The Fifth Circle

The Fifth Circle by Tricia Drammeh Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: The Fifth Circle by Tricia Drammeh Read Free Book Online
Authors: Tricia Drammeh
Monday, I watched Alex as closely as I could. Maybe I could prevent other guys from noticing her if I was vigilant. Maybe I could keep her from noticing other guys if I diverted her attention. We didn’t have any classes together which meant there were hours and hours where I wouldn’t be able to keep my eye on her. I walked her to her first period class and burned with jealousy every time a guy glanced her way.
    My fear of losing her prevented me from concentrating on any of my classes. I couldn’t even focus on OwlBane strategy. All I could think about was my eventual reunion with Alex during lunch. By the time I made my way to the cafeteria and our usual table, I felt isolated and depressed. A crushing weight of unhappiness descended on me as I thought about Stryder and everything I’d lost. Nothing good ever stayed. Everyone I’d ever cared about left me behind. Soon, I would lose Alex, the only woman I could ever love, the only one who mattered.
    “ Stryder.” Darren smirked at me from halfway across the cafeteria. The whole school watched, their eyes glassy with bloodlust, waiting for the main event. Alex hesitated for a second at the periphery of my vision, then bravely ventured forth. I hated that my nemesis would make a spectacle of me in front of my girlfriend.
    “Sean.” Her clear voice rang out and Darren stopped in his tracks to watch her approach. In an instant, she stood beside me and although her face was bright red and her body trembled, she sat down next to me and held my hand. Shock lit up the faces of my peers. Darren retreated, probably to reassess the situation and concoct a list of new insults. I stared in wonder at the girl who saved me from certain humiliation. Alex was beautiful. She held my hand in front of the whole school. And, she was mine.
    ***
    Everything was different three hours later when we met in the parking lot. She seemed embarrassed and uncomfortable. Maybe she regretted outing our relationship. Maybe she was ready to dump me. She barely glanced at me when she climbed into the truck.
    We pulled into the driveway and she followed me to my house, but I could sense her reluctance to come inside. I fed her and took her to my bedroom. When I reached for her, she stopped me.
    “I can’t,” she said.
    “Okay. What’s wrong?” I would never force her, but I could probably talk her into it.
    “It’s that time,” she said.
    “Time for what?”
    “It’s that time of the month. You know,” she said avoiding eye contact.
    “Oh. Oh! Well, that’s okay then. We’ll just talk or whatever,” I said. We stared at each other for a moment. Despite all our years of friendship, we had nothing to say to each other. Sex had taken over. 
    “So, what do you want to do?” she asked. “You want to watch TV?”
    I hated TV and she knew that. We sat in near silence for five minutes, unable to think of anything to say.
    “This is stupid, Alex. What did we always do before? We’ve been friends for twelve years. Say something.”
    “Monopoly,” she said.
    I burst out laughing. When we were growing up, that’s all we ever did. We played board games every day after school. Monopoly was our first great escape —a world where we were rich and could wield our powers to buy and sell property, evict deadbeats from our hotels, and collect two-hundred dollars for passing go.
    “ Okay. Monopoly it is,” I agreed, kissing her. We sat at the kitchen table and played our favorite childhood game until my mom came home. She seemed bewildered to find us in the throes of dice-tossing passion.
    “Hi, Mom . What’s for dinner?”
    “Sean,” Alex said. “Your mom’s been at work all day. Don’t you know how to cook?”
    “No,” I said.
    “Hey, Mrs . Droste…Susan. Sean and I can make dinner if you want us to. My parents are going out tonight, so I don’t have to make dinner at home.” 
    My mother looked like Christmas had come early. I felt guilty for being such a lazy drain on her

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