Welcome back Amanda lovers! This is the next "book" in the Amanda/Nick trilogy. This is darker than usual and Amanda in most of this story is different than in Connected. You need to keep reading to find out why! This is going to be a little shorter than Connected as I needed to leave a lot open in order to get to the end result I want for the final book. Reviews and suggestions are always welcome!

Xoxo

I don't own the Secret Circle but Amanda is all mine

Nick POV

It had been a few weeks since we defeated the Gray Circle and Amanda and I were happier than ever. We had been working on the house and it was coming along but not quite ready to movie in yet. Throughout the renovations I started to learn more about Amanda and I was surprised by how much I didn't know about her and from the look on her face when she learned how much I love to cook and how much I always wanted to learn how to play the guitar she was surprised too. My love for her hadn't faltered once but however the words White Morris has said about us be brought together only for the circles to meet had me uneasy. Amanda had said that she didn't feel that way but as time went on I wondered if she did. I felt silly thinking those things and finally decided that I was only being paranoid.

Robbie had decided to stay in New Salem. It turned out his connection to Deborah was quite strong and they couldn't be apart either. I was happy that Deb was happy and I was even happier because I liked Robbie a lot. He helped a lot at the house and was going to be the other mechanic at the shop. Amanda and Deborah were also spending a lot of time together and it was nice to see the two people who I cared about the most becoming lifelong friends. I could picture us in a few years having barbecues and playing with the kids on the beach. My life was headed in a direction I never thought and I couldn't be more thrilled.

It was Halloween and Laurel and Cassie had convinced Mr. Humphries who was now the school principal to let the members of the Club that graduated last year to attend the Halloween dance at the high school. We all agreed we would go. Samhain was witches' favorite holiday so we would leave the dance at 11 and then head to the beach to celebrate. Robbie and I were inventorying my dad's shop and Amanda was spending the day with Deborah putting the finishing touches on their costumes then they were going to head to Suzan's around 530 to get ready and the girls insisted the guys meet them at the dance. I wasn't dressing up. It was about 5 PM and I walked into my bedroom at Number Two as Amanda was taking a black garment bag out of my closet "so what's your costume " I asked plopping down into the computer chair. She smiled as she laid the garment bag on the couch. She came over to me, sat on my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck and shook her head. "You'll find out tonight" she smiled mischievously and I kissed her passionately. She kissed me back and her mouth was so inviting. The way she tasted was the most delicious mixture of lemon and lavender. She started kissing my neck and I moaned lightly at the feel of the electric current every kiss left on my skin. "You're going to be late" I panted. She intertwined her fingers into my hair and said "they can wait" and she pulled my face to hers. I carried her to the bed and we got lost in each other. We were laying there facing each other and I was stroking her face and looking into those beautiful eyes which was my favorite thing to do. "I love you Nick" she cooed "forever" I whispered and kissed her. She pulled back and groaned. "I know" I said kissing her forehead smiling at her pout y face "you have to go". She kissed me quick and got up, got dressed, tossed some things in a tote back and grabbed the garment bag. I walked over and said "can't wait to see your mystery costume" and kissed her. "See you at the dance. I'll be the one in yellow" she said over her shoulder as she walked out the door. I laughed and shook my head.

Amanda POV

I hated to leave Nick. Every time we were apart my head was always wherever he was. We had been so busy working on the house together and him and Robbie were starting to get the shop ready that the time we got together, usually at night, was my favorite part of my days. I loved him so much – everything about him, his coolness, his toughness, his sweetness, the sound of his voice and those damn eyes of his. I also loved the new things I was learning about him though I was uneasy. I mean yeah we hadn't been together for that long and even though I felt like I had known him forever, I was surprised just how much I didn't know and wondered if Nick's concerns over what White Morris had said were valid. I sighed as I reached Suzan's door. I rang the bell and heard someone yell "upstairs". I walked in and went up to Suzan's room.

"Amanda, where have you been?" Suzan scolded. "Sorry" I said ignoring the question. "You got my costume?" Deborah came up to me taking the garment bag. "Yeah it's in there along with the head piece put the costume on first I'll do your hair when I'm out of the tub" I replied. There was excitement in the air and all the girls were giggling. I loved to sew and I had taken Sharon Armstrong's old sewing table and the bundles of beautiful fabrics and ribbon I had found in the attic and set it up in one of the spare bedrooms and I made mine and Deborah's costumes, I helped Melanie, Laurel and Suzan with there's and Cassie had come by Number Seven to use my sewing machine when hers broke to put the finishing touches on hers. I went into the bathroom and took a bath with Suzan's beauty bath mix and it was so nice and relaxing. I came out of the tub wrapped in a fluffy robe and my hair up in a towel. "Hey Laurel plug in the big curling iron, hot rollers and flat iron" Suzan called as she was finishing up Deborah's make up. Everyone was transforming and it was so much fun to be a part of. "OK Amanda you have Deborah's head piece?" Suzan asked motioning me over. I went into the garment bag and took out the long black haired wig that was already styled into a loose braid. I put the wig on Deborah and adjusted it. She scowled as I tugged "ouch" she whined "sorry" I said as I placed a small tiara on top of her head. I didn't even pay attention to her oohing and ahhing as I was concentrating on my own make up as Laurel and Cassie were putting half my hair in hot rollers and curling the other half with the curling iron. When my hair was finally done I placed a small silver and crystal tiara on my head in front of the curly bun that half my hair was in on top of my head. I went and slipped on my costume then my gold ballet flats and I was done. I looked in the mirror and I was in awe. The other girls came behind me and we all looked amazing. Like something right out of a movie. Everyone was smiling and ready for whatever this magical night had to offer.

We all piled into cars and took the short ride down to the high school Deborah and I rode with Cassie and Laurel. "These costumes were such a great idea" Laurel said as we parked. We were greeted by Faye and Diana in the parking lot. Well, the others were greeted by Faye, she still had an issue with me and Nick. The both looked stunning in their ceremonial shifts. Normally I would wear mine but not tonight. I was so excited about the costumes and I was really excited for tonight. We walked through the front door and down the locker covered hallway towards the gym. The music was pumping and there was electricity in the air. The double doors to the gym were open with orange metallic streamers hanging from the top of the doorway like a sparking curtain. I followed the girls through the curtain and I was the last one to enter. When we walked through and into the gym there were sparkling orange and black streamers swirling everywhere. The overhead lights were dimmed and the way the lights from the DJ booth reflected and bounced of the streamers it cast a glow across the entire gym. I scanned the room filled with teenagers until I stopped at a tall, dark figure pushing through the crowd. He walked up to me those mahogany eyes smiling along with rest of his of face, took my hand and led me away from the crowd.