Cassie turned away, focusing her attention on the long murky line of Crowhaven houses in the distance behind them. Like Adam said, cord aside, their relationship had grown and evolved way beyond love at first sight.
"You know what I think?" Adam said in a lighter tone. "I think it's time you allowed yourself to relax. Your mother's right - you're taking on too much."
"She said that to you?"
Adam nodded. "At the meeting you slept through this morning. But she didn't have to. We can all see it, Cassie. And you're not alone." Cassie started to respond, but Adam got that goofy look on his face once more.
"Will you do me the honor of being my date for the Spring Fling? We could use a little fun, hunters be damned. And I can't think of a better person to have on my arm than you."
Cassie giggled in spite of herself. But her gaze shifted back to Crowhaven Road, all the way down to the blackened depths of the bottom of the hill. "That sounds perfect, but I don't know if we can afford to make fun a priority right now."
Then Cassie paused and thought better of the idea. "On second thought," she said, "the dance might be just the opportunity we need to get close to the principal and Max in a public setting, to see if we can figure out some of their weaknesses, or find out more about their stone relics."
"Cassie. You're missing the point. Your only concern should be making sure I wear the right color bow tie."
"Come on, Adam, I know you better than that. You're always putting Circle business first, before everything else."
Adam blushed with guilt. "Okay, you're right. Using the dance to get close to the hunters had crossed my mind. But that is all the more reason we both need a night off." His eyes flickered in the moonlight and he reached for Cassie's hand. "No magic. Just go to the dance and have a nice time - simple as that."
Adam was so much better than Cassie at being happy these days. Maybe some awful punch and silly dancing with her friends and boyfriend was just what she needed to clear out the black cloud that had settled into her chest. At the very least she could pretend to be excited about it - for Adam's sake, and her mother's peace of mind.
Cassie accepted Adam's hand and let him draw her in, ballroom dance - style.
"Pink," she whispered into his ear. "For your bow tie."
Adam took a step back. "Seriously? Couldn't you choose a color that's a bit more manly?"
"Nope. Pink it is."
Chapter 7
For a dance in the school gymnasium, the Spring Fling wasn't bad. The walls were camouflaged with cheerful decorations and multicolored streamers. Twinkling lights hung from the ceiling like shooting stars. The basketball hoops were tied back and filled with bright, pungent flowers - primroses, tulips, and chrysanthemums - masking the smell of adolescent sweat. The gym had been completely transformed.
As promised, Adam had matched his bow tie to Cassie's pink halter dress perfectly. She fiddled with its knot now, straightening it solely as an excuse to touch him.
"Would you get me a glass of punch?" she asked. "Or else I might have to start kissing you."
Adam grinned. "I'll be right back."
Cassie stood alone for a moment and gazed around the gymnasium. Everyone from the Circle had come except for Faye and Laurel, and Melanie, who thought Laurel would need moral support being cooped up with Faye. Cassie thought about giving them a call to check in and see how they were doing, but then Nick appeared before her.
"You look beautiful," he said.
He'd caught Cassie by surprise, so she laughed, embarrassed. "Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself."
Nick stared down at himself, wearing his regular jeans, T-shirt, and leather jacket. "I didn't really dress for the occasion," he said. "But this is a clean shirt, so I guess that's something."
Cassie laughed again and a sudden warmth came to her cheeks.
"Do you feel like dancing?" Nick asked.
Cassie hesitated.
An air of mischief crept into Nick's face. "I'm only asking because I know you, Cassie Blake, came here with a very specific mission to have some fun tonight. I couldn't let you go home a failure."
"Then how could I possibly say no?" Cassie allowed Nick to lead her onto the dance floor.
Whatever song the band was playing was loud and boisterous, nothing Cassie recognized, but it felt good to let her guard down and just enjoy the music - to enjoy the simple pleasure of being a girl at a dance. Nick skipped and bopped about trying to amuse her. She knew he actually hated dancing and that this was all for her benefit. Cassie appreciated the effort and followed his lead, synchronizing her steps to his until together they were making quite a scene.