Circles

Chapter Twenty Five

            I sit next to Mike at dinner like he told me to, and he keeps his hand on my thigh for the entire meal. I was more annoyed than anything else. It’s humiliating to be treated this way. After we eat, Mike tells me to meet him upstairs, then leaves the room. I wait a few minutes, then go upstairs at 7:36. 

            “Hey there,” he says when I walk in the room.

            “Hi,” I respond flatly.

            “You should take a nap.”

            A nap? Why? “I’m not tired,” I say.

            “Would you like something to drink?” he asks, changing the subject abruptly.

            “Um, sure, water’s fine,” I say.

            “Back in a jiff,” Mike says on his way out the door. He returns a minute later with a clear glass of water.

            “Thanks,” I say, accepting it. I take a big sip, and Mike sits on his bed and smiles at me. “Why are you staring at me?”

            “No particular reason,” he says nonchalantly.

            I take another sip. “This tastes funny,” I say.

            “You should take a nap,” he says.

            I stumble to the side. “What?”

            “Sit down.”

            I lay down on my bed. “This tastes funny,” I repeat, my eyelids suddenly heavy.

            “Don’t worry,” Mike says. “Just a sedative. You’ll be fine.”

            “A sedative?” I ask incoherently, barely able to summon the strength to open my mouth.

            “Yes, a sedative. Don’t fight it, baby. Just take a little nap. I’ll see you soon.”

            “No,” I mumble. Mike covers me up. “I’m not tired,” I say, fading fast.

            “Yes, you are. Your eyes are closed,” he says.

            When did I close my eyes?

            “Goodnight,” Mike says, walking away. Then I am asleep.

           

        “I just don’t get why you needed her asleep for this,” I hear in the distance.

            “It’s easier when she isn’t talking,” someone says. “She never has anything useful to say, anyway,” the voice says. It’s Mike.

            “Don’t talk about her like that,” the first voice says. It’s Matthew. Matthew!

            I’m awake, but they’re talking about me as if I’m not. Then I realize my eyes are closed. It takes all my strength to open them, but I do.

            “What’s going on?” I mumble, my eyes falling shut again.

            “Hey, baby, how are you feeling?” Mike asks, walking up to me.

            “Matthew,” I say quietly.

            “I’m right here, Alex,” Matthew says.