13

My Dad was waiting for me after school, and I knew it was time to deal with his actions. For better or worse, he was my Dad and nothing could change that. I didn't believe that splitting me and Adam up was for the greater good, but I still wanted to hear his reasoning. More than that, I really wanted to go home to my own bed and my star-studded ceiling. "I don't forgive you," I said by way of greeting.

"I don't expect you to. Can we go somewhere and talk?"

I thought about my favorite spot on the coast, but declined to mention it. It was raining, and I wanted to get away from school. "Coffee shop."

"Won't your Circle be there?"

"Maybe. So what?"

"I thought you needed a break from them."

"Not just me."

He motioned me toward the car and I sat as far away from him as I could. Hunkered down like I was, maybe no one would notice me. But that wasn't in the cards, for Adam and Poppy chose that moment to cross in front of us. Adam glared at my Dad as we passed, which did nothing to help his mood. "Who's the girl?"

"She's no one."

Dad flicked a concerned glance at me. "Are you sure? Seems kind of odd that he'd take up with another girl so soon."

"So suddenly you're an expert on Adam Conant?"

Dad sighed. "I know Ethan, and Adam is just like him."

"Noted, but why ask the question?"

"Anyone new is suspicious. When did that girl come to town?"

I didn't know Poppy's history. "I have no idea."

We stopped at a light and I felt his steely eyed gaze on me. "I'd look into it."

"And how am I supposed to do that? Adam took my head off today for warning him about her."

He smiled as we turned onto the main boulevard. "So you don't trust her either."

Dad might be happy we agreed on this point, but it didn't win any points with me. "She gives me the creeps."

"I trust your instincts, Cassie. Don't let this go."

Maybe Sally could help me. She was no friend of the cheerleaders, and probably would get off on playing Veronica Mars. "I won't."

Sure enough, when we arrived, everyone but Adam was holding court in our usual spot. Melissa waved and Jake nodded, but the others didn't spot me until after we sat down. "So what's going on with you guys?"

"We're at odds."

"Over what?"

Dad seemed inordinately interested in my Circle. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because you're my daughter, and I want you to be happy."

Here it goes again. "If that was true, you wouldn't have pulled that potion crap."

"You don't see the long view, Cassie."

"Don't go all big picture on me. I see well enough."

That stopped him for a second. "Do you?"

"You're afraid of history repeating itself. So you push me away from Adam and toward Jake, because Jake reminds you of yourself at that age."

Dad nodded. "Maybe you're right."

"I know I'm right. I also know that something happened on that boat that your Circle is covering up. And one way or another, it will all come out."

He leaned forward and took my hand. "For your sake, I hope that never happens. Because trust me, digging up the past will cause nothing but grief."

"You think we're better off left in the dark?"

"About this, yes."

"And why is that?"

"Because you and Adam will never forgive Ethan and Amelia for what they did."

My entire body tightened with tension. "How can you blame Mom for any of this? She's dead."

Dad's face fell. "I don't blame anyone, Cassie. And I'd hope that others felt the same way about me."

"Why should they? Have you done anything to deserve their trust?" Or mine, for that matter.

He let go of my hand when Adam stalked in. "I promise that in time, you will understand everything."

Dad and Adam wordlessly crossed paths, and their tension was palpable. I sauntered back to the Circle, and directing my words to Adam, I said, "We need to discuss Poppy."

Angry voices erupted, and I felt a sudden pain in my temples. I put my head in my hands and felt someone touch my shoulder. Looking through one eye, I was surprised to see Melissa staring at me with concern. "Are you OK?" she asked softly, knowing why I had to do this.

"I will be," I said, watching Diana try to placate Adam.

"What does your Dad think?" Jake asked.

"He agrees with me."

"Then we should look into this," Faye said, stunning the hell out of me with her agreement.

Adam finally sat down, lips pursed in sour resignation. "Let's get this over with. I have a midterm to study for."

"Does anyone know when Poppy came to Chance Harbor?" I asked, my eyes scanning the group.

Diana shrugged and looked at Adam. "I have no idea. Adam?"

He looked at his feet before raising his head and spearing me with those damned eyes of his. "I don't know. Why does it matter?"

"Because there's something off about her," I stated boldly, meeting his truculent gaze with my own force of will.

"Off," Adam echoed. "What does that even mean?"

Faye cut in, "It means, she's an evil bitch. Even I feel it, Adam. And the crazy way you've been acting tells me something bad is about to go down."

Adam looked at all of us like he didn't get it. "If I'm acting crazy, it's only because of that potion I was forced to drink."

Melissa said, "Sorry, Adam, but this started after that. You took up with that...Poppy, and your entire personality changed."

Faye once again put in her three cents. "In other words, you've been a complete asshat."

He looked ready to spit nails. "See what you've started?" This was directed to me, but I chose to ignore it.

"It had to be done," Jake said.

"Of course you would say that," Adam said, turning his venom in Jake's direction.

"You would do the same thing in my place, and you know it." Jake remained cool under pressure, and I found myself admiring his composure.

"Then what about Grant?" Adam asked, ignoring Diana's look of shock. "Why should any of us trust him? If you're going after Poppy, then maybe you should spy on him too."

"Adam, he's cool," Diana said in a hurt tone.

"Only because you say so?"

"He seems like a normal guy."

Adam kicked at a post. "Equal treatment, remember? If we're going all Scooby on Poppy, then we should follow Grant around too."

Diana said, "That's not going to be possible. He's out at sea for the next month."

"How convenient," Adam said in a quieter tone, all fight seeming to go out of him.

"So we agree?" I asked, reinstating myself into the flow.

Everyone but Adam nodded. Before the others got up to leave, he added, "Since we're going after people, maybe someone should look into Blackwell."

He looked over to see my reaction but seemed surprised when I nodded. "I agree. He's lied to us already about not having magic, and he made up the curse. What comes next, stealing our power?"

Diana looked worried. "You really think he'd turn on us like that?"

In my gut, I knew this to be true. "Absolutely. He'll stop at nothing to regain his full power."

Jake seemed disturbed by my words. "What if he's only trying to protect us, Cassie? We have no proof either way."

Adam smirked. "That's why you're gonna be the one to spy on him, Jake."

He shook his head. "I don't think I can do that."

Faye said, "Who better? You have an in with him."

Jake couldn't argue with that. "I think you guys are wrong about him."

I looked at him. "Maybe so, but someone has to do it. It can't be me."

Seeing something in my gaze, Jake finally nodded. "I'll do it for you, Cassie, if only to prove how wrong you are."

"I really hope that's true, Jake." And I meant that with all my heart, but I'd never admit it to anyone.

We all stood up and Melissa asked, "Do you have a place to stay tonight, Cassie? You're always welcome at my house."

I smiled. "Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll go home tonight."

Diana came up after the others left. "Do you have a minute to chat?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"I wanted to apologize. For what you overheard the other night, and for...the drama queen comment."

"You're forgiven."

"And I was hoping we could start fresh...with everything."

I was sure that on one level, Diana was utterly sincere about reconnecting with me. But more importantly, she wanted to keep the Circle intact and would do anything to make that happen. "We can try," I said, not committing myself either way.

"Good. So I'll see you later up at the house? We're supposed to work with Melissa on some herbal spells."

The last thing I wanted to do was drag myself out on a rainy night. "Sure. See you then."