Raven: His First Everything

39|Internal Battles

Raven's POV

I looked across at Cassian as he drove.

He had been gone all day, and I hated how much I missed him.

I clenched my jaw, realizing what was happening to me.

The jealousy, the constant thinking about him, the way my heart speeds up whenever he's near—it all pointed to something undeniable.

I like Cassian.

No, I don't just like him.

I'm falling for him.

I held my head as I began to curse under my breath.

He immediately turned to me with a shocked look on his face. "Are-are you okay, Raven?"

"No," I cursed. "I'm an idiot."

Th one thing I told him not to do is fall for me, and now I'm falling for him.

His eyebrows furrowed as he looked on the road. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you just keep doing the right things," I mumbled as I looked out the window.

The rest of the drive consisted of me beating myself up.

I've never fallen for someone.

And the last person I expected to fall for was someone like Cassian.

He's quiet, careful, always thinking before he speaks.

Meanwhile I'm loud, impulsive, and chaotic.

He's the type to plan shit a whole week in advance.

Meanwhile I can't even decide what I want for lunch.

The car slowed to a stop before he got out and held the door open for me.

I looked around and we were in practically darkness.

We were at the base of a hill, surrounded by nothing but open fields and the faint rustle of leaves.

He gently took my hand. "We'll have to walk a little."

"You didn't tell me we'd have to hike," I teased him, feeling thankful that I went with jeans and sneakers.

He smiled, his cheeks flushing faintly in the moonlight. "Don't worry, it's worth it."

Surprisingly, it only took around eight minutes until we were at the top.

I can to feel skeptical since there was nothing, but darkness up here too.

"Just a minute," he said as he let out of my hand. "Close your eyes."

"Cassian..."

"Close them," he insisted and I did so. "Now open."

I slowly opened my eyes to see a series of soft, warm lights.