Lifetime Guarantee ➪ Josh Dylan

seventeen

The rest of that day drags along as Cassandra's friends come and go from shooting. She thinks of different scenarios in which she can talk to Josh, and what to say. Playing out fake conversations in your head really takes a toll on your mental health, so she decides to nap for a couple of hours.

A knock at her bedroom door startles her. When Lily walks in with a compassionate smile and two beers, Cas can't help but feel choked up.

"I heard about everything that happened. I'm sorry," she lays down on the bed next to the girl, handing her a bottle.

"It's alright. I don't think it's that big of a deal, anymore." Cas shrugs, turning to face her friend and taking a swig of her drink.

"Listen," Lily places her beer on the nightstand. "I don't know how aware you are of this, but something has gotten into Josh."

"What do you mean?" Cas furrows her brows at Lily's statement.

"Well, he's been fine while we've been doing camera tests and his acting is still spot on, but he's somewhat closed himself off," she says despondently. "And I think it has something to do with what you did." Cas doesn't want to cry, but now she can't help but feel like an utter 'fuck up'.

"But, Lily, he's never told me that he has feelings for me," she cries to her friend.

"You're telling me you never felt the slightest bit of romantic tension around him? Cassie, we can all see how he looks at you. He wants to be with you!" Lily declares, grabbing her beer and taking a sip. Cas shrugs her shoulders, her too tight to speak. "I'm not shaming you, I'm just suggesting that you talk to him in case anything happens again,"

"Nothing is ever going to happen with Hugh ever again," she blurts out.

"Okay. Does Hugh know this?" Lily leans towards her friend.

"He should. Before I kissed him I said 'it won't mean anything'," she falls back onto her pillow, attempting to finish her beer in one chug. Lily reaches over and pushes the bottle from her mouth.

"Okay, calm down there," she laughs at her friend, who chuckles softly with her. Lily falls on the pillow next to her, playing with Cassie's hair. They sit quietly for a few minutes as they drink. "You can get through this. It's honestly just an awkward bump in the road," she sympathizes. "Unless, you have feelings for Josh, too..." Cas waits a moment before speaking.

"Well, um...I-,"

"Oh my god, you do!" Lily cheers jumping off the bed. Cas buries her face in her hands, shaking her head and forcing her smile to disappear.

"Lily!" Jeremy's voice yells from the living room.

"Shit, I have to go. Your brother and I have a late night shoot," she smiles.

"And you decided to drink a beer before it," Cassie raises an eyebrow at her friend.

"You one hundred percent know that beer doesn't get me drunk," Lily laughs, taking her and Cas's empty bottles with her. She turns on her heels before opening the door. "Make the right decisions with Josh, Cassie. If you know what I mean," she pretends to hump the air.

"Stop! Leave!" She shouts at the girl, unable to hold her laughter. Cassie stands up and stretches, throwing on a new pair of clothes. Exiting the room, she notices basically everyone in the apartment is out.

She grabs a beach towel and heads out to the water. As she sits underneath the moonlight, the sounds of moving water soothing her anxiety, she reminisces on the advice Hugh gave her the night before. 'The challenges life throws you are unpredictable...It's up to you how you conquer them," Hugh's voice echos in her head. Guilt strikes her again. She takes a deep breath, inhaling the cool, salty air. Standing up and walking closer to the shore, she lets the chill water flow across her toes, allowing her to relax.

"Hopefully tomorrow is a better day," she whispers under her breath.