The Fifth Circle Read Online Free PDF Page A

up,” Alex said.
    “It was only a matter of time before you two losers hooked up,” Darren snapped, smirking at the two of us. “Is she good, Sean? Or would you even know?”
    Alex blushed darkly. “He knows enough. Maybe you should stop worrying so much about my life and start worrying about your own. How does it feel to know the only thing you’re good for is football, but you aren’t good enough to attract college scouts? After high school, the only place you have left to go is down. You’ll never be more than you are now.” Her voice shook, but she stood her ground. 
    Darren laughed uncomfortably, called us a few names, and scurried off to join his friends. I tried to thank Alex for sticking up for me, but she wouldn’t meet my eye. I couldn’t think of anything else but Alex the rest of the day.
    When we pulled into my driveway after school, I asked, “Are you coming inside?”
    “ I guess,” she replied. I took her into my house and set about the ritual of making pizza rolls for two.
    “So where did all that come from?” I asked. “I mean, what you said to Darren?”
    She laughed softly. “Oh, there’s more where that came from. I’ve spent many hours thinking up things I want to say to people, but I never say them. I mean, every time I get pissed at someone, I just stand there like an idiot. I always think of all these great comebacks later, but I never get to use them. I had more,” she admitted.
    “Thank you, Alex. No one has ever taken up for me before,” I said, standing over her. I bent down and kissed her on the lips. She didn’t turn away, but she didn’t kiss me back either. We ate our pizza rolls in relative silence before I lured her to my bedroom with promises of seeing my new printer. She looked around the room in covert fascination, her eyes skipping over the stack of moldy plates on my dresser, the discarded dirty garments on the floor, my rumpled bedspread. 
    “Nice,” she commented when her eyes landed on my desk once more. “What’s this?” she asked picking up a piece of paper with a diagram.
    “Strategy.” I only felt a little embarrassed to see hard-copy evidence of my idiocy in her hands. She glanced at it briefly before putting it back down. There wasn’t enough geek in her for her to be able to make sense of it. I had notebooks and file folders full of detailed maps and charts that laid out my battle plans, defense strategies, and past defeats and victories. Seriously, what did she think I did in school all day? When I wasn’t on the computer, I spent hours working on strategy. It was the only thing that got me through the day. Well, that and fantasies of getting Alex into my bed. 
    “Do you want to sit down?” I patt ed the mattress next to me. She hesitated for a moment before sitting down a couple feet away from me. “Come here,” I urged, putting my arms out. She scooted a little closer and I met her halfway. I kissed her until the insistent throbbing between my legs became too much. It was time for her to make a choice. If she said no, we’d have to leave this room, otherwise I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.
    “I want you,” I breathed. “Please. I won’t hurt you. I’ll make it special.”
    She glanced away from me.
    “This is all I’ve ever wanted,” I said. When she didn’t respond, I continued, “That’s why I’ve wasted so much time on gaming. It was to get my mind off you.”
    I could tell she was listening, that she was beginning to consider it.
    “I love you so much. You’re the only thing I had to come home to after I got out of the hospital. Please, Alex.”
    She took a deep, sharp breath and I knew she wanted me. She was just too scared to admit it to herself. She gave me one quick nod and I got up and crossed the room to make sure the door was locked. After rummaging around in my dresser drawer, I pulled out a packet of condoms. I would never leave birth control to chance—or to Alex. She was too indifferent to