Nick normally wasn't up before dawn and it was unlike the blond man to be walking along the beach at this ungodly hour but here he was. A dark brown cable knit sweater kept out the chill of the early morning as he trudged through the sand. Ever since the coven's battle with Black John, Nick had found himself waking every morning at 5 a.m., usually after a bad dream that he could never remember. He dreamt about ocean storms and drowning men, about wild green waves crashing over his body. A sign maybe? Was he dreaming about the future? If it had been Cassie or another member of the coven having dreams like this, Nick might have said yes but he didn't have prophetic dreams. It wasn't his talent. What exactly is your talent, Nick? A cynical voice silently inquired the witch. It certainly wasn't keeping the girl he loved, that's for damn sure, Nick thought as a pang went through his heart at the memory of Cassie. It wasn't magic either for Nick barely showed any interest in that like the other Crowhaven kids did. What's the point? Nick thought as he often did when it came to magic. He'd rather fix something with his hands then use his so called magical talents.
Great, did the universe wake me up early just so I feel shitty? I can do that during normal waking hours, Nick inwardly grumbled before he realized that he wasn't alone on the beach. Just up ahead, sitting on the damp sand was a familiar blond head. It was Diana with her jean clad legs drawn up close to her body and her face buried in her lap. Aw…crap. In the past Nick might have pretended not see Diana and leave her to her tears. He was a firm believer in grieving alone but Nick had a feeling he knew why Diana was crying this morning. How could he not? Nick and Diana were in the same boat, both in love with people who had soul mates and could never love them back, not the way they needed those people to. Nick approached the blond girl silently; the whisper of moving sand the only sign of his approach but it was mingled with the sound of crashing waves. Without a word, Nick sat down next to Diana who finally realized she wasn't alone.
"Morning Diana, what are you doing here?" Nick inquired dryly.
"What do you think?" Diana replied in a snappish manner, surprising Nick. Her face quickly relaxed and she looked regretful. "I'm sorry Nick; I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just here to work on a charm", she gestured to a nearby piece of disturbed sand before wiping away a few stray tears. "I started looking at the ocean and then I started crying. Pretty pathetic, huh?" She looked completely unlike herself with her silky blond hair up in a ponytail and jewel green eyes that were red and glassy from crying. Normally Diana seemed so serene and in control of herself, so much stronger than most girls but Nick found he had trouble looking away from this new vulnerable version of the coven leader.
"Oh. No, no", Nick replied as he looked out over the waves. "Who doesn't cry at the sight of the ocean?" he added sardonically.
"I was crying because it reminded me of Adam", the witch curtly replied. "God, everything reminds me of him lately".
"Tell me about it. I haven't gone in my garage in the past week just because it reminds me of Cassie and when she first asked me out", Nick confessed. "I either get depressed as hell or feel like smashing shit". Diana looked at Nick in surprise but a sad smile crossed her lips.
"I forgot. I'm not alone in my grief", Diana began, following his gaze across the waves, "You and I are in the same boat. Left to pick up the pieces of our hearts while the other person finds a new love". Diana hated the bitter note in her voice and sighed to herself. "I don't hate them. I don't want to hate them but sometimes…" Diana shrugged.
"Sometimes you can't help it", Nick finished for her. Hating people wasn't hard for Nick. He had spent most of his childhood hating his own parents for dying so young, hating the other kids for being so damn happy, like Conant. Hating people for having more than he did. For Diana, this must be a new sensation, Nick realized. She had always been the nice, gentle girl in the neighborhood. The one who gave people like Nick and Faye a second chance. But second chances run out and there's only so many times you can forgive people, Nick thought, before you become completely bitter. Nick had become pretty bitter himself these past years and might have gotten worse if it had been for Cassie. The idea that Diana could become bitter bothered Nick.
"You know, it's okay to be angry Diana. You've been dating Conant since you were ten. That's a long time and now your relationships over because he's soul mates with someone else. That blows. You've got every right to be angry", Nick told her bluntly. "You just can't let it rule you life, trust me, I know. I spent a long time being angry".
"But you're not angry now?" Diana asked softly. The blond man looked at her, really looked at Diana. For years she had always been the innocent girl next door. Diana the good girl. Diana the virtuous. Diana, Adam's girlfriend. But Diana's not Conant's girlfriend anymore, part of Nick's mind whispered and he began to see just how beautiful Diana was when she was just herself.
Nick smiled, "No, not at this moment".