3

AN: I realized I switched from present tense in the first chapter to past tense in the second chapter. Sorry for that switch. I didn't notice until now.

The alarm clock went off at 6am and I batted my hand at it. It fell to the floor and electronic guts puked out of its case.

"Sheesh," I said in annoyance, scooping up the mess and dumping it on my desk.

Suddenly my spirits brightened as I remembered it was Friday, and I had plans with a normal girl. Sally had texted early this morning and mentioned a 7:00 showing at the multiplex a few towns away. I texted back with an OK and cu at school.

Breakfast was my father's version of an egg mcmuffin, which got inhaled along with the large mug of coffee he handed me. "Thanks," I said through a mouthful of food.

He laughed. "Sure there's not a linebacker inside that tiny body?"

I pretended to consider his question. "I'll get back to you on that."

Dad followed me to the door. "Will you be home after school?"

"For dinner and a shower before I see The Hunger Games with Sally."

"Let me guess. Ordinary girl?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure? She could be a shapeshifter."

I snickered. "Yeah, right."

Dad touched my arm gently. "Try not to dwell on the curse."

"I'm not. Don't worry, OK?" For once, it was the truth. My dreams had been full of sea, sky, and beautiful white sand, and I wanted it to stay that way.

Dad saw me off and I practically ran to the car when I spotted Adam's car at the far end of the street. I backed out like I hadn't seen him and smirked when he missed the light that I barely made it through. But my scowl returned when he caught me at the approach to the school, parking next to me and looking over with those damned eyes of his, eyes that one could drown in. My breath hitched in my chest as I grabbed my keys and stuffed them in my back pocket. I was barely out of the car when he was out and blocking my path. "Please talk to me, Cassie."

I didn't imagine the pain that flashed in his eyes. "Only if you stop stalking me," I commented flippantly.

His eyes narrowed slightly at my tone. "I don't deserve this from you. I'm not the one who engineered this curse, and we had no choice but to drink the potion."

I sighed. "I know that, but this thing about friendship...I can't be your friend right now, Adam."

"Why?"

Sally emerged from her car, with her perfect waterfall of hair shimmering in the sun. She waved and I smiled over Adam's shoulder. "You know why," I said, barely meeting his disappointed gaze before I skirted around him and caught up with Sally.

Sally looked back at Adam for a moment. "Did you just blow him off?"

"Sort of." I linked my arm with hers and we gabbed all the way down the corridor, passing every member of the Circle without breaking stride.

We sat down and Sally remarked, "And you just ignored all your other friends. What's going on?"

"I'm taking a vacation," I said, liking the sound of that.

Sally grinned. "From what?"

"Them."

"For how long?"

I shrugged. "Maybe forever." Other than Diana, I had no use for any of them.

"Forever is a long time," Sally said.

No kidding. I'd spent most of my life without magic, and I sure as hell could live without it now.