promised the world || cassie & avi

[Cassie Ball]

She had known. That’s what made it worse. Cassie had known that Avi wasn’t going to be just hers. He was a free spirit and he was a man desired by many other than her.

But…

It had still hurt to see it happen. They were at the same party. She was there. And he had still chosen to lock lips with someone else. It was entirely his right and she wasn’t mad at him. But it had hurt. She was hurt.

She had gotten attached and she had gotten hurt in the process.

She had left the party rather abruptly…and then spent the night in her office. She had apparated back home that morning to clean up and change. And then come right back. She didn’t want to be home alone right now. And while it was mildly embarrassing that her staff knew why she was so upset, at least they were supportive.

So she was content to just stay here for now. Maybe if she busied herself in her work…she wouldn’t think about it. But as she flipped the next photo over to look at a picture of Caty Prince and Lizzie Vance, she couldn’t help but notice the background.

There it was again, captured in a picture.

How stupid she had been to believe that she actually had a chance with someone like Avi. It was her fault in the end. She had known.

[Avi Park]

Avi hadn't seen Cassie at the party. He thought she was going to be working the fashion column with Mari, but he only saw Mari. And...Mari looked quite busy, so he didn't approach her. He wasn't sure where her situation with Koda was at yet, and didn't know her well enough to just spout random conversation with her...or at least he thought. Maybe Cassie was messing with his brain in a way he didn't realize - making him more self aware. He wasn’t dating her or anything, so kissing Kit wasn’t really a problem in his mind, but the fact that Cassie, his new friend and constant flicker of attention in his mind as of late, wasn’t responding to his texts was a problem.

Erin was having a few of the guys over for breakfast the next morning - he and Willie had dropped in the party for a little while before going home to their girls. Alvin was there since his job was at the Ministry. He was the only cousin at the Ministry party, but not the only cousin at breakfast, as he nodded at his younger brother when he apparated in. And sitting at the bar in Willie’s kitchen, Alvin asked him why he was kissing Kit. Avi, who…thought Kit was just Alvin’s good friend, inquired as to if they were dating. And…that’s when Alvin threw it back on him, asking why he was kissing Kit when he was bringing Cassie around. He brought her to karaoke with a few of them not too long ago, and it seemed like they were getting close.

Close, like, friends, right?

”Cassie knows we’re just friends?” he said, a question more than a statement, because…as Koda strolled in right at the perfect moment and finished the question for him - ”Does she?” Avi ended up just sitting there with his hands in his lap, staring at them. He pulled out his phone again and shot her another text, something along the lines of something stupid, like, “are we good?” to which, there was no response again. He wasn’t being left on read, but he also wondered if she had that feature turned off.

Koda sat down at the bar with him and Alvin (who, after the mention of Kit being his girlfriend, seemed a little into himself). It was odd for Avi to be in such a close relationship with Koda after all these years, but honestly…he needed the logic that Koda was likely to indulge him with. “Maybe you need to go clear some things up with Cass…that…or make a clean break so she can get over it.”

”Get over what? I don’t even know what there was to get over…I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“What do you want to do?”

”Well…I don’t want to snog Al’s girlfriend again,” he joked, nudging Al, who under his breath said that she wasn’t his girlfriend again. ”Or…anyone really.”

“No one? Avi Park doesn’t want to kiss anyone?”

”No, I don’t think so. Too much drama and too much Dr Phil and being cornered…”

Koda nodded and checked his phone, before letting Avi know he was going to go get the girls some lunch. “Mari says Cassie is refusing to leave her office.”

”Why?”

“She’s…reviewing photos from last night.”

”I didn’t know.” Koda patted his back. “Do you want to come with me?”

”Maybe I should.” Avi was still observing his hands, even though he’d spent the last twenty-six years getting to know them. “Well let’s go then, I placed an order at Choi’s…”

So Koda and Avi popped out of Erin’s, stopping at the little restaurant in London that wasn’t far from Diagon Alley. Koda had food for both the girls, and Avi…was going to bring Cassie’s to her. As of now he knew Cassie was upset (not at him, Mari had specified) that he kissed Kit. Or maybe she wasn’t upset that he kissed Kit? Maybe she was upset because she…forgot that he was still just Avi and kind of led her on? At least, Mari had made it seem like Avi had led her on and maybe he had, and now his brain was absolutely jumbled and he felt like he sincerely needed to apologize to Cassie. He couldn’t imagine, after all this time of getting to know her, that he just cut her out like that because she couldn’t get on board with his lifestyle. Maybe…maybe he didn’t want to be that guy anymore.

”Cassia?” he knocked on the wood door, glancing back at Koda and Mari, both of whom were urging him forward. Another thing that made Cass think that there was something more there was the unintentional creation of a new nickname that only he called her thanks to his accent and wanting to be a little memorable (oh, sweet vain Avi). He creaked open the door and saw her sitting a little hunched over her desk, pouring over photos, likely from the previous night. If she had caught it on camera, likely someone else had, too. Fortunately nothing had been printed - there were much more interesting stories to hit the papers after last night’s party than Avi Park kissing Kit Carson. ”I brought your food,” he said, moving to sit down in one of the chairs across from Cassie’s desk, but the photo in her hands was the one that caught his eye, his own mop of dark hair lip locked with another mop of dark hair. ”I can explain about that,” he said, plucking the photo out of her hands. ”But you should eat, okay?” he handed her the box, waiting a moment for her to take it before sitting down in the seat across from her.

[Cassie Ball]

The knock to the door was one thing…a few employees had popped in and out that morning. But as she heard the familiar nickname by that alluring voice…she squeezed her eyes shut a moment. She wanted to smile. But…she didn’t. She didn’t do or say anything. She just kept her face down.

Still, she heard the door open and footsteps enter before it clicked shut again. He spoke again, letting her know he had brought her the food that she had assured Koda he didn’t need to buy for her. She wasn’t feeling very hungry. Avi approached and as he got closer, he seemed to realize what was in her hands because he plucked it away and offered explanations.

Clearing her throat uncomfortably, Cassie took the box from him and set it down on her desk. She raised her hands to her face, wiping away the tears and doing her best to put her poker face on. The smile was there but the hurt was still evident in her eyes.

”There are no explanations needed, Mr. Park…I understand completely.”

He truly didn’t owe her anything. They weren’t exclusive. They weren’t an item. He was more than welcome to kiss anyone he wanted.

[Avi Park]

Avi really didn't understand. He thought Cassie knew. He thought she understood. And while Avi hadn't had a moment to let her know that he didn't want to be that Avi anymore…he was having a hard time getting over the tears. He just watched her for a moment as he sat down in the chair, Cassie trying to compose herself.

“There are no explanations needed, Mr. Park…I understand completely.”

Ouch. But he supposed he deserved it.

”Cassia…” he didn't know what to say. He supposed he should start at the beginning, but he wasn't comfortable with the way she was looking at him. He leaned forward and used his hand to brush tears from her cheek as he cupped her cheek. ”Please do not call me Mr. Park. I am so sorry that you saw that,” he said, shaking his head. ”It happened so fast and the moment I had to stop it was too late,” Avi wasn't good at explaining, probably because he usually did not find himself having to explain. ”The moment I realized I did not want to kiss her or any girl that was not my Cassia.” It may have been inappropriate for him to touch her face, but all he wanted was to be close to her.

[Cassie Ball]

Cassia…

Her heart cracked again and she fought to keep her poker face in check but her eyes gave her away as a few more tears slipped out and streaked down her face. Avi leaned in and his hand came to her face. She instinctively leaned into his touch as he wiped away her tears and held her face.

He stumbled through an explanation and Cassie’s watery eyes searched his face. It…almost sounded like he didn’t want to be with anyone but her.

No…that’s exactly what he was saying.

A few moments passed before Cassie leaned forward across her desk quickly…pressing an innocent kiss to his lips as more tears streaked down her face.

”I’m sorry for getting upset,” she whispered as she pulled back to look at him.

[Avi Park]

Cassie didn't say anything, and Avi was starting to think he'd lost any opportunity. He dropped his hand, trailing his fingers across her jaw as he considered getting up and leaving. But the moment he decided to leave, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. He smiled into it, and when she pulled away, he took her face in his hands to wipe the tears.

“I'm sorry for getting upset.”

”You had every right to be. I think I led you on while I tried to figure out what was going on in my heart,” he chewed on his bottom lip. He hoped Mari and Koda would be proud of him for finally taking some responsibility.

[Cassie Ball]

The way he held her face...wiping away the tears that were cascading down her face. If she were in a joking mood, she'd have blamed it all on her being a Pisces...but as it was, she just wanted to focus on Avi right now.

You had every right to be.

She listened to him talk about having lead her on and her heart was drumming wildly inside of her chest. He didn't...at least...she didn't feel like he did. She had always assumed he was just being him. And that was okay. It had been on her for getting so attached. But here he was...taking the blame. And all she wanted to do was hold him tight.

So she stood from her seat before moving around the desk. Taking his hands, she pulled him up so she could wrap her arms around him. She hadn't expected this. Had she expected some sort of conversation? Yes. She'd expected a conversation about how she had known better. How she shouldn't have gotten attached. But Avi was being uncharacteristically sweet to her. And she was eating it up. It was impossible to stay upset. She just wanted him and to be his.

[Avi Park]

Avi watched as she moved around her desk, his eyes following as she took his hands in hers. She put her arms around him and he did the same to her, holding her head to his chest lightly as he stroked her hair. ”It may have taken my brother to open my eyes but I am so very sorry for not realizing it sooner,” he confessed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

They stood there for some time before Avi pulled apart, if only to take his hand and tilt her face up to his, a chance to see her pretty eyes. "And I would like to bring you to Christmas with my family, if that is okay," he asked, waiting for her answer before pressing a kiss to her lips.

[Cassie Ball]

Avi was surprising her around every corner. He was being sweet and tender and gentle with her. And she was content to just enjoy every moment of it. He was lovely.

After a while, he pulled back and tipped her face up to look at him. She took the moment to let her gaze sweep over his features. Every part of him was so elegant and smooth and sharp. He was perfect.

And I would like to bring you to Christmas with my family, if that is okay.

Cassie smiled up at him softly, nodding as he kissed her. She usually just spend Christmas in her apartment…eating a lasagna and watching I Love Lucy reruns. It would be nice to spend it with him and the ones he loves.

[Avi Park]

Avi knew his family would be surprised that he was bringing someone to a family function - he normally didn't do that. It was easier to keep them in the dark about who he was hanging out with, but...he kind of wanted to show her off. Her beautiful smile, bright eyes, and sweet personality were enough to win them all over, he was sure. That, and he just wanted to spend more time with her. Perhaps short of a month was a little quick to be spending the holidays together, but Avi didn't mind. That, and...Koda was bringing Mari, too. If either of them felt uncomfortable for whatever reason, they could spend the time together.

Cassie nodded before allowing Avi to kiss her, and he smiled down at her when they parted. "Good," he said, running his thumb along her jawline as he still held her face. "I don't want to hog your entire holiday but I would like to spend as much time with you as possible," he bit down on his bottom lip which could have been perceived as shyly, but it was moreso as an...I want you, I want to be around you... sort of body language. Avi's eyes flicked over her delicate features as they stood there, his heart so happy that she'd been able to find it in her to forgive him.

[Cassie Ball]

The way Avi held her face, his thumb running along her jaw, made a swarm of goosebumps erupt over Cassie's arm. He smiled at her before biting softly on his lip and she smiled, leaning in to kiss him again. She was sure Mari or Kai might ask her if letting him off the hook so easily was a good idea...but she didn't care. She felt such a connection to him...his little red flags just looked cute and pink.

Hands running up Avi's chest, Cassie slipped her arms over his shoulders and around his neck. She was quite taken with him and as she kissed him again, she found herself wanting to get out of there with him...

But it was the middle of the day. She had articles to read and edit...she had three more stacks of photos to sort through...she had so much to do...

All of which could wait until tomorrow, she thought. So she smiled into the kisses before pulling back slightly.

"Wanna get out of here? I don't care where we go...what we do...can we just...go?"