Chapter 1313: I feel lost

Cassandra would rarely do something reckless, whether in this lifetime or the last. Finn knew her well enough to sense that something was wrong. She lived a carefully controlled life, and for her to suddenly break the rules she had set for herself—it worried him.

So, when she called, he came.

Cassandra knew he would.

After all, just as she knew him, he knew her. No matter how unfeeling and cold he seemed, he would always be there for her. No matter what.

As soon as Finn pulled over, he rushed into the exclusive bar Cassandra had asked him to come to. His eyes scanned the room until he spotted her slumped over the bar counter, her seat nearly tipping from the weight of her body.

"Cassy," he whispered before striding to her side. Just in time, he grabbed her arm to keep her from falling. "Hey, hey."

Intoxicated, Cassandra slowly blinked before breaking into a weak smile the moment their eyes met. "You came," she breathed, clutching his shoulders as she pushed herself upright. "Finn. Hello there."

"Cassy." His expression hardened, as if he were about to scold her. But in the end, he only sighed and glanced at the bartender. It was not the right time for scolding.

The bartender offered Finn an awkward smile and a nod. "I didn’t serve her too many drinks. Just enough. But she’s a lightweight—I didn’t realize."

"I’ll take her home now," Finn said, pulling out his card to pay for her tab.

The bartender processed the payment and returned the card before wiping down a glass, watching as Finn helped Cassandra stand.

"I don’t want to go home," she protested, trying to shake off his hands. "I want to drink more."

"Cassy, come on. It’s already late."

"But I don’t want to go home!"

Finn clenched his jaw, studying her for a moment before sighing. "Fine," he relented. "I’ll take you somewhere else. But first, let’s go. Please."

Cassandra frowned but let him hold her arm. He grabbed her purse and steadied her, making sure she didn’t stumble on the way out.

*****

Because Cassandra was so drunk, it took them longer than expected to reach his car. Finn exercised maximum patience, helping her settle in and cracking the window slightly so she could get some fresh air. The last thing he wanted was for her to throw up in his car.

As he drove through the city, he glanced at her now and then.

"Are you awake?" he asked, his voice low and calm. "Should I slow down more? Are you dizzy?"

Cassandra let out a quiet hum, half-opening her eyes to gaze out the window. "I’m okay."

A silence followed, and Finn eased off the gas even more, mindful of her condition. He shouldn’t have been driving, but it was late, and his driver was already asleep. This was the only way to get them both home safely.

Not that he had a reason to hurry back. It wasn’t like Nina was waiting for him at his parents’ house. He wouldn’t have probably answered as well if he were with Nina because he would be too busy with her. Fortunately, he couldn’t sleep. Otherwise, he had no idea how this woman would get home.

"I’m stopping at a pharmacy," he said after a while. Cassandra didn’t respond.

The rest of the drive was spent in complete silence. Finn didn’t want to worsen her dizziness, and Cassandra seemed lost in her own thoughts. When they reached the pharmacy, Finn quickly grabbed some medicine and water to help ease her hangover the next morning.

"Here," he said, handing her a small paper bag as he slid back into the driver’s seat.

Cassandra lazily peeked inside and chuckled. "Seriously?" She gave him a half-lidded look. "I don’t need all this medicine, Finn. Just this one is enough. I know because I prescribe medications to patients."

"Just take one. You’re the patient tonight."

"Well." She shrugged, pulling out a pill and popping it into her mouth before taking a sip of water. When she was done, she turned to him with a small smile. "Thank you."

Finn only nodded, waiting for her to settle comfortably before starting the car again. Silence quickly filled the space once more. It wasn’t that they had nothing to say—it was just that neither of them knew where to start.

"It’s been a while since we did this," she murmured, staring out the window.

Finn didn’t respond.

"The last time we drove together doesn’t count," she added, her tone light but tinged with something deeper. "That was just me chauffeuring a newly conscious coma patient somewhere he shouldn’t be."

Finn remained silent, though the memory surfaced in his mind.

In their previous life, they had gotten along—but it had taken time. In this lifetime, their friendship had developed earlier. He still remembered how, in a different time, he had used his newly earned student license as an excuse to drive her around. Of course, he had already known how to drive back then—it was a skill he had carried over to this second timeline.

"Your father was furious," he recalled, a quiet chuckle escaping him. "He even called my parents."

Cassandra turned to him, laughing softly. "You didn’t get in trouble, though. Unlike me. I was grounded for two weeks, and you only got a scolding."

"Sometimes, I almost wish they’d scold me more," he admitted. "But I’m glad I got off easy."

"Good for you," she murmured, shaking her head as she adjusted in her seat again. Another moment of silence passed before she spoke again. "I miss those times."

Finn smiled faintly but said nothing.

Glancing at her, he could tell she was doing better.

"What happened?" he finally asked, eyes fixed on the road. "What upset you so much that you ended up wasted in a bar, Cassy?"

Cassandra didn’t answer right away. She kept her gaze on the window, her voice barely above a whisper when she finally spoke.

"Because... I feel lost, Finn."