Myrtle Ledge

Ch 1

Cassidy pov

I’ve been dreading going to school but at least it’s my senior year. The last one and then I’m done. Well at least until community college to get my basics out of the way. I still don’t know what I’m going to do for a career yet, and my parents just say that I’ll figure it out at some point. I sure hope so because I don’t want to be questioning it forever.

I’m around five foot six inches and a little curvy. I just stick to myself and stay out of everyone’s way. I’m not the prettiest in the school or the smartest but I’m that unconventional pretty. I guess that’s what you call it. I have guys interested but like all guys they just want one thing, and I’m not interested. I do have a best friend Ryan, and he goes to high school also. He’s in the same grade as me but we’ve never had any classes together. I always found it odd, but never questioned it. We would show each other our schedules and would laugh. Another year and no classes together.

We live in a pretty small town called Hanford and both attend Hanford high school. How original. I guess I would insert the eye roll here which would always get Ryan laughing at me. I like him on some level but he seems more like a big brother than potential boyfriend material. He’s never asked so I never pushed the thought. He’s always hanging out at my house, and eating our food. He usually just hands me money for it so we can buy more. I’ve told him he can give it to my parents but he never wants to bother them.

I quickly get ready for school and run downstairs to get some food to eat on the way. Sure enough mom made two burritos for me and Ryan.

“Here sweetie so you’re not late. I even made one for your friend Ryan.”

“Thanks mom! I’ll let you know how school goes when I get home.”

“Oh sweetie, I have to work late today. Same with dad but we will talk when we get home.”

“Ok mom, no problem! Love ya!”

“Love you too sweetie!”

I race out the door and down the steps when I see Ryan standing on the sidewalk waiting for me. He is always looking around like a nervous nelly, but I never say anything. I figure it’s just an odd thing he does and never brought it up.

I make my way down handing him the burrito when we start walking towards the school.

“Did you hear they found another body this morning? Down on the beach. They think she fell from the bar cliff last night.”

“Oh you mean the new bar Myrtle Ledge? How did she do that? They have railings up don’t they?”

“They do, but there’s also the benches right there. So they think she may have stood up and lost her footing.”

“I’ve heard they’ve got really great food. I want to try it sometime.”

“Please promise me you won’t ever go there.”

I stop in my tracks and just look at him when I can see he is getting nervous. I place my hand on his arm which gets him to stop and stare at me.

“Just please Cassidy. Promise me you won’t. I don’t know what I would do If I lost my best friend.”

I don’t feel like arguing so I just let the conversation die, and continue on our way to school. I mean I don’t understand what the big deal is. Yes there have been a few girls and a couple guys that have fallen off lately and died but some are local others are from out of town. It happens right? Falling off of a ledge on a cliff. I mean they go up there at night which would be dumb because you can’t really see. I just chalk it up to coincidence and figure I’ll go at some point but to make Ryan happy I will just agree for now.

When we arrive at the school we throw our trash away and go our separate ways to our classes. I met my new teachers and during passing saw a new guy around campus that just kept staring at me following me around. Was he cute? Um yeah, but no one looks at me like that. We are in a small town and most of the guys look at the girls with their assets hanging out or the easy ones. We didn’t have any classes together but the moment I walked out of mine he was there hanging out just watching me.

When lunchtime finally hit and I exited my classroom I saw Ryan but didn’t see this other guy. I just shrugged my shoulders and walked with Ryan to the cafeteria like we’ve done ever since elementary school. That’s how long we’ve known each other. I never saw his parents drop him off or pick him up so figured they probably worked like mine did. Most parents around here work in the next town which is a lot bigger. Both of my parents do, so I assumed his parents did also.

When we both sit down I just start slowly eating when I get a little nudge in my side. I look over at Ryan and can see the concern on his face.

“What’s wrong Cassidy? You seem really quiet. Usually you’re yapping my head off about your classes in the morning. Today you aren’t even talking let alone responding to your name. All you’re doing is just pushing your food around and taking a bite here or there.”

“I don’t know. There was this new kid at the school that kept following me around. When I exited my classes he was there and would just stare at me.”

I see him look at me when he just nods his head. I feel an arm wrap around my waist as I’m pulled right to his side. I feel him lean close to whisper in my ear when I just look at my food.

“Do you see them in the cafeteria? Is he in here eating also?”

I look up scanning the room when my eyes land on him across the cafeteria. I start trembling when he stares back intently. I just whisper yes when Ryan follows my gaze directly to this guy. I watch this guy snap his attention to Ryan sneering, getting up, throwing away his trash and exiting. I feel Ryans arm tightening around me when he starts talking to me again.

“Cassidy, please promise me you will not leave your house without me. I don’t trust him. I will help you get from class to class so hopefully he will get the hint.”

I nod my head when it hits me what he’s saying. I feel a few tears fall when I’m pulled in for a hug.

“I promise on everything Cassidy I will protect you with my life. Just please promise me you will follow what I’m saying. I cannot lose my girlfriend.”

“What? You just said girlfriend. You have never even asked let alone made the inclination that you were even interested.”

“Well now that I know you caught someone else’s eye, I can’t just let you go. So Cassidy, will you be my girlfriend? I know it’s kind of cheesy and basic but how else would you even ask?”

“Alright Ryan if that is what you want I will be your girlfriend.”

We laugh at how funny we sound when the bell rings signaling the end of lunch. We quickly shove the remaining food down and throw the trash away. We run to my class so he isn’t late to his and when I walk up to the door the other guy is nowhere to be found. I’m actually relieved. I feel Ryan kiss my head when he goes running off towards this classroom.

I enter the class and take my seat when I just smile to myself. He finally asked me out and I said yes. My parents will be so excited when I tell them later this evening.ov