She could understand them talking in French. They thought she was a boy. She smirked.

"What are you smiling at? Huh!"

"D***," she said. She also hardened her voice to make it rough.

"You a piece of s***!" The other guy tried to grab her, but she nudges it and makes a big step on the side.

"What the— come back here!" the other one threw a punch which she avoided.

One is trying to punch her, but she kicks him between his thigh, and he's holding that part feels helpless. His company got angry then a man spoke behind her.

"What is this? Three against one? How lame," then he chuckles.

Ca.s.sie froze because Quinn was now standing so close to her! 

"Now? Let's begin? Three against two, not bad at all."

Ah, she misses his s.e.xy voice and that s.e.xy laugh. She held her tears. They were threatening her for them to escape from her eyes. He came.

Instead of fighting back, the three teenagers cursed and bad-mouthing at them then run as fast as they could.

"Nice kick there," he praises her after those three gone.

But she cannot speak out. No. She can't dare to show him she is actually a girl and someone he knew in reality. Because now everything is clear to her. She was inside the book.

It must be. Ca.s.sie began pondering since, in the beginning, she woke up inside a hospital. And everything that happens next, was all part of the book!

Then, what next happens? She was in deep thought. She just then realizes that she was under an umbrella. The guy is carrying an umbrella in that book, so Quinn is having one.

"Where are you going home?" Quinn asked her, but she lied. The street she told him is the next one from the address she's living in.

"Hmm… not so far from where I live. Want to go home together?"

She was glad that it was dark out here. Quinn wouldn't notice that she is crying. She just fixes her hood to cover her face.

"Okay…" she bit her lip. Glad the rain is heavy, he won't notice that her voice is shaking.

Walking toward the bus stop together, she felt it was the reality. And standing side by side, waiting for the bus, she got more time to be with him. Her tears want to escape once again, and so she held them once again. 

The bus seems taking longer.  And so, they just watched the pouring rain. It was beautiful. It's not scary at all.

Because if true that she acts like the one in that book, she supposed to be afraid of the rain. But she's not afraid of it.

Finally, the bus arrives. She quickly ran inside and looked for a seat, but she only found one empty, and she's thankful. There is no way she and Quinn would sit together. She then seats quietly and heads down to hide her face. But Quinn standing next to her. What the heck? This guy should stand somewhere. But she cannot really escape because the bus stop they will get off later is the same stop.

Lying she live in another street, she has to make a circle get into the street where she lives. And so, all she needs to do is to take the opposite street. Ca.s.sie jumps from the bus then walks at such a speed.

"Hey, wait!" Quinn stops her.

Ca.s.sie has no plan to a halt, but she has no other reason not to.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I will send you home."

"What?"

"I said I will escort you home. It's dangerous."

"I am fine. Bye!" she turned around and walk fast.

"Wait!" 

He is persistent indeed. Ca.s.sie thought then smile.

"Okay, fine!" Quinn gives up it seems. "Then just take this umbrella," he offers.

Wow. She's dumbfounded. She looks a boy, right? So he won't feel any romance to a twelve-year-old boy. But Quinn is just a kind person, she more believes in that.

She turned around and took the umbrella. "Thank you," she said, then resume walking.

"Ah, wait!" he stops her again.

"What now?"

"Here. If you like to learn French. Just go to that place. Just tell her I introduce her to you." Quinn handed her a business card.

"But I don't have money," she said, looking at his hand.

"It's free."

Ca.s.sie looks up a little to have a peek of his handsome face. "Okay, thank you," she said, then take the business card from his hand. She turned around and walks away from him.

Finally, Quinn is not bothering to call her anymore. She was about to take a left turn when she decided to turn around and take a glimpse at where Quinn standing earlier. It surprised her, Quinn was still there and watching her. She waves then resumes walking until she arrives home taking the longer route.

That night, she can't sleep. All she could remember is Quinn. But the Quinn from her reality is more mature, she noticed, both handsome, of course. Just the Quinn in this dream looks very sad, like the Quinn she dreamed inside this dream; he is crying on her arms. It could be possible that he who was a sign to meet today?

Maybe… and that night, she wishes that tomorrow is another beautiful day.

The next morning, Ca.s.sie was peeping in a corner. What is she doing? She becomes some kind of detective in an action movie who was watching someone and following someone.

Ah, she's stalking Quinn?

* * *

Present Time:

"Hi, good morning," Quinn greeted Ca.s.sie who already in the kitchen and watching the maid make breakfast.

"Good morning, bro— um, Quinn," she greeted back.

A warm smile planted on Quinn's lips. "Making pancakes?" he asked then.

"Yes. I want to perfect them!" she said happily.

"Hm, want some help?" Quinn offers.

"Can I learn how to make m.u.f.fins?" Her request.

"Oh, sure. Let me get the ingredients." Quinn said then go out of the kitchen and went to the storage room to get all the ingredients they needed.

Quinn one by one explains to Ca.s.sandra about the ingredients and teaches her the measurements and volumes of everything. And she is learning fast. Two hours later, they made a lot of it and shared it with everyone.

They praise her that she is getting better.

***

Later in the lunch, they already had another meeting regarding the mission of saving Lady Isabella. Jessie Verough finally arrived in Brazil and quickly gather trusted friends to do the mission. Cheska De La Rue also began traveling the Northern part of the Amazon with the other two trusted allies. Everyone is working together, including Lance Collins.

Quinn also notifies Rudolf and gives him the job of monitoring them from the sky using Athena. So their mission becomes smooth.

Quinn striding the hallway when he saw Ca.s.sandra looking up at a painting. "Hi."

"Quinn..."

"Beautiful isn't it?"

"Yes. It looks interesting," she agreed.

"By the way, I haven't thanked you, yet," Quinn said to Ca.s.sandra.

"Hm? About?" she looks confused.

He blushed a bit. "About last night," Quinn is scratching his forehead. "You found me crying and you comforted me. Thank you," he said. Wow. He felt shy. He becomes like a teenager somehow.

"Really?" she asked, seems confused.

"You don't remember?" he asked.

Ca.s.sandra shook her head. Now he was also confused. How come has she forgotten that? Ca.s.sandra kissed him. Surprised for what she did, he wanted to push her away as he promises not to do such a thing again, but last night... it was Ca.s.sandra who kisses him first, and he can refuse neither not to take the chances to taste her soft lips once more.

"You really did not remember anything that happens last night?"