Cassian PoV
I sighed as I floated on my back in the pool, the cool water soothing my skin. The night sky was clear and the moon was full, casting a silver glow over everything. The stars were twinkling, and the breeze was gentle. It was peaceful and quiet, and I was alone. It was the perfect time to think.
The party wasn't as fun as I'd hoped. Sure, I had fun and all, and I got to see some old friends. But, after a while, I started to feel out of place. Everyone paid me attention, but it felt superficial. They were only talking to me because I was a rich kid. They didn't really care about me as a person. They didn't know me at all.
It made me miss going to the arcade with Damien and the siblings. They may not have been the coolest people around, but at least they were genuine.
I blinked as I felt eyes on me. What the...? I opened my eyes and looked around. Was a guard watching me? Or was it my imagination?
I shrugged and swam a few laps in the pool to try to clear my mind. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I tried to ignore it, but it was impossible. Finally, I gave up and climbed out of the pool. I grabbed my clothes and quickly put them on. I didn't want to be caught in just my underwear. Or caught in general. Mom would give me an earful for going partying again.
I looked up at the mansion and saw a figure on one of the balconies. I couldn't see which one, but they were definitely looking at me. I felt a shiver run down my spine. Then I realized it was Shelly. Was she spying on me? I smirked. Did she enjoy the view?
I chuckled and went back to the mansion. As I made my way back to my room, I thought about her. She was pretty cute, with her long wavy orange hair and her blue eyes. And she was tough. I respected that.
If I did manage to make her fall for me, should I even divorce her? I shook my head. Of course, I would. I wasn't going to be tied down. But, at least, I could show her a good time before then. Make it a marriage to remember. But... what if I ended up falling for her, too? No, no. That wasn't going to happen. I was just using her to get my inheritance. That was it. I couldn't afford to care about her. Yet...
I sighed as I finally entered my room. It was dark and quiet. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, closing my eyes as I tried to get Shelly out of my head.
----
My neck hurt when I woke it. I had fallen asleep in front of my door. Dang it. I was gonna have to see a chiropractor.
I moved my neck side to side and it cracked. At least that helped a little. But it still hurt like hell.
I took a quick shower to get the chlorine from the pool out of my hair and off my skin, and got dressed. I had to go to uni. I didn't want to, but I had to. Otherwise, I'd get kicked out, and my mom would kill me. So, I got dressed and headed downstairs.
I made my way to the kitchen and grabbed some toast and coffee. I was starving. I hadn't eaten since Big M. I sat down at the counter and ate my breakfast, scrolling through my phone.
As I finished eating, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It was Damien, wearing a suit and tie.
I snorted. "Didn't expect to see you in a suit and tie again so soon, cousin."
He glared at me. "I'm going to work, so I have to wear this."
"I thought your work was at home?"
"It is, but today I have an important meeting. So I have to dress up," he said.
"Oh, well, good luck," I said.
He sat down next to me and grabbed some toast. "Thanks. I'm going to need it."
We ate in silence for a while, but I couldn't take the tension any longer. "So, how was your night?"
He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "It was fine. Yours?"
"It was okay. Went to a party," I said. I wanted to ask him how the siblings were doing after last night, but I didn't want him to know I cared. So, I kept quiet.
"I see," he said.
"What did you do last night?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Not much. Just read a book. It's a novel about a guy who has to save the world from a bunch of demons. It's pretty good. Want to borrow it?"
"Nah, not really into your kind of fantasy stuff," I said.
He rolled his eyes. "Your loss."
I shrugged and finished my coffee. Glancing at him, I noticed his hair was still messy. "You should really comb your hair. It's a mess."
He ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah, I know. It's always like this in the morning. It's a pain to fix. Maybe I should just cut it all off."
I chuckled. "No, don't. It suits you."
"Really?"
I nodded. "Yes, it shows how crazy you are."
He glared at me. "Oh, shut up. I'm not crazy. You're the one who's always picking fights."
I took out some gel from my pocket and gestured to his hair. "Want me to do it for you?"
His eyes widened. "What? No, I'm not letting you touch my hair!"
I shrugged. "Okay, fine. But you should at least comb it. You look like a homeless man."
He sighed. "Fine, but don't style it like yours. I don't want to look like a douchebag."
I laughed. "Sure, sure. Just close your eyes and hold still."
Damien grumbled as I got to work. I styled it similar to his normal style, just a bit less messy. "There. All done. Now you look presentable."
He opened his eyes and looked in the mirror. He blinked and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up again. "No, I liked it the other way. It's more...me."
I sighed. "Alright, fine. Go to your business meeting looking like a hobo. See if I care."
He rolled his eyes. "I don't care what you think, anyway. But, guess you're right. Don't wanna get scolded by my aunts and uncles. They're hard enough to deal with as it is."
I nodded and fixed his hair again, just a bit more tame. "There. Now you look like a respectable man."
"Thanks," he said, scoffing a bit. "I gotta run. The meeting starts soon."
"Break a leg," I said.
"Shut up," he said, rolling his eyes.
He got up and ran off, his footsteps echoing through the house.
I sighed and finished my coffee. I was alone again. Great. I wasn't used to being alone. I always had people around me. Friends, girls, classmates. But now, I was alone. It was strange.
I got up and put my cup in the sink before making my way back to my room. I grabbed my backpack and made my way out of the house. I didn't even bother saying goodbye to my mom. She'd find out I was gone soon enough. Plus, she was probably in another wing of the mansion, so it's not like I could say bye to her even if I wanted to.
I got in my car and drove off. I was already running late, but I didn't care. I was the richest kid in the school. They couldn't kick me out for a tardy.