"Wait, wait, wait" Ophelia had to hold back her laughter, "You were the one who used to go to Monet's with Jessica and Alex?"
"Yup" Hannah said, popping the 'p' at the end.
Ophelia laughed. "Oh, I feel so bad. I used to see them when they were together. They couldn't keep they're hands, or lips, to each other."
Hannah chuckled. "They did seem really into each other." She mumbled, "Not that I had seen much of it."
The two of them were seated in Communications class. They were talking idly, waiting for the bell to ring so they could leave. These chats were one of the sole reasons they moved from acquaintances to friends.
Hannah cleared her throat, "Speaking of couples, I would like to guess for a clue as to who your boyfriend might be."
Ophelia rolled her eyes playfully. "You couldn't have given up already."
"Not given up" she said quickly, "I just...need help."
Ophelia chuckled. "Okay fine." She leaned forward, thinking. "He's...tall."
Hannah tutted. "Every guy here is tall, aside from Tony, that doesn't help. Give me a hint on his name."
"His name?" Ophelia thought. "Okay, I got one. His last name is foreign."
Hannah nodded. "Foreign last name, got it. Anything else you're willing to spill?"
Ophelia nodded. "His hair is hot."
Hannah chuckled. "His hair is hot?"
"Hot, hot hair."
Hannah couldn't keep herself from laughing.
It took Sheri one night to listen to the tapes.
Ophelia was able to tell that she finished because of the way she acted the next day at school.
Sheri smiled at her in the hallway, something she hadn't done since they had their falling out. She didn't try talking to her, so she counted that as a win. Sheri wanted to ignore it and forget it happened. That was one thing the two of them had in common.
But Sheri finishing the tapes really only meant one thing to Ophelia. Clay would have them next. She knew what he would do. He'd try to 'help' her. He'd try to be 'supportive'. Ophelia rolled her eyes at the thought.
It was Friday already. She had already endured an entire week of 'support'. Montgomery had been the worst to avoid. She had blocked his number, and blocked him on all social media. He had even messaged her on Justin's instagram account.
'It's Monty. Let's talk.' She would never respond.
Usually, she was good at blending in, and not being the center of attention. But she wasn't as fortunate anymore. Especially as Clay walked into school that day sporting a pair of large headphones, drilling holes into the back of Justin's head.
He had just begun. And the others wanted to make sure he kept his mouth shut throughout his listening.
Which is why Justin had cornered her at his locker. Because of Clay.
"Jessica, Zach, and me are meeting up at Bryce's house. Alex is supposed to meet us there too. Do you need a ride?"
Ophelia stared at him, dumbfounded. "Excuse me?"
"Do you need a ride?" Justin repeated. "I heard your car was still in the shop."
She nodded slowly. "It is."
"So we can take you. Technically, Montgomery's driving, but it's okay because he probably won't stay long-"
"No" Ophelia said, "I'm not going."
She turned her attention to her locker, putting away her books and grabbing the binder she needed for homework that night.
She heard Justin sigh, "Look, you've been giving him the silent treatment for nearly a month. And now you're avoiding him. Isn't it time to, y'know, forgive and forget?"
Ophelia felt herself filling with rage. She gripped the palm of her hands tightly. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
Hearing Justin, out of all people, say that seemed to hurt the most. He saw first hand the sins of Montgomery. And out of anyone, she would have thought he would understand.
But Ophelia didn't have the patience, or confidence to start a fight at that moment.
Instead, she just said, "Montgomery has nothing to do with it."
Justin scoffed now. "C'mon. Tell me you don't actually believe that bullshit about Bryce."
"I don't know what to believe" she told him, "Because she told the truth about me. And I know you don't keep the best of friends."
Justin frowned. He looked her over. "I thought you told Jessica that Hannah lied about what happened."
Ophelia spoke quietly, "Out of all people, you should know what was really going on."
Ophelia slammed her locker shut. She turned away from him, but he moved faster than her. He stepped in front of her, blocking her.
"What do you mean me of all people?" He spoke as though he was offended.
Softly she said, "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
She gripped the straps of her backpack, and marched on. She heard Justin mutter, "Bitch" before walking past her, and out the door.
She let out a deep breath. She was already regretting what she had said.
"Hey, so, uh, did Ophelia say anything about me?"
Justin rolled his eyes, keeping his full attention on the game in front of him. The controller in his hand vibrates as he gets hit by another player's bullet.
"What the fuck, Monty?" he exclaimed, "You're supposed to be guarding me."
Montgomery chuckled, "Did you just die?"
Justin's head snapped in his direction. "You think that's funny, huh?"
Montgomery just nodded, continuing to laugh. Until Justin reached over and clamped his hand down on the back of his neck in a harsh slap.
"Ow! What the fuck?" Montgomery yelled. He looked back up to the screen, but it was too late. His character had just died.
Montgomery threw the controller at Justin's head. He dodged it, and it landed on the floor with a sharp cracking noise.
"Aye, be careful with those!" Bryce yelled from the back of the pool house, "You break it, you buy it."
"Whatever" Justin said.
Zach and Marcus, who sat on the couch against the wall, only laughed at the ordeal.
"Damn, Monty. You got killed like a little bitch" Marcus teased.
"He fucking distracted me" Montgomery snapped. Reaching over, he slapped the controller out of Justin's hand.
"Oh, fuck you" Justin laughed.
Montgomery jumped off the couch, grabbing his controller and rejoining the game.
"You're dead, Justin."
Justin shook his head. "You know what Monty, I think Ophelia actually wanted to come over."
Montgomery looked his way, his face softening in hope. "Really?"
"Yeah. But then I told her you were here and she changed her mind."
Montgomery reached over, hitting Justin again, and then turned his full attention back on the game.
Zach and Marcus, who were sitting on the couch against the wall, laughed at them.
Bryce spoke up, "Where is Ophelia?"
"Didn't hear?" Marcus asked, "She dumped his sorry ass."
"Fuck you" Montgomery snapped.
Bryce laughed. "For real? You let her break up with you? I thought you just took a break while she was crying and shit over suicide Hannah."
Montgomery ignored him. Zach shifted uncomfortably. Bryce took a long sip of beer, chuckling.
He then asked, "What about Jessica, where's she?"
Justin cleared his throat. "She didn't want to come. She had some stuff she needed to do."
"Watch out" Bryce teased, "Or you'll be the next one to be dumped."
"I wasn't fucking dumped" Montgomery suddenly snapped, standing to his feet. "We're just taking a fucking break."
"Woah, calm down" Marcus told him. The air in the room became tense.
But Bryce didn't seem to sense the sudden hostility, because he just kept talking.
"By 'taking a break' you mean she hasn't returned any if your calls?" Bryce asked.
Montgomery clenched his jaw. "She's just been busy."
"No, right. I believe you, I do. But I mean...what's got her so busy at nine o'clock on a Friday night?" Bryce patronized, "Other than, y'know..." Bryce trailed off as he began mimicking sexual moans.
"Knock it the fuck off!" Montgomery told him.
"Yeah man, cut it out" Justin said. He was watching Montgomery carefully, as were the others in the room.
"Stop Bryce, Ophelia would never do something like that" Zach put in.
Bryce's eyebrows rose in surprise as his eye sight centered on the younger football player.
"What do you know about it, Dempsey?"
Zach was shook as all eyes in the room turned to him, the game on the television long forgotten by now.
"S-She's just not that kind of girl" he said, stumbling over his words.
Montgomery glared at him. Bryce only laughed again. "Monty, it looks like you've already got some competition."
Montgomery tossed the controller onto the couch before storming to the door.
"Where the fuck are you going?" Justin yelled.
"Where do you think?" Montgomery snapped. He grabbed his keys off the rack near the door.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Zach called. Marcus sent him a weird look. He continued, "I mean-haven't you been drinking?"
"Fuck off!" Montgomery shouted before slamming the door behind him.
"What the fuck?" Zach said to Justin. "You think it's a good idea just to let him go like that?"
Bryce, oblivious to what they were really talking about said, "Calm the fuck down Zach, he only had one beer."
Marcus added, "He'll be fine. I'm sure Ophelia's parents are home. It's not like anything could happen."
"Exactly" Justin said, "so why don't you shut up and play this fucking game."
Zach stood, and walked over to the couch Justin was sitting at. Suddenly, he stopped. He shook his head.
"I'm going after him" he said. Zach rushed to the door.
"Jesus fucking Christ" Justin muttered, "What the fuck is wrong with him?"
Marcus shook his head. "Dumbass."