"Seeing you was so bittersweet I almost died. My heart jumped but my head kept screaming: why? And I almost thought that I could change the past. And I almost, but that never really lasts".

Her eyes never left mine while she sang, goosebumps forming on my arms despite the heat of her gaze. She wore her honey tinted hair loose around her face. Just like she did in highschool, and I could see the same scared woman in front of me.

"But I’m not; Whatever you wanted... Forever just wanting.... You".

My heart stopped as the other musicians appeared almost out of nowhere, the table suddenly vibrating with the mellow drone and all eyes being drawn towards the stage. Cassia broke eye contact to strum her guitar a bit, and I finally released my death grip on the coffee mug.

"But I gotta know, yeah I just gotta know Is there a reason, do you care if I’m still breathing, Or am I insane? For thinking we could’ve made it. Oh baby we could’ve made it..."

Something about the lyrics made me tense up in my seat as she continued belting the chorus with everything in her. She'd always had a beautiful voice.

The song played on for a while, ending with everyone on their feet clapping and a lone tear cascading down Cassia's cheek as she smiled. The drummer came over and wrapped her in his arms, causing an unfamiliar ache to settle in the pit of my stomach.

"Can I get the bill?" I asked the waitress, smoothing the creases in my pants as I stood up. She nodded as I looked back over at Cassia.

Once again, those eyes found me, and she whispered in the drummer's ear before coming over to me.

Not here...not here....

I closed my eyes and wished myself back at home, in bed with the twins tucked safely under my arm. Not two mere steps away from chaos.

"P-Please look at me." Cassia's voice cracked, and her hand found my arm. I clenched my jaw and turned away. The wound suddenly felt very fresh and the scent of her perfume- that same damned perfume- was the salt being poured into it.

"Please look at me!!" Sensing the urgency in her voice, I willed myself to turn to her. One eye opened at a time, and she visibly exhaled hair spilling down her shoulders as she studied me. I shrank under the weight of her gaze, the anger expelling and raw hurt replacing it.

"Can we sit down? Drinks on me?"

"I can't do this right now C-Cassia..."

"Why?" The way she cocked her head to the side, squinting her eyes made her look just like the girls. And the sheer resemblance between them made my final wall fall and a tear slipped down my face.

Cassia guided me to the table, sitting beside me awkwardly as I put my head in my hands and tried to reign in the sudden on slaught of emotion.

"I am so sorry." Her faint whisper caused me to turn towards her. She was looking across the dimly lit bar, zoned out on the couples lazily swaying on the floor.

"Why did you do it?"

Cassia began to fiddle with the tablecloth, swallowing and clenching her jaw.

"I was a selfish girl. I was scared. I thought I was alone. And my parents..." She trailed off closing herself up again. Hiding the regret that had shown itself seconds before.

"Your parents?"

"They didn't support my decision to keep our-your- children. Said I was wasting my life before it even started. That you would l-leave me." Cassia turned her head away from mine, unconsciously sliding further away on the booth. I didn't even try to stop her.

"You should've known me better than that." It came out colder than I intended, but it was true.

"I know."

We grew silent again. A new singer went to the stage and began Her song. The music defusing our tense atmosphere.

"It's the one thing I regret most."

"Hm?"

"Missing out on five years of life. Missing out on raising them. Watching their first steps. First words. First Days of school. I'm honestly ashamed. I didn't think I'd ever come back."

"Then why did you?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, not hiding the tears that began to make an appearance.

"My mom. She died."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I realized how important it is to have a mother. And to be a mother. I have no more kicks left to get Harry. Karma was a bitch and I want...I want to make it up to you guys."

Now it was me who withdrew, the weight of what she was implying making my chest tense.

"You want to see them?"

Cassia nodded, looking at me with expectant eyes. When I didn't respond her face fell.

"I really do understand. Now probably wasn't the right time anyways, especially after earlier." She began snapping at an imaginary band, avoiding my eyes.

"I have to go. The girls have school tomorrow, and I need to have a talk with my fian- my friend Laila."

Cassia slid out of the booth, awkwardly stuffing her hands in her cardigan.

"Yeah. I have stuff to..." She turned to leave, looking downcast. I couldn't believe I was watching her walk out of my life again.

"Cassia wait!"

She stopped to look over her shoulder.

"Yes?"

"I'll-I'll think about it."

A faint smile played across her mouth, and she bit her lip to hide it.

"Thank you Harry."

Notes

Hey ya'll! It's Denim!

Sorry for the overly dramatic update. And all the dialogue.
But any thoughts on Cassia so far? Think Harry should let her back in or keep things as they are?

The song she was singing is called "Man Down" by Eden Project. The lyrics go perfectly with how Cassia feels. Like all of them! So even if you don't listen to the song atleast skim over those :) They're great insight to her emotions.

Kaleigh should be updating next to hold on to your seats people!!

Love, peace, and hair grease,
-Denim xoxo