Chapter 2 Breaking The News

If someone had woken her up yesterday morning in Berkeley and told her she wouldn't be spending her summer holiday at Oakland as she had expected, that instead she would be bundled up and sent to the man that made her and her mum miserable for years. She would have suggested to her friends that they stay back in Berkeley.

Coming home to meet a plane ticket to hell, what a perfect summer holiday. She remembered tons of bucket lists she and her friends had prepared and the places they had planned to explore.

They would be very disappointed, especially her best friend Jessie.

She would want to follow her to San Francisco. Jessie loved her like hell. The rest of their friends had once thought they were dating, because of the way they couldn't let go of each other, especially Jessie. For one, Jessie was gay, everyone knows that but she,

Well, she was bisexual but none of her friends knew that, not even Jessie. Not that she was being intentionally secretive, she just felt that If Jessie found out her sexuality she'd hit on her.

She felt it was best she doesn't explore the gay side of her. What would her mum do if she found out that her only daughter was gay? She couldn't imagine.

Jessie was her best friend since their sophomore year in high school. They met Kaylee and Ocean during their senior year.

She and Jessie were roommates at Berkeley. Then Kaylee and Ocean lived opposite their room. Most times they all slept together in her room. She and Jessie were in the same department_Arts and Design while Ocean and Kaylee opted for English literature.

It was her idea to spend the summer holiday in Oakland now they were going to kill her. Who would blame her? She was just playing the role of a loving daughter who wouldn't want her mum to miss her this summer. Who would have thought she would be bundled up to San Francisco?

Her phone rang, jolting her out of her thoughts.

She looked at the screen and it was Jessie calling her on FaceTime. "Troublesome kid!" She muttered before picking up. Jessie's face appeared on the screen.

"Hey, you."

"Cass, how despicable can you be? You didn't even call to let me know when you arrived home. As if that wasn't enough, you ignored my calls for the rest of the night! Did I do anything?" Jessie howled.

"Good morning Jess." Cassidy greeted stifling a laugh.

"It's funny huh?"

Cassidy burst into laughter. "Throughout the night? Girl, is that how much you want to hear my voice?"

Jessie rolled her eyes. "Of course, I have missed you." She pouted.

"We only parted ways yesterday Jess."

"Still," Jessie stared at her. "Girl you are still in your pajamas, don't tell me you haven't showered?"

"Nope." Cassidy shook her head. "Come on it's just," She stared at her wall clock. "It's just 8:00."

"So? I believe you have eaten right?"

"Of course."

"Go take a shower. I don't want my baby carrying a bedhead around."

Cassidy chuckled. "Your baby?"

Jessie threw her a questioning look. "Don't tell me I have been replaced?"

"Geez Jess! By whom, please?" Cassidy asked, throwing her hands in the air.

Jessie shrugged. "I don't know, you tell me."

Cassidy smiled. This young lady wouldn't let her rest, would she? "No one replaced you, Jess."

"Then you are still my baby?"

"Yeah, I am. Happy now?"

Jessie nodded. "Yes, baby. How's mum?"

"She's fine, it hasn't been long since she left for work."

"So you are home alone or with someone?" Jessie winked at her.

"Gosh Jess of course I am home alone. Who could I possibly be with?"

"Your secret boyfriend that you are cheating on me with." Cassidy chuckled. Jessie is always claiming ownership of her as if they were a couple. Anyone listening to their conversation would have sworn they were dating. Kaylee and Ocean thought so in high school but they had gotten used to Jessie's obsession with Cassidy. "I don't have a secret boyfriend, Jess, why are you all dressed up?" She asked, gesturing at her outfit.

"I was about to come to your house, let's go have some fun."

Cassidy shook her head. "The fun part is a 'No' for me."

"Why? You are not feeling too well?"

Cassidy swallowed. She knew she wasn't ready for Jessie's reaction once she heard the news but she had to do it_break the news. "I'm leaving for San Francisco tomorrow morning, mum said I will be spending my summer holiday with her husband. She has already booked..."

"Wait a minute Cass, you must be kidding me," Jessie asked with a furrowed eyebrow and Cassidy shook her head.

"I kid you not, Jess."

"You know what, say no more. I'm coming to your house right away." Jessie finished and ended the FaceTime even before Cassidy could say anything.

Cassidy shrugged. The tigress was definitely on her way to unleash. She left her bed and jumped into the bathroom. If Jessie got here and she was still in her pajamas, she might as well start killing her right away.

Twenty minutes later she was out of the shower spray and in front of her closet. She settled for a tank top and bum shorts.

She sat in front of her dressing mirror, drying her hair with her hair dryer. She heard her horn from outside. The Tigress had arrived.

She left her room in a flash, soon she was opening the smaller gate. Jessie rode in on her bike and parked close to Cassidy's. It was their 18th birthday gift as well as their graduating gift bought by their respective mums.

Immediately she came down, she rushed to Cassidy as if she was some meat she wanted to feast on.

Cassidy wasn't expecting the quick hug but she responded by crossing her arms around her shoulders as Jessie held her waist.

"I have missed you," Jessie whined and Cassidy chuckled.

"Me too."

When they disengaged Jessie kissed her lightly on the lips. 'Geez this girl would never stop doing that would she?' Cassidy thought inwardly.

"Jess, when will you stop harassing my lips? "

Jessie eyes her with a smile. "I'm not. You are my baby."

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Let's go inside."

Jessie gave her a detailed look. "You are not looking, bad baby."

"Thanks, you too." Jessie was wearing a short leather skirt and a crop top covered slightly by a black leather jacket. Her love for Leather materials.

She loved them too but not as much as Jessie does. She was practically addicted to it.

They got inside the house and into Cassidy's room.

"How I have missed this room." Jessie sang as she inhaled the fragrance that filled the entire room.

"I know right," Cassidy replied as she went straight to her freezer. "What do I offer you bestie?" That was just a formality. She already knew what Jessie likes. What they both liked, rather_cocktails.

Jessie frowned."I'm in no mood for cocktails now baby, you said you are leaving me." She sat down on the bed close to Cassidy.

"Hey, I am not dying even though it feels like I am but it's just a holiday." She was saying that to herself more than to Jessie. She had to convince herself that it was a holiday and not a death sentence as her mother had said.

"But we are not spending it together, that's the point."

Cassidy sighed. Her hands were tied. She was going to miss her friends no doubt but she had to obey her mum.

Both were occupied with their thoughts. Jessie thought about how she was going to be apart from her best friend for a month and some weeks, possibly. She was happy they were finally granted a long holiday but now she more than wished that the holidays would be canceled. She has gotten so used to having Cassidy by her side that a day without her seems like a part of her was gone. Though they weren't dating, which she somehow wished they were because she is the only woman she could love genuinely. She had refused dating just because of Cassidy. Too bad Cassidy was straight. She respected her decision for them to be just best friends and nothing more, but at least she granted her the privilege of playing around with her just a little bit which she enjoyed.

Now she was going away from her all in the name of a goddamn holiday in San Francisco.

"Have you told the others?" She asked out of the blue.

Cassidy shook her head. "You should."

"Ocean is going to kill me." Cassidy pouted.

"She won't, I will make sure of that."

The call was made and just as Cassidy expected Her friends weren't cool with the news. Ocean huffed and puffed on the phone, and Kaylee was sighing endlessly.

They decided to come over to Cassidy's. The call ended.

The next few minutes were spent arranging the stuff that Cassidy would take to San Francisco. Good a thing she hadn't unpacked because she was in no mood to start packing all over again.

"Why did you say that it feels like you're dying? I mean he's your dad, right? And you guys have settled your disputes right?" Jessie suddenly asked.

Cassidy's face became expressionless. This was a part of her past she didn't want to share because recounting the experience would make her back out. She said she had forgiven but it still hurts.

"Jess, I don't want to talk about it."

"There you go again, Cass. Back then in sophomore year when it all happened, you refused to share, I let you be. Afterward, if I bring it up your mood changes and I thought it was best I let you heal. Now that everything is settled, you still don't want to share?"

Where was she going to start? Was it the endless night he came home drunk, raped, and molested her mum. Or was it the endless assault he received from him after he might have beaten her mum to unconsciousness? She fought back the tears that threatened to escape. She smiled at Jessie whose face was already contorted in a frown.

"I will share, baby I promise, but not now. Okay?"

Jessie Shrugged. "Whatever you want babe."

"But," Jessie continued and Cassidy looked up at her. "I may end up coming for you."

Cassidy narrowed her eyebrows. "Coming for me?"

"Yes. I still have things I need to do for Mum, that's why I'm not following you straight away but I will when I am done."

Cassidy stared at her. "Really?"

Jessie nodded. "Really."

Cassidy grinned wildly "I would love that, seriously."

"Just don't tell Ocean and Kaylee." Jessie half whispered and they laughed.

Ocean and Kaylee arrived immediately after they finished packing and putting things in order.

It dawned on them that Cassidy was indeed leaving.

Each of them wore a swollen face as though she was embarking on a journey of no return.

"I need you girls to cheer me up, not this."

"We shouldn't have come back, Cassidy." Ocean began her whining all over again.

"Not again Ocean." Jessie and Kaylee replied simultaneously. Ocean pouted and Cassidy burst into laughter.

"I know right? Don't worry I will be back before you girls know it." Cassidy said, rubbing Ocean's cheeks and she nodded.

"Summer will be boring without you Cass." Kaylee joined in the whining and Jessie nodded in affirmation.

"It will be for me too, girls."

An idea hit Jessie and she leaped causing others to stare at her.

"Why don't we check out the MacDonald smoothie and milkshakes before Cass leaves, what do you girls think?"

"Good idea." Ocean concurred.

Cassidy and Kaylee supported the idea, and Cassidy flew to her wardrobe in search of something suitable to wear.

Minutes later, they rode on their respective bikes on their way to MacDonald's smoothie and milkshakes.