Free The Fifth Circle by Tricia Drammeh Page B

as I hated her husband. Alex was okay, but only because I was with her. Maybe she wouldn’t have to flee to a neighbor’s house if she felt safe at home.
    “She’s fine. She’s sleeping here tonight,” I said.
    “Good. That’ll give her dad time to calm down. They’ll work things out tomorrow. They always do,” she said, sounding resigned. “Thanks Sean.”
    I hung up without saying anything else. What a stupid bitch. If it were up to me, I’d never let Alex go back there.
    “Was that my mom?” Alex murmured.
    “Yes. I told her you’re staying here. Go back to sleep .” I stroked her hair until her eyes flickered closed and thanked God my dad had had the decency to leave his family. It was crazy because people felt sorry for me for not having a father. They blamed my problems on my dad—or lack of one. But Alex and I knew the truth—sometimes it was better when they left.
    ***
    When I awoke the next morning, she was still asleep. Anger welled up inside me when I saw the purple stain on her cheek.
    “Good morning,” I whispered when her eyes opened.
    “Hey. Thanks for everything, Sean. You were so sweet to me last night. I swear I don’t deserve you.” Her eyes filled with tears.
    “ Yes you do. I love you. You know, you don’t have to go back there. You could stay here permanently. If my mom knew everything…” 
    “ No. She doesn’t need to know all that. That’s in the past.” Her voice took on a sharp, hysterical edge. She continued more reasonably, “Besides, it’s not like we live on the other side of town from each other. I’ll still run into my dad every day. It’ll make things really weird between my parents and your mom.”
    “You’re not safe there,” I insisted.
    “After something like this happens, he’s usually calm for a few months. Maybe he’ll hold off until graduation. Then we can move in together.”
    I’d made hints about us moving in together for weeks. This was the first time she acknowledged it could be a possibility. I wanted to ask her to marry me, but no w wasn’t the time.
    “If it happens again, you’re moving in here . You keep your door locked?”
    She nodded and brushed at the tears on her cheeks. I was rendered speechless by her innocent beauty. Her dark hair was spread out across the pillow—my pillow. Her legs just barely touched mine. I reached out to touch her face and kissed her gently, but stopped when we heard the knock at my front door. “Oh, shit. What if that’s my mom? Or, my dad?” Alex hissed.
    “Who cares? They’re the ones who are messed up. Not you,” I reminded her. In a sick way, I almost hoped things would escalate between Alex and her parents. Then she could move in with me.  

 
     
    Chapter 9 – Alex
    Where now we cannot enter without anger
    (Canto XI, line 33)
     
     
    My mom and Mrs. Droste faced each other, their arms folded and postures stiff. They looked as uncomfortable as I felt. Only Sean seemed unperturbed—of course, he’d never been one to adhere to social niceties. He tried to put his arm around me, but I eased away from him. I tried to keep an appropriate distance in front of our mothers. Eventually, he got the hint, stopped trying to claim me with his overzealous groping, and stood stiffly by the refrigerator.
    “Coffee?” Mrs. Dro ste asked.
    “No thanks. I can only stay for a few minutes,” my mom replied hesitantly. “I appreciate you taking her in last night, Susan. You know how things can get with teenagers.” She giggled nervously and tried to gloss over the fact that my father was an abusive, drunken jerk.
    “Oh yes. I know,” Susan said with a half-smile.
    Whatever , I thought, rolling my eyes. My mom, encouraged by Susan’s seeming acceptance of the situation, continued talking.
    “Men are stupid. Dan’s still upset and unreasonable, so I thought Alex could probably stay with her aunt or over at Chelsea’s for a couple of days,” she said, shooting a bright smile my