Chapter Text
Daniel followed Freddy over to where he was talking to a girl, about their own age, sitting next to the dirty, murky pool.
“Daniel LaRusso, this is Cass McCarthy, number twenty-two,” Freddy introduced, “Cass, this is Daniel, he’s just moving into number twenty.”
“Nice to meet ye,” she greeted in a strange accent, shaking his hand with a friendly smile.
“Yeah, you too,” Daniel replied, relieved that he’d at least know two people his own age.
“So, what brings you out to the pool today, Cass?” Freddy asked her, leaning Daniel’s bike up against a railing.
“I bet Bobby he couldn’t jump the length of the pool,” Cass answered with a mischievous grin, “Loser buys dinner tonight.”
Freddy laughed, while Daniel grimace, imagining what it would be like to land in the filthy water. A young guy, maybe a year older than them with dirty blonde hair rand down the stairs to join them. He pulled off the hoodie he was wearing and threw it at Cass, walking back towards where an elderly woman sat in a fold out chair.
“If I catch anything, I’m blaming you, Cass” the guy teased.
The trio watched in anticipation as Bobby sprinted towards the pool, jumping into the air at the last possible minute. He easily cleared the railing, he flew through the air, but quickly began falling and landed just more than halfway.
“Hard luck, Bobby,” Cass called out, draping the hoodie over her shoulder as she got a towel ready for Bobby who effortlessly pulled himself out of the pool and straight onto his feet.
“Feckin’ show-off,” Cass teased, throwing his towel at him.
“That was some jump, Bobby!” Freddy complimented him.
“Thanks Freddy,” Bobby greeted, smiling at Daniel, “Hiya, I’m Bobby Brown, I’d shake your hand, but I’d be worried you’d catch something from the water.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Daniel laughed, “I’m Daniel LaRusso, number twenty.”
“Bobby doesn’t live here,” Freddy told Daniel.
“He’s a rich boy from the Hills,” Cass gently teased him, “Sometimes he deigns to spend time with us common folk.”
“You coming to the beach party tonight?” Freddy asked them.
“Nah, not really my scene,” she answered, “Bobby’ll probably show.”
“Alright, if you change your mind you know where to find us,” Freddy replied, Cass and Bobby smiled and said goodbye, before they both headed up towards number twenty-two.
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“You mind if I have a quick shower?” Bobby asked, as Cass headed towards the kitchen.
“Go ahead!” she called back, as she turned the kettle on.
As Bobby hopped into the shower, Cass went into her bedroom, grabbing a pair of her boardshorts and a t-shirt that was a bit too big for her, leaving them outside the bathroom door. She poured two mugs of tea, adding a drop of milk into both, and a sugar cube into Bobby’s. Riffling through the breadbin, she found a packet of Jaffa Cakes and some Chocolate Digestives, stuffing a packet into her hoodie pocket and another under one arm, she carried the tea over to the couch and TV, carefully setting down the mugs down on the table and throwing the biscuits on behind them.
Bobby padded out of the shower, walking past her and towards the washing machine, while she picked out a video tape. She put into the VCR, set it to rewind and sat down on the couch, where she was soon joined by Bobby.
“What are we watching?” Bobby asked, the pair of them not looking at the TV to avoid ruining the film despite having watched it several times.
“Pirates of Penzance,” Cass answered, stretching out on the couch with her legs on Bobby’s lap.
“I’m a sucker for a good musical,” Bobby admitted, taking the hoodie from Cass’ shoulder and pulling it on, “Just, don’t tell the guys.”
“Never!” Cass agreed, a smile pulling at her lips, “Can you keep a secret?”
Bobby raised an unimpressed eyebrow and she snorted, realizing how stupid that question was given all the secrets he kept for her.
“Johnny brought me to see my first musical in the cinema,” she told him with a gentle smile, snorting at his surprised expression.
“Maybe we should have invited him to see Footloose this summer,” Bobby suggested.
They looked at each other and dissolved into laughter, Johnny wouldn’t be caught dead going to a musical now. He was too worried that it would make him seem like a ‘pussy’. A key rattled in the door, signaling that Cullen, Cass’ older brother was home with their dogs. The front door opened, paws skidding on the wooden floor as they ran towards Bobby and Cass. Laoch, the large Irish Wolfhound leapt over the back of the couch landing on both Cass and Bobby, while Dagda, the German Shepherd ran around the front of the couch greeting them from there.
“Hi Cullen,” Cass greeted her brother, giggling as Dagda nuzzled her face.
“Pup, Bobby,” Cullen greeted, his own Irish accent as strong as his sister’s.
He came to join them, sitting in the armchair next to the couch and putting his feet upon the table. Dagda clambered up onto his lap, before lying down, while Laoch burrowed down behind Cass’ legs resting his chin on her thigh.
“Bobby’s buying dinner,” Cass informed him, as Bobby sheepishly smiled, wet hair half-covering his eyes.
“What was the best this time?” he asked, amused.
“That I couldn’t jump the pool length-ways,” Bobby admitted.
“Foolish boy,” Cullen teased, looking at the TV as the tape stopped rewinding, “Pirates?”
“Of course!” the teenagers chorused, Cullen nodded happy with the selection and let his body relax.
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“Bobby, party,” Cass reminded him, reaching for another slice of pizza as they came towards the end of Rocky.
“Shit!” Bobby exclaimed, jumping up and disturbing Laoch, who shifted so he was half lying on Cass, “Thanks Cass!”
“Get changed in my room and then you can head straight to the boys,” Cass suggested, watching as Apollo fell to the floor.
Bobby smiled at her gratefully, disappearing into her room as Rocky Balboa threw his fist up in victory screaming, “Adrian!” Cullen was fast asleep in his armchair, Bobby had thrown a blanket over him and Dagda when they had put Rocky into the VCR. Dagda’s ears twitched slightly in his sleep, taking in the sounds around him. She changed from the video player to the TV, happily settling in for a few episodes of Rawhide. Bobby emerged a few minutes into the first episode and kissed Cass’ forehead before leaving for the beach.