The Sex Circle

Chapter One ❇ Trisha

I met Kelsey Liverwood when I was eight years old. It was the first day of kindergarten, and the side of my face hurt from where Mommy had hit it. At the time, I thought she didn't mean it. I wanted to believe the best of my mom... It wouldn't be until I'm older that I realize how painful reality is.

So I was sitting in the desk all by myself. All the other students were giggling and playing. The teacher, Ms. Leland, was talking to two other teachers outside the classroom. And I just played with my eraser, thinking about chewing on it to see what it tasted like.

And that's when she hopped over.

Her long, brown hair was in two braids at the time. She wore a checkered dress and black, fancy shoes. My mother wasn't the riches person in the world, so I stared at her shiny shoes a little longer than I should have. When she smiled at me, her lips were lined with two pretty dimples. And her green eyes sparkled.

"Hi! My name's Kelsey!"

She was so friendly. So nice.

I was kind of surprised by her gentleness. I never got spoken to like that at home by my mother.

After that day she always hung out with me. She sat with me at lunch. She played with me on the playground. She made sure I was always her partner when we got in groups. When we had nap time, she would beg Ms. Leland to let her sleep next to me.

And as the years went on, our friendship grew stronger.

Everywhere she went, I was right along side her.

She slowly grew to learn about my home life. That's when we created the Escape Call. Whenever I would need to get away from my mom, I would call her and she would make sure I had a place at her house.

When we got into high school, Kelsey started dating. This momentarily put a gap between us. I felt betrayed because she started leaving me to hang out with her boyfriend. And she felt angry because I was taking it too personally. We worked it out, of course. So now she shares her time with me and her boyfriend equally.

Or at least that's what I thought. Apparently I didn't know my best friend as well as I thought.

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"I still can't believe you're not coming tonight." Shelby pouts as Kelsey closes her locker door.

"Believe it, Shelb. It's happening." She smiles at our (or should I say her) friend.

Shelby crosses her arms like a two year old. "But you said you would come! You said you didn't have plans!"

"That was before I had plans." She starts walking down the crowded hallway. Shelby and I trail after her.

"And what's these I'm-gonna-lie-and-miss-out-on-my-best-friend's-senior-year-party plans?" Shelby whines, looking like a kid as she tries to keep stride with Kelsey.

"Major ones."

She rolls her eyes. "Okay. Fine. Be a bitch. Whatever. I didn't want you coming to my party anyway." She gives a look that says she's probably going to write my best friend's name down in the Burn Book and stalks away, desperately trying to sway the butt she doesn't have.

Kelsey sighs. "Well that was pleasant."

I shrug. "Same old, same old,"

Kelsey nods. "Yeah. She'll text me tomorrow asking if I can bring her some Avil for her hangover. Always does."

I still watch Shelby's retreating figure. "Yeah... I still don't like the fact she calls you names like that."

Kelsey smiles at me and loops her arm throw mine. "And why does it matter now? School's out and she doesn't have to bother us." As we walk out of the main doors, she waves to a few of the other girls we sit with at lunch.

"And I don't understand why you do that either."

"What?" she asks, smiling at me.

I roll my eyes. "Act all friendly and stuff to people you clearly don't like."

She makes a face. "Who's acting? I do like all my friends."

I give her a pointed look. "That's just because I'm your only true friend."

She laughs and pushes me a little. "Wrong again, Trish. You're my best friend."

We walk to the parking lot, discussing what happened today when Eddie tried pulling a senior prank on one of our teachers. "He's such an idiot." she says as we climb into her car.

I nod in agreement. "I've already told you that. More than once."

She sticks her tongue out at me. "Oh ha ha. You like him and you know it."

I shake my head. "Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"I have two brothers, Trish. I could do this all day. Stop while you're ahead."

We drive in silence for a while, listening to Shawn Mendes' new single.

Don't act like you have plans we never discussed.

"Oh. I meant to ask: what plans do you have for tonight? Last I heard, you were all excited for Shelby's end-of-year party."

Kelsey keeps her eyes on the road and shrugs. "Yeah. Well, I was. But something popped up."

"Oh. Is Caitlin and Jake finally having the baby?" I joke.

Her lips twitch up, but I can tell her mind is somewhere else. "No." she says simply.

My joke falls flat on the car seat. "Oh." is all I say. A few more minutes in silence. "So," I begin, "what are the plans? Are we watching movies? Going to the park? Tackling Andren?"

She shakes her head. "We're not hanging out tonight, Trish." She keeps her eyes on the road.

My smile falls. "Oh. I thought since you weren't going to the party that..." There's no reason to finish my sentence. It's clear. I thought since she wasn't going to Shelby's party that that meant we were going to hang out. Apparently not.

Kelsey reaches over and turns the radio up farther.

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First chapter.
Not the best, but it's the very beginning. Continue reading to fall in love.