Chapter Text
Cassandra was laughing heartily thanks to her best friend Felicia's witty personality just seconds before she heard the front door slam loudly. When she heard the loud bang as the door hit its hinges, she jumped in her seat.
It was a sound she hadn't heard in a long time. To be honest, she would have preferred not to hear it.
Her smile frozen on her face, she leaned forward from the chair she was leaning against. As she placed the teacup in her hand on the table, her eyes darted curiously toward the living room door. When she saw Caitlyn rushing past the entrance without saying hello, her gaze returned to Felicia, who was sitting across from her.
The same understanding was present in the eyes of the two women looking at each other. After all, the scene they were witnessing was certainly not the first of its kind over the years. And judging by the consistent statistics, it was clearly not going to be the last.
Therefore, the two women had developed a mutual understanding in order to better cope with such situations by using their maternal instincts. Of course, being best friends made things easier for them. At least to a certain extent, as far as their daughters allowed.
Instead of walking on the ground, the heavy footsteps seemed to want to pierce through it, and as they receded up the stairs, both women sighed wearily. Being accustomed to the situation did not mean they were not tired of it, of course.
"Poor steps." Felicia's expression, as if she were in a drama movie, made Cassandra giggle. And so Felicia giggled with her.
"They hadn't fought in a long time, huh?" Cassandra shook her head and took her teacup back between her fingers. She leaned back in her chair and sipped her tea.
"Yes, it's been a surprisingly long time. I'm sure it's a record for them." Felicia tucked her purple bangs behind her ear and pursed her lips. "I was starting to hope their fighting was finally over."
Cassandra studied her friend with a mocking smile and murmured, "Oh, how dare you think that, Fel? Now you’ve ruined the magic!"
Felicia smiled and continued with the same sarcasm. "Oh, I didn't know we were in a romantic movie. With these two, it's more like we're shooting scenes from a thriller. Powder said the other day that we should send them to audition for a thriller movie, so at least we could profit from the stress they cause
The two looked at each other in silence and seriousness for a while and then started giggling again. The smile on Felicia's face was still there as she raised her teacup to her lips. Until Cassandra looked anxiously back into the anteroom.
Noticing that Cassandra was getting serious, Felicia shifted uncomfortably. As always, she felt the need to reassure her friend. "Cass, I'm sure it's just some silly reason. You know, when it comes to each other, both of them lose their minds. They still act like stupid teenagers."
"Do you remember their first serious argument?"
Cassandra's question took them both back for a moment to that chaotic day when everything was mixed up.
Felicia shook her head and sighed. "Yes, how could I forget? It was a collective crisis day; we were all going crazy. It was definitely one of the hardest days of our lives."
"They were still young, but they were quite cruel to each other." Cassandra continued, feeling her disappointment take hold of every cell in her body. "I never thought they could be like this. I always hoped they would somehow make peace, but as the years passed, they grew further apart." She tried to suppress her distress, pinching the bridge of her nose with her fingers.
Felicia wanted to show her usual playful personality, but she was aware that the situation had become serious. The fights that everyone saw as a temporary side effect of adolescence had become the cornerstone of their lives for years. They should have resolved long ago, but the girls’ stubbornness had only grown over the years.
"I wish we could go back to the days when they were our closest friends. I can’t help but think that we also played a part in their relationship becoming so strained."
"What do you mean?" Cassandra asked skeptically.
"What I mean is, did we do the wrong thing by letting them work it out on their own? If we had encouraged them to talk, I mean really talk. If we had encouraged them to talk openly about their feelings without yelling at each other or insulting each other. Would things have been different?"
"Fel, this isn’t something we haven’t tried before. You know, it’s very hard to make them do anything they don’t want to do. These two are more stubborn than goats. Thanks to them, the last time we tried, we almost ended up fighting."
Felicia rolled her eyes and muttered, "And whose fault was that?" When she met Cassandra's fiery gaze, she regretted what she had said and raised her hands in surrender.
Cassandra's lips twitched as she tried not to laugh at the fearful reaction. "I’m putting this on hold for now." She extended her index finger toward Felicia as if to emphasize her point. "Don’t think I’ll forget."
Felicia rolled her eyes and muttered to herself. "I have no doubt."
Neither of them spoke during the ensuing silence. They were both focused on their thoughts. There had to be a solution. They couldn't go on like this. As best friends, their daughters should be friends too, not enemies.
Finally, Cassandra, thinking they were swimming against the current, broke the silence. "I don't understand who they take after."
Felicia grinned mischievously, momentarily forgetting the seriousness of the situation. Cassandra, seeing her friend grinning like a Cheshire cat, asked indignantly, "What?"
Felicia couldn't help but grin even wider at the question, asked in the strong British accent she was so familiar with.
"Cass, I think you're forgetting that they're our girls. I'd like to remind you that we had fights just as intense as theirs."
"Yes, but we weren't that reckless. At least we talked about our problems." Cassandra paused, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto Felicia. "Except for a few times."
Felicia shrugged. The smile she knew made her look cute was on her lips.
Cassandra stood up, as if caught up in the flow of thoughts in her mind, and began pacing back and forth across the room.
Felicia's eyes followed her like a cat with a laser pointer. When Cassandra stopped suddenly, Felicia jumped.
"What’s wrong?"
"Alright, I have a plan, but I need to talk to Caitlyn. You should talk to Violet. Then we’ll sit down and make a plan."
Felicia rose curiously and approached Cassandra. "Will you tell me what’s on your mind too?"
Cassandra allowed the knowing smile that only appeared when she knew exactly what she was doing to spread across her face. "Soon."
Knowing how determined Cassandra could be when she set her mind on something, Felica didn't push her. "Then I'm going home. If Caitlyn is this upset, Violet must be all over the punching bag by now." Her weariness was evident in her movements as she picked up her bag.
"They’re so dramatic. I wonder when they’ll ever grow up." Cassandra slipped her arm through Felicia’s as she walked her to the front door.
"I have a guess, but I’m sure you won’t like it." Felicia playfully nudged Cassandra aside with her shoulder.
Cassandra furrowed her brows questioningly.
"Oh, Cass? Of course not. Goodness, you’re still so naive for someone so rational." Felicia raised an eyebrow and chuckled delightedly.
Cassandra 0 - Felicia 1
Cassandra, expecting a serious answer, rolled her eyes impatiently. "I’m just weighing all my options. You’re still too sharp for someone so emotional."
Cassandra 1 - Felicia 1
This time, Cassandra smiled with the satisfaction of having evened the score.
Throughout their friendship, the relationship between the two had always been competitive. Even a normal conversation had a tendency to turn into a duel.
Over the years, everyone who knew them had become accustomed to this situation. While this situation was often enjoyable, it could be quite challenging when serious arguments arose, yet they somehow managed to maintain a balance.
When they reached the door, they parted ways. Cassandra held Felicia's coat out for her to put on. This had become a natural part of their friendship.
When they were side by side, there was no need for them to say anything. When they were together, they guided each other, helped each other put on their coats, opened doors, pulled out chairs. These small but meaningful gestures allowed them to care for each other silently.
When Felicia put on her coat, she turned back to Cassandra. Her posture became tense. "Then we'll be in touch. Don't keep me in suspense."
Cassandra smiled gently and hugged Felicia tightly. "Don't worry, darling. We're in this together. Me and you. Just like always."
Felicia pulled away from Cassandra's arms and murmured after brushing her lips against her cheek. "I know. Good luck with Caitlyn."
"And with Violet for you."
Cassandra got into her car and continued to stare after her friend, who had already driven away. Her eyes were fixed not on the empty road in front of her, but on the past.
The memories that flashed through her mind one after another brought a bittersweet smile to her lips. There had been times when she thought it would be impossible for them to get to this point over the years.
But here they were. And she was very grateful for that. Now it was time to make sure her daughters could get there too. She felt her determination growing.
She sighed and headed upstairs to talk to Caitlyn. As she slowly approached her daughter’s room, she tried to prepare herself for the conversation. Breaking through Caitlyn’s defenses was very difficult. But Cassandra was the one who knew best how to talk to her.
She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. When she heard the muffled sound from inside, she opened the door slightly and stepped inside quietly. Her eyes immediately found Caitlyn.
She wasn't surprised to see her daughter curled up in bed, clutching her favorite stuffed animal. No matter how much she had grown, she was still her little girl. Some things never changed.
As she approached the bed, she called out, "Caitlyn?"
The answer was, of course, a deep silence. Caitlyn usually fell into one of two moods when she fought with Violet. Either she would remain completely silent, or she would lose control of her anger and blurt out everything that came to mind without filtering it.
Judging by her mood, today was a day when she would remain silent. So Cassandra would have to make an extra effort to find out what was going on.
She slowly reached out to the empty space next to her daughter. She studied Caitlyn for a moment. The trembling of her lips, the way she clung to her childhood toy as if it were a lifeline, the way she closed her eyes tightly to keep from crying—it all tugged at Cassandra's heart.
"Oh, my sweet baby." Cassandra struggled to keep her voice from trembling. As her hand reached out to stroke her daughter’s hair, her eyes softened with tenderness.
"Shall we talk?"
When Caitlyn opened her tear filled eyes and glanced at her chest, she immediately opened her arms and waited for her to come into her lap. When she got close enough, she pulled her into her arms.
She held her tightly against her chest. And when her daughter's body began to shake with sobs in her arms, she closed her eyes tightly. One hand stroked her back up and down while the other combed through her hair. She didn't try to calm her down. She was just there for her. She let her release all her pain.
They stayed like that for a long time. It was as if the whole world had disappeared except for the two of them. Caitlyn snuggled close to her mother. Cassandra wrapped her arms around her daughter, not loosening her grasp until Caitlyn finally pulled away, and even when she pulled away a little and regained her composure, she cupped her cheek and looked into her reddened, tear filled eyes.
Looking into those blue eyes, she saw her own reflection. Caitlyn had always been like a mirror to her. She always thought about this, as if she were looking at her youth rather than her daughter. The mistakes she had made, the heartbreaks, the disappointments...
How similar they were surprised Cassandra once again. She caught the tear that was about to fall from Caitlyn's eye with her right thumb. "Are you feeling better?"
Caitlyn shrugged her shoulders in a futile attempt to appear indifferent. She sniffed and lowered her head to avoid eye contact. "A little."
Cassandra smiled understandingly. "Was it Violet?" Her hands were still gently caressing Caitlyn's face.
Caitlyn almost started crying again because of the softness in her mother's voice. Violet's name didn't help much either. She tried to gather her words, but her emotions were still too fresh.
"Mom." She couldn't continue. With a trembling sigh, she threw herself back into her mother's arms. She stopped holding back her sobs. Cassandra caught her, though she swayed slightly backward. She slid toward the headboard to steady herself.
She was afraid to find out what had happened. She didn't want to ask, afraid that one of them had crossed an irreversible line. Without noticing the tears streaming from her own eyes, she hoped it wasn't too late for everything.
"I miss her so much." Caitlyn's voice, hoarse from crying, filled the air between them. Cassandra held her breath for a moment. Caitlyn had said it so quietly that Cassandra could barely hear her.
She couldn't ask a question to make sure she had heard correctly, because Caitlyn might back away.
She rested her head on her daughter's head. She tightened her arms around her shoulders. If she could, she would hide Caitlyn in her heart and protect her from all harm.
"You know, Felicia and I had a falling out once, just like you two."
When Caitlyn heard this, she lifted her head from her mother's chest in surprise and looked into her eyes. Her wide eyes made her look so sweet and funny that Cassandra chuckled softly.
"I didn't know that," Caitlyn murmured in surprise.
"Yes, neither of us likes to talk about it. It wasn't a very pleasant time for either of us." Cassandra smiled bitterly.
Caitlyn couldn't resist asking the secret detective inside her. "So what happened? How long did you not talk?"
Cassandra smiled at her daughter's curious expression. "Oh, sweetie, you're already upset. I don't want you to feel worse. Maybe I'll tell you another day."
Cassandra tried to steer the conversation back to Caitlyn. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"
Caitlyn’s cheeks flushed. Though she felt a momentary pang of guilt for hiding her thoughts from her mother, she wasn’t very successful at it. She sighed wearily. "Nothing happened, Mom."
Cassandra’s eyes scrutinized Caitlyn’s facial expressions as if through a magnifying glass. "Was all that crying for nothing? Caitlyn."
Caitlyn looked even more embarrassed under her mother’s gaze and continued talking. "I really didn't. We didn't even have a proper conversation. That’s the problem." Laughing sarcastically, she leaned her head back against Cassandra's chest.
"We used to talk about everything. When we were best friends. And now, nothing. I don't know what's going on in her life. Technically, I do, but…"
Caitlyn didn't continue, but Cassandra did it instead. "Not because of her, but because you heard it from others. You are actually curious about her thoughts and feelings."
Caitlyn held her breath and looked at her mother again. There was a meaningful smile on Cassandra's face. "What's been bothering you so much today?"
Caitlyn sat up straight with a deep sigh. She curled her legs up and sat facing Cassandra. "Today, when Mel and I were in the cafeteria line, one of Vi's teammates was right behind us. And I overheard her talking to the person next to her."
Cassandra began to give her disapproving looks, and Caitlyn protested. "Mom, it wasn't on purpose. They were right behind us. It was impossible not to hear."
Cassandra blew out her breath through her nose. "Go on."
Caitlyn quickly continued, "She said that Vi was selected to the main roster of the university team for the tournament. And this was one of the things we dreamed of together when we went to college with Vi."
She paused. She turned her eyes to her hands, and as she played with her fingers, her voice began to sound increasingly bitter.
"Now that she's achieved this, not being able to hear the news from her, not being right there beside her, not being able to hug each other and share her happiness... it's all just too much."
After analyzing what she had heard for a while, Cassandra said, "I'm sure Vi feels your attachment too."
Caitlyn laughed bitterly. "I don't think so, Mom. She made new friends. She seems quite happy without me."
"Did you hear that from her?" Cassandra’s quiet question caused Caitlyn to pause.
"No," Caitlyn whispered back.
"Then how can you be so sure about that?"
"The last time we had a proper conversation was when we were 17. And we fight all the time." Caitlyn frowned and objected.
"You might have a point, of course. But you haven't had a fight in a few months, Caitlyn." Cassandra tilted her head, waiting for Caitlyn's reaction.
"But we're not what we used to be. And besides, I think I really messed this up today." Cassandra frowned at these words but didn't interrupt Caitlyn.
"The girl behind us said that Vi was going out with her friends to celebrate and she was invited. When I heard that, I felt so hurt that I wasn't invited. I know it's ridiculous, but…"
Caitlyn didn't continue, she just took a deep breath and swallowed, her eyes welling up again.
Cassandra reached for her hands to comfort her, pulling them into her lap and holding them tightly. "And then?"
"As Mel and I were walking to our table, I saw Vi standing right there. She looked nervous, and I got even more nervous. Then she told me she made the team. I... I don't even know why I did it, but I told her I didn't care." Caitlyn stopped holding back the tears that were falling from her eyes.
Cassandra's gaze softened as she pulled Caitlyn into her arms. Caitlyn buried her face in her neck and sobbed quietly. "I was so focused on appearing uncaring so I wouldn't show that I was hurt, I didn't even pay attention to what she said. I hurt her, Mom. I saw it in her eyes."
"And she just looked at me. She only looked and said ‘Okay’. Then she left. I did not stop her. As I stood there, I realized that for the first time in so long, she had shared something with me. And I was the one who made her regret it." Caitlyn murmured, her voice breaking as she leaned toward Cassandra’s shoulder.
Cassandra felt her chest tighten at the familiar scene. "Ah, Caitlyn." And somehow that only made Caitlyn cry harder.
Cassandra pulled Caitlyn back with sudden determination, cupping her face in her hands. "I want you to listen to me carefully." Caitlyn shook her head in confusion and did not pull away.
"Violet and you have been friends since you were born. Ever since Felicia held you in her arms and introduced you to Violet while she was still in her womb, we knew there would be a bond between you two. And the bond between Vi is not so weak that it will easily break. I know that everything is complicated right now, but that doesn't mean you're broken up, just that your heads are confused."
Cassandra paused, then continued, her voice trembling. "Someone I loved very much once said to me, -No knot is too tangled to be untied; you just have to be patient and make an effort.-"
When Caitlyn saw her mother's teary eyes, she couldn't say what she wanted to say. Cassandra didn't give her a chance either, leaning down gracefully and placing a feathery kiss on Caitlyn's cheek and saying, "Get some rest, sweetie." And then she quickly rose to her feet. If she waited any longer, the situation would be reversed and her daughter would begin to comfort her.
As Cassandra was about to leave, Caitlyn called out, "Mom?" Cassandra turned and looked at Caitlyn questioningly. Caitlyn swallowed and said, "That person you said you loved so much... was it Aunt Felicia?"
Cassandra paused. She opened her lips to answer, but couldn't speak. And in the end, she could only smile sadly. "Good night, my love."
When Cassandra left Caitlyn's room, she leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. She made a supreme effort not to collapse in on herself. The sobs rising to her throat were painful. The breaths she drew into her chest were burning her lungs. She waited there, trying not to cry, not knowing how many minutes she had been standing there.
And when she finally gathered the strength to walk to her room, her shoulders slumped under the weight of her emotions. She quickened her pace so she could talk to the only person she allowed to see her like this. She no longer wished to waste another second. Once upon a time, she had already lost enough.
…
To be continued…