Lonely Winter ((Riley))

[cassie marie bennett]

So it was that time of year again and Cassie found it lacked the same sort of magic it usually did but then again, things had changed. Life was different now, she wouldn't be going home for Christmas, she'd be spending it in Hogwarts. Sadly at the end of October, her Mother had passed away peacefully in her sleep. So unexpected had it been Cassie hadn't known how to act, or even who to turn to but she'd survived the initial devastion, the grief was intense but being who she was Cassie was doing what she could to move on.

Now moving on, especially just over a month later and around Christmas time was easier said than done but Cassie always found a reason to smile. After all she knew that's what her Mother, the most incredible woman would have wanted, she would have wanted her to move on, to keep smiling to find a way to keep moving forward and Cassie knew the only way to honor her Mother, to truly honor her was to live up to that.

Of course it was hard, it was a struggle each morning but she persevered. It was simply who she was, an optimist and someone who always looked on the bright side. Her loss had been heavens gain, had been her Dad's gain...she couldn't be angry, it wasn't in her nature. To say she surprised people who have been an understatement but the teachers were proud of her, for handling the loss as well as she was. Little did they know there were many nights though she still lay awake crying...knowing she was truly alone in the world but every day she got dressed and made an effort to face the world...if anything she wanted people to understand there was life after death and as much as she missed her Mum, to sit around crying all day, feeling sorry for herself would do no one any good.

So she carried on.

Christmas was going to be hard, for the first time she'd be at Hogwarts and whilst she had every confidence it would be amazing she still found herself lonely. This would be the first year she was alone and to say she dreaded it would have been an understatement but she refused to be down or let it completely ruin the holiday. It was Christmas after all, a time for miracles her Mother used to say.

Closing the shop door behind her, Cassie slipped her wages into her pocket and began making her way through the snow towards the square. For a moment she allowed her gaze to drift to the pub, biting down on her lip and sighing softly when she remembered Riley. Oh, it had been so long since she'd last seen him, since she'd made a show of herself by kissing him only to be reminded he was married. So caught up in the intense feelings she had for him she'd neglected to take into account his wife and had felt guilty ever since, wondering if perhaps he hated her for doing such a thing.

As it was she hadn't seen him since and that pained her which was silly really. Missing someone you had only met twice was insane but it's how she felt. Maybe she needed to move on from him too? Stopping in the square Cassie slipped on her hat and gloves, allowing her gaze to drift up to the sky, still early and it was dark already with the snow still falling. She found herself smiling, she adored this weather, "Merry Christmas Mum, you too Dad." she whispered, her eyes fixed onto the stars, so lost in her own world, her hands tucked in her pockets that she didn't hear the approaching person until they spoke and she turned with a slightly startled gasp...

OUTFIT

[riley allan mcalister]

Riley was in an incredibly deep funk. It was almost to the point where it was blind fury and depression at the same time, if such a thing were possible for someone like Riley. He tried so hard to see the good in everything, despite the situation. He had gotten quite good at in throughout school, ever the optimist. However, those many months back, when Cassie had come into his life, the optimist in him took over and made him act like a small child. It was devastating to think that the person inside of him, the good person that Cassie had brought forth, was gone. They'd talked, innocently flirted, and then had shared a kiss. It was the kind of kiss that people talked about in stories, the one that produced electricity and fireworks and made him want to sing to the heavens above. Unfortunately, his guilty conscience had gotten the better of him. Cassie had dashed away and he hadn't seen her since. That in of itself was the tragedy, but his life had spiraled out of control since then.

Riley had finally, after weeks of harboring his guilt, told Zoey the truth. He'd come clean about kissing the girl, and then the slew of lies were slung onto the table. Zoey was furious, yelling and screaming and carrying on, but in her anger she'd let her lies slip. It was simple, really. In the heat of the moment, Zoey angrily proclaimed that the only reason she wouldn't divorce him was because of his money. Riley had stopped dead in his tracks. Zoey bellied up to the table and came clean about everything. She had been cheating on him since day one. She didn't even know if the baby that they had lost was his. She'd married him only because he had the most income out of the sleazebags she'd aligned herself with. Riley, devastated, had packed his things and left. He filed for divorce the very next day. At first, Zoey refused to sign the papers, but she eventually came around when Riley informed her that she could keep all of the things that he'd given to her.

So, that was that. Riley had been divorced, officially, for about a month. It was difficult, being alone and single for the first time in a long time. It physically pained him to look at other couples, he wasn't as chipper as he used to be. It wasn't that he missed Zoey. After learning what she had been doing, all the love that he had harbored for her went right out the window. The one thing that he was still incredibly torn up about was the baby. She'd told him that he was going to be a father. They were going to have a little son or daughter together. All of that was a lie. She had been pregnant, sure, but who was to say that they baby was actually his? It made him sick to think that he would have been conned into loving an infant that wasn't biologically his. Still, Riley knew that he would've loved that child, even if wasn't his. If the baby came out looking nothing like him, he still would have loved him or her and would have done anything for the baby. That was the sad part.

Sighing, Riley exited the pub and began walking down the snowy street, hugging his coat close to him. His shift had just ended and he was headed home. He'd rented an apartment nearby. The one good thing that came out of all of this heartbreak was the fact that he could now be immersed completely in the magical world that he held so close to his heart. A girl wandered by, not paying attention to him. It was her hair that caught his attention, silky and brown and whipping in the wind. He turned, eyes wide. Cassie. He recognized her without even needing to see her face. She sat down and stared at the pub for a moment before looking up to the sky, muttering something. He only heard the words, "Mum and Dad." Her parents were... dead? His heart sank. She was just as alone as he was.

"And merry Christmas to you, Cassie,"

[/b][/color] he said. He stood, a sad smile on his face, waiting for her to turn around and face him. He wanted desperately to wrap his arms around her and hold her tightly and smooth back that beautiful hair, but he refrained from making the first move.

[cassie marie bennett]

"And merry Christmas to you, Cassie,"

Cassie turned, her head whipping around recognizing the voice immediately of course and as such her heart gave a familiar leap. Riley. The mere sight of him set her heart racing, made her forget all the badness for a brief second. It was as if her soul began to shiver in delight, he was here and he hadn't been just part of some fantasy she'd cooked up, he was here and stood beside her. She wanted to laugh, to dance, to run into his arms but she didn't, she couldn't, she'd realized that. Like then, like the minute she'd kissed him and ran off she'd convinced herself that everything she felt inside was a crush, that's how these things went right? As her Mum had said, everything seems so intense at this age...who was she to trust what she was feeling?

"You too Riley...it's good to see you..." she said quietly, smiling politely reminding herself to breathe as she looked away from him. Glancing once at the stars before her attention shifted to the castle looking magical, warm, inviting and for a brief second she wished she had carried on instead of stopping. She wouldn't allow things to be awkward but there was no denying she felt embarrassed but she wouldn't mention it or think on it. It was simple, things were how they were, that was life, you accept that and move on which was what she was doing.

It didn't do well to dwell on the negative, to do so and she knew she'd never get back to who she was. Her Mother had done that, mourned her husbands loss for all these years, never moved forward, sunk into a depression and Cassie refused to do that. Her Mother had urged her to be like that really and to honor her she would do that, she would move one and grab life with both hands. She'd study, go to work, finish school and make a life for herself, maybe see what the world had to offer.

" Such a beautiful night I figured there was no harm in taking a few moments before returning to the castle." she said with a small smile, by way of explaining why she was sat out here. Unlike most she knew she didn't mind the cold weather, in fact she enjoyed it more than most. In Cassie's mind there was nothing better than getting back indoors and warming by a toasty fire with a hot chocolate, the elves in school needed awards for how cozy they made that place at night.

Sighing softly she looked at Riley, "How have you been?" she asked him by way of making conversation, if she was honest he looked a little lost but she refused to pry. It wasn't her place and the more she got involved the harder she knew it would be to lie herself into believing what she felt was just a crush.

OUTFIT

[riley allan mcalister]

"You too Riley... it's good to see you..."

Riley smiled a bit to himself, the first genuine smile that he had been able to crack since the divorce was finalized. It shouldn't have hurt him. Zoey was a manipulative that, his friends and family had told him that from the very beginning. Still, it did hurt, it hurt a lot. She'd lied to him, painted him as a fool. He should have listened to everyone else when he had gotten the chance to, before the pregnancy and the marriage. Pushing her away after the baby had been hard, but Riley had to do it. After the baby had died, she had shown some remorse, but Riley realized now that it wasn't the kind of remorse a mother who had just lost her first born child would have had. Zoey cried for a few days, but had gotten over it quickly. Riley mourned for weeks. He should've been able to see the signs.

Still, beating himself up about it wasn't going to do him any good. He needed to move on. Now that Cassie was immediately in front of him, he suddenly felt like he would be able to. Still, she had to want him too. There wasn't anything he could do about their relationship, whatever it was and whatever it was destined to be, unless Cassie gave him the okay. Without her consent, he wouldn't so much as shake her hand. All of his instincts were telling him to hold her tight, to kiss her forehead and shield her from all the evil in the world. That would have been what he would have done, had their relationship been clearly defined. He had no idea what to think, what to do, or what to say. Riley was helpless, and it was driving him insane.

"It's good to see you too, Cassie,"

[/color] he said softly. He shifted from foot-to-foot, keeping warm. Anxiously, he puffed his cheeks out, blowing out a deep breath and watching the cloud of vapor rise up into the sky. It was getting dark earlier and earlier, and the sun was slowly slinking down under the horizon, the moon and the stars coming out to play. Riley smiled a bit to himself. He would bet all that he had that Cassie was the type of girl who would love to watch the sunset or go lay out under the stars and talk about the future. Heat rose up to the back of his neck as he pictured a future with Cassie. Somehow, it seemed the most natural thing in the world, easier than breathing.

"Such a beautiful night I figured there was no harm in taking a few moments before returning to the castle. How have you been?"

"I've been... well, surviving," Riley replied sheepishly. It was probably obvious that he was a little lost in life, he had always been so easy to read. Cassie was able to read him especially well, it seemed. "I don't want you walking back alone... would you maybe like to come to my flat for a little while? It's a short walk in the opposite direction, but I can whip up some hot chocolate for you... I'd like to catch up,"[/color] he said softly, offering her a small, genuine smile, desperately hoping she'd agree to join him.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[cassie marie bennett]

"It's good to see you too, Cassie,"

Cassie smiled softly and nodded her head as she looked away from him, feeling the same anxiousness he was so obviously displaying. It was clear their last meeting still weighed heavily on the both of them, ruining the easy nature between them. Cassie had never felt as humiliated as she did that day, she should have known better she really should have. He was a married man, she was a silly school girl with a silly school girl crush. If she'd have been him she would've avoided her as much as she could but here he was, maybe that meant he didn't hate her.

"I've been... well, surviving, I don't want you walking back alone... would you maybe like to come to my flat for a little while? It's a short walk in the opposite direction, but I can whip up some hot chocolate for you... I'd like to catch up,"

His first comment made her frown in concern, she had been right there was something wrong with him. Had something happened, why did he look so lost? She wanted to reach out and comfort him but a cruel voice in her head reminded her yet again it wasn't her place and she clasped her hands tightly together in her lap. As she looked up at him, seeing his small smile she so desperately wanted to say yes, her mind was already urging her to stand, to go with him but that voice sounded again and reminded her of one big issue.

"Hot chocolate sounds delightful but um...I don't think that's such a good idea. Not sure your wife would appreciate you bringing home a silly school girl." she commented, smiling at him softly. She didn't want to meet the woman he was promised too. What little she'd learned from him on their first meeting she wasn't a fan but she wasn't going to completely judge.

"Aw little orphan Cassie you taken to begging again this year?"

Cassie cringed slightly her focus darting the the group of Slytherin girls as they passed, all giggling at their ring leaders comment. It was no secret to anyone Cassie was poor, it in turn made her an easy target for those who would get a kick out of it. Now her Mother was dead she was getting targeted all the more. Shaking her head she sighed as the girls continued to walk away heading to the castle. Her cheeks slightly red from embarrassment she turned and looked at Riley as she stood. That hot chocolate did sound tempting now, as did spending more time with him. She wanted to hide away with him...

"Sorry about them..." she said softly, embarrassed he'd seen that but she was used to it now, at least to the point their comments didn't hurt like they used to. Not now she had lost her Mum, she knew what real pain was...

OUTFIT

[riley allan mcalister]

Riley shifted awkwardly from foot-to-foot, both from the cold and from the anxiety. He really wanted Cassie to join him, he didn't know if he had wanted anything so badly in his life. Well.. that wasn't necessarily true. He had wanted the baby. He had wanted Zoey to stay with him. He'd wanted to kiss Cassie, despite the fact that he was a married man. But, without anything standing in their way, Riley couldn't wait to have her trust him again, to pull her into his arms and make her feel wanted by him.

Because, oh did he want her. Riley knew what his mistake had been. Cassie was the girl he should have been looking for since day one. Zoey shouldn't have ever been in the picture. He met Cassie through fate, and that was much better than the manipulative, wretched woman he'd knocked up and then proceeded to marry. He wanted so badly to be with Cassie, and he hoped that she felt the same way about him. She seemed hesitant to accept his offer, however, and he tried to keep the disappointment from his face.

"Hot chocolate sounds delightful but um... I don't think that's such a good idea. Not sure your wife would appreciate you bringing home a silly school girl."

Riley opened his mouth to reply, but shut it promptly as a flock of Slytherin girls shuffled by and shouted insults. Riley's heart broke in that instant. Orphan? Cassie was alone, just as alone as him. Unfortunately for him, he was alone because his family no longer spoke to him. Cassie was truly alone. Riley grit his teeth before doing something bolder than he could have ever imagined.

"Sorry about them..."

Riley looked down at Cassie. He could see the hurt in her eyes, but there was something else. It was unreadable, but her eyes looked dead, sadder than he'd ever seen a pair of eyes look. Clenching his jaw, Riley wordlessly whipped out his wand. Murmuring a spell, he watched as the bitchy school girls were buried under a large pile of snow. Riley smirked before reaching down and pulling Cassie to her feet.

"C'mon, let's get out of here before they figure out that was me,"

[/color] he whispered. He pulled her along before she could protest, whisking her away to the warmth and safety of his apartment around the corner. Once he had shuffled her inside, he looked at her and smiled sadly before drawing her into a hug. "I couldn't let you go back to the school. I'm sorry about your parents..."[/color] he whispered softly before letting her go.

"And before you say something. I left Zoey."[/color][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[cassie marie bennett]

Cassie looked back at Riley and felt her chest tighten. She so wanted to accept his offer of a hot chocolate, she wanted more time with him, she wanted to feel that connection with someone but she had to keep reminding herself that he wasn't available, he was a married man...that painful reminder, and the memory of her humiliation the last time they'd met still felt as potent as it had that night. So she politely declined his offer only to have those horrible Slytherin girls who seemed to get such a kick out of taunting her lately past by.

It felt worse that Riley had seen, how stupid must she seem to him. Quietly she apologized for their behavior and readied herself to say goodnight and return to the castle. Only before she could do so the girls ahead of her screeched and she immediately saw why, they were covered in snow...a large pile of it to be exact. Cassie felt her eyes widen slightly and she chuckled despite herself, glancing at Riley to see him tucking his wand away. He smirked and pulled her to her feet before she could comment and again, despite herself she went willingly, even knowing she probably shouldn't.

Biting down on her lip she glanced over her shoulder to see the leader of the little group looking at the departing pair with disdain and she grimaced knowing there'd likely be hell to pay when she returned to school. Though if she was honest she wasn't thinking or worrying too much, right now she had to try and figure out a way to get out of this. Riley was married, holding his hand, going to his apartment, this was wrong and only making her already confused feelings all that much more confusing.

They moved into the apartment and before she could say a thing she found herself pulled into a hug. Cassie went willingly, inhaling his scent and basking in the warmth of his hold for a moment, she knew she shouldn't but she couldn't help it. His soft words warmed her heart and made tears fill her eyes as she nodded, taking a breath when he let her go. "Thank you. I'm dealing though, like Mum always said, there's always a reason to keep smiling..." she said smiling softly. There was too much beauty in the world to dwell on the bad, it still hurt of course but she would find a reason to keep smiling.

"And before you say something. I left Zoey."

That stunned her and she took a half a step back, gazing at him trying to figure out if she'd simply misheard. "You...why?" she asked, glad she managed to force away the smile that had nearly seeped through as well as trying to ignore the thumping of her heart and the overwhelming joy she was beginning to feel.Already she felt her hopes getting ahead of her no matter how much she tried to reign them in, if he wasn't married then was there anything in their way? Then again she was still in school and why would a man like him want to look at her twice? "I'm sorry, sucky time of year to be alone...no chance you guys can fix it?" she asked, he didn't deserve to be unhappy.

OUTFIT

[riley allan mcalister]

Riley was happy to finally have Cassie in his arms. It felt more natural than anything, more organic than breathing. She belonged in his embrace, she belonged with him. Of course, that was only if she wanted it, if she wanted him. He would leave her alone if she didn't want him anymore, but something told him that she did. When he spoke, she smiled and replied about her mother, but he hadn't really been listening. The pounding in his ears was keeping him from hearing anything but her reply to the announcement of his divorce. Sure enough, it came swiftly.

"You... why? I'm sorry, sucky time of year to be alone... no chance you guys can fix it?"

Riley smiled sadly. Before responding in full, he escorted her to the couch. Riley held a up a finger before saying, "I'll explain in a moment. First, I'm making hot chocolate,"

[/color] he said. Before she could protest, he disappeared into the kitchen. It wouldn't take very long to whip up two hot chocolates, complete with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Just the way he liked it. Just the way Cassie loved it.

Smiling to himself, he entered the living room of his flat and handed her a mug of hot chocolate before sitting down next to her. He held the mug in both hands as he tried to find the right words. "I was so guilty about kissing you, Cassie... so I eventually told Zoey the truth. She was furious and carried on, yelling and screaming... and during that, she told me the truth about what she'd been doing throughout the marriage,"[/color] he started.

"She'd been cheating on me since the day we began our relationship... I married her because she informed me that she'd gotten pregnant. She lost the baby earlier in the summer. Zoey... she'd told me that she wasn't even sure if the baby was mine. She picked me to marry and convinced me that the baby had been mine because I had money. So, I left. I filed for divorce and I left."[/color]

Riley took a deep breath before looking to Cassie, offering her a small, shy smile. "I don't regret kissing you, before you ask. It was impulsive, but it saved me. I hope you know that,"[/color] he said softly.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[cassie marie bennett]

Cassie felt her heart ache for Riley, no one should be alone at Christmas and as much as she didn't like it it was sad him and his wife had parted ways. It made her feel bad as well that she felt slight relief he was no longer married, what kind of person did that make her? She allowed Riley to lead her to the couch in his apartment, half smiling as she looked around, it was warm and she had to admit she felt incredibly at ease here, with him holding her hand it all felt natural.

As he went to make the hot chocolate she sat on the edge of the sofa, after shrugging off her coat draping it over the arm of the chair. As she looked around again, listening to Riley move about in the kitchen she smiled softly and removed her hat and scarf to. When he re-entered the room she held her hands out, gratefully accepting her mug, shifting slightly as he sat next to her. Despite knowing his wife wasn't here she still felt like she was somewhat intruding somewhere she shouldn't...but was it fair to deny her feelings any longer, even if he didn't want her why couldn't she just be his friend?

She listened carefully as he spoke and she began to feel her chest tighten and her heart break for him. She'd been so wrong. That woman he was married to was horrible, completely undeserving of someone like him. Cassie didn't understand how you could promise to love someone forever, marry them and then do this...allow him to believe he was going to be a Dad and then down the line after he'd suffered through the grief of her losing the baby...to tell him she wasn't sure he was the Dad...Cassie felt devastated for Riley, no one deserved this, especially not him.

"I don't regret kissing you, before you ask. It was impulsive, but it saved me. I hope you know that,"

She smiled softly, tears in her eyes, she was so confused by what she was feeling. On the one hand she was happy he'd left for him, but on the other she was pained by what he had gone through and felt angry at the woman who had hurt him so. Placing her cup on the coffee table, she then took Riley's placed it beside her own and without saying anything she reached for him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, embracing him tightly offering him what little comfort she could.

"I'm so sorry Riley I hate that she put you through all that..." she said honestly, it was sad, especially in regards to the baby, she had no doubt in her mind he would make an incredible Dad. "For what it's worth, I don't regret the kiss either..." she said softly as she pulled away, shooting him a soft smile as a light blush filled her cheeks.

OUTFIT

[riley allan mcalister]

Riley looked up at Cassie, trying to read the expression in her eyes, on her face. There were tears? Why? Did she really pity him? Riley wanted to tell her not to. Everything that had happened to him was something that he had deserved. He'd slept with the girl before they'd officially been dating. He hadn't heeded his family's warnings about Zoey, hadn't done what he'd been instructed to do by them. It was his fault that he was suffering the way that he was. Still, it was a valuable lesson to be learned.

Before he could say anything, Cassie had set her mug down and enveloped him into a hug. He hugged her back gently, taking the time to bury his face in her hair and neck, lightly inhaling. She smelled heavenly, it was incredible. He wondered what life would have been like had he not found Cassie. Sure, she was younger than he was by nine years or so, but age was but a number. He didn't want to let go of her, ever. Riley wondered if she felt the same.

"I'm so sorry, Riley. I hate that she put you through all that... For what it's worth, I don't regret the kiss either..."

Riley pulled away from the hug, looking at her fondly. He was contemplating simply leaning in and kissing her right then and there. But, he wanted everything to be done correctly. Riley reached up and gently caressed her face, tucking her luxuriously long hair behind her ears. Sighing deeply, he allowed the silence to wash over them as he simply studied her features. She really was remarkably beautiful.

"Cassie..."

[/color] Riley muttered, loving the sound of her name on his tongue. It just felt right. "May I kiss you again?"[/color] he asked quietly, smiling softly and hoping she'd say yes.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[cassie marie bennett]

There was no denying it to herself that being this close to him felt all kinds of right. There was a connection with Riley she couldn't explain, a connection that didn't truly need explaining. Her whole body seemed to hum with happiness being this close to him, having her arms around him, though she did feel pain for him. What he had been through, someone like him, with a heart like his didn't deserve that and she hated his wife for treating him as she had and not appreciating this incredible man for being just that...incredible.

His scent was intoxicating, warming and sent a incredible calm through. Never before had she felt so at home, and she was in his arms...surely this meant something. How she wished she had her Mother to talk to, to explain this but maybe it didn't need explaining. Her body almost shuddered in reluctance as they parted but the look in his eyes made her still. She leaned into his touch as his fingers gently tucked her hair behind her ear and she smiled softly, there was no denying his touch sent shock waves through her, it was truly electric.

"Cassie...May I kiss you again?"

The way he said her name made her smile softly, and she sighed quietly. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't..." she admitted softly, a blush filling her cheeks as she looked at him. She'd never had a real boy-friend, and her only real kiss had been Riley and that had ended prematurely. Maybe this time they could get it right and she so wanted this, despite knowing their age difference was quite a bit...she didn't care. She'd always been encouraged to follow her instincts and right now they were telling her to give into what she was feeling...to take that chance. She already knew Riley was worth it, as she leaned into him her heart thudded against her chest in a nervous excitement.

OUTFIT

[riley allan mcalister]

Riley was suddenly absolutely terrified. What if Cassie said no? His heart launched up to his throat and pounded violently in anticipation of her answer. There wasn't anything he could do as he waited other than smile and survive. Time seemed to stop for not the first time that day, and Riley was worried. What if, after everything, Cassie didn't want him? With everything that had happened to the pair, he wasn't sure what he was going to do if she suddenly said that she didn't want to do anything with him. He had broken her heart by running away after their first kiss, but maybe his explanation and the mere fact that he was no longer with Zoey would change her mind.

There was something about Cassie that enthralled him. Her looks were one thing, of course. Her hair, specifically, was beautiful. It was thick and such an incredible color. He just wanted to bury his hands and face in her hair. Her skin was perfect, smooth and soft and unblemished. Her lips were adorably luscious and pink. But it was her eyes that enraptured him so. They were exquisite and gorgeous. Riley found himself getting lost in them. He pulled himself from his daydreaming and fear to look at Cassie's face as a whole, watching as her lips parted and she replied to him.

I'd be disappointed if you didn't..."

Riley grinned, lightly stroking her cheek with his thumb. His eyes flicked down to her lips as he lightly stroked her cheek. Suddenly, the fear was amplified. This was a lot less spontaneous than their first kiss, but this was the first kiss that the pair deserved, that Cassie deserved. Riley leaned in and gently pressed his lips against Cassie's, letting everything melt away. Everything that had been bothering him beforehand was gone. The fear, the loneliness, the sadness - everything was gone. Cassie drowned all of the negative out, bringing only positive in. She was his light in the darkness.

Riley broke the long, soft kiss, gently resting his forehead against hers. He opened his eyes, smiling brightly and sighing deeply. "Wow..." he breathed, laughing a little.

[cassie marie bennett]

Cassie held her breath in preparation for his kiss, it was a lot less spontaneous than their first but still, she felt nervous. There was a voice inside of her head screaming at her not to let this happen, to stop it before it went too far...once they kissed again, there'd be no turning back. There was nothing holding them back, there was no wife that kept him out of reach now...it was just them and Cassie knew they were close to the point of no return. If they did this, then they were sealing their fate. This thing between them was intense, too strong to just be one sided...she knew this and knew how things were going to change completely and forever once they finally crossed that invisible line. Cassie ignored the voice though and allowed her eyes to flutter closed as he moved in...

His lips pressed against hers and everything stopped. Cassie felt everything fall away, the pain of loss, the confusion, all of it and in that moment it was just them. This was where she belonged, Cassie knew that, she felt it with every beat of her heart, could feel it in his touch. Never before had she been so sure of something. Riley was her everything. Maybe it was quick but she didn't care, when something felt this good, this strong, why fight it...why try and deny yourself, Cassie was tired of thinking. For once she was going to simply feel, to trust her heart and right now her heart was screaming at her that Riley was where she belonged, he was hers and she belonged to him...mind, body and soul for as long as he wanted her. 

All too soon though he broke the kiss and Cassie felt as though she was floating. Smiling softly she let her head rest against his and laughed ever so softly, biting down on her lip as he spoke, his small laugh the most incredible sound she'd ever heard before."I second that..." she replied, willing her heart to slow down, sure he could hear the incessant thumping. Looking into his eyes she found herself unable to do anything but smile back at him, lifting her hand from where it rested against her chest she lightly touched his cheek and sighed. For a long time she hadn't allowed herself to believe she'd ever be able to do this, to sit like this with him, touching him, kissing him, it all felt like a dream. A dream she hoped she never actually woke up from though...looking into his eyes she felt herself sinking into their beautiful depths.

"So...not to make things awkward but how it this going to work?" she asked him softly, pulling back enough to look at him properly but not enough that she had to pull back from touching him. It was something they had to address though if they were to pursue this very real connection between them. She was still in school, he wasn't...it wouldn't deter her, she hoped he felt the same way, if he didn't...she didn't believe her heart would take it now she'd shared this sweet, simple moment with him. "I do want this..."she said softly, before he could answer so he knew she wanted to be with him, regardless of the age difference, regardless of the complications...if they wanted they could make this work, she had little doubt.