Cassie and Oliver were best friends. Oliver was a brown-haired freckly child of five. He loved to run and play outside, going on all kinds of grand adventures. Cassie was... Whatever Oliver wanted her to be. She could be a boat for sailing across the deep blue sea on an expedition across the waters to discover a new species. She could be a mighty sword for dueling knights in the medieval kingdom of Gastella. Cassie’s favorite was to be a dragon and fly with Oliver on her back, soaring through the sky. Creating flaming rings that they could dodge and weave through in an obstacle course.

     Eventually Oliver was old enough to go to school. Obviously, Cassie came too. The pair went everywhere together. Cassie had never been to school before, she loved it. It was almost as magical as she was with so many new sounds, ideas, and games to play, it was a new adventure every day. It was even more fun as Oliver made friends Cassie could play with them too! They would go on mini adventures every recess.  

    One time Cassie flew the group into the jungle. Where they swung on vines and climbed the trees, eating the fruit. They built a fort to protect them from the dangers of the Jungle. Warding off snakes and tigers, but they would keep the cute animals like sloths and parrots for pets. The bell would always rip them from the center of escapade and toss them back to learning new information to apply in later excursions.

Occasionally, some older boys would tease Oliver for talking to himself, when in reality he was talking to Cassie! Couldn’t they see her? 

Cassie asked “Why do they make fun of you? I’m right here. Can’t they see that you’re talking to me?”

 “No,” Oliver replied. “They don’t see you. They have to have the right pair of eyes to see you.” A different pair of eyes? What did that mean, Cassie could have as many as she wanted but little kids only had one pair. Cassie understood more as time went on. Oliver got older and fewer people could see Cassie, until it was just Oliver. It didn’t matter though, that’s how it all began, just her and Oliver. 

    Middle school was a weird phenomenon. Everyone was  either rainbow or black… or both. There were loads of homework! Cassie liked to help Oliver with his work; she was better at Art and English. She stopped attempting math though, it only frustrated him more when she tried that subject. Oliver didn’t talk to Cassie directly at school anymore. He didn’t want to be known as the kid who spoke “to himself.” So, Cassie would just follow him around silently. Not wanting to miss out on any part of Oliver’s life.

     Silvia was an interesting character, she was pretty, not in a super model Botox way but petty for sure. Oliver was obsessed with the brown eyed girl. Who wouldn’t be though? She was wonderful, funny, sweet, and talented in many areas. Including math mind, you. The problem was Silvia liked Oliver just as much. This meant they were together constantly, which bothered Cassie. She could not speak or interact with Oliver when she was around.

    Oliver had been very firm “Don’t mess this up for me Cassie, okay?” So, Cassie tried her hardest not to cause a ruckus, it didn’t always work though. Once they were studying the dreaded subject, math, and it was getting a little too cheesy for Cassie’s liking. 

“What do you think the answer is, Sil?” Oliver asked. She leaned closer, to close. 

“Well, have you tried looking at it this way?” Oliver leaned in, so that their arms were overlapping. 

“Nah, I’m always too busy looking at you.” (Dry heave noises) Cassie wacked her tail between the two throwing them apart. Silvia was shocked. Oliver shot a maddening glance right through Cassie, melting her insides. 

    She felt ashamed for her outburst but didn’t want to watch the scene play out anymore. Silvia went home shortly after the incident, and the moment she was gone Oliver went off on Cassie.

 “Seriously Cassie!” He exclaimed. “Not everything is about you, okay? Sometimes, I just want to live my life without you following me around all the time!” 

“Without me?” Cassie questioned. 

“Yes! You always screw things up, and I always have to watch out for you”

“…okay.” So, Cassie left.