Our Circle

A Life Of Silence

•Chapter Three•
•A Life Of Silence•
•Lloyd•

"Lloyd, you'll be servant two." Mrs. McCarthy said as she read off the characters in the play.

I fixed her with my glare, but she was too busy staring at her copy of the play. I hate Mrs. McCarthy, she's an absolute ignoramus. She's a primary example of what is wrong with public school teachers today. I wish she'd just get hit by a bus or maybe choke on book dust. That would be the way for her to go, death by book dust. How poetic.

"Do you need a copy?" Maxine turned around in her seat, raising her eyebrow at me. I shook my head no.

"Lloyd, it's your part." Mrs. McCarthy urged me to read. I didn't even have the play open, let alone be ready to read it. "Do we have to do this every class, Lloyd? Its page twenty-three." Mrs. McCarthy glared at me with disapproving eyes. I just glanced down at the book and then glanced back at Mrs. McCarthy. I wasn't going to read the part of servant two. She can suspend me before I do that. "Mr. Rhodes! Do I need to send you to the office, again?" I merely raised my eyebrow at her. Go ahead, like I give a shit.

"What is wrong with you? Just do what the teacher says. You aren't cool because you don't follow the rules." Maxine turned around in her seat, again, to sneer at me. She always gets so pissed at me when I ignore the teacher like this. Which is quiet often.

"Office, now Lloyd." Mrs. McCarthy pointed at the door, glaring directly at me.

I got up and grabbed my pen, stuffing it in my pocket. I closed the door behind me and walked down the hall in a random direction. Obviously I wasn't going to the office, I didn't do anything. Just because I didn't want to read, I get sent out. I thought America was a free country, I didn't realize school was the exception. I headed to gym early, deciding to loiter in the locker room and then sit on the bench and ignore the class.

I left gym class early and wandered into the hall while Maxine glared at me. It was frustrating having her in two class in a row. Minutes later the bell rang for lunch. Instead of shuffling to the library like I normally did I headed towards the guidance office. I hate this circle therapy idea. It was a bad idea. There isn't a thing wrong with any of us. Well, except Tegan. That little red head is way too emotional. And Calvin talks really loud and he has some weird reactions. Skye, well she just talks to herself. But I'm sure there isn't anything seriously wrong with any of us, those qualities make us unique. It's a shame the school is making them out to be bad. We should've been allowed to pick if we wanted to join this group. It's wrong for the school to force us. This school is wrong period. Getting kicked out for not talking, haven't heard that one before.

I stepped into Miss Gracie's office and dropped my bag down by the wall. I was a little shocked to find Skye and Theo in an intense stare down. They just stood there, glaring at each other while Tegan and Roman watched. So maybe these people do need counseling.

"Hi Lloyd, how are you?" Miss Gracie greeted me. I shrugged my shoulders and leaned against the wall.

A few minutes later everyone had shuffled in looking like they were forcing themselves not to run away screaming. As usual Calvin greeted everyone in a loud voice. "Hi! Lloyd, I saw you get kicked out of class, I'm sorry." He whisper yelled to me. I gave him a blank look and went to sit on the carpet. I forgot Calvin was in my English class. It's probably the only time he's quiet. The teacher never calls on him, everyone knows he doesn't have an indoor voice.

"Tegan, honey what happened?" Miss Gracie cooed at Tegan who was in full on tears now. What the hell happened, did I zone out? I usually didn't zone out enough to miss something like this.

"Tegan?" Skye rubbed her back. I noticed the strange look in Theo's eyes as he stared at the two. It was weird, a look between disgust and curiosity. The look frightened me, made me want to curl up and hide. But most things made me want to curl up and hide.