Raven: His First Everything

18|Expelled

Raven's POV

Cassian stared at the white envelope I was stretching to him. "I don't need it."

"But-but we're not done yet," he said, his tone filled with pain. "Is it the way how my dad treated you? I promise it won't happen again."

I smiled when I saw how worried he looked.

"Relax," I tried to calm him. "I'm not giving you back the money because I'm calling things off. I'm doing it because I don't need it anymore."

Instant relief appeared on his face.

I smiled. "I still want to know what other things that dopamine shit can cause."

He smiled before handing me back the envelope. "Keep it, it's only fair."

I shook my head. "Not unless you want my brother to kill me."

He sighed before finally taking the money.

I looked around the lounge as everyone sat in their cliques.

"Can I ask a question?" I asked and he nodded as he worked on the PowerPoint. "Why do you always sit by yourself in this corner?"

He glanced up from his laptop, his green eyes flickering with curiosity. "It's safe over here."

I raised my eyebrow. "Safe?"

He nodded. "There's no one over here to hurt me."

I felt even more confused. "But your security is with you. No one can hurt you anywhere."

He shook his head. "Not like that."

"I mean no one can get close to me to hurt me," he explained and I nodded. "Do you get it?"

"I guess," I told him. "But what about me? Aren't you afraid that I'll hurt you?"

He stared at me for a moment, his fingers still on the edge of his laptop.

"That's why I chose you," he said and I raised my eyebrow.

"You're not like the others here," he said. "You're cold and you don't seem to get attached or let things get messy."

"If anyone here wouldn't hurt me, it would be you," he ended.

His statement was painfully honest.

I sat back in my chair. "So what you're saying is that I don't care?"

He shook his head. "It's not about caring, it's about being practical. There's no illusions or expectations with you."

"You're upfront," he explained.

I crossed my arms and found my own conclusion. "You think I'm incapable of attachment?"

His expression softened.