Cassie's POV

"Sandy! My baby!" My mother drunkenly coos, stumbling to her feet.

"Where have you been? How'd you find me? How the hell did you get here?" I bombard her with questions and her eyes widen considerably as she takes them all in.

"I was in Mikonos with some friends, didn't I leave a note? I'm sure I left a note" She slurs.

"No, you didn't leave a note. You never do" I snap angrily.

"Oh. Well, I'm back now, and it's time to go home" She smiles sloppily.

"I am home" I declare.

"Don't be silly, Cassandra. Your home is in Manhattan with me, and Liam, and your friends" She tells me as if I'm a child.

"No, mother. My home is with dad and Anna. With my little sister and my friends, no scratch that, my family. The Outer Banks is my home, mother, not New York" I argue, my eyes watering at the state she's in.

She nods defeatedly and sits back down on the sofa, looking at the floor.

"I understand" She mumbles sadly.

I stand still, the silence enveloping us as we both are quiet with nothing left to say, or so I thought.

"If you're going to stay here, then there's something I should tell you in person before I leave" She announces and I listen silently "At most, I have a week left to live" 

She looks up at me through teary eyes and my heart shatters as I collapse to my knees in front of her, pulling her into a hug. A loud sob leaves both our lips as we cling onto each other and suddenly nothing else matters, every bad thing she's ever done flies out the window and my chest aches knowing we don't have long left together.

The front door opens and I hear Anna's airy laugh as my father tells a stupid joke. I look up to the entrance and both their faces pale as they see my mother and I on the floor.

"Cassie, what's going on?" My dad asks worriedly, rushing forward to help me to my feet as my mother pulls herself together and stands up straight.

I look to my mother and my father follows my gaze, giving her a confused look.

"I'm dying, Mike" She tells him "The doctor says I've got a week left to live"

His face pales even more and he turns to Anna who has a hand over her mouth in shock. Suddenly Rafe enters the living room, looking around the room through sleepy confusion and when his eyes land on me, he races towards me. I let him pull me into his arms as I sniffle and hide my face in his shirt.

"So, who's this handsome fella?" My mom asks and I turn to look at her, a small smile gracing her face.

"Mom, this is Rafe" I sigh before looking up at Rafe "Rafe, this is my mom"

"Rafe Cameron? Holy crap, you're all grown up" My mom laughs and Rafe chuckles.

"It's nice to see you, Miss Jarvis" He says politely and she waves him off.

"Call me Phoebe. Miss Jarvis makes me sound like my mother" She complains.

"Phoebe, I know this may be a little weird for you, but you can stay in our guest room if you'd like" Anna offers and I shoot the woman a smile which she returns.

"Thank you, Anna, that's very kind of you, but I have a hotel room booked for the night and an early flight in the morning" My mother explains and my heart drops.

"You're still going back to New York?" I ask, my voice wavering slightly.

"I was actually thinking about the Maldives" She replies and I frown, my eyes watering again.

She smiles softly and grabs my hands in her own gently.

"You don't deserve the pain of watching me wither away to nothing. Baby, you're happy here and I haven't seen you happy in a long time. I know I wasn't the best the mother, not by a long shot, but I love you so much and I want what is best for you. What's best for you is here, in Kildare. You should stay with your dad and Anna, with your family. What's best for you is not sitting by my bedside as I rot away due to years of my own stupid mistakes" My mother tells me, the both of us shedding tears "Just promise to remember the good bits, okay?" 

"I promise" I cry, nodding softly.

"Be good, Sandy" She warns me in a motherly way and I laugh through my tears.

"I'll try, mom" I tell her, making her smile widely.

"That's my girl" She grins, wiping my tears away "No more tears now"

I nod and she turns her gaze to my father and Anna.

"Look after my little girl for me" She declares before turning to Rafe "You too, Rafe Cameron. Don't you think about breaking her heart because she's gonna need you"

"Mom" I whine and she smiles at me.

"I won't" Rafe promises "Hurting her is the last thing I want to do"

"She'll be safe here, Phoebe" My dad assures her, putting his hand on my shoulder.

My mother gives my hands one last squeeze, kissing my temple.

"We'll meet again, Sandy. Don't you worry" She mumbles.

"Goodbye, mom" I smile weakly.

"Goodbye, baby girl" She smiles back "Now, close your eyes and count to five"

I slowly close my eyes and I feel Rafe's hand grab mine, squeezing it reassuringly.

"One"

"Two"

"Three"

"Four"

"Five"

I open my eyes and a strangled sob escapes my lips when I see she's left. Rafe immediately wraps his arms around me and I cry into his chest, clinging onto him as my heart breaks.

☁️☁️☁️

I'm woken up to the sun shining in my face and I whine, hiding my face in Rafe's neck. I hear him chuckle and he rubs my back soothingly.

"Time to get up, Cas" He hums softly, stroking my hair.

"I don't want to" I groan.

"It's 3pm. You have to get up eventually" He laughs.

"Five more minutes" I huff.

"Fine" He sighs, giving in "Five minutes"

"God, you are so whipped" I tease him and he gasps, pushing me off him.

"Am not" He scoffs.

"C'mon, Rafie. It's not a bad thing" I coo, drawing patterns on his bare chest and he glares at me.

I lean up and plant a chaste kiss to his lips before rolling out of bed, heading towards the bathroom.

After taking a long hot shower and drying myself off, I wrap a towel around me and head into my room. I hear the tv on downstairs, letting me know where Rafe is and I sit down at my vanity. Suddenly my phone starts ringing loudly and I jump in fright.

"Hello?" I speak, answering the FaceTime call.

"Cassie, baby, how are you?" Sarah's voice speaks through the line and I roll my eyes with a  smile.

"I'm good, Sar. How are you?" I play along.

"Oh, I'm doing wonderful. How's my annoying older brother doing?" She hums making me snort.

"He's watching tv downstairs, he's good" I answer.

"Fantastic. So, anything large happened recently between you two?" She asks suspiciously and a grin spreads across my face.

"He may or may not have asked me to be his girlfriend" I say vaguely.

A scream suddenly erupts on the other end of the line and I wince.

"Yes, I knew it! Finally!" She squeals happily.

"Jesus, Sar, my ears" I groan, setting my phone up on in the table so I can do a little skincare.

"Sorry, Cassie" She squeaks apologetically.

"How's things at the chateau?" I ask curiously.

"Everything's great. Although Kiara and JJ are exceptionally close today, something I have no doubt is your doing" Sarah comments and I giggle.

"Aren't they adorable?" I coo.

"Totally!" She laughs "They were made for each other"

"I completely agree" I hum, applying moisturiser.

"How's that war wound of yours?" Sarah asks in concern and my eyes fall to the gnarly looking gash on my upper arm now sporting a few steri-strips to hold it together.

"Rafe helped me clean it up" I answer with a small smile.

"What a simp" Sarah scoffs, rolling her eyes and I laugh.

"Sar?" I sigh, applying a little lip balm.

"Mmhm?" She hums.

"My mom was here when I got home last night" I tell her.

"No way. What'd she say?" Sarah asks worriedly.

"She's dying" I state, my eyes watering.

"Oh, baby. I'm so sorry" She frowns, her own eyes turning glossy "Do you want me to come over? I can be there if you want me to"

"No, I'll be okay" I smile weakly "I just need a little time"

"That's completely understandable" My best friend assures me "But don't forget that we're all here for you, okay? You're not alone, Cassie"

"I know. Thank you, Sar" I say gratefully and she waves me off.

"What are best friends for?" She grins warmly.

I hear a knock behind me and I turn to see Rafe leaning on the doorframe with a smile.

"Is that Rafe?" Sarah asks and I nod, turning my phone so she can see him "Hello, big brother!"

"Hello, little sister" He replies, waving shortly and I grin.

"Sar, I'm gonna go but tell the guys and Kie that I say hi" I tell my best friend.

"Of course. Speak to you later, bubba" She grins.

"Love you, bye" I smile, blowing her a kiss.

"Love you too, bye!" She chirps, blowing me one back.

I hang up and turn to look up at Rafe who is smiling at me warmly.

"What's on the agenda today?" I ask curiously.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go out" Rafe shrugs.

"Like a date?" I ask, my lips tugging up into a smile.

"Yeah. Like a date" He confirms, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Sounds like a plan" I grin happily.

"Great, I'll pick you up at 6" He chirps, walking over to place a short kiss on my lips.

"See you then" I hum.

He leaves and as soon as I hear the front door shutting, I grab my phone. I FaceTime Sarah back and throw myself onto my bed.

"Sarah's phone, how may I help you?" John B's face pops up and I grin.

"Johnathan!" I smile widely.

"Cassandra!" He hollers happily.

"Put your girlfriend on the phone, Routledge" I tell him and he rolls his eyes, walking through the chateau.

I watch as the phone is stuck in front of Sarah's face mid conversation and her face lights up as she snatches the device.

"Baby!" She squeals.

"Bubs, I need you!" I whine "Kie, you too!" 

"Are you being serious, Cassie?!" I hear JJ groan and suddenly I'm faced with both John B and JJ frowning at me.

"You owe me, Maybank! You too, Routledge!" I warn them and they both roll their eyes in unison.

"Where's the smart one? Heyward always listens to me" I huff.

"He's on a date" Kiara tells me, snatching the phone from John B and dragging Sarah away with her.

"Awe, good on him" I coo, proud of the awkward teenager.

"What can we help you with, sis?" Kiara asks me with a smile, holding the phone so I can see Sarah too.

"So, I have a date tonight" I explain, setting my phone up on my dressing table again "And I need you both to help me get ready"

"Rafe's taking you on a date?" Sarah gasps in awe and Kiara's eyes widen in shock.

"Rafe Cameron?!" Kiara shrieks.

"Kie, I think I'm in love with him" I admit and Sarah 'awe's loudly.

My sister's face softens and she smiles, rolling her eyes.

"If he hurts you, I will drown him in his own blood" She warns me and I beam at the girl happily.

"Thank you for understanding, little sister" I say appreciatively.

"Don't worry about it. I owed you for helping me with JJ" She shrugs, but I know she's really a big softie under her not caring attitude.

"When's the date?" Sarah asks me. 

"Can I just say, I love seeing you two getting on" I grin, trying to not bring up time.

"Cassandra Malia Carrera, when is the date?" Sarah scolds me and I cringe.

"He's picking me up at 6" I answer and she gasps loudly, snatching the phone from Kiara.

"You only have 2 hours?!" She screeches and I nod sheepishly "We have so much work to do"

"Make up first, get that out the way" Kiara suggests.

"I completely agree" Sarah nods.

"What do you both think about a really natural look with a light pink gloss?" I ask curiously and they share a look before nodding.

I do my make up fairly quick and then decide to straighten out my hair while the girls tell me all about how John B stranded them on a boat to get them to be friends again. Once I'm done and I have given John B an earful for leaving them on a boat, I head to my closet.

"Do you still have that red dress with the hearts?" Kiara asks and I perk up, looking for it.

I find the dress and hold it up to my body to show them it.

"Oh, god no. Please bin that" Sarah gags.

"I like it" Kiara pouts.

"To be fair, you'd look adorable in it" Sarah tells her and Kiara's pout turns into a smile.

"Thanks, I think you'd look good in it too" My sister grins and Sarah beams happily at the compliment.

"Girls! As nice as it is to see you both getting along, I need your help" I huff and they turn back to me.

"Right, sorry" Sarah apologises "What's that purple one behind you?" 

I grab the star covered lilac dress and hold it up.

"Ooh, that's cute" The dirty blonde comments.

"But not date cute" Kiara adds and Sarah nods.

I drop the dress beside the red one and grab a lime green dress with a bow at the back.

"What about this?" I ask curiously.

They both seem to debate it before shaking their heads 'no'. I drop the dress and pick up a champagne coloured two piece. They both shake their heads immediately this time, giving me thumbs down. 

The same pattern of me showing them outfits and them saying no continues until my floor is covered in clothes and I groan loudly, dropping to my knees in front of the phone.

"That's it. I'm not going" I snap with a sad pout, flopping onto my back.

"Are you still helping her?" JJ asks, walking into the frame.

"She can't find an outfit and now she doesn't want to go" Kiara tells him and he grabs the phone, shaking his head.

"Cassie?" He speaks up and I groan in reply "Get up off the floor, dumbass"

I shoot him a glare but get up anyways, crossing my arms over my chest with a pout like a child taking a tantrum.

"Pick up an outfit, any outfit" He tells me firmly and I look at the rails before picking up a dress.

"Now what?" I ask curiously.

"Do you like it?" He asks me and I nod "So, wear it"

"But, what if he doesn't like it?" I ask worriedly.

"Sweetheart, if he's the right guy then he's gonna love you no matter what you wear. You're drop dead gorgeous and even the ugliest outfit on the world couldn't change that" He rants and just when I think he's growing soppy, he ruins it "Now, put on the damn dress and stop whining like a child"

"Thanks, J" I smile gratefully "You're the best"

"I know" He grins cockily, handing the girls the phone back.

They both look at him stunned as he walks away and I giggle at their faces.

"Who knew Maybank could be such a softie?" I comment and they both laugh in agreement. 

"That's the dress" Sarah abruptly says with a big smile and Kiara nods with a matching grin.

"Now to find shoes" I huff and both their faces pale.

"JJ!" They scream in unison.

☁️☁️☁️

I stand in front of my mirror, looking at my outfit with a proud smile. I'm wearing a pale blue dress covered in cream coloured flowers with short sheer sleeves.

I paired the dress with cream coloured heels and some jewellery before pinning back one side of my bangs with a clip my mother bought me a couple years ago. 

Every time she'd go missing for a while she'd bring back an assortment of gifts that she'd collected over her time away. It never made up for her disappearing in my book but I did love the way her face lit up when she'd give me them.

I wipe away the stray tear that runs down my cheek and take a deep breath.

"You look beautiful" I hear Rafe's deep voice and I see him in the mirror grinning at me.

He's wearing light grey slacks and a white polo shirt with white trainers. His hair is left a little messy instead of being slicked back with gel and it makes me smile, remember the day in the hospital when I told him it looked better this way.

"You look handsome" I reply and he grins, walking towards me.

He wraps his arms around me and places a light kiss on my neck.

"You ready to go?" Rafe asks me and I nod with an excited grin.

He gently grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers, tugging me towards the door. I follow him through the house, out to his bike and get on it behind him. I wrap my arms around him and he pulls out the drive way. A small smile tugs at my lips as the wind blows through my hair and I close my eyes, basking in the glow of the sun.

In no time at all we reach our destination and I see we're at the beach.

"The beach?" I hum in confusion as Rafe gets off the bike, turning to me with a smug grin.

"M'lady" He says, holding out his hand.

I giggle, taking his hand and swinging my leg over to get off the bike. He wraps his arm around my waist and leans down to peck my cheek.

"Shut your eyes, Cas" He whispers.

"Are you going to murder me?" I ask sarcastically and he chuckles, shaking his head.

I close my eyes and let Rafe guide me to our date. I feel the sand under my heels and the sound of the waves in my ears. We stop and Rafe takes both my hands in his larger ones.

"You can open your eyes now" He tells me and I peek one eye open to see him grinning down at me in amusement.

I open the other eye and he moves out the way to give me a better look. My jaw drops and my eyes water when I see the scene before me. A blanket is laid out on the sand and next to the blanket is a woven picnic basket, a bottle of champagne and two glasses. On the blanket there is a bouquet of yellow roses, my favourite flower, and a small brown stuffed bear.

"Rafie" I whine in awe, throwing my arms around his neck.

He wraps his arms around my waist with a chuckle and kisses my head.

"You shouldn't have" I mumble, pulling away slightly to look up at him.

"Anything to see that gorgeous smile" He replies, grinning at me warmly.

"I got really lucky with you" I joke, playing with the hair on the nape of his neck.

"Trust me, I'm the lucky one in this relationship" He argues and I roll my eyes with a smile.

I'm abruptly swept off my feet and I squeal, clinging onto Rafe as he carries me over to the blanket. He places me down and I grin happily, lifting the roses up to smell them.

"I didn't think you'd remember my favourite flower" I admit, placing the bouquet and stuffed toy  next to the basket so Rafe can sit down next to me "I told you that when I was 10"

"I have a good memory, I guess" He shrugs, grabbing the champagne bottle.

He fills both glasses and hands one to me. I take it with a grateful smile and sip from the glass. We sit in a comfortable silence, watching the waves and the sun as it starts to set.

"I waited for you" Rafe states and my head snaps up to look at him.

"What do you mean?" I ask in confusion.

"Every year on the second day of summer, I waited for you on the beach" He elaborates.

"Why the beach?" I wonder aloud.

"Because it's your favourite place to be and I knew that's the first place you'd go" He admits and I smile softly.

"I love you, Rafie" I grin, reaching up to cup his jaw with my free hand.

"And I love you, Cas" He smiles, leaning down to place his lips on mine.

Our lips move in rhythm and I put down my glass to run my fingers through his hair. He grabs my thighs and pulls me onto his lap without breaking the kiss.

"I've never had sex on the beach before" I mumble against his lips and he smirks widely.

"I guess we'll have to fix that, won't we?" He says, peppering kisses down my neck and I hum in content, nodding.

"Sound's fun" I breathe out.