Nick POV

The drive back to New Salem seemed to take forever. Her eyes were closed most of the time except for when she talked to Sammy. I was happy to hear that I stuck with her as she said. If she had said she was going to New Mexico I would have gone with her. Admitting to her that I was in love with her solidified the fact that I would never be away from her again not if I could help. I could see the pain on her face feeling responsible for what happened to her coven member Alex. I would do anything to take that pain away. We get to New Salem pretty late and I was hoping that we would be able to relax tomorrow and maybe walk on the beach or something but I knew that wasn't going to happen. Diana had texted me and said that we needed to have a circle meeting at some point tomorrow that included Amanda. The group wanted to see that I was ok and according to Deborah they were dying to meet the girl who broke me . I smiled thinking about that. There was definitely a noticeable change in me and I really was ok with it. I kind of couldn't wait to see the reactions of the circle things have been so intense lately I could use a good laugh.

I nudged Amanda as we were getting off the exit and she opened her eyes. "we are almost there" I said "I'm really nervous about meeting the rest of your group" she said "awe don't be. They will be fine. I'm more nervous about the things they will say about me" I laughed nervously. "what do you mean?" she asked. "let's just say I've softened up quite a bit these last few weeks" I laughed again.

It was dark so she couldn't see much. I traveled through the small town and past the old cemetery "see those lights up there on top the bluff?" I pointed out. She nodded "that's Crowhaven road" I pointed out.

A few moments later I was pulling into the driveway of Number Two. I noticed the light on the top floor of the yellow Victorian across the street was on. "I'm going to text Diana, hold on a second" I said as I noticed her about to get out of the car. I quickly texted we got here safely will see you tomorrow. I got out of the car and went around and opened her door. My house looked dark so I took her in through the garage to my room. I had pretty much taken over the basement. It was finished and the walls were gray and the curtains were black and there were splashed of red throughout. I had a sweet setup down there. A full sized bed, a flat screen and stereo system, a couch and a coffee table. "this is nice" she said putting her purse down on the coffee table. "thanks I think my aunt cleaned up cause I don't remember it being so neat" she laughed but there was something off about her laugh.

Something off about her and I couldn't figure it out. She was going through her bag and grabbed some clothes "bathroom?" she asked" right through there" I pointed and she disappeared into the bathroom and I found myself getting upset. I didn't know what was wrong with her. Maybe it was nerves but I wasn't positive. I found a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt threw them on was started re arranged some drawers so that she would have a place to put her things. She was in there for a while but I didn't want to bother her. She had been through hell today and she was essentially going to be surrounded a group of strangers instead of getting the support from her circle. This caring and worrying about someone else was so new to me I was surprised that I wasn't the least been uncomfortable.

When she finally came out the bathroom she came over to me wrapped my arms around my waist and peeked over "watcha doing?" she asked. "Making some room so you have a spot for your things" I said shuffling the last of the shirts from one draw to another "thank you" she kissed my back and went over to the bed and laid down.

"I'm exhausted. It's been one messed up day" she said. "yeah I know what you mean. How are you holding up?" I asked as I sat down on the bed. She sighed "I'm alright I guess. I know that I'm supposed to be here with you and your circle but theres' a huge part of me that wishes I could be in New Mexico" I could hear the pain in her voice

"if you want to go to New Mexico then we should go" I said as I pulled her close to my chest. She shook her head "everything that has happened has led me here to New Salem for a reason and I can't ignore that" "yeah I guess your right" I said "What time am I meeting everyone tomorrow?" she asked nervously "7pm tomorrow night. Some of the coven members are seniors this year so we had to wait until after school" She smiled "finally we get to sleep in". I nodded and kissed her lightly on the lips. Even though the magnetic pull was gone the electricity was still there. "love you" she said and closed her eyes.

Amanda POV

I woke up and it was 11 AM. I felt refreshed to have slept so long. Nick was snoring softly and he looked like a perfected sculpture of a man when he slept. My phone was buzzing like crazy so I carefully got up as not to disturb Nick grabbed my phone and went out through the garage. I walked past what looked to be a very dead car and found a chair. I sat down and looked at my phone. Between my dad and Sammy I had 10 missed calls and 8 texts since 1 am last night. I would call my Dad but not Sammy. I still felt so guilty over Alex's death I didn't want to talk to her until I met the circle.

"daddy" I said into the phone "Amanda! Are you ok? When I didn't hear from you last night I got worried" he was frantic "yes Dad I'm fine. We got here safely but it was really late and I was so exhausted I didn't want to talk I just wanted to go to bed" I said "a text to your old man would have sufficed" he said "I know" "really honey just humor me and send me a text or give me a call once in a while" "ok dad" I took a deep breath "how is everyone doing?" I asked somberly. "they were all here last night for an impromptu meeting and to seek my guidance" he responded. "they are sad but hanging in there and by no means does anyone think this is yours or nicks fault" he said sternly "so what was the outcome of the meeting?"

"well I looked at the prophecy and the circles definitely need to come fully together, however, I'm not so sure if the timing is going to be up to us." He said "what do you mean?" I asked. "I really don't know. It's just a feeling in my gut I guess" I always trusted my dad's sight and I think I understood what he meant. "you mean like the prophecy is going to happen on the time of whoever passed it regardless of what we think?" I guessed "exactly" he said. "did you meet the circle yet?" he asked "not yet. Tonight at 7pm" I responded. "ok talk to them. Tell them everything. Do not leave out a thing even if you may feel embarrassed or shy. Every event from the first time you saw and Nick saw each other up until the Circle meeting. The littlest thing could be the most important" he instructed. "ok dad. I will and Ihave Nick here so I will be ok" I could hear my dad smiling over the phone "well hopefully I'll get to me this Nick someday he certainly seems like a good guy and the Armstrong family line is a strong, determined line, powerful fighters. I can see why our 2 families were chosen." I smiled. "love you dad" "love you too sweetie talk to you soon" I hung up.

As I went to get up to leave the garage I spotted a shiny silver and black Harley towards the front of garage. I knew that was Deborah's. It reminded me of Alex. He had a Harley and I used to ride on the back of it all the time. "You like bikes?" A voice startled me. I gasped and then looked up to see Deborah. "hey Deb" I laughed "Yeah I love bikes. Alex the coven member we lost yesterday drove a Harley and I was the only one of the girls who would ride with him. Whenever we went anywhere it was always me on the back of Alex's bike" I smiled "where's Nick?" she asked "he's still sleeping and I didn't want to wake him so I came out here to call my dad" "well I was just headed into town to grab some coffee and breakfast would you like to come?' "sure! Let me go change" she followed me into Nick's room. "ill send him a text saying your with me but leave a note too" she whispered.

I quickly changed into sneakers jeans and a t-shirt. I forgot a sweatshirt so I went into nick's closet and grabbed a gray zip up hoodie it was huge on me but it would do. The smell of cigarettes and mint engulfed me and in my head I was in a happy place with just me and Nick and no prophecy. I sighed and jotted down a note I went into town with Deborah for breakfast. Didn't want to wake you. Be back soon. xoxo Amanda I put the note on my pillow. Grabbed some cash and my sunglasses and we were off.

When we got outside I gasped. It was beautiful up here. The houses were almost immense as the ocean that sprawled out behind them. "cool huh?" Deborah asked. "I've never really seen the ocean except for the port at Boston and that was just 2 weeks ago" I admitted shyly. "I'd take you down there but I think Nick would kill me if he wasn't the one to do it" she laughed handing me a helmet.

I put the helmet on then my sunglasses closed the visor and we were off down Crowhaven road. The wind was invigorating. I felt almost at home on the back of her bike. We passed down a long road and went past a very old cemetery. We passed the high school and a boarded up auto body place andit looked like the decrepit sign said "Armstrong Motors" I needed to make a mental note of that and ask her about that later. We got into town parked the bike and went into a little café. People were staring at both me and her. She noticed and said "don't worry about them they are always scrutinizing those in the club" the club was in air quote. We both ordered coffee and a bagel and we got to talking. "I'm going to fill you in about what's gone on within our circle so that tonight we can concentrate on what happened with you and nick and your circle." "ok sounds good." I was eager to hear it. Some of what she said I had already learned from Nick however when she told me that they were all born within a month of each other and were supposed to be Black johns coven I gasped.

"are you serious?" I said shocked. "as a heart attack" she replied. She went on to tell me what happened with nick's parents and the members of their circle. "Yeah Nick had said they died courageously" I added "absolutely. Ever since he learned that him and my mom have gotten along better" she added.

Now was a good time to ask her about the boarded up auto place. "I noticed on the drive here over by the high school that there was boarded up auto shop I could have sworn the dilapidated sign said Armstrong Motors" She nodded "yes that was my uncle Nicholas's, Nick's dad's shop. When Uncle Nicholas passed away my dad, his brother, didn't have the heart to sell it or to work in it out of guilt I think. So they boarded it up in late 1976 and that's where it sits." She said "also you will notice some boarded up homes on Crowhaven Road. Those belonged to Adam, Melanie and Nick's parents. They were boarded up as well and Nick was raised by my parents at our home. Melanie by her Great Aunt and Adam by his Grandmother." She said. "that really explains so much about your circle and Nick" I realized.

"Nick's been hurt in many ways and was extremely withdrawn, he was against magic and only was a part of the circle out of obligation and he didn't really care about anything" she said. "yeah he had something like that" I said and there was one question I needed to ask "hey can I ask you something and can it stay between us?" Deborah's eyes narrowed curiously "shoot" she said. "nick told me about Cassie. Do I have anything to worry about there?" Deborah laughed "oh absolutely not. That little worm has nothing on you, Amanda" she was still laughing. I smiled so I take it you don't like her". She pursed her lips into a scowl "its not that I don't like Cassie I just don't like what Cassie did to my cousin." She said. "she got together with Nick even though she was in love with Adam and Nick got burned bad" she said. "Adam and Cassie are like you and Nick though but they are tied together by some silver cord or something" she said "but seriously Amanda, you have nothing to worry about with Cassie or anyone else in our circle. We all have our faults but we are good people and I don't foresee anyone trying to mess with Nick's girl". I smiled at the sound of that and the trueness to that statement. I was Nick's girl and I was proud of that.