The Nettle Tea Chronicles

Cassandra

"Night, Zoe."

"Yep. Night, Cass. Sleep well."

"You too."

Cassandra disconnected from the chat, sighed deeply, and slumped in her chair. She dragged the back of her head against the headrest to look up at her ceiling, despite the awkward angle making her neck sore.

It just felt like the right position to be in while she thought about the current situation. Like the main character of a movie.

It was another few minutes before Cassandra let out a deep breath in a whoosh and worked her way to her feet. She should get ready for bed before it got too late, so she transitioned into her average nightly routine despite her mind still wandering.

She felt entirely scatterbrained with her thoughts bouncing around between several different lines of thought, but they were all related by a particular 'problem'; Zoe.

Despite having been pretty friendly for almost two years, and genuinely good friends for at least several months, there was one particular topic that neither of them had ever really brought up or discussed - romance. And it was starting to get in Cassandra's head.

She was almost positive that Zoe liked women in the same way she did. But neither of them had ever actually mentioned it or brought it up in a way to conform it. There were little things, of course, but nothing concrete. And certainly nothing that would be particularly out of character for a straight woman to say.

Yes, Zoe acted obsessed with Scathach, for example. But it could have just been in a half-joking way, or even simple jealousy over the NPC's sense of style. They were comments in line with things Cass had heard plenty of other people make about characters in other media, too. And while Zoe did occasionally make note of what other women wore out in the city, it was only ever just that - in response to clothing.

Cass really wanted to just ask outright, but she was gun-shy. Having grown up in a fairly small town in Nebraska, it had been driven pretty deep that open discussion of her feelings would be met with nothing but negativity. Some of that deep-seated fear had been soothed during her time in New York, but a part of her still revolted at the idea of being open about it.

She couldn't stop thinking about how easy it would be if Zoe just asked first. She was a New Yorker through and through; surely she didn't have any deep scars about the subject.

Cass also knew that was an entirely unfair line of thinking, but it was the easy way out for her.

Cass eventually slid into her bed and burrowed into the blankets. She played idly on her phone, flipping through a variety of apps to try to occupy herself until she was sleepy, including swiping through a dating app. She had made a few connections on it, though none had gone anywhere notable. Though in the last few months she grew increasingly aware it was because she kept hoping to find Zoe in the list by chance.

She gave up on that after a few uninterested swipes, set up her morning alarm, and turned over to sleep.

The next morning went by normally. Cass moved through her normal routine in the same haze as always, being distinctly not a morning person. By the time she had brushed her teeth, showered, dried her hair, and gotten dressed she was thankfully more awake. Sometimes she made it all the way to the subway station still half asleep, and those days were the worst. She hated struggling against the sleepiness on the train.

She lived in the Bronx which helped her at least get a solid shot at a seat most days on the way into work. She usually just read a book on her phone or played simple games to pass the time during her commute. She usually didn't mind the around 40 minute ride most days. It was just occasionally when she couldn't focus on whatever she was using to keep herself occupied that the ride felt too long.

Which was exactly the case for her as she stared down at the novel on her phone but wasn't digesting any of the words. Her mind still bounced around the situation with Zoe, the vagueness around their situation eating away at her.

She leaned forward, resting her forehead on her folded hands. She had really hoped that the nice dinner they had the previous night would've prompted Zoe to ask if it was a date. She never did, though, and it wasn't like Cass could ask given she suggested the outing.

"Cass, was tonight supposed to be a date?"

"And if it was?"

"Well…I'd say…"

It could've been so easy! But no such luck.

Cass had a strong feeling in the back of her mind that she would need to just outright ask Zoe, point-blank. At this point, she was pretty sure if she was even remotely obtuse about it, Zoe would dodge the question, or simply not recognize it at all.

She even had to wonder if Zoe actively avoided the conversation at this point. She had never actively avoided the topic, as far as Cass knew, but that didn't mean she wouldn't. The way it had never been mentioned after two years of being friendly may as well have been purposeful avoidance, right?

Cass hit the home button on her phone in annoyance. Not necessarily at anyone in particular, but more in response to the whole situation. She leaned back in her subway seat and her head knocked against the window. The constant vibrations of the car moving down the track was too much to let her head actually rest nicely against it though.

She was still a solid ten stops from where she needed to get off from work, and was already wound up and stressed for the day. She had too many questions bouncing around in her head and no good answers for any of them.

Should she invite Zoe out for lunch again?

That was their normal. And it wasn't like Zoe read into the nice dinner that Cass had wanted her to maybe see as a date.

Should they do dinner again? That could be fun, but maybe two days in a row was too much. They were friends though, so it wasn't like she was looking for a second date the day after the first with a stranger.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

But also, it wasn't a date anyway, so who cared?

She giggled to herself on the train, and she could tell it came out sounding absolutely unhinged.

She slammed her eyes shut. Dwelling on all of this wouldn't help, let alone actually get her anywhere.

Yes, she would ask Zoe out to lunch again. And be normal. She could worry about another dinner some other time. And maybe, just maybe, if it felt right, she could ask Zoe about how she felt.

That almost certainly wouldn't happen. Probably. Maybe? No.

"Hey, Cass. We getting lunch today?"

Cassandra stopped typing and spun in her desk chair to face Zoe. Apparently, she decided to come visit her at her desk earlier than usual.

"Sure." Cass smiled. "Did you have a place in mind already?"

Zoe tilted her head cutely. "No? Why?"

"Well, it's only like…" Cass moved her mouse to the bottom of her PC screen to call up the taskbar and the clock. "9:30. Shit, I thought it was at least 10…"

Zoe chuckled. "I needed some coffee, and you're just on the other side of the break room, so…"

"Ah. But yes, we can grab lunch."

"Yay!" Zoe gave a mock cheer, putting her coffee mug a bit higher into the air. Then she leaned in and down to whisper, "Let's try to actually get out of her early for lunch today, yeah? Like at 11:30?"

"Sure, sounds like a plan." Cass said. "But you better get back to your desk and work if you want to be ready for lunch."

"As if. It's all dependent on customer calls anyway." She sighed and shrugged. "I'll go back all the same, though. I've probably already missed a call."

Zoe laughed when Cass shooed her off to pick up her own ringing phone. Zoe spun on a heel and walked away, leaving Cass to accidentally trail her with her eyes as she answered the phone.

"Hello, this is Cassandra Bailey with the Tech Support Department. Oh, yes that's - No, I can't - I see. Let me transfer you to billing."

Cass hit the hold button and hung up the phone, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her left hand while making the transfer with her right.

This was going to be a long day. She could feel it in her bones.

When Cass took her morning break around 10:30 to grab her own cup of coffee - well, her second - she checked up on her notifications on her phone, planning to actually try to read a bit more of the novel she had failed at during the morning commute. Instead, she got wrapped up in the Nettle Tea Clan chat, slumped in her chair.

{Fiona} : Hey guys, I'm totally not going to be able to make it tonight. I basically got no sleep last night thanks to Eli. He had an awful night, and was running a fever. Doc says it's just a cold, but I think we need to keep an eye on him tonight. If y'all wanna grab a fill, I won't hold it against you.

{Caoimhe} : How bad is the fever? I hope Eli is alright.

{Aleister} : Yeah, baby health comes first. Keep that kid company, it's all good.

{Fiona} : it was over 1000 last night. We've been keeping it down once we caught it, tho.

{Aleister} : Holy shit!

{Fiona} : 100*. Whoops. Lol

{Firo} : If it's not a big deal, I wouldn't mind a break tonight. I should really get a little extra studying in if I can. Finals are in a few weeks.

{Caoimhe} : Eli should be alright if you keep the fever down. That first illness is absolutely brutal on the nerves though. Keep him hydrated, too.

{Fiona} : I know I'm new to babies, but I've had colds before Caoimhe. I know the basics, I promise.

{Caoimhe} : Good.

{Hibiscus} : If people want to take the night, that's fine by me. I wouldn't mind a lazy night.

{Hibiscus} : I feel like I still need to catch up on extra sleep.

{Evie} : Damn, last weekend really did a number on you, huh?

{Hibiscus} : It really did. TBF, for as much as I say I need sleep, what I really might need is a massage and maybe a doctor's visit. I think I fucked up my right foot. Or ankle? Idk, it hurts though.

{Evie} : If you still need to work, you should at least wrap it with athletic tape or something, right? That's supposed to help?

{Caoimhe} : I somehow doubt any of us have sports knowledge.

{Firo} : [LINK]

{Firo} : ^ Link to an article about how to wrap joints for athletes, and why it helps.

{Fiona} : Google ftw

{Fiona} : Do people still say that?

{Fiona} : ftw, I mean

{Firo} : I've seen/heard it before, but I'd say probably not.

{Caoimhe} : Damn, Fiona's so damn old. Lol

{Fiona} : Don't you start, you old basatrd.

{Caoimhe} : The hell is a 'basatrd'?

{Fiona} : I hate yyou.

{Caoimhe} : Bro, pay attention when you type.

{Fiona} : Shut.

{Fiona} : Up.

{Fiona} : You.

{Fiona} : Asshole.

{Caoimhe} : Language.

{Fiona} : ….

{Evie} : So…are we taking tonight off?

{Hibiscus} : Sounds that way. Anyone opposed?

{Evie} : @Mellody @Nyx Care to weigh in?

{Mellody} : I'm fine with taking a night.

{Nyx} : ?

{Nyx} : Oh, ya, that's cool with me.

{Hibiscus} : The ayes have it. Take a break tonight guys, we'll get 'em next time.

"I guess my night just got freed up."

"Did you say something, Cassandra?"

Cass's head snapped up to see one of her other coworkers looking at her, leaning against the counter with the coffee maker.

"Oh, no, sorry. Just talking to myself." Cass smiled and waved her phone around. "I usually have standing plans on Thursdays but they just got cancelled." She shrugged.

"Ah, I see." The man nodded and swung back to grab his now full coffee mug. "Well, here's hoping you find something fun to do, yeah?" He toasted the air with his mug before nodding in goodbye and walking back toward his desk.

"I guess we'll see." She sighed to the empty room. If her morning was any indication, she really wasn't looking forward to being stuck in her apartment alone all night.

Maybe she really would need to ask Zoe to dinner again.