Alone in the World

The loud shrill of an impatient alarm blared out of the blackberry that sat innocently on Cassie's dresser. Sun drifted through the open curtains onto the double bed uninvited. The huge oak tree that had been specially transported from England sheltered the girl from most of the harsh sunlight but a few impish rays had managed to creep their way towards the area where Cassie's head was.

Although the room itself was messy, Cassie liked to think it as organised chaos since she could always find what she wanted and that despite the madness, it was clean. Said teen groaned under the duvet when the phone grew slowly louder in volume until it rang in her ears and peered out over to the dresser. She lay still for a while and whilst debating on whether or not she should even bother getting up for it, the phone stopped ringing. With a contented sigh, Cassie slumped back onto her pillows and closed her eyes.

She was blasted out of bed when the ringing started up again after about five minutes, the perfect amount of time for the teen to start dozing. "Alright, alright, I'm coming." She snarled, crawling over the floor, fumbling for the blackberry and pressing it to her ear.

"Hello?" She croaked, leaning against the dresser, too tired to care about the handles prodding painfully her in the back. Her usually perfected pageboy haircut with its spiky fringe was messy and slightly greasy, last night's makeup still residing on her face giving her a bad case of 'panda' eyes. Her throat felt as though it had been blow torched and then doused in bleach. Glancing down she smiled with relief when she found she had actually remembered to get into her pyjamas.

"Cass, it's half one. Aren't you up yet?

It was Will Lennox, a soldier whose closest neighbour for miles was her and her family. He and his wife Sarah lived on a huge plot of land about six miles away from anywhere.

"No, I'm not. Unlike some senile old men I know, I have a social life." Cassie retorted chuckling when she heard him huff and act deeply insulted.

Will was easy to talk to and Cassie was always welcomed to spend time with him and Sarah; to dinner, a swim in the lake at the bottom of their back yard or even if she needed a ride anywhere. Cassie knew why they cared for her like they did; it was because of her own parents.

They were always busy, no matter if it was a Sunday, Christmas, even her birthday. Her mother was a lawyer who worked in the city. She had an apartment there and would often stay away for up to five days, leaving Cassie to look after herself. Danielle wasn't exactly beautiful, she was more elegant; with sleek black hair always up in a tight bun, perfected yet subtle make up and tight stunningly made outfits showing off her thin waist and long legs. Cassie's father was a successful businessman, the foreign affairs director of Apple Technology who dealt with their affairs all over the world and as a result, he was also missing most of the time. Robert was very good looking with broad toned shoulders emphasised in his expensive suits, always clean shaven and his hair was always spiked to gelled perfection. They both had piercing pale blue eyes and tanned skin, throwing Cassie's early theories of them being vampires out the window.

"Whatever you say little lady," Will laughed good naturally, having known full well Cassie would probably have not been up. "Listen, I was wondering if you wanted a little job in exchange for having dinner with me and Sarah tonight."

Cassie groaned but before she could even reply, Will interrupted.

"Not today, I know perfectly well you'll be confining yourself to your room today but how about tomorrow? Let's say, be over here at around one o'clock?"

Cassie thought it over slowly, her groggy brain not really up to making plans at this moment in time, and replied "Sure Will, that'll be nice. See you then!" She managed to stifle a yawn but knew it had been futile.

"Go back to your pit girl; I don't want you passing out on the phone. What did you do last night anyway?"

"Just a sleepover, me Eve and Sophie went to see a movie then stayed at Eve's. We didn't go sleep until about four in the morning. I got dropped off home at quarter to eleven." Cassie answered, forcing her eyes open as they drooped.

"When I was thirteen, I was worried about my studies and my sport, not sleepovers." Will's retort was mock threatening and Cassie laughed.

Pushing a strand of hair from her eyes the girl grinned. "I can do both Will, unlike you obviously. Now if you don't mind, I am going back to sleep." She countered.

After saying goodbye Cassie managed to stand up albeit unsteadily and make her way out of her room and across the hall. Soft cream carpet rose to meet her steps which the changed to pricey tiles when she entered the plush bathroom. It was about as big as most people's living room with a massive corner bath and a walk in shower.

Shrugging off her pyjamas, Cassie entered the shower and turned the water onto 'torrential rain' and she clicked a button marked 'sides'. Fast hot water poured from the ceiling, drenching her hair in seconds. Slightly softer water squirted out on each side of her and she sighed with relief as she felt muscles she didn't know were tense relaxed. Grabbing a wipe, Cassie removed her makeup and then shampooed her hair adding conditioner to the ends, before closing her eyes and simply standing under the downpour.

After about twenty minutes, Cassie wrapped herself in a towel and made her way down the marble staircase to the kitchen. Pouring a bowl of cereal, Cassie sat down on one of the kitchen stools and ate, feeling her body dry whilst her hair dripped water down the back of her neck and down her spine.

Looking around, Cassie observed her house sadly with forlorn eyes. Yes, everything was new and expensive and was constantly being updated. And yes, Cassie compared to some had it easy; with her own weekly income from her parents directly to her bank account, attending a private school and hired maids that cooked her dinner every weekday her parents weren't (even sometimes when they were) around.

But Cassie would give it all up for to belong to Will and Sarah's family. Sarah had a few months old baby called Annabelle and it was clear how much they adored her. Cassie would come over to help take care of her and when she allowed to hold the baby, she couldn't help the overwhelming feelings of jealously and sadness that flooded her mind. Here was a child who had parents that doted on her very existence and would do anything to ensure she was happy.

Why can't my parents be like that with me? Cassie thought, her eyes barely holding back tears.

Shaking her head, Cassie placed the empty bowl in the sink and made her way back up the stairs to her bedroom.

Will and Sarah's cream coloured two-story house, hidden behind large pine trees and lush fields abundant with wheat and corn, slowly came into view as Cassie made her way down the road, the hazy, red-orange country sun framing the barn where Will kept his tractor and his small workshop leaving most of it empty.

Cassie turned left and slowly made her way up the enormous driveway, past the Lennox's filthy Topkick and up onto the porch. Knocking casually on the door, the teen waited patiently, hands in the back pockets of her small denim shorts, her bag swinging around her ankles.

Turning, Cassie surveyed the sky, gazing longingly out passed the clouds. She had always wanted to be a pilot and she could imagine herself being so free out in the open blue vastness, her peering down at the land with a smile on her face and a laugh in her throat.

She faced the door again as she heard it open and smiled warmly when she saw Will open the door.

"Right on time, come on in."

Will was wearing a baggy shirt and shorts, his feet shoved into comfy trainers. He had a lazy smile and Cassie followed him into the kitchen; a homely room, cluttered and lived in, smelling of the unmistakable aroma of baking. Annabelle sat in her high chair coated in flour from head to tiny toe, grinning up at Cassie with white lips. Sarah was kneading dough half heartedly and looked up when she saw her husband entered. Her gaze flickered to Cassie and she smiled and beckoned her over. Motioning her to wash her hands, Sarah pulled off half the dough from the other and set it down in front of the teen.

"Go nuts kiddo, it's supposed to be bread to go with lunch." Sarah laughed cheerfully, pushing into the uncooperative dough. Cassie grinned happily and set to work on the dough, not noticing Will creep back out towards the front of the house.

Closing the front door, Will made his way over to his truck and lent against the grill. Ironhide rumbled his engine in greeting and Will smiled. From their viewpoint, they could both watch Sarah, Cassie and Annabelle cooking. Annabelle was content banging her little fists on the highchair table and watching the flour pour to the floor whilst Cassie and Sarah were locked in a furious flour fight, chucking handfuls at each other. Shrieking with mock terror when it went in their hair and then laughing delightedly.

"It's good to see that girl laughing again." Will said aloud, chuckling when she made a face when Sarah got some flour in her mouth before continuing her attack with renewed vigour.

"She does not laugh?" A rough, pleasantly lilted voice drifted from the open window of the Topkick, in a surprised tone.

Will shook his head, wondering whether to tell the Weapon Specialist. "Robert and Danielle are workaholics," He explained. "They're never home; Danielle is always in the city and Robert is in London, Tokyo and God knows where else and are forever leaving Cassie on her own. They missed her ninth, twelfth and thirteenth birthday, have only made it to a handful of the girls Christmas' and are barely aware of her existence!" Will sighed and rubbed a hand across his face wearily, saddened just thinking about it.

Ironhide didn't respond for a while and when he did his voice sounded angry.

"That is despicable."

Will nodded and made his way over to the driver's door. Poking his head into the open window, Will asked "Do you mind if she washes you? I said she had to do a job in return for her to have dinner with us."

"Why not just invite her for the meal?" Ironhide asked grumpily, unsure of a child washing him.

"Two reasons 'Hide. One, you are filthy and I refuse to wash you after what you did last time. Two, she hates the concept of charity. She has a lot of pride and her stubbornness could match yours." Will replied, peering at the dashboard. "Please?" He added when he didn't get an answer.

"Very well, I cannot remain coated in this for much longer."

Will grinned and patted his Topkick happily. Before heading back inside, Will stared through the kitchen window and laughed when he saw Cassie and Sarah comparing flattened pieces of dough, clearly finished with their flour war and back to bread making, a content 'I am home' look in the young girls eyes.