Elina Wainwright - Circle

Do I see double?

Why were there two of him?

No, I’m not kidding.

There were two Richards in the picture.

And then it came to me.

Not only Richard was in the studio today, but also his twin brother, apparently. But while one of them was indoors, the other was probably outside. And, of course, it was the bad version of the brothers that I was lucky enough to talk to, not the sister’s Tea Sweet Knight. It all makes sense now.

…I spent the next two weeks doing the usual things: writing some kind of songs of my own (by the way, it didn’t work for me), walking around town with Lizzie, learning Spanish, and once I went to the mall downtown with Diana and Chris.

«What do you think of the girls?» Camellia asked me.

«We-ell…» I stretched out, «I can’t say yet. I have ambivalent feelings. But there was a strange incident. We were in a sports store, and there was a consultant. The girls got him talking and chatted with the guy like they were old friends, and as soon as he turned away, they whispered amongst themselves that he was weird and stoned,» I remembered.

«Duplicity?» Cami asked.

«I thought so, too,» I agreed. «Also, Chris has a weird style.»

«In what sense?» Camellia became interested.

«Well, with her we went exclusively to expensive stores, but it felt like we weren’t picking out things for a young girl, but for a mommy who still had to make it to her son’s PTA meeting in the evening.»

Cami laughed.

«Also,» I lowered my voice, «remember I told you that Lizzie met a guy here?»

«So-o-o…»

«So, anyway, it seems like we live in the same neighbourhood,» I began. «He also works with Jerome. He’s constructing him some new building.»

«Wow, does Lizzie know?» Cami was surprised.

«Yes, but there’s something else Lizzie doesn’t know,» I continued even more quietly, afraid my sister, who had been in the bathroom, would hear.

«What is it?»

«He’s dating Chris,» I informed her.

«Wow, what kind of love triangle are you going through there, friend?» Cami asked cheerfully.

«I hope it will pass me by,» I mumbled.

«Are you sure you don’t want to write a book about it?» my friend asked me playfully.

«No, I don’t! You know I’ve given it up.»

I used to write books. At first it was just a way of pampering and self-therapy: in books I was a god and the others were my toys, the ones who did whatever I said. Yes, I published my books in a local publisher in Quebec, but it was two years ago that I decided that I would not take up the «quill» and would devote myself to singing. It’s hard to become a popular writer. It’s much easier to become a singer.

«But look at the stuff you have,» continued the friend.

«I don’t know how much this story has to hurt me to write a book about it,» I stretched out. «I promised myself. And you know I always keep my promises,» I answered proudly.

«Well, see for yourself. Something tells me it’s not going to be that easy.»

«God forbid,» I rolled my eyes. «You know I’ve had enough drama with Eric in the past.»

«He’s a real abuser,» Сami agreed. «Though your rematch was more beautiful than any of his shenanigans.»

«He shouldn’t have played games with a girl who was better than him,» I recalled proudly, as I stomped on the feelings of a guy who had toyed with my feelings for five years, even though we’d never even dated. Now Eric says I’m a bitch when he mentions my name in public, but inside he still thinks I’m his best rival in the game of «hot-cold».

I’m sorry, Eric. I will always be your best trophy that you never got.

If my sister was brilliant in science and beautiful on the catwalk, I was brilliant in the world of human psychology. If you need someone to give you support at three in the morning or to come up with a plan to get back at your ex-boyfriend without that asshole knowing it, you’re welcome. Lindsay Stone at your service.

«Who are you cooing with?» Lizzie came into the room.

«Camellia,» I answered.

The girls exchanged pleasantries, and I said goodbye to Cami.

I spent the evening strumming the guitar, trying to play a few decent chords, but I couldn’t get anything out of it. Apparently, covers were the limit.

I got a message on my phone from the conversation.

«What’s in there?» Lizzie asked.

«The boys will have a general meeting again,» I answered.

«You’re coming!» Lizzie stood up abruptly.

«But I don’t want to.»

«You need to socialise,» my sister insisted.

«But not with them. They’re boring,» I continued.

«But you don’t even know them.»

«I know Chris and Diana. They’re boring. Then the rest of them are too, since they’ve found common ground,» I continued to insist.

«If you don’t go, I’ll put wax cream on your eyebrows while you sleep,» Lizzie threatened.

«You know I don’t have a problem staying up all night.»

«I’ve always wondered how you can sometimes stay up all night and stay awake.»

«Some people have nice legs, and some people have other talents,» I retorted.

«Your legs are okay, too. Don’t forget, we have the same genes,» my sister pointed out.

«Yeah, except I got the uglier ones.»

«Silly girl. Come on, get up. I’ll get you ready for the ball.»

«I hate you,» I moaned, but I got up anyway.

An hour later, I was standing downstairs at Daniel’s house. Yes, the guys were going to his place. In conversation, they wrote that they were rushing from work and that Dan’s neighbor Andrew was going to meet me. Also an aspiring singer. Yeah. Too many people of art per square meter expected today.

I stood outside for about ten minutes before I saw a blond, thin guy with a bag in one hand and a hot dog in the other walking toward me.

«You must be Andrew,» I started right away, as I got tired of standing motionless in one place for fifteen minutes. Oh, for me to go out one more time…

«Yes. Lindsay?» he asked.

Oh, thank God.

«Yes, it’s me. Please open the door. It’s getting cold.»

«Oh, yeah, sure,» he handed me his hot dog. «Hold it while I look for my keys.»

The smell of sausage hit my nose and made me feel nauseous. Don’t get me wrong, but I’m a vegan, and the smell of meat often repulses rather than attracts.

«No problem,» I said, and took his dinner in my hands.

«Here, come on in. We live on the first floor. First door on the left,» he opened the door for me.

I stepped confidently forward with his hot dog.

«When will the others be here?» I asked as I made my way to the apartment.

«Dan called and said they’d be here in ten minutes.»

«Are there going to be a lot of people?» I asked as I went into the kitchen.

«Me, Dan, Chris, Diana and Richard.»

Richard.

I obviously won’t tell Lizzie he was here. Then she’ll definitely be begging me to come here every weekend to find out more about her Richard. Such an event.

Now a little bit of clarification. I’m not a misanthrope. I just like a limited circle of people. Although ninety percent of the people around me think I’m the life of the party and a fun-loving lighter. As you can see, I’m a great actress. That’s not duplicity, is it? At least I never lie. If I don’t like you, you’ll find out from me, not from someone else.

«How do you like the new place?» Andrew asked, taking the groceries out of the bag.