The Aldean Chronicles: Hidden

The continuous sound of my ringtone forces me to wake up. I move around a bit and Tristan draws me closer to him.

"Someone's calling me," I mumble and break away from him. I find my phone on the nightstand and answer groggily without checking the ID "Hello."

"Cassandra, where are you?" Seb's worried voice says. "I've been sending you texts and you're not replying. You weren't picking up your phone."

What time is it? I check and my eyes widen when I see that it's after midnight. I stand up quickly and begin to search for my clothes.

"What are you doing, come back to bed," Tristan says, moving around.

I hold my breath. "Is that Tristan?" Seb's voice is low and angry.

"Yeah, I'm with him. I'll be home in five minutes." No point denying it.

He sighs into the phone before ending the call. Tristan sits up and looks at me. "What time is it?"

"I have to get home," I say, taking off his shirt and wearing my underwear.

He checks his phone and panics when he sees the time. "Your dad is going to kill me, I'm so sorry."

I don't reply and continue searching for my bra. I put it and the rest of my clothes on before scrambling for my shoes. "Cass," he calls softly. I don't respond. "Are you mad at me?"

I pause for a second. "I need to get home." I finish putting on my shoes and walk to his door.

"Do you regret what we did?" He asks. I turn to look at him and he has a serious look on his face.

"I'll call you later." I leave his room. I rush down the stairs and run into his mother.

"Cassandra." She takes in my tousled hair and smeared make-up.

"Hi, Mrs. Oisin," I say. I run out the door, then the gate and down the street to my house. I make it past the front door and see Seb waiting for me.

He stops me from walking past him. "Why were you at his house?"

"Because no one was home and I was bored," I'm annoyed.

"I was worried about you. I thought something happened."

"Well nothing happened, can I go to my room now?"

"What were you even doing there?" He looks uncomfortable.

"We were watching a TV show in his room then fell asleep." I lie. "Why does it matter anyway?"

"I just don't want you making any decisions you'll regret." I roll my eyes. "You can tell me if he pressured you or..."

I grimace. "Please stop. First of all, we didn't do anything, second of all, it's none of your business."

He looks taken back by that. "I kind of feel like it is. Your mother..."

"Exactly my mother, my parent. Something you're not, so just back off." I storm out of the foyer. He looked so hurt. Why did I have to say that?

Why am I antagonizing everybody? First Tristan now him. I should apologize to Seb, I know it's the right thing to do. But I don't, I get to my room and slam my door shut before locking it.

I run a bath and strip down before stepping in. I lay there thinking about what happened hours ago. I also think about Tristan's questions. "Do you regret what we did?"

Of course I don't. I wanted to shout at him, but I didn't. I just ran away. I go under the water and stay there. All I see is Tristan's hurt face, then Seb's. Why do I always screw things up?

***

The next day, I feel Seb avoiding me. He left early, so I didn't see him at breakfast. He always takes time out of his day to check up on me, he didn't today. I feel like such a bad person.

"Look at you," Grey says in the car. We're on our way to a dinner party at a council member's house. "Little Miss teen angst."

"Just don't."

"What did you say to dad last night? He seemed pretty down."

My heart tightens and I feel even worse. "Please, Grey." He drops it and leaves me alone for the rest of the evening.

I wait for Seb to come home that night. "Hey," I say. "Can we talk?"

He nods. "Sure, do you need something?"

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize. I'm not your real dad, I had no right."

I shake my head. "No, I shouldn't have said that. I was angry."

"Why were you angry, what did that boy do to you?" His sad exterior is replaced with an angry one.

I smile. "He didn't do anything, it's not him. If anything I should apologize to him, I just ran off after..."

He nods. "So you did..." I don't confirm or deny it. He clears his throat. "Right, just um... I don't know what I'm supposed to say now."

I cover my ears. "Please don't say anything, I feel really uncomfortable talking about this with you." I laugh. "Just forget I said anything, okay."

He walks up to me and engulfs me in a hug. "I love you, Cassandra, a lot. I want you to know that. I have loved having you in my life these past three years, I am very happy that you're here."

He pulls apart and I look away so he won't see my teary eyes. "Thanks, I feel the same." He laughs. "Well, what did you want me to say?"

He gives me one last smile before going up to his room. I stand there for a few seconds before going out the door. I seat at the entrance and pull out my phone.

"Hey," I say when he picks up.

"Hey," he replies.

"I'm sorry I've been avoiding your calls. I just felt...off after last night."

I hear him exhale. "I'm sorry, I wish we didn't have sex." That breaks my heart.

"I don't." He's silent. "I've never done that before, I just felt uncomfortable and Seb was angry with me and I just needed to get out of there."

He's still not saying anything. After a while, he exhales again. "That's good to hear." His laugh is strained. "I've been thinking about it since last night, wondering if I did something wrong. Beating myself up because I thought I rushed you."

"I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I loved it, I did. I just needed some time."

"I loved it too." There's some more silence. "Am I being too forward if I ask you to come over again tonight?"

I laugh. "I have an early morning tomorrow. And also, it's best if I don't leave the house unexpectedly again."

"Yeah." I'm happy that he sounds disappointed. "So the pledge is in a few days, how's that coming along?"

"You had to remind me," I say with a sad smile. "Keri is walking me through the procedures, I'm picking out a dress tomorrow. It's a whole thing."

"At least now you know you're doing it." I don't respond. "I'll be cheering you on every step of the way."

"That's reassuring. Do you want to come?"

He laughs. "I can't come till I'm a liege."

"I'm allowed to bring one guest, I want that person to be you."

"There's no one else you'd rather bring?" He asks.

I shake my head even though he can't see me. "Yes. Tristan Aidan Oisin, will you be my date."

"I will be honored."