Free The Fifth Circle by Tricia Drammeh

dinner together and that I should limit my hours on the internet. I hadn’t seen the shrink since September, and even though my mom kept refilling my prescription, I never took my pills. Mom’s job as the computer police stopped when I started messing around with Alex. I guess she must have figured if I was normal enough to get a beautiful girl into my bed, I must be healed. I certainly felt that way.
    I wished Alex’s parents would follow my mom’s example. They should be happy she ha d someone to look out for her, I thought. Seriously, if it wasn’t for me, she would be sitting alone in her bedroom or hanging out with bug-eyed Chelsea. 
    That was my next goal: to get rid of Chelsea. I hated that girl and she felt the same way about me. Over the years, I’d been forced to deal with her on numerous occasions. She was Alex’s best-girlfriend, but who needed friends when you had a boyfriend? I planned to get that point across to Alex as soon as possible. I was afraid if I waited too long, Chelsea would start talking shit on me, and Alex would believe her. Alex was impressionable, so I had to protect her from bad influences.
    Alex was too good for me, and I knew it. I just had to make sure she didn’t find out. Then, I might lose her. Sometimes, I worried about her low self-esteem. Of course, it was her low self-esteem that led to her agreeing to go out with me. Had she displayed any confidence at all, she would have been snapped up by a football player long ago. I also worried that my constant compliments would make her realize how perfect she was, and then she might move on. But, I had to tell her how beautiful, intelligent, and amazing she was. It would be a crime not to.
    It was after seven when she finally returned. I heard the doorbell ring and le ft my quad-mates to fend for themselves. “Hi baby,” I sighed, hugging her tightly. She blushed and glanced pointedly in the direction of the kitchen. My mom could see us from where she sat, but I couldn’t understand why Alex would be embarrassed. It was just a hug. 
    “Hi, Alex,” Mom called out. “How are you sweetie?”
    “Hi, Susan. I’m fine. Getting all ready for Christmas?” she asked, eyeing the mountains of boxes stacked along the living room wall. A couple of the boxes were open with bits of garland hanging out. A few were clearly labeled ‘ornaments’ or ‘X-mas decorations.’ “Do you need help?” she asked.
    “Well, yes. I do,” Mom said. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
    “We don’t mind,” Alex insisted.
    I minded—a lot. I sighed and rolled my eyes. Already, my mom and my future wife were rummaging through boxes and talking animatedly about how best to re-arrange the furniture around the freaking tree. I set about the horrific task of setting up the pre-lit Christmas tree while they totally ignored me. 
    “I don’t know,” Mom said. “It might look better in the other corner.” The hell it would , I thought. No way was I gonna move the freaking tree.
    “No. I think it looks good where it is. You can open the blinds and see it from the street,” Alex observed. I silently thanked her for her support.
    “You’re right. It’s perfect,” Mom decided. “Sean, carry those boxes over here and help Alex decorate the tree. I’ll make some hot cocoa.” She left the room, and Alex and I dug through the boxes. I found a sprig of fake mistletoe and chased her with it. She squealed when I caught her and kissed her passionately. 
    “Sean,” she whispered. “Not now. We can do this later.”
    Damn right we would. I released her and watched in awe while she placed one ornament after the other on the tree. I admired the graceful outline of her body as she reached up to place a snowflake on a high branch, the way the multi-colored lights flickered across her pale skin, and the way she caught the corner of her lip between her teeth when she was trying to concentrate. 
    “You’re so beautiful,” I said softly, and she turned