Adam walked his girlfriend to her locker, and kissed her. Cassie had blushed a deep red, and he realized that she was still not used to this. "Someday my love, you're going to stop caring about what other people think." He had not been able to help it he loved her and he didn't care if the rest of the student body knew it. A part of him thrilled at the idea simply because it served to put other guys on notice that Cassie was taken. He looked down at Cassie's hand intertwined in his, and decided it was notably lacking in jewelry. He would have to do something about that, and soon. With those thoughts Adam let her know that he was going to the office for a bit, and would see her when class went out.

Adam entered the office and knocked on the Guidance Counselor's door. The older man with salt and pepper hair and brown eyes framed by spectacles was just a little shorter than Adam, and he let Adam into the office. He returned to his desk indicating that Adam should have a seat. "What brings you here today Mr. Conant?" It was indeed a surprise to the older man, Adam Conant had never bothered coming in for anything. As a matter a fact, the man hadn't been so sure that college ever entered the young man's mind. Finally Adam asked, "I wanted to see which schools were a possibility for me, and what it might take to open up more." The Guidance Counselor nodded more than a little surprised.

The older man turned and pulled out Adam's file and looked at his most recent transcript and test scores. "Well we can safely place you in a couple of schools locally." He handed Adam a piece of paper and pencil to jot notes with. Adam wrote down the couple of schools both here in Salem. "What about California schools?" That took the Guidance Counselor by surprise. The Conant family had never really left the island not for more than a business trip. He knew this having grown up on the island himself. He had gone to school with Adam's parents, and neither of them had been given to dreams of traveling. It surprised him that the young man in front of him would be considering leaving his home and elderly Grandmother. That was when it came to him. Rumor had circulated around the small town the last couple of days that Adam Conant and Diana Meade had broken up. That same rumor said that the young man was now seeing Cassie Blake. Alexandra Howard had run all the way to the other coast to raise her daughter until this last year. Adam's relationship with Cassie might explain why he was suddenly interested in going to California for school. That brought a small smile the older man's face. He liked both girls, but there was something about Cassie just as there had been about her mother. She would be good for the young man in front of him. "If your reasons are what I think they are then I suggest you start out here, and work hard in school. Attend a local school for a year and then put in as a transfer, and the University of California at most branches might be an option. Given Cassie's grades she'll want to go to: UC-Northridge or Berkley." Adam nodded, and with that he got a pass, and went to what was left of his class.

Adam Conant took his job as Cassie's boyfriend seriously. He hurried from his class to Cassie's writing class, where he made a point of walking her to her next class. This was going to be a long day for him. He wanted to talk to her, but not here where they were in front of people, because he didn't know how she'd react to what he was thinking. So, he squeezed her hand and allowed her to go into her next class. Little did Adam know that trouble would be looming so quietly in Cassie's class, just waiting for her to take her seat next to him?

The teacher walked in and class started. "Class I want to introduce a new student Tyler Yakimoto. He is new here, and I want you to make him feel welcome." With that class started, and she hardly paid any mind to the new kid sitting next to her.

Lunch finally came, and Cassie and Adam found their way to the back room, which was once again the exclusive domain of the club. Once they entered Susan turned her attention to Cassie, "Have you seen the new guy yet?" Cassie shrugged, "Yeah he is in my Algebra class." Susan rolled her eyes, she had completely ignored the fact that Cassie's relationship was so new that she probably couldn't let her thoughts stray even if she had wanted. Adam on the other hand was not so sure. He turned to look in his girlfriend's eyes. He was not used to feeling insecure and unsure, but Cassie had been willing to date Nick, and regardless of the circumstances that left him feeling like he could lose her. He relaxed a little when he saw nothing there, but her love for him, the same as on that first night on the bluff by number 12.

The bell rang after they had all at least tried to eat. Adam took Cassie to her next class, and told her, "After school I want to talk to you somewhere private. Is there a spot that would be alright?" He didn't want to push boundaries with Cassie, but this conversation required that they not be interrupted. Cassie worried her lower lip, "That depends on your definition of private." That stunned him. His Cassie wasn't a flirt. It was one of the things that had allowed him to know that something was up that night after the skull ceremony. This had a different tone to it though than it had that night. She wanted him as he did her. Her face showed that she was nervous, and she could see the burning in Adam's eyes. She knew that she was toeing a fine line here. Adam loved her, and was willing to respect her, but he was a guy and wanted what every man does. Adam knew that Cassie's nerves had been set on edge, but, so had his. So, he decided to ease both of their minds, "I wanted to talk to you about my Guidance meeting and I'm not sure how you'll react. I'd just rather this be between us for now." Cassie nodded, "We can go to my place then. My mom won't be home until tomorrow since she went to visit a friend in Boston." He nodded, but his mind was now clouded by the thought of spending time with Cassie in an empty house.

Nick Armstrong was not happy about losing Cassie to Conant. It didn't sit right with him that someone like that should get Cassie. He loved her, and would do anything for her. He had been upset when she asked him to that dance, because he could still see that she was into Conant. Cassie had held the line though, going toe to toe with him. She had told him off for talking about her having it bad for Adam. In the end he felt bad for how he had treated her that day. In the end they went together. He had struggled as he watched the events that followed. It was obvious that there was something there that was keeping her tied to that arrogant son of_. He couldn't even bring himself to say that word anymore. That was Cassie's influence. She was just good. She was good, but she was tough, and he couldn't help loving her. He knew that he would go on loving her even if she never did love him back.

Tyler had found his first mark, and he was pleased, she was easy on the eyes which would make the task more enjoyable for him. The only thing that he saw as a potential complication was that she had a very protective and from what he could see possessive boyfriend. Then again he didn't see any ring on that finger. That meant that it might be newer and easier than he might think. He needed to keep closer tabs on the couple to see how intense things really were between them.

Cassie sighed as the bell rang ending the last class of the day. She exited following the rest of her class and walked straight into Adam's arms. He had missed her, and needed to feel her in his arms before they left to have a much more serious conversation. This was not going to be the easiest thing to talk about after all it involved their future together, and would set the course of the rest of their lives.

Tyler Yakimoto waited outside in front of the main entrance of the school. He saw them as they exited. The other guy had his hand protectively enclosing hers. He needed to figure out what weaknesses might exist in their relationship. For his mission to succeed he would need to come between them. Is that possible he thought? He was not as sure as he watched her gaze up at him as he led her to his Jeep. It was not going to be an easy job he could see that now.

Adam pulled the jeep back behind Cassie's house, and parked. He then hurried around to the other side to open Cassie's door for her. He had his work cut out for him. Cassie was still pretty new to this. He wanted to make up for the months of Cassie feeling used and tossed aside. He wanted her to know that she wasn't a whore. She was a wifey-the girl that guys want, and want for keeps. Cassie was it for him and he needed that to be clear to her. Some of his more rational thinking went by the side though as he turned his attention the beauty who was opening the door and his eyes took in the way her tight jeans made her bottom look, and the way that they hugged her hips. Then, he followed her inside the empty house!

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