Cassandra

Ping!

That was the first noise I heard waking up that morning.

I stirred in bed and turned on my side to face the wall, ignoring the sound.

Ping! Ping!

Mumbling incomprehensively, I asked to no one in particular, "Can't I sleep a little while longer? 5 more minutes." I buried my head deep into my pillow and closed my eyes again, attempting to lull myself back to sleep.

Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!

Welp! There go all my chances of getting back asleep.

"Uuuuuughhhhhh!" I groaned and turned around on my back so I'd be facing the rest of my room again.

Rubbing my eyes, I put on my glasses, grabbed my phone from my lamp table and checked the time. It read '10:15 AM' and I immediately bolted upright.

"I'm late for school!" I screamed and jumped out of bed. Panicked, I paced circles around my bedroom, not knowing whether I should pick out my outfit, brush my hair, or take a shower first.

'Like you'll even have time to shower.' I thought which only heightened my anxiety even more.

I was about to dash into my closet and throw on the first thing I saw when I finally remembered the glorious truth that had somehow, managed to slip my mind.

Today I wouldn't be tardy. Nor would be tardy for the next two weeks because it was officially Christmas break!

I stopped pacing and chuckled a bit at myself while letting out a huge breath of relief, then sat back down on my bed and picked up my phone again.

Strangely, it was still dinging even though I remembered clearly that last night I turned off my alarm so it wouldn't bug me and I would be able to sleep in as long as I wanted so what was so important that my phone kept going off like it was on fire?

Turning it on, I saw that they were all DM's from people I didn't know on Instagram.

Feeling a bit perplexed, I unlocked my phone and sure enough, there were over 30 notifications on there.

I opened the app and clicked the most recent message. It was from @Itslindsay752?

I checked her profile and it was pretty much a bunch of selfies and full body portrait photos of this same girl in different locations. One beside a pair of train tracks, one at the beach, one on some busy streets and etcetera.

She had beautiful caramel brown skin, jet black hair that framed the sides of her face and big brown eyes. She looked really pretty.

The message read: 'You're actually really mean you know?' Now I was beyond confused.

'What are you talking about?' I quickly typed back and I got a reply almost instantly.

'What you did yesterday? Totes not cool.' I thought about sending another message but decided against it because I didn't feel like arguing with a total stranger first thing in the morning so instead, I blocked her and moved onto the next message.

This one was from @HockeyStar34. It seemed like this account belonged to a boy but I wasn't sure what he looked like because the majority of his posts were of different types of equipment and him on the ice.

His message was: 'Look, I don't even really like Victoria but I think you might've taken this whole thing a bit too far.'

I sent back 'I'm so confused; what do you mean??' No response. I didn't have time to be waiting for an answer so I also blocked him.

I read the other 28 messages and they all said the same thing. That I had, somehow, done something to Victoria and people were now hating me for it. So, I made the reasonable decision of blocking all of them and checking out Victorias account to see what she had up there.

This is what I saw and I've never felt more offended in my entire life.

My jaw dropped into my lap when I finished reading that.

I couldn't believe Victoria would pull a total Regina George on me like that!

Every single sentence in that 'so-called' letter was a lie!

I never flirted with Andrew (or at least not in front of her), I never threatened or bullied Victora in fact, the way I remember it, it was the other way around. I didn't lie, trick or betray anyone and last but not least, I certainly wasn't a monster or a fake.

I was used to seeing Victora acing like a complete snake but this was a brand new low for her.

I was fuming and so overwhelmed with emotion that I wanted to scream (thanks to Victoria, people I haven't even met before were judging and probably thinking poorly of me now) and cry (this actually hurt my feelings a little bit) all at the same time.

Sick of all this drama, I set my phone back down on the table when it started going off again.

"More notifications????" I cried, picking my phone up again just to see that it was a phone call with no caller ID.

And after everything that had just happened, instead of rationalizing my thought; thinking things like, 'maybe its a scam call' or 'might be a wrong number' my mind, out of pure paranoia of course, instantly went to the disturbing thought of, 'What if Victoria somehow got your number and is going to attack you again?' I was shaking like a leaf after that.

With a quivering finger, I hesitantly answered the call and stammered, "H-H-Hello?"

But instead of getting yelled at like I half expected to be, an extra cheery voice chirped, "Mornin' babe!"

My face erupted into a tremendously large grin. It was just like Andrew to swoop in and rescue me right when I needed him. My night in shining armour!

I giggled. "Good morning, Andrew."

"Soo..." he paused. "How are you? Anything... I don't know... new or out of the ordinary happen lately by any chance?"

Did I ever mention how terrible of a lier Andrew was?

"Judging on how suspicious that just sounded," I started and he let out an airy chuckle that only came out as a small titter of breath. "I'm guessing you've read it too?"

Andrew blew raspberries, which I've noticed was a habit of his whenever he wasn't in the best of moods and sighed.

"Yeah, it's pretty bad... you get all the angry hate messages too?" he asked jokingly and the way his tone went from concerned to something I'd be able to laugh a tiny bit about in the very distant future put a smile on my face.

That was another thing I loved about Andrew. No matter how bad the situation, he always, somehow, was able to make light out of it.

I smiled. "It was what woke me up this morning."

"Oooh, interrupting your beauty sleep I see?" he simpered and I could practically see him wiggling his eyebrows at me through the screen and which only made me grin even more.

I pretended to pout. "Yes so now I'm cranky and if you push me the wrong way I might... I might bite off your head!"

He snickered "You and I both know you'd never be able to to that."

I wanted to cross my arms and defend myself but it was difficult to do with a phone in my hand so instead, I fiddled with the edge of my phone case and protested, "And why would that be?"

To that, Andrew replied, "Because you love me too much."

He had me at that, but instead of responding and proving him right, I just laughed it off.

Eventually, he joined in because I guess giggling is contagious and I must say, sitting there, on my bed, with me and Andrew chuckling over the phone together, almost made me forget the alarming fact that Victoria had just dragged my name (and my dignity) through the dirt.

Almost.

After our laughter died down, there was a moment of quietness, until Andrew's faint voice inquired softly, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I answered and I'm relatively certain he was probably going to ask some innocent question that would rekindle another lighthearted conversation to keep my mind off of my perturbing circumstances but expecting to receive the worst like I always did, without thinking I blurted out, "You don't believe any of that stuff Victoria said, right?" my stomach churned as I bit my lip, waiting hesitantly and not really sure if I wanted to know the answer.

I heard a scoff from the other end of the line and I could almost imagine Andrew scrunching up his face and shaking his head. "What? No, of course not! I know Victoria and she will do anything to get her way even if it means she has to lie, cheat and steal what doesn't belong to her in the process."

"And anyway," he continued as I heard a smile in his voice even though I couldn't necessarily see it. "You're the sweetest girl I've ever met. The similarities just don't add up."

I felt blood rush up to my cheeks and I'm sure they were as red as those Elmo dolls they sold at Walmart or something.

"Thanks," I muttered shyly. Then, after clearing my throat and a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart, I proceeded to say "So! Now that that's been sorted out, what did you want to ask me again?

"How do you deal with all this girl drama?" Andrew questioned, sounding astonished. "Like, if I were in your place right now, I probably would've punched someone in the face by now!" he added teasingly with a chuckle.

Obviously, I laughed too but what he didn't hear was me muttering back under my breath, "I might if my luck keeps up this way," then chortled even louder to cover up and keep Andrew oblivious to what I had just said.

It seemed like now would be a good time to round up our conversation but before we did, there was just one thing I wanted to know before I hung up the line.

"Oh! Um, by the way before you go, if you don't mind me asking, how'd you get my number exactly?"

"James gave it to me," Andrew responded blatantly.

I was shocked. "Didn't he make a fuss about it the last time something like this happened though?"

"Yeah but not this time. I think he's still trying to wrap his head around the fact that your best friend likes him and finding out so soon just after you had broken up with him on the same day."

It was apparent that Andrew was talking about Bella and I was about to correct him and say "Ex-best friend," when I stopped in my tracks.

Did we even count as ex-best friends? I mean, all she did was betray me which I'm still upset about it but I guess it in the grand scheme of things, it was only because she thought I stabbed her in the back, even though in reality I really didn't.

Ugh, this was so confusing! I was only 100% sure of one thing: that I really missed having a best friend.

There had to be a way for me to fix all this. Someway to sort out this mess that I had accidentally created.

After some intense thought about it, an absolutely brilliant idea struck me. Sure, it was a stretch but if I was able to pull it off, I guarantee all my problems would disappear in an instant.

I just needed a little help.

In the sweetest voice, I could possibly muster up I asked Andrew, "Do you mind doing me an itty bitty favour? I think I've figured out a way to get rid of all the drama."

"No problem, anything for you, babe!" he chirped back enthusiastically.

I smiled. "Good. Now, here's what I want you to do..."

♡♡♡

The rest of the day, unlike the morning, ran pretty smoothly and was stress-free.

Or that is until now.

It all started in the evening when I and Eva were sitting and watching a Christmas special on the T.V.

You'd think that they'd play the usual classics like 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' or 'Frosty the Snowman' but instead, for some weird reason, we were watching... 'Shrek the Halls?'

Next up was 'Trolls Holiday' which I'm sure would be just as bad but I and Eva weren't complaining. The only reason I suggested we watch movies in the first place was because I was avoiding my phone (which was still blowing up with notifications) and it was the only idea Eva didn't shoot down the second the words fled my lips.

I had asked her if she wanted popcorn but all she did back was shrug, never even gracing me with a single glance.

"Fine," I grumbled. "More for me."

Getting up, I shuffled towards the kitchen, hearing the floorboards creak with every step I took.

2 minutes later, I returned with a large bowl of popcorn and set it between the both of us and to keep an extremely short story short, around a quarter into the movie, Eva asked if she could have some and now the bowl sat happily in her lap as she munched on the kernels of popped corn.

'No matter,' I thought. 'As long as it'll keep her happy, I think this time I'll be able to spare one measly bowl of popcorn.'

Just when we got to the part where Shrek was set on fire after a Christmas tree mishap, Mom entered the house in a tired, frazzled mess.

For the past couple of days she had to take extra shifts at work which not only meant that we got to see her less but also that when we did see her, she looked more exhausted than ever.

"Hi girls," she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply and when she opened them, she tried to put on what was supposed to be a bright smile but it fell short and ended up being quite dull. I also couldn't help but notice how sleepy her eyes looked and the bags under them.

"What'cha watching?" She asked inquisitively.

Eva  just shrugged (a very popular response from her these days) and said back in a very monotonous voice: "Shrek."

Mom sighed. I think she half-hoped that her question would somehow bring back the talkative Eva we all knew and loved but... it just wasn't that easy.

Rubbing her temples, Mom said, "Look, girls, I'm exhausted so I'm going to head up to bed ok?" We nodded our heads in synchrony.

She half smiled down at us, practically already asleep, "Goodnight Cass, 'night angel."

Now, you know how in a movie when something dramatic happens, a record scratches and everyone goes silent?

Well think of that, but worse.

So much worse.

Instantly after the words were spoken, my heart dropped to the floor and my throat tightened, only allowing me with one short, quick intake of breath.

Eva's already pale skin turned the colour of ivory as her tiny body began to tremble like an active volcano just waiting to erupt.

"What did you call me...?" Eva managed to seeth through clenched teeth; her striking eyes filled with rage.

The worst part about it was that it took Mom several seconds to finally realize her mistake and when she did, both her hands flew up to her mouth and her cheeks were wet with tears in no time.

You're probably wondering what the fuss was all about and how it was just one silly nickname but it was more than that.

It was the nickname our father gave to Evangeline just after she was born.

It was the last thing dad had said to her before he...

Before he died.

Mom gingerly reached out for her but before she could get to her, Eva shrieked "No! Don't touch me!" Then started screaming the place down. I was so shocked I literally jumped in my seat.

Eva just started hitting and kicking things. She lashed out at everything. It was like a demon had possessed her or something because I knew Eva would never hurt a fly nonetheless us. I and Mom were terrified and clutching onto each other for protection.

"Why would you call me that?" Eva screeched in a damaging manner. "That's dads special name for me and only he's allowed to call me that!"

Mom gaped at her incredulity. "Eva, it was an accident. I'm sorry..."

But she just shot back "Don't say that either! I'm sick of everyone saying they're sorry because they aren't! They never are. And..." Now Eva was crying, gulping for air at this point, struggling to breathe.

"And it's you're fault! All of you're fault! If you hadn't sent Dad out on those errands he would be here right now! If only it was you who went instead of him..." Eva stopped as a great sob escaped her and her body wracked with an onslaught of tears.

At that moment, Mom gasped very audibly. "Honey... you don't mean that do you...?" A flood of tears flowed down her ashen cheeks but Eva only glared at her.

"Yes, I do! I hate you, Mom! I... I hate you!!!" With one last wild-eyed look, my little sister bolted up the stairs into her room and slammed the door shut behind him.

Instantly, our house went from thunderous to dead silent.

Slowly, and still in shock, I turned my head to my mother and whispered, "Mom?" adonished,

"What have you done?"