chapter 37

Cassian POV

You would think after everything, she would at least look at me.

But Monday proved me wrong, again.

She walked into class with that same stiff posture, her hoodie drawn up like armor, eyes hidden behind heavy eyes and a stare aimed directly at the floor.

There was a time I used to sit beside her and she'd smile before I even said anything.

Now? She sat alone, and I—I still sat with her.

I didn’t care that she moved her body away from me. I didn’t care that she hadn’t spoken to me in a whole day.

I still took the seat next to her, just like I always did. I guess part of me thought if I stayed long enough, she’d remember what it felt like to have me there but she didn’t.

She didn’t even blink when I said her name under my breath, or when I gently nudged her elbow with mine. Nothing, I might as well have been invisible.

It hurt more than I thought it would and I keep wondering why I feel this way, nobody has ever made me feel this way.

After class, I gave her space. Thought maybe me hovering was part of the reason she kept shutting down.

So I stepped back, walked out first. I didn’t expect to turn the hallway and see it happening so fast.

Three random girls, cornering her near the staircase like vultures who smelled blood, at first I thought it was Elena and her crew but it turns out to be someone else.

“Oh, look who decided to crawl out of her cave,” one of them sneered. “Didn’t think you’d show your face after that video. You’ve got nerve, I’ll give you that.”

Drasa said nothing, not at first. She stood still, her fist clenched, chin slightly lifted.

The second girl scoffed. “Or maybe she likes the attention. You know, being passed around like–”

“Finish that sentence,” Drasa said, her voice low but firm as she took a few steps forward.

The hallway fell quiet.

She stepped forward, slow, controlled. “You really think I’m going to let you shame me for something I didn’t ask for? For a video taken without my consent? That says more about you than it does about me.”

I stopped in my tracks. Her voice wasn’t the shaking one I’d heard days ago. It was steel wrapped in velvet, sharp and piercing at the same time.

Her eyes burned when they looked at them, and for a second, I forgot I came there to stop anything.

“I’m not here to make you like me,” she continued, “and I don’t owe you a damn explanation, but if you ever try this again, just know I won’t stay silent and I am sure you saw the other viral video of me, that would definitely be you in my next viral.”

And then she walked away, just like that. No tears, no brokenness….just confidence.

They all scattered, of course. Nobody expeced her to talk back because of how vulnerable she is, let alone create fear, but I knew it wasn’t all real.

I saw the way her shoulders dropped the second she turned the corner. The way she wiped the side of her face fast, thinking no one would catch it.

I followed her.

She walked into the janitor's closet a few minutes later. That small, dusty space she always ran to when she needed quiet, the one place no one ever bothered to look.

I waited a beat before knocking once and letting myself in.

She was crouched in the corner, arms wrapped tightly around her knees. She didn’t look up right away. Her knuckles were pale from how hard she was gripping her sleeves.

“You didn’t have to follow me,” she whispered.

“I know,” I said gently, closing the door behind me. “But I wanted to.”

She laughed bitterly. “Why? So you can see how pathetic I look up close?”

“D,” I breathed, sitting beside her. “You’re not pathetic.”

“I’m tired, Cassian.” Her voice cracked. “I’m tired of pretending I’m fine, I hate walking through those halls like everyone’s waiting for me to fall apart. And I hate that I still care what people think.”

My heart clenched so did my first, I really want to put a stop to this bully but how can I go about it. I could feel my wolf, he was sad seeing her cry.

“You were amazing back there,” I said. “I mean it. I’ve never seen you like that. You didn’t need me to save you this time. You were your own rescue.”

She turned her head slightly, eyes red and brimmed with tears. “That’s the thing. I act strong, but break down afterwards, every day and every single time.”

I reached for her hand…..She let me hold it.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” I murmured. “Not here, you can be whatever you want to be”

We sat like that for a while, just breathing, saying nothing. Her fingers trembled in mine, but she didn’t let go.

And I knew, somehow, that silence was her way of saying thank you.

The bell rang and immediately she stood up ready to leave. “I should get going, I don't wanna be late for my class.” She said, packing her bags.

When we finally stood to leave, I paused at the door.

“Hey,” I said, softly, “what if I… told everyone? About us, make it official.”

I wasn’t sure what I expected, maybe a small smile, a nod, something warm…but instead, her expression changed to anger again.

She pulled her hand away like it burned. “Why would you do that? What are you even thinking?”

“I thought….maybe if they saw we were serious, they’d back off or if they see-”

“Oh my God, Cassian.” Her voice rose, not loud, but firm. “So you think what I need now is to be claimed? Like that’s going to solve everything? Or will that make the video of me throwing myself at you go away?”

“You didn't throw yourself at me, I wanted this too remember and I was in that video as well D.”

“But you're not even being the victim right now, you're the Almighty Cassian and literally everybody wants an opportunity with you, seeing a loser like myself with you was a wrong mistake…now making it official? You just wanna put me in more uncomfortable situations, don't you?” she shot at me, I could hear her voice breaking as she kept her eyes locked on mine.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that–”

“Yes, you did. You want to put a label on this so it looks better. So it fits in your neat little version of fixing things, but I’m not a problem to be solved, for a second I thought you were getting me, I thought you understood what it felt like to be me but I was wrong, I am always wrong!” She added before storming out of the room, leaving me wondering what I said wrong.

I just wanted to fix everything, I thought if people knew we were together…they'd back off and stop spreading rumors about her being a slut or a pass around but I was wrong, the idea is brilliant but not to Drasa and literally that is all I should be concerned about.