1

My Dad sits and looks at me expectantly, sipping coffee while I gather my thoughts. "I want to change schools."

He seems curious and asks, "Do you think that's wise? After all you've been through, you should stay close to your friends."

My laugh holds no humor. "You mean the Circle? They're the last people I want to hang out with."

"I understand, Cassie, but you can't keep running away from your problems. You all need to learn to work together, despite your personal feelings."

Leave it to Dad to play the tough love card. "I'm not sure I can. Not if he's going to be there."

Dad sighed. "Were you two even friends before this all happened?"

"Not exactly." Discussing Adam was a slippery slope, and not one I was prepared to scale with my father.

"So now is the time, Cassie."

I shook my head. "I can't be his friend."

"I know you think that, but believe me, anything is possible." He made one of those 'look at me' gestures and I conceded his point.

"Maybe you're right." It was my way of saying that I didn't agree, no matter how he tried to spin this.

I looked at my phone and said, "I better get going or I'll be late for school."


Sally Matthews waylaid me near the bike rack. "Hey, Cassie, how are you doing?"

I smiled. "Pretty good. Any events you need help with?"

"Not at the moment, but I could use a hand with AP English."

That was my best subject, and she obviously knew it. "Sure. We could meet downtown at the coffee house."

Sally cocked her head. "Not the Boathouse?"

"Not anymore," I said, just as Adam, Melissa, and Diana crossed our path. Adam offered a tight smile and the girls waved, but none of them waited for me. That was just as well, for I wanted nothing to do with them right now.

"Everything OK with them?"

"We're taking a break from each other." That was the best way I could put it.

"What about you and Adam?"

I shook my head and changed the subject. "Hey, did you read The Hunger Games?"

Sally positively beamed and said, "Of course. Maybe we can see the movie when it comes out this weekend."

"That's a great idea. I have Friday night off."

"Great. I'll check the movie times and get back to you."

That was exactly what I needed to take my mind off my problems.


The week dragged, and so did my shifts at work. Nobody except Diana came by, and she showed up at closing on Thursday. "Hey," she said, her kind eyes shining with empathy as she ordered some green tea and gestured over to our favorite spot in the back.

"Hey back," I said from the counter. "I need about ten minutes."

"Can I help?"

"And make me look bad? I don't think so."

That made her laugh. "We haven't seen much of you lately."

"Yeah, well, I've been busy." I indicated the room around us, where I'd spent every night for the last two weeks.

"Picking up extra shifts, or avoiding us?" Diana was unusually direct for a change, but I preferred her usual methods.

"Both," I said with a sigh.

"It will get better," Diana said softly, sidling up to the counter and leaning while I finished cleaning out the final coffee machine.

"Will it?" She couldn't possibly understand what I was going through.

"I know you think I don't get it, but I sort of do."

I tossed my cleaning rag and apron into the laundry. "Yeah? Good for you."

"Cassie," Diana said, daring to touch my arm as I paced behind the counter. "We both lost him. I know the circumstances are different, but the feelings aren't."

That stopped me cold. "You've already moved on, but I can't, because I'm stuck with destiny."

Diana's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Cassie. And I'm not the only one who feels bad."

"Let me guess. Faye has turned over a new leaf?"

"No, she's her usual bitchy self. I meant Melissa."

The one person I really didn't know. "Doesn't she usually side with Faye?"

"Not anymore. In fact, she's been hanging out with Adam and working down at the Boathouse."

"Good. She needs something to keep her busy." Just like I needed to keep my mind off Adam and dark magic.

"So you probably know Adam wants to get back together with me."

My hands shook slightly. "Really? What did you say to him?"

Diana looked anguished. "I told him I'm seeing Grant."

"And how did he take that?"

"He said he wouldn't give up on us, and how I'd figure this out in time." Diana sounded slightly annoyed by Adam's statement, which implied she wasn't smart enough to decide what was best for her.

"And?"

"I told him my feelings have changed, and I wasn't sure we had a future."

Now that surprised me. "Is that true?"

Diana nodded. "I'll always love him, but only as a friend."

"You told him that?"

"No way. My feelings are none of his business, and besides, he's really messed up right now."

"Is he? But I thought he forgot everything."

"Apparently not. It's all starting to come back, and not in a good way. He's not sleeping or eating well, and he looks like crap."

I hadn't really noticed, because neither of us had spoken since the curse was reversed. "I'm sorry to hear that. What can I do to help?"

"Try talking to him."

"Talk is cheap. What else?"

Her eyebrows lifted slightly at my tone. "Try to be his friend. You really matter to him, despite appearances."

I highly doubted that. "I'll think about it."

Diana seemed encouraged by that. "We're getting together for pizza on Friday at the Boathouse. Do you have to work?"

"Nope, but I have other plans."

"Can you change them?"

Her eyes pleaded with me, but I was unrelenting. "Nope."

"Can't, or won't?"

"Take your pick. Maybe some other time." I jingled the keys to indicate it was time to leave, and Diana took the hint.

"Are you sure you won't reconsider?"

"I'm sure." Diana followed me to the door and I added, "Thanks for stopping by. Maybe we can have a girl's night out sometime soon."

Her expression brightened. "I'd love that. Want me to plan it?"

"Sure. Let me know when and where and I'll be there."