They Had Lights in Their Eyes

One

'Just an Ordinary Boy'

She was so stereotypical. Cassie Blake hated to admit that, but it was true:

A mysterious father, hidden well behind the mask of death; a mother killed in a fire her daughter of course was not home for…

Cassie now found herself standing in front of a sign welcoming her to Chance Harbor, Washington. The deep evergreen trees loomed tall and unforgiving, from the small mountain she stood on, and she sighed. How had her mother lived here? Cassie hadn't even reached the hustle and bustle of the town yet, and she already felt herself suffocating. The sky couldn't have been a duller gray, but the eerie surroundings fit her current feelings perfectly, somehow. Maybe being here would actually help Cassie cope: Chance Harbor held lost memories of her mother, and seemed to be fitted especially for her. Life in her mother's old town couldn't be that terrible or heart-wrenching. She'd lived through the death; she could live through the aftermath too.

Cassie breathed in, her chest still tightly constricted. She could feel the tears beginning to form in the corner of her eyes, but she pushed them back harshly. If she began to cry, she knew she'd never be able to stop. One month ago, she'd lost a part of herself. It had burned with her mother in the house fire. What killed Cassie was that she didn't know what she had been stripped of. Overall, she hadn't changed much: save for the accelerated depression and constant melancholy—but that was to be expected. As she slithered her way through her veins, searching for something gone, she began to wonder if it wasn't loss she was feeling. Was it possible Cassie could have gained something after Amelia's death? It seemed almost selfish to think that. Cassie shouldn't be moving on and growing so swiftly, with her mother's death so recent. But as she toggled between loss and gain, she felt the latter winning the already weak argument. Blinking the thought into the turmoil-filled abyss of the back of her mind, Cassie opened the door to her green Subaru, and slid into the driver's seat stiffly.

Chance Harbor was about to have one new resident, and Cassie was determined to make it work.


Cassie Blake pulled up to the simple white house that she guessed to be her grandmother's. Black shutters lined every square window, and perfectly trimmed trees hung over each side of the house. A black steel gate that twisted and twirled like tendrils kept the small house safe—if only in theory. What stood out to Cassie, though, was the bright red front door. It wasn't exactly crimson, but it wasn't dangerously close to hot pink either. It was the oddest of reds she had ever seen. The swirling color kept Cassie captivated, and her tight fingers relaxed around her steering wheel. The quaint house didn't seem too unwelcoming. In fact, it almost seemed to beckon for her to enter. Cassie wondered if her grandmother was even home. A part of her hoped that she wasn't. She didn't think she could fake the smiles and formalities that came with being a new guest to a house.

A new guest. That left an odd ringing in Cassie's head. She was a total stranger to her grandmother. All the two shared were a love for Amelia Blake, and DNA. Was that enough to make a relationship work? Cassie was only sixteen, so she'd have at least two years to spend with her grandmother. Sure, she'd get to know Jane Blake, but that would take time. The first few months were going to be crucial for setting the foundation for a positive relationship.

Rolling her eyes mildly, Cassie took her hands completely from the wheel, and got out of the car. Slamming the door shut, she looked numbly to the house she felt herself walking towards. Flipping up the latch that kept the gate locked, she walked the bit of concrete until she reached the stairs leading up to that curious red door. Cassie went to put her foot on the first step, when she saw the shiny silver doorknob turn, and a woman appear in the doorway.

Cassie looked at the woman, finding herself searching the lady for similarities between her and Amelia. They had the same kind crystal blue eyes that had always dazzled Cassie, and she was soothed to know that wasn't gone forever. Her grandmother had softer features than Amelia had had, though. Hidden by cushiony layers of light skin, her cheekbones looked like perfectly round muffins. All in all, Jane Blake looked to be your average grandmother. Her hair and clothing style were what puzzled Cassie about the woman. She was draped in many light layers of fabrics: blues hovered over oranges, oranges dominated over some deep red. Jane's still reddish curly hair sat lively on her head, falling neatly crazed onto her shoulders. She looked to be a free soul, and Cassie quite liked that.

"Oh, Cassie, it's so good to have you here." Jane smiled at her granddaughter, before scurrying down the steps and enveloping her in a tight hug. Cassie closed her eyes, taking in the smell and feel of her grandmother. Chamomile and vanilla filled the sixteen year old's nostrils, and the sweet scent soothed all of her tight muscles.

"I'm glad to be here," she whispered back shallowly. She wasn't sure if that statement was necessarily true or not yet. "Thank you for taking me in." Cassie began to pull away from Jane, so the woman could see the pleased sparkle in her eyes. Cassie was a firm believer that showing the feelings and truth in the eyes told a lot about a person. She wanted to be a genuine and sincere one—so she made sure her indigo eyes spoke the words she sometimes couldn't form on her lips.

"Come on in. I'll show you your room." Jane put a light hand on Cassie's shoulder, and guided her slowly into the house. "So how was your drive? You must be tired."

"It was alright, I guess," Cassie replied nonchalantly as she followed Jane up the staircase to her room. She was happy that Jane wasn't bombarding her with questions about her mother's death. "I'm a little tired, but I'm too stir-crazy to try and sleep." Cassie gave a little laugh. She should want to sleep, yet somehow the town taunted and tempted her to explore. She was pretty sure she'd give into the calls.

"Well, there's a grill right by the harbor, if you'd like to go there. It's a big hotspot for the teenagers, so I'm sure you could start making friends there." When Jane noticed the dull look on Cassie's face, she quickly continued. "Unless, you'd rather just be alone for a while. The grill's good for that too."

"Grandma," Cassie chuckled in return, "I don't mean to seem so monotone. I guess I'm just… silently adjusting." They'd reached her mother's old room by then, and as she entered, she crossed her arms tightly. This place was her mother's past: a thing she'd never talk about. Now, here Cassie was, standing in the same room Amelia had spent the first eighteen years of her life in. It was kind of poetic how Cassie ended up here, in such a critical turning point in her life. At sixteen, kids start to wonder who they truly are, and what defines them. Cassie would learn a lot about herself through her mother, she hoped. It was all she had to cling to.

"Whatever makes this transition easiest for you," Jane smiled in return. "Well, I'll leave you to your devices. Oh, and if you do decide to go to the grill, it's pretty easy to find. Follow the smell of fish, and sails on the horizon, and you'll be sure to find it. If you do happen to get lost, everyone's real nice here; they'll be sure to help you."

Cassie could already tell that she was falling in love with her grandmother. She knew how to be protective and comforting, without hovering obsessively and enforcing super strict rules.

"Thanks, I'll follow the fish and sails." Cassie smiled, rubbing her upper arm. Jane returned the gesture, and slipped quietly out of the room. Cassie grabbed for the keys she had placed on the white nightstand, and twirled them around her pointer finger as she exited the room. She felt a little silly, going back out when she had just gotten here, but she couldn't bear to be in her mother's room… not yet.


Cassie did as her grandmother had said, and quickly found the grill Jane had spoken so highly of. It was a quaint little place, more equivalent to a shack than a legitimate restaurant. Cassie was okay with that though. It gave the place character, and made it stand out from the generic places that all looked to be the same boring brick building. Staring at the grill, she leaned against her car, unable to move. If she really did go in there, she'd have to greet a whole new set of faces. They'd judge her; she knew they would. A new girl, coming into an intricate town, with a sad look on her face, and a black shirt to hint towards her pain. She'd be the talk of the town…

No. She had to face this. How would she ever get settled here, if she couldn't even build up the courage to make a new friend? Gripping her keys, she breathed in deeply, the fishy scent raping her nose, and walked towards the faded front door.

Cassie was met with a very simplistic setting, containing only the bare minimum. A bar, a cash register, and dark and thin wooden tables and chairs. Black and white pictures were scattered all over the walls, and old newspaper articles, some dated all the way back to the eighteen hundreds, melded perfectly with the dark walls.

The place wasn't too crowded, but Cassie could only have guessed as much. A Sunday night at four pm probably wasn't the main attraction hours. She could pick out the two old men who sat at the back corner of the bar, nursing what looked to be a whiskey and a scotch, as the daily drinkers. She'd even be bold enough to bet that they spent half of their day in the quaint little grill. It's not like she could blame them—there were some things she wished she could drown away with alcohol too.

She walked over to where the waiting bell was, and lightly tapped the top of it. The ding somehow echoed, bouncing off of the wooden walls and floors harmoniously. Cassie could hear shuffling in what she guessed to be the kitchen, and she leaned her elbows on the slick counter. She was never one to be inpatient. She could deal with stagnant silence; in some ways, she preferred it to the stimulating and loud energy. Finally, the shuffling stopped, and someone walked through the doorway and to the cash register Cassie stood by.

She was frozen by him. The boy was simply stunning. Piercing blue eyes that radiated intimidating darkness somehow was calmly alluring to her. They were so much like her mother's. Emotions waltzed passionately in his glittering irises, yet they were still a mystery. Cassie had always loved mysteries. His deep brunette hair stood boldly against his soft candlelight skin, that enveloped the very defined features of his skulls. When Cassie supplied him with a timid curve of the mouth, his thin and loving lips formed a blithe smile.

"What can I do for you?" The boy mimicked Cassie's movement from earlier, and lightly placed his elbows on the counter. The two were so close to touching. Cassie wanted to close the distance, but had no reason or excuse to do so. She kept her arms firmly in their place.

"Uh, well, I've never been here. So what's good?" She felt exhilaratingly nervous. Was it possible to feel a nice kind of stress? Well, even if it was insane, that's what she felt around this guy.

"Never been here, huh?" He raised an eyebrow jokingly at her, but then paused. This couldn't be her. "You're Cassie Blake, aren't you?" It was a mild question, as if he already knew the answer.

"Yeah, I uh am. How did you know that?" Cassie cocked her head to the side. She knew she had a past here, but it couldn't be that well known.

"Oh, sorry. It's just that my dad and your mom used to be friends. I've seen pictures, and you look just like her. I know she had a daughter named Cassie, so by deductive reasoning I guessed." He smiled brilliantly at her. She could tell he was one of those undeniably sexy boys, who had his nerdy moments and traits. It was cute. It reminded Cassie that even the most enchanting of people have utterly human qualities.

"Smart," Cassie smiled. "Well I think it's only fair that since you know my name, I should know yours." Cassie bit her lip. Was she really flirting with him? It should feel so wrong—yet all she could focus on was the right.

"Touché. I'm Adam Conant." His eyes seemed to smirk at her.

"It's nice to meet you, Adam," she told him genuinely. That, she knew to be true. If there was anything she was sure of today, it was that meeting Adam had been exactly what she'd wanted and needed. "So mind telling me about that menu?" She gave a laugh.

"Oh, yeah. Uh, well, I've always found soup to be a real happiness booster in depressing times." Cassie knew he was hinting towards her mother's death. She loved the way he showed her his sympathy.

"What kinds do you have?" Cassie raised an eyebrow. Yeah, she could learn to like this place.

"Not to show bias, but the clam chowder is to die for. But," he taunted, "if you want the other choices, there's chicken noodle or beef chili."

"Usually I'd go for the chicken noodle, but I'm feeling kind of unconventional today. I'll take a cup of the chowder." Cassie smiled, leaning in closer to Adam. She could see him tense slightly. She could tell he had a knack for hiding his emotions; he probably got away with it in most cases. But with Cassie, she tried to let nothing go unnoticed. She was an observer before she was a doer, and Adam was certainly someone she'd take pleasure in figuring out.

"Pick a table, and I'll bring it over. Anything to drink?"

"Surprise me." Cassie pushed off of the counter, and went to the table immediately adjacent to it. Her grandmother had been right—people here were nice. She slid onto the chair, surprised at how comfortable it was. The piece of wood had to have been delicately chiseled, and thoughtfully put together, with the customer's best interest in mind. She wished companies still did that. There was a time, when profits weren't all that mattered…

Cassie felt a sudden sleepiness consume her, and she cradled her head in the bend in her right arm. Eyes closed lightly, she barely noticed when Adam placed a drink on the table. Groggily raising her head, she looked at the bubbling soda, and then to the amused Adam.

"Long drive here," she murmured, before lazily dragging the sweating glass closer to her. Taking a sip from what she learned to be Ginger Ale, she lifted her eyes back to Adam. "Mind if I take a rain check on that soup? I'd probably fall asleep before I got halfway done with it." Cassie shook her head slowly, giving a small smile.

"It rains here a lot, so I expect to get that make-up day soon." Adam laughed at his own corniness, but he didn't point it out as he'd usually do. There was something different about Cassie Blake. She was a benevolent spirit, and didn't seem to judge him. It was official; she'd be welcomed in to Chance Harbor with open arms.

"Yeah, okay, it's a deal." Sucking up a few more sips of Ginger Ale, she got up from her seat, her forearm brushing Adam's.

"I'll see you tomorrow at school, I guess?" Adam leaned against the outside of the backrest of the chair lightly, crossing his arms. He looked to Cassie intently, lost in everything that made up who she was.

She nodded to him in return, allowing a smile to flash across her face. For once, she actually looked forward to the first day of school…


I've only watched an episode and a half of Secret Circle, so please be kind about my characterization. I have no idea where I want to go for sure with this, so I'd really love ideas.

Your thoughts are much appreciated.