The Circle

by Kat Mayor

  “Your conversations are being monitored. It’s a secondary precaution. Evelyn attached it to you last night while you were asleep. It’s activated when you speak, but it’s audio only. No video.”

  No wonder Evelyn allowed Henry to guard him. He really didn’t have to do anything. Charlie supposed it could be worse. At least she couldn’t see what he was doing.

  Henry started the car. Charlie was still staring over at Liliana. “Charlie, I realize you are fond of the girl, but going over there right now with the elders talking to her is a very bad idea.”

  Charlie knew Henry was right, but it was so hard to watch her over there alone with them. His fists were still clenched.

  “They won’t hurt her,” Henry said. Although Charlie told Liliana the same thing in his note, now he wasn’t so sure. He could hear their raised voices and threats. The thin one pounded his fist on the hood of Lilly’s Jeep.

  Henry tried to distract Charlie. “The girl—I’m sorry, I don’t know her name.”

  “Liliana, her name is Liliana.”

  “Is Liliana unintelligent, reckless?”

  “No,” Charlie said. “Just because she’s an Earthan doesn’t mean…”

  “Calm down, Charlie. I was just pointing out that she won’t say or do anything foolish. She’ll be fine.”

  “Oh,” Charlie said. He had assumed Henry was like his fellow Sentrians—believing Liliana was a stupid, inferior Earthan. But Henry spoke about her the way he would speak of someone his equal. All the others referred to Liliana as the Earthan girl or Earthan female, but Henry had actually asked her name. He, at least, recognized her as a person. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Doing what?” Henry asked.

  “Telling me about the bug. Trying to keep me out of trouble. You’re not even following me very closely. Didn’t Evelyn warn you about me?”

  “Repeatedly,” Henry said. “Look, Charlie, this isn’t fun for me, either. I’m just counting down the days until we return to Sentria. I don’t want to follow you around. And I’m really not crazy about my wife staying at her ex-boyfriend’s house, in his room, every night.”

  “If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t like it either.”

  “I ought to beat the crap out of you just on general principles,” Henry said and shrugged. “But this is my reality now. Yours, too. Let’s just try to get through these last few days of school.”

  Henry drove them to Charlie’s house and switched on the bug when he pulled into the driveway. Evelyn was waiting by the front door for him. Charlie slung his backpack over his shoulder and entered the house.

  ***

  From the time he got home until the moment he left in the morning, Evelyn wouldn’t let Charlie out of her sight. The only privacy he had was in the bathroom, but even then, if she thought he was taking too long a shower, she’d start banging on the door. She sat beside him at dinner and hovered over him while he did his homework.

  The first night, Evelyn didn’t sleep; she sat in a chair while Charlie lay in his bed. Tonight she decided to do something different. She rearranged the furniture in his room, putting the dresser against the already bolted window and pushing the bed against the door. She slept on the bed and made Charlie sleep on the floor. Still, Charlie was sure she slept with one eye open.

  The next morning, after Henry picked Charlie up he switched off the bug again. “So how was your evening in lock-down?” he asked Charlie.

  “Not much fun,” Charlie said. He didn’t think Henry would want to know the details of the sleeping arrangements. “Can I ask you something, Henry?”

  “Yeah, sure,” he said.

  “Why do you keep turning off the bug?”

  “The bug is for you and is your punishment. Why must I endure having my conversations monitored simply because I’ve been assigned to take you to school and follow you around?”

  “Good point.” Charlie was realizing that Henry wasn’t so bad. He had Henry pegged all wrong. He kind of reminded Charlie of himself when he first arrived. The only difference was that Henry fell in love with the right kind of girl. “Yesterday afternoon, you said you were counting down the days until we return to Sentria. Have you got big plans when we get back?”

  “Yes, I’ll be starting my second year of seminary in the summer season. I had to take off a year for this mission, and I’m really looking forward to going back.”

  “Seminary? I had no idea.” Charlie had imagined the son of a magistrate would go into politics. But then, Charlie was discovering that Henry was nothing like his father.

  “Yeah, not too many people do know. My father was kind of disappointed that I didn’t want to follow in his footsteps, but he got over it when I gave him a very ambitious daughter-in-law. I think he realizes that Evelyn is better suited for his world than I am.”

  “I must admit, I was surprised to find out you two were engaged. I mean, how did you two—oh, never mind, it’s none of my business,” Charlie said.

  “But you want to know how we got together,” Henry finished.

  “Well, yeah. You two seem like opposites.”

  “Trust me, you’re not the first one to notice. We met at university. I had to leave for this mission, but we decided we wanted to continue our friendship. We communicated through a link and talked almost every day. One day I was sitting quietly in prayer, and God told me to marry her. And well, you know the rest.”

  Henry pulled into the school parking lot. “See you at lunch.” He leaned over and turned Charlie’s bug back on. He didn’t bother following Charlie to the band hall.

  Charlie put a note with detailed instructions in Lilly’s French horn case. In the note he warned her not to speak to him, because he was wearing a bug. He watched her as she read it. After she finished the note she looked at him and gave him a thumbs up.

  ***

  Henry was the first one in his class to finish his test during first period, giving him a chance to consider things. He had been oblivious to Charlie and Liliana, mostly because he and Charlie weren’t friendly, and he really didn’t care what Charlie did. And he had no interest in spying on others like most Sentrians.

  Now he couldn’t help but notice. This thing between them was not some crush or puppy love. This was the real thing. Separating them would not fix Charlie. If she were Sentrian, there would be no problem, but because she was Earthan, Charlie was considered an outcast and worse. He was regarded as a criminal and deeply disturbed.

  That day at lunch, Charlie was already sitting at the table, watching Lilly, when Henry arrived. When she thought no one was looking, she would sneak glances in Charlie’s direction. Henry felt like he was intruding on a private moment. He reached over and switched the bug off. “Now we can speak freely.”

  “You know something,” Charlie said.

  “What?”

  “I don’t regret or apologize for the way I feel about Liliana, but I am sorry for the difficulties I am creating for you.”

  “I forgive you,” Henry said. “Thank you for acknowledging it.”

  They finished eating, and Henry pulled out a book again. He sure does read a lot, Charlie thought. Yes, of course, Henry reads a lot. A lot of Earthan books. Like Charlie, Henry realized Earthans were not savage or unintelligent, as the teachers on Sentria had always taught, and just like Charlie, he had come to this conclusion from reading their own books in their own words. The bell rang, and Henry went on his way.

  ***

  After school, Henry drove Charlie home to Evelyn’s custody. She was standing in the driveway waiting for them.

  “Charlie, go inside,” she ordered. “Henry, I need to speak with you privately.”

  That was her way of telling Charlie she didn’t want his sensitive ears listening in. He didn’t care. He would listen in if he wanted to. She could control many things, but not his superhearing.

  Charlie went into the house, and Henry got out of the car. He walked over to where Evelyn was standing.

  “Have you noticed a
ny suspicious activity from Charlie?” she asked.

  “No, why?”

  “I haven’t heard him have any conversations with the girl, and I realize that in class he won’t be talking much. But there are longer stretches of time, like before and after school and at lunch time, when I hear nothing. It’s like he’s not even speaking. These are times when you should be with him.”

  “If that’s an accusation, I don’t appreciate it,” Henry said defensively. “Look, you wanted me to guard him, and I am. But if you’re asking me to be friends and make small talk with your ex, well, you’re asking too much.”

  “Oh,” Evelyn said. Of course Henry wouldn’t want to speak to Charlie. When he put it in that context it made perfect sense. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  “You’re forgiven.” Henry rubbed her arm tenderly. “Call me later if you get a chance.” Evelyn nodded. Henry kissed her cheek and after she walked in the door, he drove home.

  ***

  Lilly asked Ian and Beth to meet her at the mall later. It was time to make the final preparations, and she needed their help. Before she met with both of them, she wanted to talk to Beth alone. She felt like she owed Beth some sort of explanation. Lilly picked up Beth at her house. Ian agreed to meet them at the mall.

  On the drive over, Lilly said, “Beth, I know I can trust you not to say anything, but there’s a reason we need your help.” Lilly paused. “Charlie and I are running away to get married.”

  “What?” Beth asked. “Why?”

  “Charlie’s parents don’t approve of our relationship. They want to separate us. They’re taking him away right after graduation.”

  “Not approve of you? That’s crazy.”

  “Well, they have some different ideas about who Charlie should date. Look, Beth, I can’t ask you to keep secrets from Ian. He is your boyfriend, after all, but…”

  “You don’t have to ask me. I won’t tell him. Is this what all this secret note passing has been about?”

  Lilly nodded. “The day you brought over the first note, he was letting me know that they were taking him away sooner than he thought. We had to change plans and move up the time frame.”

  “How soon?”

  “After graduation,” Lilly said.

  “Whoa. That’s the day after tomorrow. Are you sure about this? Is this what you really want?”

  “I don’t want to be separated from Charlie. If this is the only way to stay together, then I’ll do it,” Lilly admitted.

  “Charlie can be pretty intense. Are you sure he’s not pressuring you into this?”

  “No, of course not. This was as much my decision as his,” Lilly assured her.

  “I’m not trying to upset you or make you mad, but I want you to be sure. This is a big, life-changing decision you’re contemplating, and you’ve never been real objective where Charlie’s concerned.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Look Lil, I like Charlie. You know that. But there’s something about him. Something off. I can’t explain it, but if you distanced yourself from your feelings about him, you might see it, too. He’s really weird.”

  Here we go again, Lilly thought. Well, they say love is blind. In her case it was mentally impaired as well. Lilly snickered at Beth, “You’re one to talk, Goth Girl.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Beth said with a smirk. Then her expression grew grim. “What about your mom? Does she know?”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  Beth gave her a disapproving look.

  “I know, I know,” Lilly said. “I hate not telling her, but this is something we have to do without any interference.”

  “Well, OK then. I’ll have to figure out something to tell Ian about the reason you’re sneaking out that he will believe.”

  ***

  Thursday was the last day of school, and it was only a half day. Lilly was getting ready for school. It was seven o’clock in the morning and already approaching ninety degrees. Summer was here. She had no idea where she’d be next week. This could be the first summer she didn’t spend in Texas.

  She walked into the band hall and found another note in her horn case. It was short.

  Liliana,

  Tomorrow we start our life together. I can’t wait to see you again and be able to talk to you like we used to. I am so blessed to have you as my wife. All the love in my heart,

  Charlie

  Lilly smiled as she read it. She folded it up and put it in her purse.

  ***

  At the last bell, Charlie walked out to the parking lot with Henry. Liliana was standing under the eaves by the band hall. He was staring at her, and she was looking back.

  “Here,” Henry said as he reached over to turn off the bug. “Go tell her good-bye, but don’t take too long. Evelyn’s aware that today we have early dismissal, and she’s expecting us home.”

  “Are you sure?” Charlie asked.

  “Yes, go.”

  Charlie ran over to Lilly and swung her around in a big bear hug. “What are you doing?” Lilly asked. “Henry is watching.”

  “It’s OK. Who do you think gave me permission?” Charlie showed her that the bug was turned off. Henry gave them a little nod. Then he turned his back to give them a little privacy.

  Charlie hugged her again. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Me, too,” Lilly said, glancing nervously in Henry’s direction. She looked at Charlie. “Are you all set for tomorrow?”

  “I am. Is my backpack ready to go?”

  “Yes, it’s where you said to leave it. I’ll pick it up before I leave today.”

  “Thanks,” Charlie said. “What about Ian and Beth? Are they all set?”

  “Yes, and don’t get mad, but I told Beth that we are eloping. Ian thinks we are sneaking out of graduation early to go party, and he approves.”

  “That’s OK. Beth, I trust. I’m glad you told her,” Charlie said. He pulled Lilly close and kissed her forehead. “Just one more night apart.” Reluctantly, he pulled away. “I better go. Henry’s doing us a huge favor, and I don’t want to get him in trouble.” Lilly nodded, then walked over to the band hall. Charlie got into the passenger seat of the Honda.

  Once they were on the road, Charlie spoke. “I don’t know why you allowed me to talk to her, but thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Henry said.

  “I have something for you,” Charlie said.

  “What’s this?”

  “It’s called Atlas Shrugged. I know you like to read, and I thought you might enjoy it.” Charlie wished that he had known Henry before. He thought they might have been friends.

  ***

  Evelyn was standing in the driveway as usual when Charlie arrived.

  “Well done, Henry. You can relax now. I’m taking over.” Henry nodded and drove away.

  “It’s over, Charlie. All you have left is graduation, and I will be there, watching you every minute.”

  “Well, then you won’t mind taking this off.” Charlie pointed to his wrist.

  “How do you know about the bug?”

  “You must have hit a nerve when you put it on. It’s been bothering me for the past three days.” He lifted his wrist up so she could remove it.

  Evelyn scowled as she did so. “Go inside and pack for the trip home.”

  Chapter 16

  Together Again

  As they planned, Lilly picked up Charlie’s backpack from the slot where he stored his trumpet. Inside were some changes of clothes for Charlie and other things he had packed for their trip.

  There was still a lot left for Lilly to do. First, she drove by the bank and withdrew $320 dollars. She had sixty dollars in cash in a coffee can at home. With what Charlie was able to scrape up, it would have to be enough.

  She reserved one hundred dollars, her birthday money, for a few personal things. Lilly pulled into the mall parking lot and headed for the petite dresses in her favorite department store.

  She didn’t need something real formal, but she did
want a dress that looked halfway decent on her wedding day. On the sale rack she found a cerulean-blue formal dress in size zero. It looked pretty when she tried it on. After paying for it, she left the department store and headed out into the main corridor of the mall.

  Lilly hesitated in front of Victoria’s Secret. Did she really have the nerve to walk in there and buy lingerie?

  “Grow up,” she said to herself. “You’re getting married the day after tomorrow. If you can’t handle this, then you shouldn’t get married at all.” She walked into the store and a sales clerk showed her to the section where the nighties were displayed. A short dark-blue satin nightie grabbed her attention. She held it up and looked in the mirror. It barely hit the top of her thigh. If she bought it, it would be the most suggestive nightie she ever owned. She knew Charlie wouldn’t care if she slept in his old T-shirts as long as they were together. Still, she wanted to make a special effort for her wedding night. Lilly used the remainder of her money to pay for it.

  As soon as she got home, she took her purchases and went inside to finish her preparations. She didn’t notice the red Honda that had been following her ever since she left the bank, which was now parked across the street from her driveway.

  After packing the rest of her clothes and toiletries, she laid the dress, still in its plastic wrap, on top of her other things and zipped up the bag. Then she placed the bag in the hatch of the Jeep next to Charlie’s backpack.

  Finally, she went to the kitchen, grabbed a Diet Coke, and sat down to do what she dreaded most. She wrote a good-bye note to Michelle.

  ***

  The next morning her mom made pancakes, Lilly’s favorite breakfast food.

  “You took the whole day off?” She was hoping Michelle would go to work after the graduation.

  “Sure, I thought we could go celebrate afterward. We could go to Bradley’s, if you want.”

  “Actually, Mom, I sort of have plans. I was going to go out with some of the band afterward.”

  Michelle was disappointed, but she understood. “No, that’s fine. You probably want to spend every last minute with Charlie. I remember wanting to go out with my friends after graduation. Of course that included Lalo, so Abuela had something to say about that. Just call me if you’ll be late. And mi hija, I probably don’t need to say this, but I’m your mother, so I will. Don’t do anything stupid. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”