Cassie Velez

``I can’t believe you are off to a date with Mariano tomorrow night``, Alex shouted excited and jumped down on Cassie's bed. Cassie grinned and sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her best friend, ``I know, it’s crazy, isn’t it? ``.

Alex nodded, ``I always knew he liked you though``.

Cassie raised an eyebrow, ``Oh yeah? And by that you mean? ``. Alex grinned, ``After you told me he kissed you for the first time, I kind of figured it was because he liked you. And now, seeing how close you two are becoming, I really can’t help but think he likes you. I think he is in love with you! ``.

Cassie shaked her head. She wasn’t sure about the in love part, but she had to agree that maybe Mariano did like her after all. And that thought made her smile. She didn’t want to fight and argue with him anymore. She liked those moments where they would simply talk and be nice to each other. And she wanted to keep it that way.

``I never thought we would stop being enemies``, she said slowly, ``And now, look at us, we`re off to a date tomorrow``.

``I wonder what he has planned for you two``, Alex studied her long black nails, ``Probably something romantic? Or maybe he is taking you to a football match? ``.

Cassie playfully slapped her friend with a pillow, ``Very funny Alex``.

Alex giggled, ``It was a bit fun, don’t you think so? ``. Cassie laughed and rolled her eyes, lying down on the bed next to Alex, ``No, it sucked big time``.

``Seriously? ``, Alex propped herself up on her elbows and Cassie nodded, ``Football match isn’t romantic at all``.

``Maybe he is taking you out to dinner``

``Perhaps``, Cassie smiled. Now that would be romantic.

***

Mariano was sitting in the living room, watching a movie with James, Zack and Luke. Luke was busy reading a book though. He had become a really geek after meeting Liv, something both James and Zack mocked him for.

``She isn’t all that pretty``, Zack said, grinning slightly. Luke rolled his eyes, ``I don’t care about look. Her personality is great, and to me, she is pretty``.

``You`re too soft man``, James chuckled. Mariano looked over at Luke, ``Does she talk at all? Or is she mute? ``.

James and Zack bother laughed loudly, ``Mute, ugly and a geek, what more can you ask for? ``.

``Shut the hell up will you?!``, Mariano snapped irritated and glared over at Zack. Zack sighed, ``Whatever``.

``She isn’t ugly! ``, Luke stood up and grabbed his stuff, ``I’m leaving Mariano. If you want to sit here with the jerks, then go ahead but I’m off. I`ve had enough``.

``We`ll talk about this tomorrow nerd boy``, James chuckled.

``Cut the crap out will you dickhead?!``, Mariano snapped irritated. He was damn tired of their behavior. Sure Liv wasn’t the popular girl, but she was a nice girl and he liked her.

``You have become too soft``, Zack glared up from the sofa. Mariano just glared angrily back before he stood up and went to his bedroom, making sure to lock the room. He didn’t want those two morons to bother him. They were starting to piss him off with their stupid talk.

Meanwhile, Zack and James were sitting alone in the living room. Zack stared at his nails like he always did when he was bothered, and James was busy watching a very sexual music video on the TV.

``You know``, Zack begun, not once taking his eyes off the nails, ``I’m getting fucking tired of Cassie``.

James looked at him, ``What do you mean? She is hot! ``.

``No she isn’t``, Zack sneered. He hated how Cassie had both James and Mariano under her freaking spell.

``She is an ugly skank who barely has any friends and now Mariano is going down the same road she took. And it’s the wrong road, trust me``, he continued, ``So, I`ve have a plan``.

``Screw it, I’m not going against him``, James said. Zack sighed, ``My plan means he will turn into his old self and you my dear friend, will probably get in her pants. Isn’t that what you wanted in the first place? ``.

``I don’t know anymore``, James turned off the TV, ``I think Mariano really likes her and I don’t want to ruin anything between them``.

``Then I`ll do it! ``, Zack shouted annoyed as he stood up, ``I’m out. See you later man``.

James just glared after him. He wasn’t sure if he was going to tell Mariano that Zack was up to something, but then again, it would be fun to watch him go through with his plan, whatever it was.

They surely needed some action soon.

***

The next day at school, Mariano was too busy to plan the date that he skipped almost every class. He was sitting in the schoolyard with Luke and James. Zack had decided to skip the whole day.

He had seen Cassie once today when she parked her car. They had just smiled to each other before she went to class with Alex and Liv.

``Hey Mariano! ``, someone shouted. He looked up thinking it was Cassie, but instead he saw Thora walking towards them. Alone. Without her prep friends. He looked at Luke and James. They both shrugged.

``What is it? ``, he sighed loudly. He wanted to show her that he thought she was annoying. She smiled and sat down next to him, ``I need to talk to you. It’s important``.

``I doubt so``, James whispered to Luke, who smiled slightly. Both Mariano and Thora heard him and Thora glared at him. Mariano just grinned.

``Speak quickly, I don’t have time for this``, he turned his attention to Thora. She took a deep breath and gently touched his arm, ``I just wanted to say I’m truly sorry for trying to break you and Cassie apart. You don’t deserve it. I`ve acted like a bitch and I feel bad about it``.

James coughed loudly and so Mariano kicked his leg under the bench. James chuckled and Luke was just gaping at Thora like he had never seen her before.

``Are you sick or something? ``, James asked amused as he winked at Thora. She rolled her eyes, ``I’m not talking to you ugly face``.

``Stop talking about yourself``, he responded back. She glared at him but Mariano cleared his throat, making her face him again.

``Whats up with this prank of yours? ``, he asked coldly. She looked down at her hands, ``It’s not a prank Mariano. Why can’t you just trust me for once? ``.

Mariano looked over at Luke and James. Luke just shrugged confused and James was just mimicking her, which made Mariano chuckle slightly.

``Because I just don’t trust you. You slept with my cousin! My cousin for Christ sakes! ``, he said.

``I’m sorry! What more do you want me to say?!``, she shouted, now getting annoyed too. They both stood up at the same time and glared at each other.

``That’s not going to do it``, he spoke coldly.

``You heard right bitch, now get away``, James said happily.

``I didn’t ask for your opinion! ``, she said with a cold voice, glaring at James. He only winked at her innocently. Mariano shaked his head. James never took anything serious.

``I don’t care what you have to say, I gotta go``, he said.

``Wait! ``, she spoke softly as she grabbed his arm gently. Mariano turned around and stared down at her coldly, but his expression softened a bit when he noticed Thora's watered eyes.

``I have something to tell you. Something that is important``, she looked up at him.

Thora McKay

``Then tell me``, he said quietly. She shaked her head, ``Not here. Now not``.

He sighed, ``Where and when then? ``.

``Tonight``, she smiled, ``7pm outside my house. Be there``.

And with that she ran away. She didn’t even give him time to respond back.

Mariano glared after her. Something important to tell? He had to admit, he was curious. But he couldn’t go. He had date with Cassie tonight and he didn’t want to mess it up.

He suddenly saw Cassie. She was walking down towards her car, chatting away with Liv and Alex. Mariano smiled and ran over to her, ``Cassie, wait up! ``.

She stopped and turned around and smiled as she watched him come closer, ``Skipping school today are we? ``. She grinned and he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her.

``You two are so cute! ``, Alex exclaimed, but quickly shut her mouth when both Cassie and Mariano glared at her.

Liv blushed and looked away as Alex dragged them away, ``Let’s leave the love doves alone``.

``We`re not love doves``, Cassie stuck her tongue out and Alex laughed.

``Can I pick you up 8pm? ``, he asked.

``Sure``, she smiled happily. He smiled weakly back. He had made up his mind.

He would take her out on a date, but before that, he would meet up with Thora. And it better be worth it, for her own sake.

Mariano Knight