In the lively city of Sydney, Australia, lives Cassalia Elle Anderson, an eighteen-year-old high school student who has always been wary of boys and avoided the idea of dating. But everything changed two years back when she crossed paths with Ben Mi...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
How did Ben even know that I was with Blake?
I stare down at my phone, reading the message again, then it hits me...
Joe.
He must have mentioned to Ben that he saw me with Blake.
I begin typing, responding to his message.
I was with Blake.
How are you feeling now?
Are you still exhausted?
I miss you
All the messages are marked as read but he doesn't reply.
I slide my phone into my back pocket and walk into the dining room. My family is having dinner.
"I'm back" I announce, taking the seat next to Jason.
"Back early. That boy must love his balls" papa murmurs, taking a sip of his red wine.
Mum's eyes travel to papa and then to me, "I'm happy you finally decided to tell your father about Ben"
"Oh, shit" Jason mumbles and I take my time to return my gaze to papa.
He raises an eyebrow "Ben? I thought you went out with Blake"
"Who's Blake?" Mum questions.
"You are screwed" Jason whispers.
"Nana?" Papa's brows draw together "you've been secretly dating Ben?" I look down at my hands "that's the reason you've been going on about the kids growing up" I look up, his eyes are now on mum "you knew, didn't you?" Mum's eyes find mine "honey, I thought we tell each other everything"
"I wanted Elle to tell you"
Cassy, say something.
"Papa, I was going to tell you" I finally let out the words "I was just waiting for the right time"
Disappointment covers his face. He stands up and exits the room without saying a word.
I let out a big sigh, standing up "I'll speak to him"
Walking into my parent's bedroom, I find papa seated on the bed with a remote in his hand, scrolling through the sports channels.
"Papa" I sit on the edge of the bed next to him "I wanted to tell you"
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because I thought you'd act the same way you acted when you heard about Maggy's first boyfriend" there's no glimpse of anger in his eyes which makes me feel better.
"Nana, yes, I don't like the idea of you dating but I'm more hurt by the fact that you kept it from me" there's disappointment in his tone.
"I'm sorry, Papa. I just didn't want you to do what you did to Larry," he looks at me, not recalling Maggy's first boyfriend "Maggy's first boyfriend" I jog his memory.
