Zach groaned as he set down the weights. He picked up a rag and wiped the sweat off his forehead. School had ended half an hour ago. There was no baseball practice today, only conditioning. The weight room was filled with grunting players. Zach had just worked out his legs. He wiped down his seat, and looked over to see Montgomery across the weight room. He was sitting and doing arm curls.
Zach tried his best to avoid Montgomery that day. Not just because of what he did with Ophelia, but because of what happened before that. Montgomery punched him in the jaw, and Zach still felt it stinging. But when Jeremy called him over at lunch, and he saw the spot open next to Ophelia, he couldn't help it. Luckily, Montgomery didn't seem as mad at him. He just seemed mad at everybody.
He didn't know why Jessica decided to spazz out at lunch. Her behavior always confused him. But at least she had complimented his package in front of Ophelia. It embarrassed him, but maybe it would work in his favor.
Zach watched Montgomery for a moment. He had a lot of weight as he worked out his left arm, more weight than normal. He noticed his teammate struggling and decided to step in.
Zach walked over, nervously. "Hey, man. We're doing legs today, remember?"
Montgomery paused to look up at Zach. He just laughed at him, shaking his head and going back to what he was doing.
Zach said, "I'm just trying to help. You went pretty hard on your arms last session. You're gonna tire yourself out."
Zach flinched as Montgomery suddenly dropped the weight. It hit the ground with a loud thud. Montgomery stood to his feet. He was in a black wifebeater that was completely soaked in his sweat. He was working out a lot more intensely then everyone else. It was supposed to be an easy day. He was doing the most.
"How 'bout you just worry about yourself, man?" Montgomery snapped at him.
Zach scoffed. He had come over as an act of kindness. Honestly, he was guilty. Montgomery did not deserve Ophelia, but Zach regretted kissing her while they were still together. Being cheated on isn't something anyone deserved, not even Montgomery. They used to be friends after all.
But Montgomery's arrogance was unable to be hidden anymore. He used to be able to speak with the man without complications, now everything Montgomery said just disgusted him.
Zach just said, "Whatever, man. Fuck your arm up right before season. See if I care."
Zach turned, but hesitated when he heard Montgomery mutter, "Walk away, pussy..."
He hesitated. Montgomery wasn't worth the fight, so Zach ignored him.
It wasn't until they were in the locker room, changing before going home, that Zach overheard Bryce and Montgomery talking.
Zach did not hear the beginning of the conversation. He honestly didn't care about what they had to say. That is, until he heard Bryce said, "What, so Ophelia's a prude now?"
Zach turned his head slightly to listen.
"I mean, almost three months without fucking? That's rough, man. I told you you should've hooked up with Amber while you were broken up," Bryce continued. Zach rolled his eyes at it, angry at Bryce for suggesting something like that.
"It's not a big deal," Montgomery muttered, trying to brush off Bryce's words.
"So you haven't done anything?" Bryce pushed.
Zach held his breath, waiting for the answer.
"We've made out and shit." Zach almost sighed in relief. "I don't want to push her right now."
Bryce laughed at his friend. "Made out? That's it? She won't even suck your dick anymore?"
Zach felt himself clench his fists.
Montgomery said, "Trust me, she'd let me fuck her if I really wanted to. She'll let me do whatever the fuck I want her to, she's good that way."
Zach ripped off his shirt, throwing it into his locker and pulling on a clean one.
"Come over to my house early," Bryce offered, "I'll let you have the pool house to yourselves. Give her some drinks and fuck her on the couch."
Zach slammed his locker door shut. Montgomery and Bryce looked over.
"You got a problem, Dempsey?" Bryce asked his friend cautiously.
Zach looked directly at Montgomery when he said, "No. I'm good."
"If you've got something to say fucking say it," Montgomery demanded.
Zach turned around, angry.
"You think Ophelia appreciates you talking about her like that?"
Montgomery laughed. "Oh, you think you know Ophelia?"
"I've known her a hell of a lot longer than you have," Zach shot back.
Montgomery clenched his jaw. "You don't know a fucking thing about her. You think you know her just because you saw her a few times when you were kids? I'm her fucking boyfriend!"
A few boys had stopped what they were doing to look their way. Eyes gazed over.
Zach felt nervous under their gaze, ashamed to be arguing then, while they were supposed to be focusing on baseball.
But he couldn't help it as he said, "I know what kind of fucking boyfriend you really are."
Montgomery took a step towards him. "Want to fucking say that again?"
Bryce appeared now, having left a set of weight further down in the room. "Yo, calm down, Monty. Coach will be here in a few."
"Fucking say it again, Dempsey!"
Montgomery was being so loud, but Zach didn't want anyone else to hear. Not to protect Montgomery's reputation, but to protect Ophelia's.
He stepped closer to Montgomery. The boys on the other row of lockers could not hear them from this distance.
"I told you before that I knew what you did," Zach said, his words fearless. The closer he got to Montgomery the angrier he seemed to get.
Montgomery scoffed. "And you been running your fucking mouth? Telling sluts like Jessica so they can be in our fucking business too?"
Zach rolled his eyes at him. "I didn't tell Jessica. And trust me, we're not the only ones that know."
"Knows what?" Montgomery said with arrogance, as thought there was no prove to what he did.
Zach took another step forward, so close now that Zach was towering over him and they were almost touching.
Zach couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't keep walking on eggshells around him like everyone else. Montgomery's secret didn't deserve to be kept. He should know that other people have heard what he did.
Zach grit his teeth as he looked down at Montgomery, threateningly. "I know you fucking hit her."
Zach was surprised that Bryce had no reaction even though he was obviously close enough to hear. But what surprised him more was Montgomery's reaction. Montgomery just laughed at him, like he had no idea what he was talking about. "I hit her?"
Zach was furious at his casual reaction. He seethed, "You broke her fucking nose. After the Winter Formal. I fucking know you did. There was no car crash."
"Did she tell you that?" Montgomery asked.
Zach knew better than to betray Ophelia by telling the truth.
"Of course she didn't. She wouldn't, she's too fucking afraid of you."
This time, Montgomery looked offended. His smile dropped, but only for a minute. Then he brightened again, like he just thought of something new to say back. Montgomery leaned in next to Zach's ear and said quietly, "If I'm really the one who fucked her up after the winter formal...then why did she let me fuck her in the back of my Jeep that night."
Zach slammed both hands in Montgomery's shoulders. He flew back, hitting the lockers behind him.
Bryce tried to grab Montgomery quickly, but he was too quick. Montgomery lunged at Zach. Zach's head flew back and hit his locker, sending pain shooting through his body. He tried to push Montgomery off, but Montgomery suddenly brought his hand back and punched him in the jaw, again. Zach grunted as he hit the sensitive spot. He pushed at Montgomery's shoulder to get him off of him. Bryce was the one who eventually ripped him off.
As Bryce was lifting him, Zach sent a kick into his stomach. Montgomery doubled over. Another team member, Scott, came and grabbed Zach's arm. He was forcing him back. Although Zach was strong enough to resist, he went with him.
Montgomery lunged for him one more time, but Bryce then threw him into the locker.
"Calm the fuck down, Monty!" Bryce yelled at him. "You want to get fucking kicked off the team?"
Montgomery was embarrassed that his friend wasn't backing him up. He spit in Zach's direction and said, "Fuck you, Dempsey."
The coach entered the locker room just then. He noticed everyone standing still.
"What's going on in here?" he demanded, knowing full well that most of his players were violent and short tempered.
"Nothing, coach," Bryce assured him, "Just giving a little talk about teamwork."
'I have to talk to you'
Ophelia was surprised to get the text from Alex. Even more surprised that she had him as a contact. She could not recall ever adding it in her phone.
'About what?' Ophelia texted back. He never answered her.
Ophelia was sitting in Montgomery's passenger seat waiting for him to finish practice, working on her homework. Jessica approached her, more somber now, and leaned against the Jeep. The windows were all down, so they could see each other very clearly, separated only by the door.
Jessica started by saying, "Heard something happened in the locker room. Zach and Montgomery went at it."
Ophelia stilled, immediately assuming Montgomery found out about the kiss. "W-What? Why?"
Jessica shrugged. "I don't know. Something small. They got over it pretty quick."
This eased Ophelia's suspicion. If Montgomery did know, he wouldn't be over it. Not for a long time.
"They've...been upset with each other a lot," Ophelia mentioned. She hoped Zach was alright, and that Montgomery would not come out of practice upset.
"Are you going to Bryce's tonight?" Jessica asked her.
"Yeah," Ophelia said. "Monty wants to go over kind of early. I guess we're playing poker."
"Nice," Jessica commented.
Ophelia didn't reply. She didn't know where this conversation was going.
"Hey, I'm really sorry about lunch," Jessica finally told her.
Ophelia wasn't ready to forgive her. "People don't talk about your tape in front of Bryce, so why do you guys always need to bring up mine?"
"Ophelia-"
"And don't give me that bullshit that yours didn't happen. We're over that, Jess. Be real."
Jessica paused for a moment. Ophelia regretted her words, wondering if they were too insensitive.
"I shouldn't have said anything," Jessica agreed, "Was he really mad when you guys left?"
"We just came here," Ophelia said, gesturing to his Jeep. "I calmed him down. He was okay by the end of lunch. I think."
Jessica bit her fingernail. "Was he mad at you?"
Ophelia hated Jessica's constant accusations towards Montgomery, like he is always doing something wrong.
Ophelia put her homework down. "He said he wasn't. He was just...mad that people knew, I guess. But I told him I didn't tell anyone, and he believes me. He thinks Hannah told you. Which is true, I guess."
Jessica asked. "Is that the only time someone saw?"
Ophelia scoffed. "That's the only time it happened. I told you that, I'm sick of everyone assuming that's all he's ever done. You know, we were having a good day until everyone showed up at lunch. Monty is good, people just provoke him."
Jessica disagreed. She didn't think Monty was good. She thought he was fucked up. She tried to tell Ophelia this. "Montgomery...He's capable of so much harm. I don't want you to-"
Jessica paused. Ophelia looked over to her. She had tears in her eyes. Ophelia was surprised.
Jessica finished, "I don't want you to end up like me, Ophelia."
Ophelia quickly got out of the Jeep. She grabbed Jessica and brought her in for a hug.
Ophelia consoled her by smoothing down her hair and saying, "Jessica there is nothing wrong with who you are."
Jessica pulled away slightly and asked her. "Do you think your boyfriend is capable of doing what Hannah is accusing Bryce of?"
Ophelia was at a loss for words. She didn't think he was. Montgomery could never rape someone.
Yet, something stopped her from able to speak. It was a voice in the back of her head telling her that there was no way she could be sure he wouldn't.
Originally, Ophelia didn't want to get to the party earlier than she had to. Drunk Liberty High boys were dangerous. But Montgomery had insisted, and Jessica said it would be easier to come if it was just a few people at first.
Ophelia agreed, only for Jessica. She felt bad for being rude to her earlier.
When Montgomery and Ophelia entered the pool house, she was surprised to see no one else there. Not even Bryce.
"Where is everyone?" she asked.
Montgomery said. "They'll be here in a bit, maybe an hour."
Ophelia frowned. "An hour? Why are we here now?"
Montgomery had her sit down on the couch. He went to the cooler, and pulled out a bottle of alcohol. Ophelia couldn't tell what kind from the distance. He poured two glasses, making Ophelia nervous, because she didn't want any.
"I'm actually okay, Monty," she told him.
He brought the two over anyway, handing one to her as she sat down. "Just one. It'll relax us for later."
Timidly, she took a sip. It tasted like tequila, but a lot more sweet. "It's good," she complimented.
Montgomery leaned closer to her and put an arm around her. She could smell the faintness of cologne. She wondered if he put it on before or after school, because she hadn't smelt it earlier. Montgomery set his glass down on the table. He took off his varsity jacket. Beneath it he had a flannel that was open over a t-shirt. He leaned back into her.
"You look really nice today, O," he told her. She looked down at her outfit. She had on high waisted ripped jeans, with a black tank top that was covered with a denim jacket.
"Thank you," she said. "You look really handsome today."
Montgomery leaned over and pressed him lips against her. Ophelia pulled away as the single action sent her back to the day before. To kissing Zach...
She took another sip of the drink, to clear her mind and attempt to make things less awakened. "How was practice?"
Montgomery just said. "We just had conditioning."
"Oh, yeah?" she asked, "I thought conditioning was before the season started."
"It's always," he told her. "That's how I stay in shape. See?"
Montgomery stripped himself of his flannel. His t-shirt was tight on his arms, nicely exposing his biceps. He flexed for her. Smiling he said, "Keeps me like this all year long."
Zach was suddenly erased from her mind as she watched him show himself off. "Actually, we've been doing a lot of ab workouts too. Have I showed you?"
"N-No." Ophelia hadn't seen his bare chest in a while.
Montgomery lifted off his t-shirt, exposing himself to her. Her mouth dropped open, not because of his impressive build, but because of the suddenness.
"Um, I'm-I'm feeling kind of hot," she told him. "I think I'm going to get some water."
"You could just take your jacket off," he suggested. Ophelia felt like she was in a trance as Montgomery reaches over and slid down her jacket. His warm fingers purposely taking time to brush against her skin, sensually. He dropped the jacket on the ground. Her tank top was black, held up by two spaghetti straps. Meaning a lot of skin was exposed, as was her cleavage.
Montgomery mover closer to her, this time moving slightly over her as she shrank down into the couch. Montgomery kissed her passionately. Ophelia felt her heart fluttering. She was becoming dizzy, obsessed with the way Montgomery was kissing her.
She snapped out of her trance, moving her hands to Montgomery's hair as she enjoyed the kiss. His unclothed upper body heated hers. His hand reached the hem of her tank top, pushing it up so their heated skin met each other's. She ran a hand up and down his chest. He grabbed her hand, without breaking the kiss, and moved it down so that it was placed on top of his now hard erection.
Ophelia was startled, and tried to pull it away. He grabbed her hand again and brought it back, squeezing her hand so that it squeezed around his member. Ophelia broke the kiss. Again, she pulled her hand back, now using both hands to push herself out from under him.
"Stop it!" she snapped at her boyfriend. "I'm not doing this here!"
"You don't want to do it fucking anywhere!" her boyfriend shouted at her. Ophelia fell silent. Montgomery cursed under his breath. He slouched back into the couch away from her.
"I'm sorry," he told her.
"I told you I'm just...I'm just not ready yet. I know we've done it before, but I feel different now. I just can't get into it. I'm sorry."
Montgomery sat back up. "Cause of me? You can't get into it?"
"No!" she said quickly. "Trust me, you look amazing. I just..." She just didn't feel safe. And not because of what Montgomery did. Ever since she heard about Hannah's rape, and her description of it, Ophelia could not have sexual thoughts without feeling guilty.
When Ophelia and Montgomery had sex, he would be rough with her. He wouldn't hurt her, but he liked to dominate her. He went fast and hard. She liked sleeping with him. She wasn't sure if she specifically liked the way he did things, but she had never been with another. She figured she would never know if she liked sex better when it was slower and more passionate.
But every time she felt lustful for Montgomery, hell even when she felt lustful for Zach, her brain replayed the tape. Bryce's tape. Sometimes Montgomery turned her over and held her the same way Bryce held Hannah in the hot tub. How dare she find pleasure in sex when Hannah felt so much pain from it? When Jessica felt so much pain from it?
Montgomery handed Ophelia her jacket back. She put it on. Montgomery pulled back on his t-shirt and his flannel.
"I know I'm attracted to you," Ophelia told him, "Like, sexually, I'm attracted to you. But I just don't feel...sexual."
Montgomery said, "It's fine-"
"Is it?" she asked, "Or are you mad about it?"
"Well, obviously it fucking bothers me," he admitted, "I mean I haven't had sex in months. Bryce is being a fucking tool about it."
Ophelia frowned. "Why does Bryce even know?"
Montgomery shrugged, looking away. "It just comes up."
"How?"
"It just fucking does," he told her.
Ophelia stood up, "Is that why you brought me here so early? You thought I'd have sex with you in here?"
"I don't know! I wanted to fucking try!"
Ophelia felt embarrassed all of a sudden, thinking of Bryce coming up with a plan for Montgomery to fuck her.
She shook her head. "You're fucking disgusting."
"Wait," he said, stopping her as was able to leave the pool house, "Can you come sit down with me? I really am sorry, O."
"Why should I even believe that?" she asked. "How do I know you don't just want to try something again?"
He took out his phone. "Look." He texted a group baseball chat. 'Come now if you want'.
"There," he said, "People are on their way. I won't try shit."
Ophelia did sit back down with him. He ran a hand over his face.
"I'm sorry that...I tried that," he apologized.
Ophelia waited a moment before replying. "So, that means you weren't with anyone when we broke up, right? I mean-because you said it had been months?"
"No," Montgomery confirmed. "Of course I wasn't with anyone. Ask Bryce, ask anyone I totally could've been."
Montgomery was sad that Ophelia assumed he had been. He studied Ophelia for a moment. She looked nervous. He regretted startling her so much with trying to have sex with her. He regretted Bryce being able to talk him into trying it.
He regretted the fact he brought her to a stupid high school party in the first place. She deserved more than that. He wished he could take her on a real date to an expensive restaurant or to a movie.
This weekend he would, be promised himself. He couldn't afford an expensive restaurant, but he could afford taking her to the movies and a diner afterwards.
Sometimes, he felt like he was walking on thin ice. He had so many fucks up in the past that he was waiting for Ophelia to finally get annoyed and just get up and leave him altogether.
It would better if she did. She would turn out better without him. He wondered what the chances were he would end up being professional after college. They were slim.
Would he turn out like his dad? Bitter and angry at the world? He couldn't. He would have a good life as long as he had Ophelia. But what if Ophelia became the same as his mom? Cheating because she grew to hate him for his flaws and lack of wealth.
"I love you," he said, suddenly. He opened his mouth again, he wanted to also say "please don't leave me." But he was unable to become that vulnerable at the moment, or else his emotions would begin to show.
"I love you, too," she said, like it was obvious.
That was her mistake. Montgomery knew it was. All of Ophelia's current problems were because of him. He felt that he would be the cause of her problems for the rest of her life.
"I'll do better," he suddenly promised her, "I'll do better for you."
She opened her mouth to reply to him, but there was a harsh knocking at the door.
"Hello?" She heard Jessica calling out.
"Did you lock it?" Ophelia asked, getting up to open the door.
Montgomery just shrugged. "I...thought we might do something."
Ophelia opened the door for her female friend. Jessica walked in and asked Ophelia, "Did you lock it?"
"No," she told her. Jessica looked at Montgomery accusingly and untrusting. Ophelia could tell she thought Montgomery locked it without her knowledge. He had, but Ophelia still defended him by saying, "We were just talking in here."
"Jessica," Montgomery greeted, "Good to see you. Didn't know you'd be invited."
Jessica frowned at him. She looked back at Ophelia to asked, "Zach told me to come early. Is he not here?"
Ophelia saw Montgomery clench his fists. Zach had made sure nothing would happen between them that day by sending someone else.
"No, he's not," she said, "Just us for now."
Jessica took Ophelia hand and said, "Let's go sit by the pool."
She led her outside. Ophelia heard Montgomery mutter, "The fuck?" as he watched his girlfriend being dragged away.
"Play a video game or something," Jessica snapped at him, "It's girl time."
The girls both rolled up their jeans and dipped their feet in the water. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail. Montgomery stood leaning against the door, alcohol in his hand, watching them. Watching Ophelia. She was smiling and seemed to be enjoying herself while talking to Jessica.
Bryce came in a few minutes after Jessica.
"Dude, I saw Jess's car. Did she catch you or anything?"
"Nah," Montgomery said, "We weren't doing anything."
"What, you nut that quick?" he joked.
Montgomery was about to tell Bryce how far he got, and how Ophelia had stopped it. But he thought about how embarrassed Ophelia was when she learned he told that kind of information to Bryce. He didn't want to embarrass her again. "No, we were just hanging out."
Bryce just scoffed, looking outside at Ophelia as well. His eyes skimmed her legs. "Fucking tease."
Montgomery wondered if it was his fault Bryce spoke about his girlfriend that way, because he let him.
Ophelia barely glanced at Zach when he got there. If she ever did see him, she would be taken back to the day before and be reminded again of what she had done.
She enjoyed talking to Jessica, surprisingly. She had never thought of Jessica as someone who would get along with this well, but maybe trauma changes people.
She had to face Zach, eventually, as she was seated next to him for a game of poker.
"You have to play, Ophelia," Jessica whined. Her voice was slurring because of her alcoholic intake. "Pleaseeeee."
"Okay, okay," Ophelia laughed. She had only finished the drink Montgomery poured for her, and then she sipped of a beer. "Monty, you want in?"
Montgomery was on the couch, next to Jeremy. "Maybe in a bit." They had just started a game.
Bryce began to deal out cards.
"I'm in," Zach told him, taking a seat across from Ophelia. She bit her lip, and looked away.
'You can't ignore me forever' Zach thought to himself.
As the poker games continued, one after one, Ophelia began glancing at Zach, and then looking at him, and eventually laughing with him. Jessica and Bryce gave playful banter back and forth. It bothered Ophelia a bit, but she didn't say anything. Jessica deserved to be happy at the moment.
"Again and again!" Jessica shouted, ecstatic over winning another round.
Bryce chuckled. "Just take the money."
"And fucking again," Jessica teased as she spread her arms out and grab the dollar bills in front of her, pulling them in. "Yeah, that's mine."
"That's, like, twice," Bryce told her.
Zach laughed at the two, taking a swing of his beer.
Ophelia shared a few smiles with Montgomery between games. For a moment, all seemed well.
Then Alex and Justin showed up.
Ophelia noticed before Jessica did. She saw him walking up through the window.
Jessica was still laughing. "This is embarrassing at this point. Look how rich I am!"
"You really rubbing it in?" Bryce said, laughing as well. "You finally win! Finally!"
Jessica just repeated, "Look how fucking rich I am!"
Bryce shook his head. "Whatever."
He looked over and noticed them approaching the table.
"Justy! Alex! About fucking time, you guys! These cards are getting stale. Come on, sit down!"
Ophelia watched as Jessica's smile completely erased when she spotted her boyfriend. She set down the money she had, a disgusted look now on her face.
Ophelia looked to Zach. He looked just as worried as she felt. Justin seemed upset. Whatever was about to happen could not be good.
Justin looked to the floor and placed his hands in his pocket. "Actually, uh, Jess and I had this thing planned."
Jessica snorted. She picked her money back up, and started counting it so she didn't have to look at him. "No, we don't."
Justin tried again. "We were gonna get late dinner."
Jessica rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
Justin seemed nervous. "Let's go," he told her.
Jessica bit back, "When did you tell me about dinner? Was that before or after you walked out on me today?"
Ophelia realized something had happened between them that day that she didn't know about. Maybe that's why she was acting out at school.
Bryce muttered a low, "Oh."
Zach pulled out his cellphone, carefully. Ophelia felt her phone buzz. She looked down.
'Calm her down before she says anything.'
Ophelia felt confused. How was she supposed to do anything?
"Jess, how much did you win?" Ophelia tried.
Jessica smirked and said, "Apparently enough for Justin to become interested in me again."
Justin looked hurt by her comment.
Bryce whistled lowkey. "Justin it sounds like you better make it up to her...but losing a few hands. Come on, sit."
Ophelia got another text from Zach.
'You should leave before things get ugly.'
Ophelia just sent back 'no'.
Zach sighed and then sat up in his seat as Justin sat next to him. He cleared his throat and said, "Alright, well the game's Texas Hold 'em. Five dollar ante, five dollar minimum bet."
Justin was staring intensely at his girlfriend, but Jessica didn't seem to care.
"Don't worry, I got you staked," Bryce boasted, "You're girlfriend's been playing with my money all night anyway."
Alex stayed standing up.
"Alex, sit down," Jessica told him.
"No, I'm good." He let out a deep breath. "I hate poker.
Jessica shook her head, standing up, offering her seat to him. "No, you have to play. Everyone's playing. Come on." Jessica dragged Alex by the arm to her seat and forced here down. "Here."
He begrudgingly sat next to Ophelia. For some reason, he refused to make eye contact with Ophelia, and she wondered why.
Jessica then sat on Bryce's lap. Ophelia gasped.
The hurt in Justin's eyes turned to pain. His face scrunched up, upset and unbelieving. "Jess, what the fuck?"
"You can take my seat, Jess," Ophelia offered.
She was disgusted how Bryce was just laughing at the girl.
"Your deal." Jessica slid the cards to Justin.
He slid them back, now angry. "I don't want to fucking play cards right now!"
She picked up the cards and threw them at him. "I said your deal!"
Now Bryce was concerned. "Woah..."
Ophelia stood up. This caught Montgomery's attention. He looked over.
"Jess!" Zach yelled at her.
"Shit..." Bryce mumbled.
Justin stared at him for another moment, before slamming his hands on the table, pushing himself up. "Fuck it! Let's go!"
He started walking out, and then noticed his girlfriend still wasn't following. He came back to her, and grabbed her by the arm, tightly. Ophelia could almost feel the grip of his hand.
"Jess, I said let go!" He ripped her off of Bryce's lap, and dragged her forcefully outside.
"What the fuck, Justin?!" she screamed at him.
Ophelia chased after them, now upset at Justin. "Let her go!"
Montgomery stopped his game as he saw Justin force Jessica out of the pool house. He cringed slightly, wondering if that's how badly it looked when he got angry when Ophelia didn't follow him places.
"Don't you touch me like that!" Jessica screamed when Ophelia caught up with that. "Don't you ever touch me like that!" She had pulled herself away from him.
The glowing of the pool lights reflecting off her face.
"Jess, are you alright?" Ophelia asked.
"Buddy, calm down," Bryce instructed his friend.
"Stay the fuck away from her!" Justin snapped.
"What is your problem, Justin?!" Jess demanded.
"Guys, this does not need to happen!" Zach told them, emerging as the crowd of people from outside followed them to beside the pool.
"Maybe it does," Alex said back.
Ophelia felt Montgomery come up behind her. His hands fell on her shoulders, pulling her away from the situation slightly.
"What are you doing here?" Justin snapped at her. "What are you doing here with him?"
"We're just having fun," Jessica snapped back.
"Why the fuck are you here with Bryce?" Justin spat, bits of saliva coming out of his mouth as he spoke so angrily.
Ophelia didn't know what to do, or if she should intervene. She felt like it wasn't her place to. But maybe that kind of thinking is why this stuff happens.
"Why do you care?" Jessica demanded. "Tell me!"
Justin refused to say anything.
"Tell her, Justin," Alex said, speaking up from the crowd.
Zach warned him. "Alex..."
Zach looked Alex's way, and instead locked eyes with Ophelia. Both shared the same worried look. Although, Zach's look had anger in it. Like he was infuriated that Jessica's tantrum would expose them all. All Ophelia felt was worried to how things would end up for Jessica if Justin decided to speak. To tell the truth.
Justin just whispered, "Let's go."
Jessica didn't buy it. "No, tell me why you care." For that sentence, she wasn't angry, just heartbroken. Her voice so quiet, so sad, so undeserving of the cause of the argument.
"Jess, lets go."
The anger returned in Jessica's voice. "Tell me why you fucking care!"
"Because he fucking raped you!"
They all fell silent. The pool house fell silent, the city fell silent, the whole goddamn world fell silent. For a full moment Ophelia couldn't hear anything. Not sirens, or cars, or even crickets chirping in the night. Nothing. Until Jessica's deep breath as she stumbled back, shocked and unmoving.
Montgomery's mouth fell open. He pulled Ophelia closer to himself. She buried her face in his chest.
"Justin, brother..."
"I'm not your fucking brother!"
Ophelia brought her face out of Montgomery's chest as she heard Zach's voice yelling, "Stop! Enough!"
Zach got between the two boys, now keeping the peace. Justin smacked into Zach's chest, pushing him out of the way.
"Get out of my way! I should fucking kill you! You son of a bitch!"
Justin came at Bryce. Montgomery pushed Ophelia out of the way of the boys, and grabbed Bryce, holding him back until Bryce told him, "I'm fucking fine, Monty!"
Ophelia saw that Jessica started crying. She moved quickly to the girl, reaching for her arm and pulling her in for a hug.
Zach apprehended Justin, forcing Justin into his body so that he could no longer charge for Bryce. Justin bucked in Zach's hold, like a bull in a cage.
"I should fucking kill you! Let me fucking go! Let me fucking go!"
Justin seemed to repeat the phrase over and over, not losing an ounce of anger.
"Let me fucking go! Let me fucking go!"
"Stop!" Zach shouted, his loud voice hurting Justin's ears.
Jessica pulled herself away from Ophelia. Justin stopped writhing immediately as Jessica came to stand in front of him. Zach dropped him. Justin stood, defeated and devastated.
Jessica looked deep in her eyes and roared, "I hate you!" She slapped him across the face, before staggering to her car.
In the low moment, Bryce walked slowly up to Justin. "What the fuck did you just do?" Accusation dripped off his words, and they all watched as he haggard off into his house.
Justin stood there, with tears in his eyes.
"Justin..." Zach started.
"Don't!" he yelled, "Don't you fucking dare!"
Justin left in a rage. Ophelia knew that the person he was upset with the most was himself.
Once he was gone, a murmur began sweeping through the athletes that were still there.
"Bryce raped her?" The baseball player, Jeremy asked.
Montgomery was the first to speak. "Hey, we don't even know if any of that is true."
Montgomery did know it was true. He had witnessed Bryce trying to force Ophelia into sexual activities before. He had witnessed Bryce fuck unconscious girls in their baseball clubhouse before. He had witnessed him rape fully conscious girls. He fully believed Bryce would be willing to rape Jessica, especially at a time that she wouldn't remember.
But honestly, he was just glad that Bryce agreed to not rape his girlfriend.
Montgomery stopped for a moment and wondered if Ophelia was ever at risk of being raped when they weren't dating, and when she wasn't around his asshole friends. Was he the reason she lived in danger now?
Montgomery just shook his head. "Don't listen to a girl that's drunk out of her mind."
"Watch your mouth," Zach told him.
"Yeah, Justin's the one who said it," Alex told him, "Not Jessica."
Montgomery scoffed, "Whatever. We just can't actually believe that shit. There's no proof."
"No proof?" Ophelia asked, astonished by his reaction. "What about what Bryce did you me? You saw that. How is this any different?"
Montgomery looked around quickly, hoping her words weren't heard by many. But, of course, everyone was still listening intensely.
Alex stepped forward. "What did Bryce do to you?"
"Let's just go." Montgomery didn't want Ophelia to finish. He didn't want the others to hear. He was still protecting Bryce.
"He tried to take advantage of me," Ophelia told him, "How can you still defend him? That rapist."
Montgomery grabbed her arm. He let go, suddenly, as he remembered how it looked to see Justin dragging Jessica against her will. He didn't want their relationship to be like that. Not anymore. He tried to keep his cool with her.
"He tried to rape you?" Alex asked her. Worry plastered on his face.
"No, he didn't," Montgomery said, "So don't fucking say that. We're going home."
He pushed lightly against her back to move her.
She resisted. "I'm not going!"
"Ophelia..." Montgomery seethed, becoming embarrassed as his friends watched the ordeal.
"Bryce was trying to take advantage of Ophelia while she was drunk," Zach spoke, coming in to defend her. "I saw it."
"Yeah, you saw it and didn't do shit," Montgomery snapped. "Stay the fuck out of this."
"I was too drunk to realize what was happening!" Zach told him. "Bryce wasn't!"
Alex muttered, "That fucking pig."
Montgomery pushed Ophelia slightly again. "Come on, lets go, Ophelia!"
"No! I'm going to find Jessica!"
"No, you're not!" Montgomery shouted, "We're fucking leaving!"
Ophelia turned away from him, it infuriated him. She took a few steps forward.
Montgomery didn't even realize what he was about to do before he did it. He just wanted Ophelia to fucking listen. But as she marched away, he was more desperate to grab her.
Montgomery reached out, and grabbed hold of Ophelia's ponytail, and harshly yanked her back to him.
His pull was too strong. She yelped in pain, and she lost her footing. She fell back, landing just in front of his feet.
"You son of a bitch!" Zach shouted. Ophelia wasn't able to process what happened before Zach lunged at Montgomery.
He knocked into him, pushing him over completely. Montgomery was standing near the pool, and both boys fell into it.
"Stop!" Ophelia screamed.
Both boys came up, only for Zach to lunge at him in the pool, forcing Montgomery back under water. Montgomery forced himself back up, and landed a blow on Zach's face. Zach was focusing on pushing him down, while Montgomery was focused on hitting and kicking whatever body parts he could reach. Another boy jumped in the water after him, attempting to pull Zach back.
Alex grabbed the long pool net. He dropped it over Montgomery's head, slowly down his hits because he couldn't see as well. Another boy ended up jumping in, pulling Montgomery back. They were separated.
Montgomery ripped the net off.
They stood feet apart, held back from grabbing each other. Montgomery spit at Zach. It landed on his chest.
"Fucking touch her again!" Zach scream at Montgomery. "I'll fucking kill you. If I see you fucking touch her again-"
"You won't do shit!" Montgomery yelled back. He kicked out the water in front of him, splashing Zach. Zach fought against the boy holding him back.
Ophelia yelled, "Montgomery, lets go! Okay? We'll go?"
Both boys slowed their motions. Montgomery spit at him again. "Fuck you," he told him, before hoping out of the pool. Water gushing off of him and his clothing.
He took Ophelia's hands.
"We're going."
Zach expected her to go. Like every time before. She would chose him. Again. She would get hurt. Again. But Zach tried anyway. He called out from still in the pool.
"Don't go with him, Ophelia." His words were strong. "...Stay."
This angered Montgomery more. "How many fucking times do I have to smack the shit out of you before you fucking learn your lesson?"
Ophelia pulled away from Montgomery. Her hand left his.
"I..." she took a step back. "I want to stay."
Zach felt a burst of hope within his chest. He wanted to jump out of the pool, and take her away from the evil place. But Montgomery was having none of it.
"No, you're fucking not." Montgomery grabbed her upper arm and now forcefully pulled her out.
Just moments ago, he judged Justin for doing the same thing. Montgomery swore he wouldn't do this to Ophelia, but his anger overtook him.
He dragged her out of Bryce's place, to his Jeep parked on the street.
"Stop!" Ophelia was screaming at him. She clawed at him hand.
"He thinks he has some fucking pull over you. Like he's fucking in charge. As if he means anything to you," Montgomery was seething.
"Let me go!" Ophelia said. She tried digging her feet into the ground. Suddenly, her back was slammed against the door of the Jeep.
"Why the fuck is he so obsessed with you?" Montgomery demanded. "What, did you fuck him?"
She sent him a look of disgust. Not disgusted at the thought of sleeping with Zach, but at the fact he thought she would betray him to that extent.
"No!" she snapped at him.
"No, you are, aren't you? You're fucking him! That's why you won't fuck me? You're getting filled with his cock instead?" His words held venom.
Ophelia was taken about by his crude words. "You're a fucking idiot!"
"Fuck you, Ophelia! I bet you suck him off every night. Every night after I drop you off. You're a fucking whore!" His screams and insults cut into her as though he was physically stabbing her. "You would've fucked Bryce too if I let you!"
"Fuck you!" Ophelia screamed. She shoved her two hands against his shoulder.
He slapped her across the face.
It wasn't a hit, like he said before. It was a slap. It wasn't a backhand. His backhand had started on her cheekbone and turned her head. Her bone softened most of the blow when he did that.
This was a slap. It hit between her cheekbone and her jaw, forcing her head to turn while at the same time forcing her skin to dig into her teeth. It hurt worse than the backhand, but the throbbing afterwards hurt a little less. There wouldn't be as much of a bruise, but her skin had risen red all over.
Montgomery took a step back. This time, his anger seemed to erase from his body as he realized what he did. As he realized what he had done even though he promised he wouldn't. He swore to Ophelia he wouldn't hit her again. He swore to himself as well.
It took no time for him to do it, though.
He was shocked at his own actions.
"Ophelia..."
She kneed him in the groin. He doubled over in pain for a moment. She used the time to run around him, out from his grasps. He caught her hand before she could leave all the way.
"Ophelia, I'm sorry-"
"No, you not!" she cried, more red forming. Almost a complete handprint on her face.
Tears ran down Ophelia's cheeks. Their warm temperature falling painfully over the stinging sensation.
"Ophelia-"
"Help!" she screamed.
"You don't have to do that!" he yelled. He didn't think she needed to call for help, because he was there. He could protect her, right?"
"Help-"
He let go of her hand, suddenly, to try and calm her down. But she was pulling so hard that his release caused her to fall over, pain springing from her tailbone up her spine.
Montgomery crouched down. "I'm sorry-"
"You're not!" she just repeated, over and over. "You're not! You're not sorry! You're not!"
Montgomery saw it in her eyes. What would come next. What she would say to him. What she was about to do to him.
He knew. Even when she agreed to get in the car with him. He drove her home. It was silent. So silent.
He pulled up to her house. On the street across from her door.
She stayed in the car.
He knew what was coming. Montgomery could feel it. He hid the tears that were forming in his eyes.
"Monty-"
"I was fucking wrong, okay?" he told her. His words came out quick and desperate. "You didn't fuck, Zach. I shouldn't have said it. I-I shouldn't have..."
"Monty-"
"Come on, it was a mistake," he pleaded, "A fucking mistake. I don't have a clear head-"
"Montgomery." Ophelia bit her lip. It kept quivering. "I..."
He decided he wouldn't make her struggle.
"I know."
Ophelia looked him in the eyes. He did know. He knew exactly what she was going to say, but he tried to apologize and hope it would work anyways.
"I'm done. Done. Done. We're done, Montgomery. I can't be with you anymore. I-I'm not happy with you. I won't be happy with you..."
Montgomery grabbed her hand.
He squeezed it. Their code.
A single tear fell down his face. It gleamed in her porch light. She reached to brush it off. He moved away from her, wiping it with his sleeve. Though his sleeve was still damp.
He was disgusted with himself for letting her see him so weak. So emotional. He let out one tear, and he vowed to himself not to release another.
Ophelia got out of the car. She realized she left her bag at Bryce's. Ophelia gave Montgomery one last look. She saw the emotions slowly leaving his eyes. It disappeared, slowly at first with each 'done', but then altogether when she got out.
There breakup would be quick, apparently.
Fucking bitch. He swallowed hard.
She opened her mouth. At first, nothing came out. What could she say? The last goodbye. The last goodbye to her boyfriend. Her first love. Who she thought was her only love. To the man she wanted to many. What could she say to make the last goodbye to the man she feared she would never stop loving? Not completely anyways.
She settled with. "Goodbye, Montgomery." Simple.
She turned away from him, fear coursing as she could not predict his actions. She guessed he would get out of the car, try to grab her again. Hurt her. Hit her. But he did something much worse.
"What about Enrique?"
Ophelia ignored the question. She had to. If she turned around, her withheld tears would burst out, and she didn't want to show him how devastated she really was.
She made it in her house, and all the way up to her room. She wanted up a shower. She walked in, still with her clothes on. She took a seat and curled herself into a tight ball.
And she cried.
'I'm sorry, Enrique.'
A/N: Montgomery and Ophelia finally broke up :/ now we will see if it was forever, or if he will continue trying to get her back. And how will Zach react to the news? Will he wait until she's ready and moved on? Or will he make his intentions known? Find out next time on Loose Change. (I joke but I was pretty sad writing this chapter ?)