-Cassie-
It had been years since Cassie had seen Adam- since she had seen any of the Circle really. After graduation she had made the hardest decision of her life. She sighed as she let herself become immersed in her memory...
It was the last day of school in her senior year and the Circle had gathered at Diana's house. Cassie sat with Adam in a plush flower-patterned couch. Everyone was utterly in shock over the fact that they were all leaving, that the they wouldn't have the Circle anymore. They all sat in silence until Diana smiled with a false cheeriness and said, "So, Cassie, what are you're plans for the summer?"
Cassie stared for a moment before Adam nudged her into response.
"Oh...I'm going to spend most of it here...", she took a deep breath. I have to tell them at one point, she thought. "...before I go away to UCLA." There. It was out.
For one blessed moment it was amazingly quiet. Then, without warning, all hell broke lose.
Nick was first to stand and shout 'WHAT!?' at the top of his lungs. Adam quickly followed, then Diana, and before Cassie knew it...every member of the Circle (excluding Faye) was standing shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Will everyone shut up?! You all are giving me a headache!", Cassie shouted at the very top of her lungs. Everyone was stunned into silence and they all sat down.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys sooner, but I only found out a week ago.", Cassie sighed. "I was hoping to tell you all in a more formal way, but I didn't seem to have the chance. Anyways, its not like I am leaving the Circle in any imminent danger! Black John is dead and the Outsiders are well in control. Plus, I will only be a few thousand miles away." As she said this she glanced at Adam, he looked like a statue. It was quiet for a moment before someone whispered "But why Cassie?". And then Cassie just broke, all the emotions she had been repressing, were let go. She was so sad to leave, but somewhere in her heart she knew that it was the right thing. Adam held her tightly while she sobbed into his chest.
"All right, everyone go home. You guys can come back tomorrow and we'll all...talk.", Diana said in her calm leader voice. Cassie and Adam stayed on the couch while everyone else grumbled and trudged begrudgingly outside.
"Cassie...are you really leaving us? Leaving me?", Adam asked her quietly. In that moment all she could think about was the hurt brewing in the depths of his ocean-colored eyes. All she did was nod and his hurt flooded into his eyes and broke like the waves of the ocean. She looked away and shed a single tear.
That had been forever ago, and she hadn't heard from any of the Circle since then. Apparently, her leaving New Salem meant that she didn't matter anymore. Adam had even gotten over her and gone back to Diana. She laughed bitterly, so much for never being truly happy without the other person, she thought to herself. All this wallowing was making her hurt too much. She quickly gathered the trash from the coffee table she was sitting at and went to throw it away. But as she was getting up she bumped into someone who was very familiar...