The reaction from Cassandra was the one he expected from them all. He fully expected them to doubt, but there was nothing to do about it. The only thing he could do would be to prove her wrong. He steeled himself for what was to come, it would be arduous but he would see it through. Not just to overcome his past, but to be able to be there for his friends. 

He listened to them banter. Kiddo, wanting them all to come together. Lorenzo, wanting things to be the way they were and trying to joke. And finally Cassandra, solemn, and hopeless, her tone and face suggested the desolation of her feelings. [i]She has to hate me, but I can't let that stop me. I need to make up for this. To her, and to everybody.[/i] He gave a weak smile at a few of Lorenzo's lame jokes, and couldn't help thinking of retorts. He kept quiet, even so. It didn't feel right to chip in after that, especially not like a comment about Lorenzo being like a creepy uncle. [i]Definitely not the time for jokes. Not yet anyways.[/i]