"So, there we were," Cassie said, picking up the story, "slowly coming closer together. It should come as no surprise to either of you that that's when things went a little off track."
"Vampire attack or alien invasion?" Miranda offered.
"That's not really a thing... is it?" Mariah asked, her tough attitude not quite hiding her lurking concern.
"I don't know," Miranda smiled. Turning to her mom she added, "So, vampires or aliens?"
"Worse," Cassie said with a slight grin. "Parents."
-----------------
Foundry Cove, Willow Creek, 2000
I don't remember exactly what prompted the impulse, but one day, instead of waiting for Edwards to pick me up in the car, I went home with Gwen. I don't even remember if I asked her if I could go over to her house. I think we were just talking as we left school and kept talking as I followed her onto the bus.
The truth is, I just wanted to spend more time with her.
I'd been to the Browns' home once before, for some after-school event back when I'd had Mr. Brown as a teacher. The humble, little house in Foundry Cove was about as different from Ophilia Villa as it could be, but I wasn't really thinking about that as I followed Gwen inside.
"How was your day, Gwen?" Mrs. Brown called.
I've always liked Lilian Brown. She's a real artist. She wasn't famous, though even then she was known in local art circles. She certainly isn't pretentious. She's just nice, in that slightly odd, hippy, counter-culture kind of way. Whenever I think of her, I smell paint and brownies.
She also inspired my first tattoos.
"Oh, hi Cas," she added when she saw me. "I didn't know Gwen was bringing a friend over."
I remember being a little surprised she remembered me. I'd only met her a few times, back then.
"Hi, Mrs. Brown," I smiled back. "I'm just helping Gwen get caught up on some things." Which wasn't a total lie but had nothing to do with me standing in the Browns' hallway that afternoon.
"Well, it's very nice of you to help her," Mrs. Brown said in a way that made it clear she was happy Gwen had a friend.
"We're going to work in my room," Gwen said.
Mrs. Brown hesitated just a moment, before smiling and saying, "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you," I added.
"So, this is my room," Gwen said once we were inside, settling on her bed.
I understood immediately why Mrs. Brown had hesitated when Gwen said we would be working in there. Her room was tiny and crowded with racks of canvases and other painting supplies.
"Lilian used it as a storeroom before I got here," Gwen explained, adding, "She's offered to move all this stuff out, but I actually kind of like it."
"Is this one of hers?" I asked, my eyes drawn to a painting on the easel.
"No," Gwen said. "That one's mine."
I remember her face as she said it, the way her eyes searched mine, looking for my reaction. I remember the painting... one figure, alone in the crowd. I thought about her smile that never touched her eyes, those beautiful eyes that I had thought were a little lost and alone. That was the moment when I understood... truly understood, without being able to put into words... how lost and alone she really felt.
I took her hands and pulled her to her feet. I looked into those sad, lonely eyes.
"Gwen," I said.
There were so many things I wanted to say, and I couldn't think of the words. I just stood there, holding her hands, looking into her eyes, feeling some feeling I couldn't... or wouldn't... name. Something so intense, so powerful and deep that it frightened me.
I don't know what might have happened...
... but what did happen is that we were interrupted.
"Tell Mortimer I'll bring her home," Mr. Brown's voice came through the walls.
"Gwen. Cas. Could you come out here, please?"
You see, I hadn't actually told anyone that I was going to Gwen's after school.
