I don't own the secret circle but the other characters are mine

Nick's POV

I woke up and rolled over to hug Amanda and shot up when I realized he wasn't there. I heard whispers then giggling and look over to see Amanda and Deborah sitting on the couch with books of shadows in their laps. "Good afternoon" Deborah said and Amanda smiled "sorry I didn't to wake you. you have slept less in the past few weeks then I have" I rubbed by eyes and stretched. She looked particularly cute today "is that my sweatshirt?" I asked smiling she looked a little embarrassed "yeah hope you don't mind I went for a breakfast with Deborah earlier and it was going to be chilly on the back of the bike so I just grabbed this out of your closet" I blinked.

"you were on the back of the bike?" I said and my smile got wider "sure I used to ride on Alex's bike all the time" she said and Deborah's tiny face was all smiles. I knew at this point whatever Deborah's reservations had been about Amanda were long gone and they had become friends.

Deborah had left a few hours ago and Amanda and I were just hanging out. I had introduced her to Aunt Grace and I knew from the minute Aunt Grace met her and saw us together she liked her. We were in the kitchen and Amanda was telling her about New Mexico careful to leave anything magic related out. When Aunt Grace saw me looking at Amanda a wave of relief washed over her. She knew that I was happy and that made her happy.

We got showered and changed. Amanda in capri jeans and a ¾ sleeved v-neck t-shirt flip flops and my sweat shirt tied around her tiny waist. I was in my usual black jeans and white t-shirt. It was 530 "hey we have time to kill want to go for a walk on the beach?" hre face lit up like the sun "oh yes! I have never been this close to the beach before unless you count the port at Boston" she winked.

I could tell we both remembering our first date the night that set everything in motion but there was no regret in her eyes only love. "I thought that maybe if we got there a little early and I could introduce you one on one it may be easier on you" I said taking her hand as I led her through the garage and out into the street.

I led her across through the path by Diana's house, helped her over the rocks and we were on the beach. Once her feet hit the sand she bent down picked up her flip flops and looked towards the water. She inhaled "it's breathtaking" she whispered wide eyed. The sun was setting and the sky was a mixture of reds, pinks and purples. I led her towards the shoreline and took off my own shoes and rolled up my jeans. I hadn't done this is so long and it felt so good to be doing this with her. Even though in a short time we would have to share some things that we really wanted to keep to ourselves, I knew that this was where I was supposed to be. She looked at me and smiled so big. "I can't get over how beautiful this place is" she said and she sounded so happy. We walked to where the edge of the waves hit her toes and she giggled. "the waters nice" she said. "Would you like to go for a walk?" I asked "no I'd like to just sit and enjoy the sunset if that's ok with you" I just smiled and sat down. She sat down next to me and I scooted closer to her and put my arm around. She shivered. "Are you cold?" I asked softly tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "no not at all" she smiled shyly "it's just being here on a beach watching the sunset and sharing this moment with you just gave me chills" I bent down and kissed her gently. "I love you" she said and rested her head on my shoulder. I just smiled and watched the sky twirl from alight purplish pink to deeper purplish red to a navy. We sat there for I don't even know how long. I stole a kiss here and there and I was genuinely happy. I was enjoying the moment when all of a sudden I hear "Nick! Nick! Nick!" "Yeah that's him" Nick" Amanda and I stood up and turned around to see my friends, Chris and Doug Henderson, galloping towards us! They were big goofballs with shaggy hair and piercing blue green eyes. They were a pain in my ass most of the time because the job of keeping their shenanigans down to a minimum usually fell on me. I was genuinely glad to see them.

"hey guys" I greeted them by punching them each in the arm. "Welcome home buddy" Chris said " Amanda, this is Doug and Chris" When Doug and Chris saw Amanda they both flushed red. "your pretty" Chris gushed. Amanda and I both laughed "actually I'm Amanda. Nice to meet you" she smiled "pretty and funny you got yourself a gem there nick"" Doug said smacking me on the arm. Chris looked down the beach where the others are gathering. "We are going to head over to the others are you guys coming?" I looked down at Amanda her eyes wide and I can see a little fear behind them. I grabbed her hand letting my fingers intertwine with hers and said "it's going to be fine" I led her towards the bonfire that had just been lit. Diana ran up to meet us. "Hi Amanda it's so nice to have you hear" and she gave her a hug. "listen guys i spoke with Cassie and Faye and they agreed that a formal circle would be the proper setting for tonight's meeting. We also spoke to Aunt Constance about this and she said a formal setting would be safer because we don't know what is going to happen when we close the circle with you in it Amanda. Aunt Constance told us that everyone except for you two should enter the circle then we announce that you guys are coming through then Nick comes through then you then I close the circle and say the incantation. Does this sound ok?" I hesitated but I saw Amanda nodded. "yes I think that sounds right. Sounds like something my Dad would have us do" We started walking over and Cassie and Adam came up to us hand in hand. "Hey nick glad to see you're ok" Adam said reaching out his hand. It was weird but I shook his hand. I had a better understanding of Adam since I met Amanda. "Nick I'm so happy you both are here" said Cassie and she hugged me. "This is Amanda" I said proudly. Cassie's blue eyes smiled and she hugged Amanda "I'm so glad to finally meet you! You got yourself a great guy!" "Nice to meet you too. Yeah he's pretty awesome" Amanda said beaming up at me and I couldn't help but beam back "nick looks like you and Amanda may people sick before me and Cassie do" Adam laughed. "Nice to meet you Amanda." Then everyone started approaching us. Hugging and welcoming Amanda. When it was Faye's turn I felt a little uneasy "well, well, Nicholas she is a beauty" she said with a wicked smile across her face and I knew she was going to be difficult.

Diana took the silver dagger and formed a circle in the sand with an opening everyone went through the circle except for Amanda and I. "This circle is going to be a little different" Cassie addressed the group. "Due to recent events" Faye added glaring at me "we are going to welcome Amanda into our circle" . "there is no initiation ritual for this evening as since according to the prophecy the circles are coming together. Aunt Constance said we should formally invite Nick and Amanda into the circle then do an incantation" Diana said. Everyone nodded. "Nick please step through the circle" I let go of Amanda's hand and she looked nervous I gave her a reassuring look and walked through the gap in the sand taking my place next to Deb. "Amanda please step through the circle and take Nick's hand" Amanda stepped through the circle took her place between me and Sean and took my hand. Diana closed the circle. "earth fire water air we have the chosen standing here, by the moon and by the sun the merging of the circles have begun."

The earth shifted dramatically and you could hear it locking into place. From now on we were at the mercy of the prophecy and I could see the fear in Amanda's eyes. "What was that?" Faye said with fire in here voice. "Faye, that was the earth locking into place just like prophecy said it would" Diana said. Diana started pouring sand on the circle and everyone followed except for Faye. "Well I don't like it and I don't like her" Faye said as she was walking towards Amanda. Amanda let go of my hand and starting walking towards Faye. I tried to grab Amanda's arm but she was too quick "I got this" she said. Her and Faye were face to face. Faye's amber eyes seething with anger and Amanda's hazel eyes, looking silver in the moonlight, had an edge to them I had never seen. Faye stood a head taller than Amanda and was trying to intimidate her and it didn't work. Everyone looked on Deborah and Suzan were smiling, Chris and Doug just watched, Sean looked scared, Laurel and Melanie looked doubtful and Adam, Diana and Cassie looked like they were ready to break up a fight if needed.

"I don't like you and you don't belong here so you should just leave" Faye said pointing a red glossy tipped finger at Amanda. "you don't even know me." Amanda said "I belong wherever Nick is and if he's here then so I am and you're just going to have to deal with it" Faye laughed. "I don't like people who have their coven members killed" she said referring to Alex. I was about to run over there and hit Faye myself but Chris and Doug caught me and it took the two of them to hold me back. "I'm fine" I said shrugging them off until they released me. Amanda was fuming "said the girl who helped Black John in his attempt to infiltrate her own circle never minding the 4 deaths that occurred because of him?" I think every mouth dropped open. "yeah I know a lot of went when went on including the temper tantrum you had when Nick ended your arrangement" Cassie, laurel and Melanie were trying not to giggle at the memory of that.

"I also know that you guys, in the end ,stuck together and that is how you defeated him. " Faye was speechless and Amanda rubbed her forehead in thought her voice got softer "if I could be home with my circle mourning one of my closest friends death I would be. If you think that I don't feel guilty about that then you are wrong. I learned a long time you can't run from destiny so I'm here to face it. I am not going anywhere until my destiny is fulfilled and even then" she paused to look at me "if Nick is here then I'll still be here too. It would be easier if we all, your circle and my circle stuck together" Amanda looked at everyone, angry tears running down her face. Faye had no defense. She just stood there with shame in her eyes and I could see some of the circle members trying to hide smiles. No one has ever stood up to Faye from the get go. Usually Faye had to torture or black mail them but not this time. Amanda had stood up to Faye and held her ground. Amanda went to say something but the pain in her face was too great she couldn't bare it. She ran off towards the ocean I tried to grab for her arm but she shrugged me off again. "I got her Diana" said running after her yelling over her shoulder to Cassie "cassia you deal with Faye" "I'm coming with you" Deborah said as she darted after Amanda and Diana. There I was left alone getting very mixed looks from the other circle members. I walked to the rocks and lit a cigarette.