The Taste Of Blood Remains

*Cassidy's POV*

-Flashback-
It was 5th grade, period 2, I was sitting next to my best friend in Maths, Mike Fuentes, I love him so much, we've been friends since 3rd grade, we were neighbors, "Okay everyone bells about to go for break, pack your things up!" Mr Morrison said, Mike and I packed away our things and stood behind our seats, "Umm Cass?" Mike said, I looked at him with my full attention, "Will you meet me at the blossom tree near the Music Department at break?" He asked, I got a little worried but nodded, the bell went and we both went our separate ways, mike went to get food, as usual and I went to the tree. After 5 minutes of waiting I finally saw Mike come towards me, "Hi" he said, like he hadn't just seen me 7 minutes ago, "Hi" I laughed, "Okay Cass there's something I need to tell you, so I'm just gonna come out and say it, I think-" He said but was cut off by Maddie, I don't know what it is but that girl has had it out for me ever since we were small children in Kindergarten, "You're a loser, he thinks you're a big, ugly, fat, slutty loser and wants nothing else to do with you, right Mike?" She said, resting a hand on his shoulder, he smiled and nodded, I couldn't believe it, "Wh-What?" I said, tears in my eyes, "Get lost bitch face" Maddie said laughing at me, I ran away and I heard Mike laughing too, it was no secret that Mike was popular, so it kind of didn't surprise me when I thunk it over again.

"So you're telling me that you've been mean to me all these years just to keep up some reputation and you actually liked me?" I said laughing in disbelief, he nodded staring into his coffee, I shook my head, "Woah Mike, you're a real romantic, but here is a tip for later on in life, when you meet someone you genuinely like, don't bully them into nearly ending their life?" I said sarcastically before getting up, "Take me back, please" I said walking out of Starbucks and standing outside, "Cass, I'm sorry" he said running out after me and standing next to me, "Can we please just take a walk and talk about this a little more, there is this quiet park down the road we can go there, if you want?" He asked, I sighed and wiped my eyes, nodding I agreed, "Okay, shall we?" He asked, I nodded and started following him, we took a small back path covered with trees and leaves and soon ended up at a small, deserted park, I walked over and sat on one of the swings, Mike sat on the one next to me, "Okay, I know how it sounds" Mike started I looked at him and raised my eyebrows, "No no, it doesn't sound bad at all" I said, rolling my eyes, he sighed and shook his head, "Look, Maddie had some sort of control on me, obviously we dated for several years but did you see what she done to other girls I spoke to, she put one in hospital in 6th grade, that's terrifying!" He said widening his eyes, I laughed a little at his expression, "So because you cared about me you decided that you would let her bully me so she wouldn't kill me!?" I said, falling backwards off my swing, Mike burst out laughing as I cupped my hands around my face, I was embarrassed, "Well, yeah" he laughed at me, I stood up and sat back on the swing, "So instead of Maddie killing me you thought you'd let me kill myself?" I asked, he just shrugged and looked at his feet, "I didn't know how far she went, honest, and if I did, I would've stopped her, I swear Cass, I'm sorry" He said looking at me with true hurt in his eyes, I sighed, "Okay, I forgive you but only because that's what my grandma would do" I said, smiling at my necklace, "What do you mean?" He asked, jumping off the swing and sitting in front of me crossed legged, "She always taught me to 'Have Courage and Be Kind', I mean everyone is facing their own fight so I guess there had to be a reason Maddie and all the others were mean to me, I feel pity for them, not hate, like I used to?" I shrugged, Mike just smiled up at me, "So friends?" He asked, I sighed and smiled at him, "Yes, friends" I said, Mike jumped up and hugged me tightly.

"Can you take me home now, Austin will be going mad?" I asked laughing, he nodded and crouching down, "No, ohhh no" I said backing up, "Come on, just like old times" he said, I rolled my eyes and jumped on his back, he started running back to the car, "Mike I'm gonna fall, put me down!" I laughed as he spun around in the middle of the empty car park, he stopped and put me down, I fell into him as we started to laugh, "If I throw up in your car, your cleaning it" I said as we climbed in, he just laughed at me. We finally arrived back and he parked up in front of his tour bus, "So do you still want nothing to do with me?" He asked as we jumped out and entered PTV's bus, I smiled and shook my head, he smiled back and wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we entered the bus, Vic, Tony and some small spiky haired guy were sitting in the sitting room, "Mike where the fu-" Vic started but stopped when he noticed me, "Cass?" He asked, I nodded and smiled, he gave me a massive hug and I hugged him back laughing, "Hi I'm Tony, I was at Mike in Hot Topic" he said giving me a small hug, "Hi, I'm Cassidy" I said hugging him back gently, then the spiky haired guy jumped up, "Hi I'm Jaime!" He said pulling me in fro a hug, I smiled and started to panic a little, I started leaning into Mike's side, "Okay Jaime, calm down" Mike laughed pushing him back a little, "Oh sorry, I'm just happy to see a new face" He said, I just lifted my hand, "That's okay" I mumbled, "I should get going" I said before turning around and walking out, "I'll walk you back" Mike said, but before I could protest he grabbed my hand and started walking, "Okay, so we are cool now?" He asked as we stood outside the tour bus, I smiled and nodded, "Good" he said, he pulled me in for a big hug, "I'm sorry again, for everything" he said into my ear, I pulled back and looked at him, "Mike, I told you it's fine, the past is in the past" I said, he looked at me and smiled, moving his hand down to my back and pulling me a little closer, we stared into each others eyes until his face suddenly started moving closer to mine, "Uh Mike" I said, putting my hands on his chest and pushing him back a little, "I know" he sighed before moving back a little more, "I'll see you later then?" He asked, I smiled and nodded before giving him another quick hug and turning to go back on the bus. When I entered the bus it was only Austin, "So you can kiss Mike Fuentes, but you can't answer my calls or texts? Nice to know you have your priorities straight. Get ready we're on in 10" he said before throwing me an all access badge and walking past me, "We didn't actually kiss!" I shouted as he walked away, "Well you were close to it!" He shouted back, I sighed and shook my head before putting the pass on and going to the stage.

Notes

So Cassidy forgives Mike but will Austin forgive Cassidy?