Silent Circle

by Cassandra Larsen

  At school, I try to catch a glimpse of Sarah between classes, still worried about her odd behavior. It’s not that I don’t trust Caiden, but I need to see with my own two eyes that she’s doing better. After second period, I purposely walk the long way to my next class, hoping to pass her. Peering down a hallway off to my right, I end up accidentally bumping into someone.

  “Watch it!” Sarah pushes me away from her. I’m so surprised to see her, I don’t say anything for a few seconds. “What is with you? Get out of my way, psycho!”

  Well, I guess she’s back to normal. I raise my hand up to brush my hair behind my ear, and she flinches back so violently she collides with Courtney and Landon behind her. She continues backing away, staring at me in terror.

  “Sarah?”

  I don’t know what to do. People are circling around like sharks waiting for a fight. Landon puts a protective arm around her, his absurdly beautiful face twisting into such an evil scowl that I think he might take a swing at me.

  “Alright, break it up! What’s going on over here?” Mr. Davidson’s shiny head and paunchy stomach emerges from the crowd of onlookers.

  “Well, Miss Greenwood,” he says, eyes narrowing in dislike. “Would you like to explain to me the meaning of this?”

  *Stupid bitch. Just stay the hell away.*

  “Um...” Distracted, I glance around me, trying to figure out who said that. I don’t know if it was said out loud or telepathically. Before I can figure it out, Davidson clears his throat to get my attention again. I look at him blankly, just as confused as he is.

  “Miss Bell?” He asks, turning his gaze on Sara, whose baby blues are still wide with fear. “Is Miss Greenwood threatening you?”

  Sarah doesn’t answer. Landon tightens his grip on her shoulder and whispers in her ear. She blinks, coming back to herself.

  Davidson lets out a long suffering sigh, as if we’re wasting his time. “All of you, back to class. And you, Miss Greenwood, I don’t want to see any more trouble out of you. Is that understood?”

  I nod, too bewildered by what just happened to take offense. I make my way to third period History, walking in late just as Mrs. Goodman is handing back some papers. Luckily, she’s too busy to notice my tardiness.

  Olivia catches my eye and gives me a questioning look. I just shake my head at her.

  When I walk into lunch, Mei smirks at me. “Starting fights again, Em?”

  “Who’s Emerson fighting?” Olivia jumps in, eyes shining with excitement.

  “Are you telling me I know some gossip you don’t?”

  “Oh, shut up and tell me who she’s fighting!” She swats Mei on the arm then turns to me. “It’s Sarah, isn’t it? I’ve been telling you for years that you need to knock that stick out of her ass.”

  “Yup, it’s Sarah.” Kayla chimes in, taking a seat next to Mei. “I heard about it in Chem. They had a huge showdown in the hall. Security had to come break it up.”

  “Where do you guys get this stuff from?” I ask, exasperated. “There wasn’t any fight – All Sarah did was call me a psycho in the hallway. No fight. No showdown. And definitely no security, unless you count Davidson showing up and telling me off.”

  “That bitch really needs to learn when to back off. I say you teach her a lesson. I know you won’t need any help with Sarah, but I’d love to keep Courtney too busy to jump in. I could use the tension release.” Olivia cracks her knuckles, completely serious.

  I laugh, playing it up as a joke, when inside I’m cringing. An image of Sarah in the grass, still as death, flashes before me. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think we need to bother with them. Why risk getting banned from homecoming? Speaking of which, did you get a dress yet?”

  Thankfully, homecoming dresses distract them from devising anymore halfcocked plans involving Sarah.

  “Wait ‘til you see what Bobby’s got for you today,” Seb says, sitting down next to me, his deep blue eyes shining with excitement. “I won’t ruin the surprise, but he just got it in last night.” He grabs my face between his huge hands and gives me a quick peck. “You’re gonna flip.”

  His excitement is contagious and I can’t help laughing at his self-satisfied smirk, pulling him back to me for a deeper kiss.

  Josh stays mercifully quiet at lunch, but continues to glare at me from across the table. Chris taunts him about the Pats loss to the Jets over the weekend, but when even that fails to animate him, Chris leaves him alone.

  After lunch I head into English, my mind preoccupied with the upcoming car shopping trip, and walk over to Caiden’s table without thinking. He glances up at me, his face stony, glacial eyes narrowed.

  As soon as I sit down, he’s in my head, *What did you do?*

  “What?” I’m so surprised by the anger seething in his voice that I speak out loud. The whole class turns to me.

  “”Is there a problem?” Mr. Bayne asks.

  “No, nothing.” My cheeks heat up. With an arch look, he turns from me and begins his lesson. Something about themes in Red Badge of Courage. I immediately tune him out and turn back to Caiden, who looks like he is about to have a meltdown.

  *What are you talking about?* I ask him.

  *Don’t lie to me, it’s all over the school. How could you have attacked Sarah this morning, after everything that’s happened?*

  My mouth drops open in shock. Apparently the rumors have reached him as well, and before even asking me about it, he’s decided that I’m guilty.

  *Well, it’s good to know you believe all the school gossip about me. That’s comforting.*

  I turn my head away bitterly to hide a flash of pain, and stare fixedly at Mr. Bayne, who’s explaining an upcoming paper.

  I can feel Caiden studying me out of the corner of his eye. Something brushes up against my mind but I forcibly block it out.

  I don’t know if he’s trying to talk to me again or what, and I don’t care. If he’s going to jump down my throat because of some rumor he’s heard, then screw him.

  I ignore him for the entire class, though by the end of it I can’t tell you anything Mr. Bayne said.

  As soon as the bell rings, I grab my stuff and dart out the door. I think I’m free once I make it down a few hallways, but as I pass an empty doorway, I’m suddenly yanked inside.

  Caiden’s there, of course, though I have no idea how he got past me. He quickly shuts the door, leaving us in semi-darkness, and takes up a position in front of it, blocking my escape.

  “What do you want Caiden? Got something else to accuse me of?”

  He looks calmer, though by no means his usual, placid self. “No, I want to discuss what happened between you and Sarah this morning.”

  “Why? I thought you already knew? Everyone says I attacked her, so that must be what happened, right?”

  His eyes glitter dangerously, and for the first time I wonder what would happen if Caiden lost his temper.

  “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions,” he says, every word crisp and precise. I know he’s struggling to remain calm, and that knowledge just makes me want to goad him all the more. What is Caiden really like, behind his emotionless exterior?

  “Is that your apology?” I ask nastily.

  “No. I’m not apologizing for asking a reasonable question, considering the circumstances. Now tell me what happened or I will make you tell me.”

  “You’ll ‘make me’? What are you, five? Get over yourself. You’re not as tough as you think you are.” I move to push past him, but he blocks me.

  “I have ways to find out, but I’d rather not to use them,” he threatens. “Please, just tell me what happened so I know if I need to do any damage control.”

  This is the first time I’ve heard him say the word ‘please’. For him, it’s practically begging.

  “Fine,” I say grudgingly, glancing at the clock. The bell is about to ring and I really don’t want anyone to find me and Caiden alone in a darkened classroom. “I saw Sarah in the hall, she called me a psych
o, then freaked out. Looked at me like I was a monster.”

  His cold eyes continue to stare me down. “And?”

  “And what?”

  “What did you do?”

  “Nothing! Why bother asking me if you’re not going to believe me? I did nothing to her! I just stood there while she yelled at me, then she started cringing away like I was going to hit her.”

  His eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Did she say anything else to you?”

  “No, she looked too scared to say anything. She was just backing away from me like she was terrified. Eventually, she snapped out of it, but by then, Davidson had already caught wind of it and assumed I was threatening her.”

  “Were you?” He asks, eyes narrowed.

  “Was I what? Threatening her? No, I wasn’t, you asshole!” Why is this so hard to believe? If one more person accuses me of doing something I didn’t, I’m going to scream.

  “What? It was a reasonable question.”

  “Yeah, well, I answered your questions, now let me out.” Furiously, I shove him away from the doorway. He doesn’t budge.

  “Are we training tonight?” He asks.

  I growl in frustration as the bell rings. Now I’m going to be late for the second time today. “No, we are not. I have plans.”

  “Your plans are more important than this?”

  “Yes, actually! Now I’m late, so I would really appreciate it if you would GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

  We both flinch as the window in the classroom door cracks. While he’s distracted, I make a break for it, running out before he can see the tears in my eyes.

  I run all the way to my last period class, Chemistry. Mr. Mirowski calls me to his desk as I enter.

  “Emerson, I wanted to talk to you.” He looks at me in concern. “Is everything alright?”

  “Fine. I’m great.” I say quickly, trying to hide my flushed face and tear bright eyes.

  “Are you sure? Because I did notice your unscheduled absence last Friday. And now you’re late.” He waits for me to respond, but when I don’t, he continues. “I know that things haven’t been easy for you since you moved here. And I know that they’re only getting more complicated now. If you need to talk, I’m here.”

  I walk back to my seat more than a little puzzled, but relieved that he apparently isn’t going to write me up for cutting last week.

  I end up getting paired with Lydia Cummings for our lab today, which is uncomfortable to say the least. Lydia was one my ‘friends’ who started backing away from me after everything happened with my mom.

  We work mostly in silence, speaking only when we have to, and end up finishing earlier than the rest of the class.

  “So, how’ve you been?” She asks me quietly, looking down at the table. Lydia’s always been shy. You would think that with her light blond hair and willowy body, she’d have a little more self-confidence.

  “Peachy,” I say, doing my best to look anywhere but at her. “How ‘bout you?”

  “I’ve been fine,” she says blushing. “Umm, I don’t mean to pry, but how’s the training going?”

  I freeze, one hand still in my hair to brush it back. “What training?”

  She blushes even more now. “Sorry,” she mumbles.

  “What are you talking about, Lydia?” I ask more belligerently than I mean to.

  “Nothing! I just meant... I know that Caiden’s training you right now, and I just thought maybe you’d want to talk, that’s all....”

  “What do you know about Caiden?” Crap, she hangs out with Caiden. How could I have forgotten? She’s probably in the coven too.

  “He didn’t tell you? Caroline said she didn’t want to overwhelm you by bringing you to a circle yet, but I though they at least told you about everyone. I’m so sorry – I shouldn’t have said anything.” She looks away, her face beet red.

  “You know Caroline?” I ask warily.

  “O-of course. She’s our High Priestess,” she whispers, glancing at me quickly before looking away again.

  “So, you’re a witch?” I drop my voice on the last word so she has to lean in to hear me.

  “Yes. I’m sorry; I thought Caiden told you who else was in the group...”

  “No,” I say bitterly. “He didn’t.” Lydia is a witch? I have a hard time imagining it. Who else from this school is in the coven? How many others know about me, when I don’t have the faintest idea about them?

  We sit there awkwardly for a minute, before she continues quietly. “So, how’s it going? I heard that it’s been... difficult.”

  I laugh, but it’s not a happy sound. “Yeah. Difficult. That’s one word for it.” I guess Caiden’s been talking about our ‘training sessions’ to everyone too. What else has he said? Does she know about Sarah? My face heats up, but whether from anger or embarrassment, I can’t be sure.

  “If you need someone to talk to, well, you can always call me, you know. My number’s still the same...:”

  Thankfully, Mr. Mirowski calls the class to attention before I have to respond.

  Chapter 13

  I meet Sebastian in the parking lot after school, my enthusiasm for this trip slightly dimmed after my conversation with Lydia. I can’t believe Caiden’s been talking about me to the rest of the coven...

  But when I see Seb leaning against his bright yellow Mustang and giving me his patented devilish grin, I try to get back into the proper mood.

  You’re eye looks better,” I say while he drives to Bobby’s Auto Shop. “You can’t even see the bruise anymore.”

  “Yeah,” he shrugs. “I told you it was nothing.”

  “So, how was dinner last night with your dad’s friends?”

  “Fine.” He answers, not looking at me.

  “Does your dad get together with Josh and Olivia’s dads a lot?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How’s James doing?”

  “Fine,” He answers again, staring straight ahead.

  Okay... I guess he doesn’t want to talk about it. James and this whole dinner thing seems really sketchy, but maybe I’m just reading too much into it. I turn and look out the window instead.

  We pull up to the shop, and Sebastian tries to act excited, but it seems forced. He leads me over to some cars on the right side of the lot, and right away I notice a red Ford Mustang. I grin at him.

  “I thought you’d like that one,” he says winking at me, his smile coming more easily now.

  Bobby comes out wearing grease streaked overalls that are straining to fit over his protruding belly. “There you are. Wasn’t sure if you were gonna show.” He greets Sebastian before turning to me. “Sebastian tells me you’re looking for a car? So what do you think?” He nods towards the Mustang.

  “She’s pretty. How much is she going for?” It’s not hard to act nonchalant. While the Mustang is pretty, it’s not exactly what I’m looking for. But I figure if I play hardball with him from the start, maybe I’ll be able to get him to lower the price on the one that I do want.

  “Well, for a friend of Sebastian’s, I’ll sell her for $4200.”

  “Hmmm,” I murmur noncommittally, checking out the other cars on the lot. I come across a 2002 black Honda Civic that looks alright.

  “How about this one?” I call out, interrupting Bobby and Seb’s conversation about the Patriots game yesterday.

  “$3000. She’s a steal at that price. Honda’s don’t die,” Bobby says, a shrewd look in his eyes.

  I continue to work my way through the lot as he and Sebastian talk about this season’s projections. The last car on the lot is a white Subaru Impreza WRX. Checking her out, I see she’s a 2002 with a hood scoop and a rear spoiler. She’s a little banged up, but nothing terrible. I love it, but the price on the windshield says $6000.

  “And this one?”

  “Well, I might have another interested buyer on her, but if you want her, I’ll let her go for $5600.”

  Hmmm, a little over my current funds, but if I can probably drive the pri
ce a little lower.... “Let me get back to you on that one.”

  I have about almost four grand saved up from birthdays and various holidays, plus my dad said he’ll lend me some cash, though since I haven’t seen him since our fight Saturday night, I don’t really know if that offer still stands. I jot down the specs anyway, hoping I can convince my dad into spotting me the rest of the cash before Bobby sells it.

  It’s only five thirty by the time I get back to my house. Anxious for my dad to get home, I kill some time by doing laundry and cooking dinner. I’m not really sure if he’s even going to show up, but a couple of hours later I hear his car pull into the garage. I nervously walk down the stairs just as he comes in.

  “Hi Dad...” I stand there awkwardly. “I made some chicken alfredo. Want me to heat it up for you?”

  He stops just inside the door and looks at me suspiciously. “I would love some dinner, but first you’d better tell me what’s going on.”

  “What do you mean?” I fidget nervously.

  “I mean why are you suddenly waiting for me to get home with dinner on the table. After the other night...”

  I look down, uncomfortable.

  “Look honey, I’m sorry about what I said. It was wrong of me.” He runs a hand over his head, messing up his carefully gelled hair. “I just... I don’t like to talk about your mom... It hurts too much.”

  This last part is said so low I almost miss it. I feel my eyes tear up and have to look away. Even after three years, he’s still as heartbroken as if it happened yesterday.

  I don’t know what to say in response. I didn’t expect an apology; it’s not really our style. Normally, we would both just pretend the incident never happened. I look up as he continues, blinking the tears from my eyes.

  “But, if you want to ask me questions about her, I’ll do my best to answer. I know this must be a difficult for you, growing up without her...” He trails off, his voice getting gruff.

  “It’s fine dad,” I interrupt, unable to take any more of this. His grief is so palpable I feel myself getting choked up. “I understand. Don’t worry about the other night.” I try to think of something to change the subject, and figure now’s as good a time as any to mention the car. “Um, Sebastian and I went car shopping today.”