the other hand ran over to the offending box. “Let me see, let me see.” They peeked in the box then turned to her. "I love it! Red, is so your color." Mindy said as Monica yelled, “makeover." They proceeded to try to yank her upstairs.

"Hell no. No fucking way.” Casey’s heart thudded in her chest. There was no way she was letting these girls anywhere near her. So she ran to her room and slammed the door. “They’re all crazy if they think I'm putting that dress on.” The knock at the door interrupted the tirade.

Casey opened the door ready for a fight. Mindy and Monica were there, holding the box. “Before you go crazy on us. Mike’s downstairs feeling bad because you won't wear the dress." Monica informed her. Then she bumped Casey’s’ shoulder with her own. “It won’t be that bad. Just wear it today. Then we'll help you burn it later."  The thought sounded tempting, but hell no.

"I see the way you look at Mike sometimes, you know. When you think no one’s looking." Monica’s words horrified her. “Don’t worry. It’s not very noticeable. I've been hanging around you guys for a year now. So I’ve noticed.” Casey wanted the Earth to open up and swallow her whole.  

Monica smiled as she touched her now burning cheeks. “If you’ve ever want him to notice you. Whatever’s in this box? May just do the trick. It won’t even seem like your trying. He gave you the dress himself so take advantage.” Every fiber in her being screamed for her to say no. Yet there was no denying that Casey wanted Mike Codey. No denying that she wanted to be seen for the woman she’d become.

Casey was at a loss, but one look at their hopeful faces made her decision clear. "What the heck, I'll do it.” Her hand went up and she pointed at them. “If you make me look like a tramp. I will kill the both of you. Don’t forget, I'm burning the dress the moment we get home tonight.”  

The girls squealed and clapped in triumph. “What is it you girls and that infernal squealing?" That earned her a glare from them. Casey’s eyes closed and a much needed deep breath was taken before she sealed her fate. “What do you need me to do?”

The sound of tissue paper flying in the air was all she could hear. "Jump in the shower quickly. I’m guessing that was soda all over you." Mindy ordered.

She didn’t answer and walked herself to the bathroom. Once inside, Casey took a good look at herself in the mirror. “Do you realize that you just might have sold your soul to the Devil? Just to get a guy to notice you. You better hope he's worth all this trouble."

The bath was done in record time. There was no way Casey was allowing herself any time to think. After a quick toweling off, she donned her robe and walked out of the bathroom. Not before doing the sign of the cross over herself. “Lord, please help me.”

Her bed was covered with an exaggerated amount of paraphernalia. Where the hell had it all come from? "What’s all this?" She picked up something that looked like it may hurt to use.