After

[stefan_d]

Maddie's gone and Taffy's back, and it was one of the most horrible nights of my life. I didn't expect it to be like that. Like she was bein' ripped out of the fabric of the world, torn away, and Taf was bein' ripped out of the place where she was to replace her. They were both screamin'.I'm just numb right now, I think. Maddie's someplace

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[cassie_newton_]

I'm out walking again, it's nice out. Dad's still upset about mom, and he's started his drinking early tonight...not that big a surprise. So I'm out. Again. I notice a man sitting on a park bench, and he's one of the ones I see flashes about right away. Bad things going on in his life. Though...don't need to be a Seer to figure that out. He looks like someone just ran over his puppy. I walk closer towards him, and stop to pick a buttercup along the way. When I'm close enough, I hold it into his line of sight.

[stefan_d]

I glance up, seein' a blond girl who's prob'ly about Maddie's age. How ironic is that? I eye the flower she's holdin', and, not really interested, say, "Pretty." My tone is flat, and I drop my gaze. She'll be movin' along any second now.

[cassie_newton_]

I smile though he doesn't see it. "It's for you." I say, not holding it further into his personal space, but keeping it offered. "You look like you could use something simple and pretty right about now."

People forget the simple little things. I try to remember them.

[stefan_d]

I look back up at her, reachin' for the flower, not wanting to be rude. "Thanks," I say. I sigh, trying to keep it silent. "It's not safe to be walkin' around at night," I tell her. She might already know that, but she might not.

[cassie_newton_]

"I know." I say, sitting down on the bench next to him. "I just would rather be out than at home right now." I shrug. "And maybe it's good I'm out. You don't look like you should be alone right now either."

[stefan_d]

"It's prob'ly good that I'm alone," I say, my tone soft and noncommittal. "Not very good company right now." I think about what she'd said for a few seconds. "Somethin' wrong at home?"

True, none of my business, but she engaged me in conversation, ya know?

[cassie_newton_]

"Nothing dire, I just prefer not to be around when my Dad decides that he needs to drink a whole 24 pack of beer by himself and anything else remotely alcoholic in the house." I say, shrugging one shoulder. "He repeats himself a lot." I add. I smile at him. "So I'd rather be out here talking to sad people on benches than be there for that."

[stefan_d]

Maybe this is what I needed. Somethin' to think about besides myself and how pathetic I am. "I get that," I say. "My dad used to drink a lot before he left, when I was growin' up. But you should be careful."

[cassie_newton_]

"I will be." I say. "Though sweet of you to say. What's your name?" I ask, since I hadn't got around to asking yet. "I'm Cassie." I offer.

[stefan_d]

"Stefan," I say. "Pleased to meet you." My ma'd be pleased to know she drummed a little bit of manners into me, after all. "You lived here long?" I ask.

[cassie_newton_]

I shrug again. "I grew up here, moved away with my mom a year or so ago, but I'm back for college." I say. "It's a nice place when you get over the weirdness." I say, amused. "How about you?"