Disclaimer: These characters (Cassie and the Circle, etc.) were originally created by L.J. Smith. They all belong to her creative genius. However, the plot of this story and a few new characters are my own creations. I'm not making any money off of this, so please don't sue me.
Cassie Blake had stolen the show. She could feel the stares. The envy. The wonder. The desire.
She could sense the energy from it all, heightening her inner Power. She had the urge to throw back her head and laugh with reckless glee, but she resisted. Instead she smiled coolly at her crowd of observers, inviting them to approach.
She was mobbed in an instant.
"Cassie, will you dance with me?" asked a guy she had never seen before.
"No, Cassie—please! Dance with me!" begged Danny Korgan, from her science class. He sounded like he was in pain.
Then came so many requests that Cassie couldn't even distinguish one from another. It was just a muddle of voices, pleading with her and threatening each other defensively.
Cassie ignored them all and tried to slip through the throng of people. She was forced to stop when a young guy, obviously a freshman, got down on his knees in front of her. "Marry me?" he asked.
Cassie couldn't help but laugh slightly then. She smiled at him softly and patted him gently on the head as she stepped around him.
There was only one guy she was interested in tonight.
And there was no way he'd be able to resist her now. She was sure of it. She had spent hours putting the finishing touches on her necklace, just as Faye had instructed.
Her Power was undeniable. She could feel it coursing through her veins, augmented by the garnet, carnelian and onyx stones at her throat. She had never been more certain of herself, her beauty or her charm.
Adam didn't stand a chance against her. All she had to do was look at him, and he'd be a goner.
But where was he? It was hard to see through the mass of bodies surrounding her. People were following her and begging.
There. She spotted a wine-colored head between the shoulders of two guys on the basketball team. Adam. It was time to make her move.
He was looking at her, of course. Everyone was. But he had his arms around Diana. They were dancing.
Come to me, thought Cassie, sending a surge of Power and meeting his gaze.
Diana was staring.
Let her, thought Cassie. Who cares what she thinks?
She saw Adam start to release his grasp on Diana, but then someone stepped in front of her and their connection was broken.
It was Sean. Annoying as always.
"Hi, Cassie. I mean, wow. You look hot—I mean, really great!" he corrected. His eyes drifted to her neckline and downward from there. "Do you want to dance?"
Cassie stepped around him and tried to find Adam's gaze once again, but she was too late. Adam had turned the other way and was facing Diana. They were still dancing.
She groaned inwardly. Damn it.
"Why is it that you only want what you can't have?" murmured a smooth, deep voice from behind her. The vowels were elongated slightly, emphasizing a different dialect than most of what she heard spoken around New Salem.
Cassie glanced back to see Carl Pendergrass standing behind her. He smiled, revealing a dimple in his cheek.
Suddenly Cassie could see why Faye was so interested in him. He was tall and trim and boyishly handsome. But there was something else about him. Something she hadn't noticed before.
It was his manner. He stood just inches from her face, but unlike the other guys who had approached her, he didn't seem excessively eager or frantically nervous. He had an air of confidence about him. And when he offered her his hand to dance, he moved gracefully and with purpose.
He was almost… elegant. Far too regal for a high school dance.
Diana had referred to him as a 'Southern Gentleman' and Cassie supposed the term was fitting. There was definitely something noble about Carl Pendergrass.
They danced to a slow tune before Cassie was accosted by Eric Duke, who was in her English class. Since she couldn't see Adam anywhere around, she decided to dance with Eric, too.
Afterwards she spotted Adam standing with Diana and Melanie. He was watching her, unable to tear his eyes away.
Cassie went in for the kill.
She walked directly over to him, her eyes never wavering. Once she got close enough she could see the overwhelming effect she was having on him.
His lips parted. He looked breathless. His eyes were wide.
"Cassie," he murmured. "You're… amazing." He shook his head in bewilderment.
"Dance with me," Cassie said, ignoring the looks Melanie and Diana were giving her. She held out her hand.
A slow song was starting up. She could see Adam start to nod in agreement, but the moment was shattered by Melanie.
"But Adam, you already told Diana that you would dance the next slow one with her," Melanie interjected, shoving Diana forward and into Adam's shoulder. "Sorry, Cassie, I'm sure you understand," she added with a forced shrug.
Melanie pushed the couple off to the dance floor before they could protest. Adam glanced back twice. Diana did not.
Cassie bit her lip.
Melanie was glaring at her. The taller girl stood with her hands on her hips.
"What the hell are you doing, Cassie?" she demanded.
"What?" Cassie tried her best to look innocent. "I don't know what you mean."
"The hell you don't," said Melanie. "You've been acting different for weeks. Everyone's noticed. I used to think that you were my friend."
"I am your friend," Cassie exclaimed.
Melanie shook her head. "You're into something, Cassie. I can tell. And whatever it is, it's bad." She paused for a second before continuing, crossing her arms across her chest. "You may fool Diana and Adam, the rest of the Club, and maybe even yourself. But you don't fool me. So as your friend, I'm going to give you some advice. Stop it. Stop it now, before it's too late."
Cassie could feel a surge of Power swell inside of her. Her eyes flared. "Or you'll what?"
She saw a faint flicker of fear in Melanie's gray eyes, but the other girl didn't back down. "I'll think of something."
"Oooh," whined Cassie, her voice laced with sarcasm. "You do that." Then she grinned, twirling her fingers in a tiny wave. Her fingernails were painted blood red. "Bye now."
Cassie was beyond caring what Melanie thought at this point. Or who Melanie told.
She was so close to getting that Power. So close to snagging Adam for good. What did anything else matter?
Cassie turned and stalked into the crowd leaving a breathless Melanie staring behind her.
She hadn't gone very far before she came across another altercation.
"Carl doesn't want to have anything to do with you. And neither did Jeffrey! Why can't you just leave people alone?" Sally shrieked.
Faye was clutching Carl's arm tightly. Cassie couldn't see his expression since his back was to her. "This dance is mine," Faye told Sally.
"Bitch," spat Sally. She turned and stormed away on her heel.
Well, well, well, thought Cassie. Carl Pendergrass was suddenly turning out to be one hot commodity. Wasn't he supposedly dating Portia?
For such a gentleman, he certainly got around.
The slow song was ending. Cassie spied Adam and Diana on the dance floor and made a beeline for them. Before she got there, however, Adam walked off in the opposite direction.
Cassie sighed in frustration.
Diana, on the other hand, had spotted Cassie and made her way over. "I thought you were grounded tonight, Cass," she commented softly. She was obviously trying not to sound accusatory.
"Yeah, I am," she replied. "But I figured the dance was too important to miss after all."
Diana followed Cassie's gaze over to the punch bowl where Adam was busily grabbing two cups. "He'll be back in a minute. I'm sure he'll want to dance with you," she said earnestly.
The two girls met up with Laurel on the sidelines. She greeted them enthusiastically and then her expression changed. "Uh-oh, Cassie. You might want to hide for a minute. Here comes Sean. He's been after you all night."
Sure enough, Sean Dulaney, was headed straight for her. He looked overly excited, like a puppy that was about to wet himself.
"I'll be back in a minute," Cassie winked and ducked into the crowd.
Sean looked incredibly disappointed that he had just missed Cassie. In fact, he looked even more disappointed than Adam felt.
Adam had been busy scanning the crowd for the last few minutes, but he hadn't seen Cassie yet. He was so distracted that when someone brushed by him he forgot to mind the drink he was holding. The cup of bright red punch splattered all over the front of Diana's ivory silk gown.
"Diana, I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed. Then he grimaced. Diana's outfit now sort of resembled Carrie's prom dress.
He was pretty sure Diana wasn't a fan of Stephen King.
"It's alright," she responded, remaining calm even though her dress was obviously ruined.
"Let me help you clean it up at least," said Adam. He looked around for some napkins or paper towels to at least absorb some of the liquid.
"It's no use," Diana shook her head. "I think I'm going to just run home and change really quick. It won't take that long and I can be back here with time left to dance."
"Well, let me drive you, at least," Adam offered, desperate to please. He bit his lip. He really wanted to find Cassie and dance with her or talk to her; anything, really. He just wanted to be near her. But he wanted to be polite, as well. He always remembered his duty.
He supposed he could be back here in time to find Cassie and dance with her before the night was over.
"Are you sure you wouldn't mind?" Diana looked hopeful. "I rode over here in Melanie's car and I would hate to make her leave."
"Yeah, it's not a problem," replied Adam, hiding his frustration. "We'll catch you guys in a bit," he called to Sean and Laurel, before heading out of the gym with Diana.
Nick stumbled as he reached the top of the stairs, bruising his knee on the top riser.
"Shit," he muttered, grabbing the doorknob to steady himself.
"You are so trashed," Deborah laughed. She was gloating. She had just cleaned the Henderson brothers and himself out of everything in their wallets. Deb was one hell of a poker player.
"Shut up," Nick said, even though he knew it was true. He leaned against the door to the Boiler Room and groaned. He was having trouble turning the knob.
"Drunk and broke." Deborah grinned and then shoved past him into the hallway, forcing the door open. "All of you," she called behind her.
Nick could hear the Henderson brothers struggling on the stairs below him.
No one could hold their liquor like Deb either. She loved to rub it in.
"I ought to leave your wasted asses on the stairs, but you big, tough boys might hurt yourselves," she said mockingly, feigning like she was inconvenienced.
She waited until all three guys had entered the hallway and then she looped her arm around Doug, who wasn't looking so good.
"N-n-next t-time, I'm gonna win," slurred Doug.
"We'll see about that," Deborah laughed again.
Nick found himself walking aimlessly behind Chris, Deborah and Doug, following them towards the loud music emanating from the gymnasium.
As they rounded the next corner, Chris crashed right into Sally Waltman, who was coming from the opposite direction. The ricochet sent her reeling into a locker and Chris into the water fountain, where he promptly began to dry heave.
"Ow!" cried Sally. "What is wrong with you people?" She scowled at Chris, who was still heaving over the water fountain. "You are disgusting,"she exclaimed. Then she glanced at the rest of them. "And your friend Faye is a man-eating bitch."
Deborah glared.
"What?" Sally goaded them. "You don't have anything to say about that?"
"F-f-f-" Doug began, but couldn't quite get the word out. He drunkenly tried to point his finger at her and kept missing. Meanwhile, Chris was finally starting to vomit in the water fountain. Deborah continued to stand there in silence, a menacing look plastered on her face.
Deb probably can't think of a smart ass remark, realized Nick. She's almost as drunk as the rest of us.
It was suddenly too much for Nick. Sally was right, anyway. Faye was a man-eating bitch. Why bother to defend her?
He began to laugh, leaning against the wall of lockers for support. He laughed harder than he had laughed in months.
Had he actually laughed in months? He couldn't remember.
He supposed it didn't matter. Drunk or not, it felt good.
He needed to let loose more often. Deb was always saying so. Maybe he ought to start now.
Sally, however, was not impressed. She rolled her eyes at him and then stepped past Deborah and Doug, disappearing down the hall.
"Whew," sighed Chris, standing up. "That feels better." He had a lopsided grin on his face.
"Too bad you didn't throw up on Sally," muttered Deborah. She began to pull Doug towards the gym. "That would have been classic."
Nick had to agree, it would have been entertaining.
As they reached the double doors that led to the gymnasium they passed Adam and Diana heading out.
"Dude, what happened?" asked Chris, staring at Diana's dress. He swayed a little on his feet.
"Just a spill," replied Diana.
"We'll see you guys later," said Adam. His blue-gray eyes trailed over the four of them.
Nick could read the look in those eyes. It was full of disdain. Conant didn't approve of their drinking or their gambling.
Nick returned the other boy's gaze evenly. He certainly didn't give a damn about what Adam thought.
He walked into the gym with Deb and the Hendersons, determined to let loose a bit.
The night was still young. Maybe he could have a good time.
Cassie had just escaped from an overzealous fan. The poor boy had actually tried to kiss her while they were dancing and had been devastated when she refused.
She had to admit it. Tonight her Power was incredible. She couldn't wait until she had even more flowing through her fingertips.
It was all she could think about. How good it would feel. How unstoppable she could be. The thrill. The excitement. She could barely contain herself.
And where was Adam?
She was going to die if she didn't get this over with soon. She had to have that Power. Plain and simple. She would do anything to get it.
The onyx at her throat burned at the thought.
Soon, she hoped.
"How's it going so far?" asked Faye, strolling up beside her.
"If I can just get Adam to dance with me, I'm home free," Cassie replied. "But I can't seem to find him anywhere."
Deborah caught up with them a few seconds later. "Faye, I just saw Sally in the hall. You must have really pissed her off. She called you a man-eating bitch."
"Interesting," said Faye, her amber eyes narrowing. "There are actually a few things I would like to say to Sally myself. I think I'm going to go and find her. Maybe we can work it out." Faye flashed a wicked grin. "I'll see you girls later."
Cassie wondered what she meant by "work it out." Faye made it sound malicious.
"You haven't seen Adam have you?" Cassie asked, glancing around.
"Yeah, I just saw him a few minutes ago. He and Diana were leaving," Deborah said casually.
Cassie felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
"What?" she gasped.
"He left with Diana," Deb repeated. "Cassie, are you ok?" Her voice was concerned.
Cassie nodded, trying to keep her cool. Inside she felt like she was going to lose it.
Breathe, Cassie. Breathe, she told herself. Act normal. Everything is fine.
But everything was not fine.
Adam was gone. He had left with Diana. Her spell was ruined. All that Power--she'd never have it now.
Suddenly she felt faint. Oh, God, what was she going to do?
"Hi, Cassie," Nick's voice cut through her thoughts. She hadn't heard him approach.
"Are you sure you're alright, Cass?" Deborah asked. She still sounded worried.
Cassie glanced up at Nick's tall figure next to her. "I'm just fine, Deb," she responded, without looking at the other girl.
A new idea was working its way through her mind. She held out her hand to Nick. "Would you like to dance?"
There was no way he could have resisted, even if he had wanted to. The necklace's charm was incredibly alluring. He stepped forward and clasped her hand.
Nick Armstrong was a goner.