tw: sexual content
Tony had always been there for Ophelia when she needed him most. He didn't have to be. He was just a good person who wanted to help others as much as possible.
But Ophelia hadn't been there for him. And such a big thing happened.
Ophelia drove to Tony's dad's shop the next morning, as soon as it opened. Right at 7am. She got there early, actually. She was the first one there, and waited in her car until Tony pulled up.
She got out of her car immediately and went to him.
When Tony saw her, he became worried. He thought something may have happened to her, and that she needed him for protection or revenge. This worry only intensified as he saw her devastated expression.
"Ophelia?"
"Tony." That's all she said as she walked up to him and hugged him tightly.
He hugged her back. "What happened, O?" When he pulled away he asked her, "How can I help?"
She was blown away by his selflessness in such a serious situation. "Help me?"
"Of course," he told her, "What's wrong?"
Ophelia swallowed her cry, not wanting him to feel like he had to continue comforting her. "My dad...he told me what happened."
She watched Tony's face fall, and his whole demeanor change. He took a step back, and dragged his hand over his face, slowly. He looked back up at her. "About my family."
She sniffed, and nodded.
He let out a small groan. "I-I didn't want this to be a big deal for everyone."
"What?"
Ophelia couldn't believe her own ears. "It's a huge deal. Tony how come you didn't tell me?"
Tony looked uncomfortable talking about it.
"There was nothing you could've done," he told her. "So why trouble you?"
She let out an aggravated breath. "Tony, I could have tried to help you. At least I could've been there for you."
He told her, "You didn't have to be. I wouldn't ask that of you."
"I didn't ask you to help me," she said. "Back when you made me relisten to my tape. You just knew I needed someone. And you need people now. I want to help anyway I can."
"There's nothing you can do," Tony explained. "My family-they're already gone."
"But you didn't have to try to go through all this alone!" she told him. "I mean, did you try hiring lawyers?"
"Of course," he told her. "I'm capable of a lot on my own believe it or not."
"Tony, I know that!" she told him, frustrated at his attitude. Why did he need to do everything himself? "But, we could've helped pay for the lawyers at the very least."
"I'm not taking other people's money," he told her.
Ophelia shook her head. "My dad loves your family, he would've given it. Just like if it had been us."
"I never wanted to burden your father either," Tony told her. He wiped his face. "Don't you know this is embarrassing, Ophelia? It's not just devastating it's-it's humiliating."
"Why?" Ophelia asked him.
"Because people judge me for it," Tony said. "They judge my whole family. Saying shit like, if they've been here so long, why haven't they applied for citizenship? Or, that's what they get for coming illegally. In this white, racist ass town that's the first thing people think."
"Tony..." Ophelia breathed. "I'm so sorry."
"I'm sick of people apologizing," he told her. "You've done nothing wrong, Ophelia."
She gulped. "Let me be here for you. Please."
He hesitated.
"I thought we were friends, Tony."
His face fell again. "Of course we are."
"Then tell me what happens to you so I can do what I can to make things better," she begged.
Tony sighed. "Look, I wanted to talk you at Homecoming. Not about that, but I wanted to talk to you. Everything just went to shit during the game and afterwards."
He had no idea.
"That's okay," she told him. "Just let me be here for you now."
Tony admitted, "I've missed you, Ophelia. But how could I burden you with this? You were doing so well at Hillcrest away from fucking De La Cruz and all the bullshit with the tapes."
"You're never a burden," she told him, honestly.
Tony just said, "Thanks, Ophelia."
He turned to the shop and began unlocking it.
"You have to come back to school," she told him. He frowned. "My dad's going to see your father in Mexico. And he left me in charge of you."
Tony laughed, "You're in charge? I'm older than you."
"I don't care," she snapped. "You need to go to school, Tony. You need to graduate."
Tony sighed. "Look, I'll go back on Monday, okay? I promise."
"But-"
"Monday," he said. "And only because you talked me into it. I don't need school right now." He groaned. "What I need is a drink."
Ophelia thought for a moment. "Listen, I know things are tough, and I doubt you'd want to go, but there's this party this weekend. It's at my friend Paul's house. You're invited, of course. There will be a lot of free drinks."
Tony chuckled. "This some rich, Hillcrest kid party?"
Ophelia told him, "Its mostly Hillcrest, yeah. It's this..." she felt embarrassed as she said, "It's this going away party for me."
"Hmm," Tony said. "And there'll be free drinks."
She nodded. "Those Hillcrest boys always try to outdo themselves with expensive alcohol."
Tony grinned. "Thanks. I might stop by."
He opened the door.
Ophelia wanted to ask him about Bryce. If he heard what happened, and what he thought about it. She also wanted to ask what he did on Homecoming night.
But Ophelia didn't ask him about it. Because she knew he if asked her about she did Homecoming night, she would trust him enough to tell him the truth.
And she still didn't want anyone knowing the truth.
"Hey, be careful with that!"
Paul yelled as two boys were carrying a keg into the living room, only to hit the coffee table on their way to the corner.
One of the boys carrying it, David, just laughed. "Sorry, Paul."
Paul rolled his eyes, knowing from his expression alone he wasn't sorry. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Ophelia giggled. She was sitting on his couch, located in his large living room. She had arrived to Paul's house with Zach about ten minutes ago. Paul excitedly brought them in, and sat them in the living room, offering drinks and snacks. Ophelia didn't feel like drinking much. She never did. But she did ask for a glass of wine.
"Wine, O?" Paul had laughed at her. "This a party or book club?"
She stuck her tongue out at him and laughed too.
Ophelia had promised Zach she would be their designated driver for the night. After all, last time Zach was around any Hillcrest kids, he was fighting them. She doubted he would a good time at the party if he wasn't drinking. Ophelia wanted him to have fun that night. More than that, she wanted him to become friends with Paul. She secretly hoped her and Marisa could go on double dates.
"Dempsey, what about you?" Paul asked him. He was always such an energetic host.
Zach just said, "Anything with Tequila."
Paul smiled, and winked. "I got you, man."
When he left Zach rolled his eyes and mumbled, "I'm sure you do."
Ophelia shoved him lightly. "What's wrong?" she asked, "I thought you liked Paul now that he was with Marisa."
Zach just shrugged. "I don't dislike him as much."
Zach didn't think that just because Paul was hooking up with Marisa it automatically meant he didn't have a crush on Ophelia still.
Because, in Zach's mind, how could someone not have a crush on Ophelia?
She looked so beautiful. Especially at the party. She had curled her hair and put on makeup and everything. She hadn't dressed up this much in a while. She didn't care about impressing anyone at Liberty anymore.
Zach hadn't wanted to come to this party. It was a Hillcrest party, and he hated Hillcrest. But it was also an Ophelia party, and he loved Ophelia.
That's why Zach went anywhere besides school and football practice nowadays. To be with Ophelia.
Paul came back with their drinks. He handed Zach an orange and red drink. "Tequila Sunrise for you." He handed Ophelia a red solo cup filled with wine. "And a red wine for miss three strikes."
"Ha ha," she said sarcastically.
Zach eyed her. "Three strikes?"
Ophelia sighed. "Yeah, uh, I got three strikes at Hillcrest. That's why they expelled me."
Zach questioned her, "What was the third strike? I thought it was yelling at the teacher and the game?"
"And that little fight with Bryce," Paul added.
Ophelia shot Paul an aggravated look.
Zach sat up now, almost gasping. "A fight?"
Ophelia put a hand on his knee.
"Not a fight. A disagreement."
"But it got you a strike at school?" he persisted, loudly.
"Hey, hey, hey," she said, seeing Zach getting upset. He quieted down. He never meant to raise his voice at her.
Ophelia got really upset when ever he cursed or raised his voice at her in front of other people.
She glanced at Paul, giving him an annoyed look. "The strike was because I cussed in front of everyone."
Paul quickly came to her defense. "I didn't mean to say fight. It was an argument. Hillcrest is just really strict about language."
Zach asked her, "But you hid it from me?"
"No," Ophelia him. "I told you."
Obviously she wouldn't keep that from him. Not something including Bryce.
He frowned. "I don't remember you saying anything about it."
Ophelia sighed. "I know."
It was October. Ophelia used to love October. Halloween, parties, pumpkins. She loved it. And she was truly excited to have the opportunity to dress up with Zach. She didn't know what they were going to be yet. Everyone had been telling them to dress up as Mulan and Li Shang. They were a cute couple, but it was obvious that was the only Chinese couple people knew.
But October wasn't as fun as the years before. It marked an anniversary. A sick, tragic anniversary.
It was the one year anniversary of Hannah's death.
Ophelia felt completely out of it the entire day. She sat in the cafeteria, uninterested in any food that sat in front of her. She had no appetite at all.
Amanda, another senior the had befriended Ophelia, tried to cheer her up.
"How about we get coffee after school?" she suggested. "Better yet, Monet's coffee. You love that place, right?"
Ophelia cringed. Hannah loved that place more.
"I don't know."
Amanda bit her lip. "Is this because of that girl?"
Ophelia looked up. She wondered what Amanda knew about it. "What girl?"
Amanda was nervous to continue in case she was wrong. "That girl that, liked, killed herself? It was today, right?"
Ophelia looked back down at her food tray on the table in front of her. "Yeah. I didn't know a lot of people knew that."
Amanda told her, "A lot of people were following the trial."
Ophelia nodded. She had known that. She was just surprised it happened here too.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Amanda offered.
Ophelia didn't. But she didn't think she could get through the day without talking to someone. And she didn't want to bring it up to Zach. He had practice and school all day, and she doubted he remembered what day it was. She didn't want to bring it up if he didn't.
"I thought I had gotten over it," she admitted. She quickly said, "I mean, I know I'll never completely get over it. I just thought that it wouldn't be as hard. I mean-it's just an anniversary. But it feels like..."
It felt like the day she first found out about it. Tony had been the one that told her. He called her, but she didn't answer him, so he had shown up at her house to deliver the news. Montgomery was there.
Ophelia felt like she had to suppress her feelings since Montgomery was watching her. Just like she had to suppress them now at school.
"What does it feel like?" Amanda pushed.
Ophelia just shook her head and wiped her eyes. She felt guilty talking about a stranger with Hannah. Amanda didn't have to grieve her, and Ophelia didn't want to make her sad just to make herself feel better.
"It feel the same as it did last year," Ophelia settled with.
Amanda's face grew a morose look. She pitied her now. "I'm so sorry."
Ophelia didn't want her to be. Honestly, Ophelia felt like she deserved the pain. She deserved to feel the pain of her death like she deserved the pain of her tape.
"That fucking asshole doesn't even look bothered."
Ophelia looked up when she heard Amanda's words and turned to see Bryce at the other end of the cafeteria, eating calmly.
Ophelia turned back around and glared at her food again. Fucking Bryce. He deserved pain out of anyone, and he was too unbothered to feel any.
"I hate him," Ophelia muttered. But she knew the thing she actually hated was the pain she felt inside of her.
She hated that Bryce raped Hannah, but mostly she hated that she never knew. She hadn't been there for Hannah. Maybe if they had still been close, Hannah would have confided in Ophelia. Maybe she could have gotten justice while still alive. Or she could've gotten any justice at all.
When lunch was almost over, Ophelia went to her locker, and nearly ran into Winston.
Winston, whom she hadn't spoken to much since the party that summer.
"Damn. I thought cheerleaders were good with coordination," he joked. She didn't laugh. Then he saw the expression on her face. "Hey, are you alright?"
She just nodded. But Winston knew what day it was. Quite a few people did. The Hannah Baker trial was really popular at Hillcrest, and a lot of people knew of Ophelia before she even went.
Winston hesitantly told her, "Look, uh, I think if you told the office what's upsetting you, they might let you go home early."
Ophelia appreciated the suggestion, even if she wasn't going to use it. Winston was kind to her. He always was. They spoke with each other in class, but that was it.
"I'm okay," she insisted. "I just..."
She saw Bryce wall down the hall, and stop at his locker. She clenched her jaw. Winston looked back and saw him.
"He's a fucking bitch, isn't he?" Winston said, suddenly.
She snapped out of her rage to say, "Huh?"
"Bryce," he continued. "He's a fucking lil bitch who hurts people."
Ophelia exhaled, frustrated. "Yeah, he is."
Winston chuckled. "His fucking psycho friend too."
Ophelia realized then Winston never knew Montgomery's name. He didn't hear it at the party. He didn't know Montgomery's was Ophelia ex-boyfriend.
That conversation came another day.
"Everyone that's ever been his friend is a fucking psycho." Ophelia rephrased her words to say, "At least, everyone who's still his friend is."
She thought back to before the trial. Bryce used to have friends that were good people. People like Scott.
More importantly, people like Zach. Ophelia didn't know why she didn't think of Zach first.
"Yeah," Winston agreed. "Fuck Bryce."
"Excuse me?"
They both turned, and saw that Bryce had left his locker, and walked up behind them. He was staring at Winston, angry.
"Fuck me?" Bryce asked. He was frowning. "I can fucking end you, Williams."
Winston froze.
Bryce continued. "With those little fake SAT IDs you have."
Winston looked scared now. Ophelia didn't know what they were talking about.
"Look, man, I was kidding," Winston said, scared and lamely.
"Yeah?" Bryce said. "Didn't sound like you were fucking kidding."
Ophelia suddenly stepped forward. "Because he wasn't Bryce. Fuck you."
Bryce scoffed. "Excuse me-"
Ophelia pushed him. "Fuck you! Okay? You fucking heard me!"
She pushed him again.
"Cut it out you fucking crazy bitch," Bryce whispered as people began stopping in the halls. She caught a teacher's attention from down the hall. "Or you're gonna get another fucking strike."
But Ophelia didn't care. "I don't fucking care, Bryce! Fuck! You!"
"Ms. Tristano!" a teacher called for her. "Come down here this instant!"
Ophelia scoffed, and told Bryce, "You're gonna get what coming to you!"
She turned from him to walk to the teacher down the hall.
"And what's coming?" Bryce scoffed. "What do you think I deserve? To make this all go away?"
Ophelia turned back. "It's not going away, you asshole! And you deserve to be fucking dead!"
"Tristano!"
Ophelia left with the teacher, who then dragged her to the principal's office.
Ophelia did try calling Zach that day, because she was sent home early from school. But he was so excited to answer the phone when she picked up. She told him she started cussing at Bryce, and that she was sent home, and he did seem to be listening, but the topic quickly changed to football.
And she let it. She let the conversation leave her.
It was better that way.
But Ophelia did get a text from Winston that night, thanking her for standing up for him for a second time.
And that was the day they became friends.
Zach ran a hand over his face. "Ophelia, I'm so sorry. I really don't remember that. I remember us talking, but not about that."
"It's okay," she told him. "You were stressed. I didn't want to keep adding onto it."
Paul stood awkwardly in front of them. He cleared his throat. "I'm gonna go see when Marisa's getting here."
He left them. Zach apologized again, but Ophelia insisted it was fine. Honestly, she wasn't bothered by him not remember she got in trouble because of Bryce. It was embarrassing after all.
A lot more people began trickling in. Some girls from cheer, some just from class. Zach was happy to see they were all excited to see Ophelia, and she was just as excited to see them. She knew everyone there. It amazed him, especially since he was pretty sure people from different schools were there too. She seemed popular with all of them.
An hour in, Justin arrived.
"Hey!" Ophelia greeted happily, as he walked into the living room and sat across from them. She was surprised he showed up. "You ended up coming!"
She didn't think he would, especially since he beat the fuck out of Chad last time they saw each other. Chad was right outside now.
"Yeah, of course," he told her. "I wanted to bring Jess but she had a thing."
Ophelia just nodded. She doubted Jessica would want to see these boys anyways.
"It's getting really crowded," Ophelia mentioned. "I'm sorry, I thought it'd be a little smaller group."
Justin admitted, "I'm not surprised. I saw this party posted on, like, fifteen different people's pages online."
Ophelia's eyes widened, "Really?"
Justin just laughed, "I doubt this shit'll end until morning."
He was right. People kept pouring in. She started to not be able to recognize everyone.
"How many people did you invite?" Ophelia asked Paul.
Paul had taken a seat near them too. Marisa was next to him now. She had gotten there just before Justin.
Paul said, "I just sent it to a few people. Told them to repost it."
"I reposted it too," Marisa told him. She was leaning back with his arm over her shoulder.
"Oh shit," Paul said, "So it was probably getting around to Liberty kids."
Ophelia said, nervous, "Let's hope there's no trouble tonight."
More Library students did show up. But not any more from the football team, besides Justin and Zach. That was good. It kept things less tense.
Ani and Clay even showed up together.
Ophelia smiled when she saw them walk through the door.
"Are they dating?" Ophelia asked, nodding at them.
They looked really cute together.
Zach just shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. "I doubt anyone else would put up with her constant questions."
Ophelia just told told him, "That's mean. I ask a lot of questions during movies."
Zach laughed. "I didn't even mention movies."
"Hey, Clay!" Justin called.
His yell caught Ani's attention first. The two went over and joined them on the couches. Marisa didn't look happy that they had come over.
Ani started by telling Ophelia, "I'd say I'll miss you, but for us Liberty kids it's more of an Ophelia Welcome Party than an Ophelia Goodbye Party."
Ophelia laughed, "True."
Ophelia watched as Paul stood up and came and dropped off some more drinks. Zach and Justin both grabbed them, chugging them down.
"Slow down," Ophelia told Zach, laughing still. "How can you even stand that stuff? It burns my throat."
Ophelia figured Zach would get drunk, but she didn't know he could drink this much. He used to be so bad at consuming alcohol. All his friends made fun of him for throwing up easily. Where did that go?
"I'm going slow," he told her. "Ask Justin, I'm holding back."
Justin laughed. "You should see him after games. He fucking inhales that shit."
Ophelia didn't know how to feel about that. "You've been going out to drink after games?"
"No, no," Justin said quickly for him. "Not hella people. Just sometimes I'd go over to his house."
Ophelia then told Zach, "You should be careful. You'll build more of a tolerance."
"That's a good thing," Marisa laughed.
Ophelia rolled her eyes. "Not if that means you have to drink this much."
Ophelia liked that she got drunk easily. When going out with friends, or to a party, she didn't have to spend a lot of money to get buzzed. Not that she liked the taste of alcohol anyway.
"How about a drinking game?" Justin suggested.
"Yes!" Marisa said, excited.
Ani grabbed a drink off the table. "Ah, yes. The American high school party games. I'm in."
"Depends what game," Clay said. Ophelia was surprised he was down to play.
"Yeah, I don't want to play anything where you have to take clothes off," Paul said. "Or where I gotta make out with people."
Ophelia laughed. "Yeah, I'm not playing suck and blow anymore."
Maybe it was because he was slightly buzzed, but Ophelia's words sounded sexual to Zach. And the words 'suck' and 'blow' reminded him of the fact she hadn't tried giving him a blowjob since the day he failed to stay hard. Hannah never gave him one either. So technically, Zach never had an actual blowjob.
Montgomery used to brag about how Ophelia gave him one whenever he asked for it, and how good she was at it. Zach recalled thinking about Ophelia giving him one while touching himself a long time ago, back before they were dating. And he did it a lot now that they were together. Zach wondered if Ophelia would give him a blowjob if he simply asked her to.
"You got Zach, you've been playing it plenty," Justin said. His male mind going to the same dirty place as Zach's had.
Ophelia's mouth dropped open. Zach started laughing. She elbowed Zach playfully.
"He wishes," she told Justin.
"Yeah, I do," Zach said, honestly. Justin and Zach started laughing again.
"We could play Never Have I Ever," Ophelia said, rolling her eyes, playfully elbowing Zach again. She wanted the subject changed.
"I'll start then," Clay said. They all held up ten fingers. "Never have I ever given a blowjob."
The boys started laughing again. They were surprised at Clay for being so bold to join the joke.
Ophelia huffed, but couldn't help smiling as she put a finger down, and took a sip of her wine.
Marisa took a sip as well, lowering a finger, sharing a spicy look with Paul.
And, surprisingly, Ani put a finger down too.
"Oooh," Ophelia said. "Who's the lucky guy?"
Ophelia thought it might have been Clay, but changed her mind when Ani said, "A boy I used to know from somewhere else."
Ophelia noticed she phrased her sentence weird.
"My turn," Justin said, sitting up.
"Oh, jeez," Ophelia said, preparing herself.
Justin raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?" He faked offense. "Do you want to get on my bad side? I could get you out in a heartbeat, Ophelia."
Ophelia smiled, challengingly. "I could get you out too."
He shrugged. "Fine. It's on."
For a moment, Ophelia's face fell. She wondered what Justin would say. Would he bring up stuff that happened with Montgomery? He probably would if things were going to be sexual.
"Never have I ever been expelled."
Ouch. Ophelia smiled, and put a finger down. She was thankful with direction he went in.
"Low blow," she joked.
Justin shrugged. "Look at that. You're the only one who put a finger down."
"Hm," Ophelia said. "Well, never have I ever thrown up during sex."
Justin's mouth dropped open. And for a split second, they were all silent, until Zach started laughing.
"The fuck, Justin?"
"Fuck you, Zach," Justin said. He looked at Ophelia. "How did you know that?"
Ophelia just said, "Jessica told me."
Clay asked, "Wait-you threw up during sex?"
"Dear god," Ani laughed.
Marisa crinkled her nose, disgusted. Paul just laughed.
"Put a finger down, Justin," Ophelia said with a smile.
"I-I was sick, and I was drunk, and I was-"
"Finger!"
He didn't put a finger down. Instead, he crossed his arms and looked away, pouting.
Ani said, "I'll try one. Never have I ever slept with an ex."
Marisa put a finger down, as did Paul.
"Wait," said Justin. "Slept with an ex after breaking up or before breaking up?"
"The hell?" Zach asked. "That's not your ex then."
Justin said, "Huh?"
"It wouldn't be your ex if you were together," Clay explained.
Marisa laughed, "Who thinks of that?"
Justin said, "Alright, Alright. Just making sure." He put a finger down. Ophelia wondered who that was.
Ophelia looked in Zach's cup and noticed it was empty.
"I'll get you a refill," she said, before standing up and walking to the kitchen.
Ani watched her go. She had asked the question for Ophelia specifically. And she was curious by her response.
Ophelia stepped into the kitchen, and grabbed a can of a lighter alcohol to pour in Zach's cup. Maybe it would slow him down.
"Ophelia Tristano," she heard.
Ophelia turned around to see Winston walking into the kitchen. She was shocked to see him. She knew he was invited to the party, and she was hoping he'd make it. But it was still a surprise after everything that happened.
"Winston," she breathed.
He came and leaned against the counter next to her.
Winston held up a small card. "I was looking for you. Got you a little goodbye gift."
"Oh." She set down the cup and turned to grab the envelope from him. "You really didn't have to."
"It's okay," he told her. "I'll miss you, you know."
Winston had told Montgomery him and Ophelia were friends. It was true. They formed a close bond while she was at Hillcrest. He was a wild card, and often gave inappropriate gifts. She wondered what he had gotten her this time.
She told him, "Amanda texted me a few times to see if I'd go with her to some games. We could always hang out then."
She did miss him. But it felt weird. She wondered if Winston knew that Ophelia knew what happened between him and Montgomery. She knew they were together, in a way.
Maybe if Montgomery hadn't walked her home after Homecoming, and if he hadn't done what he did, she would be happy for them. She was, in a way, happy for them. At least, happy that he was finally moving on. But she was scared for Winston too. What if Montgomery hurt him?
Again.
Ophelia wondered if she should talk with Winston about Montgomery. She should, right? She wouldn't forgive herself if something happened to Winston that she could have prevented.
But she did know that there was a difference between Winston and her. One that had originally made her wonder if him and Montgomery could work out after all. It was something Winston had confided in her a little while after meeting her. In Ophelia's opinion, he told her too soon into their friendship. But Winston was never shy with these things.
Winston had told her that he was gay, which she had figured out the first day meeting him. But he also admitted that he liked boys being rough. Especially during sex. Winston like being dominated, it turned him on. Again, Ophelia had no idea what they had been talking about for him to bring this up, but she knew one thing for sure. Montgomery was rough. And Montgomery liked to dominate.
But there was a clear difference between being rough in bed, and being rough in general. And Montgomery was rough in general.
Winston smiled, oblivious to her internal dilemma. "Or maybe we could hang out at the mall. You could use your gift."
Ophelia was curious now. She opened the card to find a Victoria's Secret gift card. She blushed. Out of all stores, this is where he wanted her to go?
"It's five hundred," he told her. "I put a little extra in case there's any matching shit. Girls have gotta have it all, right?"
Ophelia didn't know what to say. She was felt grateful, but embarrassed. "Thank you...but this is too much."
He brushed it off. "It's fine, O."
Since when did he call her O?
Ophelia blushed again, "I...I don't even shop there."
Winston smirked. "You're turning eighteen soon, right?"
Ophelia just nodded.
He told her, "I've given you a way to express your womanhood."
Again, Ophelia felt herself blush. She slid the small card in her back pocket. "Thank you, Winston. I'm sure I can find something there."
Maybe something Zach would like to see her in.
Winston stepped closer. "Hey, um, are you still dating that Liberty boy?"
Ophelia frowned. Liberty boy? Winston knew Zach's name.
"Yeah. Zach." Ophelia pointed behind her. "He's sitting down."
"Hm." Winston took another step closer, so close he was almost touching Ophelia. He stood at her side, leaning in, making her feel crowded. "I know you saw me with Monty on homecoming night."
Ophelia felt her body freeze just thinking about that night.
Winston continued, now whispering, "We had a good time. Him and me."
Ophelia felt herself exhaling, nervous. "Oh." She didn't know what else to say. She didn't want to talk about Montgomery anymore. And she definitely didn't want to talk about sex between him and Winston, which is what Winston was implying.
Winston leaned even closer. So close that if Zach walked in on him with her, he would be angry, and assume Winston was trying to kiss her.
Winston spoke in a low, sensual voice when he said, "Maybe if things go sour with your boyfriend, you could hang out with us sometime."
Ophelia was shocked by his words, and the implications. Winston knew what Montgomery did to her. Maybe he didn't know about homecoming night, but he knew about what had been discussed in the trial.
"I don't..." Ophelia swallowed hard. "N-No. No."
Winston just smiled at her. He was handsome, she couldn't deny it. She had to look away from him. She started breathing heavily, imagining Montgomery having hold of her again. Being in his arms. His strong, forceful arms. It made her sick.
"Okay," Winston told her, still smiling down. "But we talked about you, you know." Ophelia looked back at him, his arrogant smirk reappearing. "Just know the offers stands if you change your mind." He looked her up and down, before grabbing a drink from behind her. "Enjoy the gift, O."
She had recognized the look in his eye. When he spoke about Montgomery, she knew that look. She used to have it too. The obsession and enchantment that Montgomery had left on Winston had been left on her for so long.
But Ophelia felt like she had been tricked into falling for a man full of violence.
Winston had seen it the first time he met Montgomery, so how did Montgomery manage his way under his skin?
Ophelia was beyond surprised Marisa had called her that evening, inviting her to a party at Hillcrest.
Ophelia and Marisa had hung out twice outside of school. Once to get coffee, and once Marisa just drove her home. It was awkward hanging out with them, especially after everything that happened between them. Ophelia had slapped Marisa, after all, and Marisa had bullied Ophelia. But now, suddenly, Marisa wanted to be her friend. Ophelia was scared. She seemed to be doing it to be nice, but she didn't fully trust her yet.
That day, Marisa invited her to a Hillcrest party, saying she could help her make friends before she had to go to the school. Ophelia had agreed, because Zach was busy, and she had nothing better to do. And she would rather meet her future classmates with someone as confident as Marisa by her side.
Marisa picked her up and everything. "It's going to be great," she told her.
Ophelia wasn't sure. He didn't like parties much. She only went before because Montgomery used to take her. And people only talked to her because she was Montgomery's girlfriend, or now, Zach's girlfriend. She didn't think she had the kind of personality people would like. Especially not the cool, rich kids who threw parties.
But still she let Marisa take her anyway. And she let Marisa lead her towards the entrance, no matter how much she regretted her decision. The house was packed, and there were kids sitting outside on the steps. It was dark by the time time they arrived.
"Who's party is this anyway?" Ophelia asked her.
"This guy named Paul," Marisa said. "I don't really know him."
"What?" Ophelia stopped before she reached the steps. "Are we even invited?"
Marisa laughed. "Of course. We're pretty girls. We're invited anywhere."
Ophelia wasn't sure if that was true, but she liked being called pretty. She had been trying that summer to get a fuller figure by eating a lot more. She wasn't sure if it was working, or if she was just making herself fat. All she knew was she was never really impressed with what she saw in the mirror.
"Ophelia?"
Ophelia froze. She looked to see Alex had called her name. When she looked over, he quickly put something in his pocket. But it wasn't Alex that frightened her. It was Bryce, who was with Alex. They were both standing in front of Bryce's car. What the fuck were they doing there? And together?
"Alex?" she asked.
"Shit," Alex said. "How are you doing, Ophelia?"
"Oh, um, good. Thanks." She then asked, "How are you?"
Alex just awkwardly said, "Good."
Marisa stopped too, and frowned when she saw Bryce. "What, you selling to Hillcrest kids too?"
Bryce smiled at her. "Great to see you too, Mari."
She rolled her eyes and let out a groan.
Ophelia stayed looking between Alex and Bryce. "You guys hang out?"
"No," Alex said. But at the same time Bryce said, "And what about it?"
Ophelia hadn't seen Bryce since she burst into his house and demanded he keep Chloe away from Zach. It was embarrassing that it happened, and she was scared he might bring it up to Alex. If he did, Alex would definitely tell Zach.
"I'm about to leave," Alex told her. He looked between her and Marisa. "What are you two doing here?"
Marisa said, "We're here for the party, obviously." She laughed. "We're looking for alcohol, not juice."
Marisa was referencing the fact that Alex was buying steroids from Bryce. That's what he sold most people after all, including Marisa's ex-boyfriend, Anthony.
But Ophelia didn't know what juice meant. "I think I'd prefer juice to alcohol actually."
Bryce snorted, laughing at her ignorance.
Ophelia frowned, not understanding why he was laughing at her. Even Alex cracked a smile.
"What?" Ophelia asked.
Bryce kept laughing, "Nothing. Marisa, why don't you head inside and get Ophelia some of that juice."
Ophelia huffed, feeling made fun of.
When he said this, Bryce reached out and out a hand on Ophelia's shoulder. She flinched away from him. In the second he had his hand in her shoulder, her mind went back to the Clubhouse, again, and when he had put his hands on her shoulders to force her under him on the couch.
Ophelia shivered.
"Bryce, what the fuck, man? Where have you been?" the loud voice hollered from the house across to Bryce's car.
No fucking way.
Ophelia stayed still.
"Let's get the fuck out of here! It's all rich fuckheads." He laughed. "No offense."
Ophelia did turn now. She knew who it was from the voice and the attitude alone.
Montgomery was coming down the steps, drunk and arrogant. He had on a confident smile, but it dropped when he saw Ophelia.
Honestly, she hadn't expected him to be here. At all. Alex was surprising. Bryce wasn't, since he would be going to this school. But Montgomery being here? With Bryce? She thought they were done with each other. Isn't that what he said when Montgomery testified against him?
"Ophelia," Montgomery said. He must have been really drunk, because he smiled like her. And for a moment, she wondered if he had forgotten the bad ending they had with one another at school.
Or maybe what happened didn't matter to him. The last time she had seen him was at the Liberty High graduation. And then at Scott's party.
"Where you been all summer, O?" he smiled as he jogged down the steps, closer to them.
Montgomery had this crazy affect on her. Because seeing him happy and smiling, made her want to forgive him so easily. Because she wanted to be happy and smiling too.
"Jesus Christ," Bryce said, seeing his friend's intoxicated state.
A boy sitting on the steps stood up as Montgomery passed him. A boy with a similarly handsome smile. His was directed at Montgomery.
"Hey, it was nice meeting you," the boy said. Montgomery seemed hesitant as he turned around. The boy looked him up and down and said, "We should hang out sometime."
Montgomery looked from the boy, back to where the rest of them stood. He made eye contact with Ophelia, then turned back to the boy. And it was in that small, single gaze that Ophelia saw his guilt, and fear, and shame.
And Ophelia felt fear of her own. Because she knew that Montgomery reacted to those emotions with violence only.
"What'd you say to me, faggot?"
Oh no.
Ophelia knew exactly where this was going.
The boy let out a nervous laugh, and took a step back. And when he did this, Ophelia found herself walking forward, even though Marisa tried to grab her and keep her back.
"Dude," the boy said, in a nervous tone, shrinking back at the insult, "Chill, alright?"
Montgomery swung his arm back, and punched the boy in the face. It was a harsh, violent punch, that sent him all the way to the ground, and made Montgomery himself stumble.
Montgomery flung himself on top of the boy, and he kept hitting him in the face, repeatedly.
"What the fuck?" Bryce shouted, and blew past Ophelia to try to get to Montgomery.
Bryce grabbed him, as did another boy from the party, and pulled him off. Montgomery elbowed the other boy in the face, and escaped his grip. He grabbed Winston as he tried to crawl to the stairs, and started hitting him again.
Ophelia suddenly found herself bolting forward.
She had seen Montgomery fight dozens of times. Most of the time there was nothing she could do, but she found that grabbing the back of his flannel usually helped. So Ophelia ran up to Montgomery, and grabbed the back of his flannel collar, and with all the strength of her whole body, pulled him back.
She wasn't strong enough to pull him completely. But his flannel ripped, and she fell back on her ass. Montgomery was pulled away from him slightly, giving the boy time to crawl away. Montgomery was grabbed again, and forced back.
"Get in the fucking car!" Bryce screamed at him.
"But this fucking faggot-!"
"You're on fucking probation!" Bryce yelled. "Get in the fucking car before someone calls the fucking cops!"
Montgomery seemed to have sobered up. He walked back, slowly. His eyes went to Ophelia. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but he didn't. There was nothing left to say. Not after what she had just seen.
"Holy shit!" yelled the tall, Asian boy who helped Bryce pull Montgomery off the boy. "You were fucking insane!" He said it in a bright, excited way.
Marisa ran up to Ophelia. "Jesus! Are you okay?"
Ophelia realized she was shaking. Both her hands were. One forming a fist, and one holding a piece of Montgomery's flannel that she hadn't realized she had torn off.
"Y-Yeah," Ophelia said.
"Come inside!" the guy said, excitedly. "Holy shit, that was awesome! Actually wait here, I'll get you a drink!"
Ophelia just nodded. She looked back towards Bryce's car, where Montgomery was now sitting, looking panicked, and sad.
Once more, they made eye contact.
Neither of them had stopped shaking.
People had been impressed with Ophelia for trying to help Winston, who was the person Montgomery had gone after that night. And Winston was grateful. Maybe that's what helped her become so popular at Hillcrest. Everyone knew her for a good reason when she got there.
Winston claimed he had no idea why Montgomery attacked him. But later that night she heard someone asked him if he ended up hooking up with the 'Latinx' he saw earlier. Winston just said 'no'.
That's when Ophelia found out Winston was gay. And suddenly, she figured she knew exactly why Montgomery had targeted Winston. And why it had happened when he saw her.
Because Montgomery knew Ophelia knew. She knew his secret. She could figure out what happened if Montgomery was too friendly with Winston.
But Ophelia figured it out anyway.
Like she said before, Ophelia was the one person who knew Montgomery the most.
Ophelia had tried to ignore Winston's words as she went back to her group. Clay and Ani ended up taking off, saying they had to talk to one of the boys who knew Bryce. Whatever reason that was for.
Zach and Justin kept drinking, and Ophelia guessed they were drunk already. Zach had to have at least been tipsy, because he was starting to touch her more. Not inappropriately, just running his hand up and down her leg.
It made her laugh, because he obviously wanted to do something more that night. Maybe after the party they could, if he wasn't too drunk.
"I'm going to go to the restroom upstairs," Ophelia told Zach.
Zach and Justin had just set down two shot glasses. Zach smiled widely at her. He was drunk, now it was obvious. She giggled. He looked a lot less serious when he was drunk. He probably ended up forgetting all of his responsibilities and just had fun.
"Okay, beautiful."
She blushed.
"There's a bathroom down here," Justin told her, not quite as out of it yet.
"Ew, no," she giggled. "I do not know what's been going on in there. I think there's one up in Paul's room."
"Ooooh," Justin teased. "You've been in Paul's room?"
Ophelia knew for sure now Zach was drunk, because he just laughed.
"Shut up," she laughed. "Close friends know about the secret bathrooms."
"Secret bathrooms?" Justin scoffed. "How many are there?"
Ophelia joked, "Five."
Justin sighed. "Oh, to be white and rich."
Ophelia didn't bother correcting him by saying Paul was Chinese.
She headed upstairs to the restroom.
Justin said, "Dude, are you gonna follow her?"
Zach looked to where Ophelia had gone. "Should I?"
"It sounded like she wanted you to," he told him. He smiled. "She told you she's going to a bedroom..."
"Oh, shit," Zach sat up further. "You think she wants to..."
Justin laughed. "She's your girlfriend. Shouldn't you know?"
Zach stood now, and grabbed his crutches.
"Hey," Justin said, as Zach fixed his crutches under his arms pits. "But-just-makes sure she wants to, okay?" Ophelia was clearly the kind of girl that didn't like having to tell her boyfriend 'no', and would try to keep him happy as much as possible. Justin would feel terrible if he caused Zach to pressure her into anything. Not that he thought Zach would ever meaningly pressure her.
Zach reached down and grabbed Ophelia's wine cup. It was still half full. He took a swing of it and set it back down.
He winked at Justin. "She's been wanting to. A lot."
Justin laughed and high fived his friend, happy for him.
Zach made his way upstairs, carefully. There were a lot of rooms upstairs. He went through a few, but they all looked like guest rooms. He knew he found the right one when he got to the one with a few football posters. He then saw Paul's football bag in the corner.
Ophelia was still in the bathroom. The light was on. Zach shut the bedroom door and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Shit," he said to himself, realizing that he didn't have any protection on him. He left the crutches leaning on the bed, and found himself opening Paul nightstand, looking through it desperately.
It felt wrong digging through this guy's stuff. But Paul looked at Ophelia's ass before, so Zach figured he owed him one.
Zach found a box if condoms in the back of his bottom drawer. He also found what looked like expensive pipes, but he ignored those. He slipped a condom in his pocket, and sat back on the bed as he heard the toilet flushing.
He heard Ophelia wash her hands, clear her throat, and blow her nose. Then the door open. And she turned the light off in the bathroom before looking forward. And when she saw Zach she screamed.
He flinched back. Her loud voice straining his drunken ears.
Her hand flew over her chest, and she could feel her heart beating rapidly as she tried to calm herself down after seeing it was just Zach.
"Jesus Christ! Why would you sneak in here?"
"Sorry," Zach laughed. "I didn't know I was sneaking."
Ophelia smiled now. "I didn't know someone as big and loud as you knew how."
She sat on the edge of the bed next to him. She looked at his leg.
"Are you alright? Does your leg hurt at all?"
"No," he said quickly. "I feel fine."
He looked her up and down. Ophelia was wearing ripped black jeans, and a satin shirt that looked beautiful on her. It was dark red, and made her pale skin pop out, making her cleavage more noticeable than she may have realized.
She wore another one of his necklaces. He was glad. He thought they looked better on her than that ugly yellow one had. The charm at the end stopped just before her cleavage, bringing his eyes there yet again.
Her jeans were tight, making skin almost pop out of the rips. It made her skin so appealing to him, he wanted to reach out and touch it.
So he did.
Zach put his hand on the large rip on Ophelia's thigh. "But you...you look fucking amazing."
Ophelia blushed, and couldn't hide her smile. "I think you're talking about yourself."
"No," he told her. He ran his hand from the rip on her jeans, to her inner thigh. Ophelia felt her heartbeat pick up again. "You look so fucking sexy."
Ophelia felt herself growing hot. Especially when he took a stronger grip of her inner thigh. His hand was so warm, she could feel it though her jeans. And she wanted to feel it on her skin.
Ophelia leaned forward and kissed Zach. His hand released her leg in an instant, now bringing it up to her hair.
Ophelia felt even more excited. And she felt like she wanted to have sex with him, as wrong as it was, right there on Paul's bed. Was that wrong?
Ophelia had had sex at parties before. She had had sex at school before. It always felt so weird and uncomfortable for so many people to be so close by. But Montgomery used to want to do it, so she was fine giving in.
But now, she just really, really wanted to have sex with Zach. She didn't know if that made her dirty, or if just meant she was more confident going for what she wanted.
But she was worried maybe he didn't want to. And she didn't want to pressure him into it.
She pulled away from the kiss. "We can go back downstairs if you want," she offered.
"I don't want to," he told her, straightening up. "Do you want to?"
"No," she breathed. She felt nervous when she admitted, "I want to stay."
But Zach just smiled at her. "Me too."
He kissed her again. He put his hand back on her inner thigh, and pulled her closer to him. The kiss deepened.
She wondered if what she was doing was wrong. Zach seemed drunk to her, so maybe she shouldn't sleep with him now.
But before she could say anything else Zach brought them both further onto the bed, away from the edge. She felt his hand on her shoulder, and he pushed her down. She laid on her back now.
Zach leaned down and kissed her again, but broke away from her lips to kiss down her neck. He kissed all the way down to the end of her v-neck, kissing the exposed cleavage he had been so enthralled with earlier.
Goosebumps rose on her skin, all over her. She felt his tongue on her cleavage now, and any thought of going back down to the party was erased from her mind. She wanted to be up here, with Zach.
Zach sat up, and pulled his t-shirt over his head. She gazed at his fit body. She sat up and kissed him again. Zach found the hem of her shirt. She lifted her arms and pulled it off of her. He then pushed her gently, pushing her back onto her back.
He got on top of her now, one leg on each side of her. He pressed his weight on her, careful not to be too harsh on his knee. He started kissing down her neck again, one hand gripping her hair, the other now on her ass.
She ran her hands down his back, and she wanted to put her hands down his pants, but at the moment was too shy to. He kissed her deeply again on the mouth, so her hands went back up to his hair.
He pulled away and pulled something out of his pocket. She saw that it was a condom. She bit her lip, nervous, mentally preparing herself. It's crazy how she was so experienced, but always got so nervous. It must have just been Zach's charm.
And his size.
She took the condom from him, and set it next to them on the bed. She felt his hands on the button of her pants. She giggled at his quickness, and how he struggled to pull the button.
She helped him, and she ended up kicking off her jeans.
"Here, let me..." She sat up, and tried help Zach with his pants too. He just pushed her down again. It was hot, the way he pushed her, so she didn't complain about it.
He pulled his pants down himself, just to his knees so he didn't have to take off his brace. They were both in their underwear now. He then put his weight back on her as they began kissing again.
When he went back to kissing her neck, she told him, "You can lay down and I can get on top of you."
He just moved back to her lips. "It's okay."
She pulled away for a second, "But-"
"I feel fine," he promised her. "I'm not on my knee at all."
And that's the only thing she was bothered by. Right?
She now began noticing how heavy he was on top of her. Even if they weren't kissing, it may have been hard to breath. She felt his hand move back onto her ass, this time beneath her underwear. He groaned into the kiss as he touched her.
She pulled away again. "It's okay. I don't mind being on top."
"It's okay," he just told her again.
She knew he probably didn't want to waste any time readjusting themselves. She could feel his excitement already. His erection pressing hard against her inner thigh.
His left hand left her hair, and moved down to her breast, which was till covered by her bra.
Ophelia had wanted the bra off already, but suddenly, for a reason unknown to her, she was happy it was still on.
Zach's right hand moved off her ass back to her thigh, and then her inner thigh, and then she felt his thumb brush hard against her underwear, just over where her clit was. It felt good. His touch always felt good.
But just because her body liked it, it didn't mean she did.
She pushed Zach, hard, off of her. She pushed him so that she could slide out from under him. He landed on his back on the other side of the bed.
"I-I told you I wanted to be on top," she snapped at him.
Zach was confused, and a little upset. Why the fuck was she so angry all of a sudden?
"Shit," he said, "You can be on top of its that fucking big of a deal."
Ophelia's head snapped to him, and now she was glaring. Suddenly, without warning, she reached down and picked up one of her shoes and threw it at him. It landed on his stomach and he groaned.
"The fuck?-"
"It is a fucking big deal!" she snapped at him. "What, fucking isn't a big deal to you?"
Zach sat up now. He felt embarrassed being so exposed now since Ophelia was upset, so he struggled to put his pants back on.
"Of course it is," Zach said, regretting his earlier words. "I just-I didn't know that's the only way you wanted to do it."
Ophelia picked her shirt off the ground and put it back on.
Zach stood up quickly. He hated seeing her so upset, and he hated the fact that he may have just ruined the mood.
He walked over to her. She had put her shirt on, and was grabbing her pants.
"Wait, O, I'm sorry," he tried to stop her. "I-I didn't mean it like that. It just surprised me is all. I just..." Zach hesitated. "I know you haven't been...finishing and I just thought maybe if I was on top...maybe I could help you enjoy it more."
Ophelia shook her head. She still seemed upset. "I'm sorry that it's bothering you, Zach. But I-I know what I want. And I don't want to..." Ophelia paused, and wiped her eyes. "I don't want to be under you."
Zach didn't understand why. But for the first time, he understood how serious she was about this.
"I'm sorry," he told her again.
He sat on the edge of the bed again, and motioned for him to sit by him. She did, still in just her shirt and underwear.
Ophelia's upset reaction quickly sobered Zach up. He put an arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into him.
"Are you okay, Ophelia?" He honestly didn't know.
She pulled away from him, but kept his arm on her shoulder. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just-I just didn't like it."
Zach exhaled. "Okay." He struggled with what else to say. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she said quickly. "It's just me. I'm just weird. I feel really fucking weird."
"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" He asked. "I mean, besides getting on top, have I done anything to make you feel weird?"
"No," Ophelia said. "I swear not you."
"Then who is it?" he asked. He hesitated. "Is it...Montgomery?"
She froze. "What?"
"Like, when you two were together...did something happen to make you not want to...do that? Like, not want to be under me?"
Ophelia wiped her eyes again. "I guess something like that."
Ophelia felt guilty. She couldn't be with Zach the way he wanted to be with her because of shit from her past. Why the fuck couldn't she just be normal?
Ophelia tried to explain, "I think it's everything. With Montgomery, and Bryce, and Jessica..." Ophelia wiped a hand over her face. "I just want to be in control." She saw Zach was watching her carefully. "I just want to be able to stop...if that makes sense."
She saw that her words hurt Zach. Her face fell, and he looked like she insulted him.
"I would let you stop..." he told her. He wouldn't force her into anything. And he wouldn't force her to keep going to even if he still wanted to. Had Montgomery ever forced her to keep going after she wanted to stop?
"I know," she said. "I'm sorry, Zach."
"You don't have to be sorry," he said, even more guilty now. "I love you, Ophelia."
She looked at him now. "I love you, Zach." She touched his face. "I'm sorry I freaked out. We can, you know, keep going if you want."
"No," he told her quickly. "Let's just sit in here for a while, okay?"
She appreciated it. She put her head on his shoulder, and he pulled her closer.
She smelt the alcohol on his breath. She laughed now, "How much have you had to drink?"
He laughed too. "You were there. You should know."
Ophelia laughed. She had seen him drink a lot.
"I'll put my shirt back on if you grab it," he offered.
Ophelia bit her lip. "I'm okay, actually."
He laughed too. And it lifted his spirits a bit that she thought he was fit enough that she wanted to admire his body.
There were sitting, only sitting, when Paul and Marisa suddenly burst in the door.
Ophelia screamed, and Zach bolted up, and sat on Ophelia's lap so that her underwear wasn't exposed.
Marisa screamed too. Paul stumbled back, surprised.
"What the fuck?" Paul asked.
Marisa started laughing looking at the two of them.
Paul wasn't as amused. "Are you guys, like, fucking on my bed?"
Ophelia was covering her face, embarrassed.
Zach said, "We'll leave, okay?"
Marisa spoke up for her friend quickly, "You don't have to."
Paul looked at her, bewildered. "They don't?"
Marisa just took Paul's hand. She looked at Zach. "We'll just be in the bathroom."
"Oh, god..." Ophelia groaned, even more embarrassed now.
Marisa took a step into the room. She winked at Ophelia. "Don't worry. We'll turn the fan on. We won't hear you."
Paul just said, "Seriously?"
But Marisa already entered the bathroom. Paul groaned, and went to his nightstand and grabbed a condom out of the bottom drawer. He noticed the one on the bed.
"You took my condoms too, man?"
"I..." What could Zach even say? He did.
"Paul!" Marisa called him.
He stumbled away from the drawer, and ran into the bathroom.
Zach got off of Ophelia. They froze, just looking at each other for a moment. Zach laughed first, and then they both burst out laughing.
"That was so embarrassing!" Ophelia said.
Zach nodded. "Let's get out of here."
Ophelia grabbed her pants and quickly put them on.
Zach joked, "I mean, if they're expecting us to anyway..."
Ophelia just laughed and threw his shirt at him. He caught it and pulled it over his head. He then helped Ophelia fix her shirt by pulling out her hair stuck under it.
They exited the room.
"You really took something from Paul?" Ophelia asked him, meaning the condom.
"Ophelia, desperate times, desperate measures," he told her.
Ophelia crinkled her nose and laughed. Justin was in the same spot when they got back. He smiled when he saw them.
"You guys are pretty quick," he mentioned.
Ophelia gasped, "Justin Foley."
"Nothing happened," Zach told him, knowing Ophelia would want him. She nodded approvingly. She was so embarrassed by these things.
Justin smirked. "Alright."
Ethan came up to them suddenly. "Yo, Ophelia, there's some Mexicans outside that say they know you."
Ophelia rolled her eyes. "Really, Ethan?" She disapproved of how he spoke of them.
He didn't pick up on her disapproving tone. "Really."
Ophelia told Justin and Zach she'd be right back. She went to Paul's front door, and was surprised to see Tony had actually come, bringing two of his attractive cousins along.
"Hope you don't mind I brought Julio and Antonio," Tony told her. "They could use a drink as well."
Ophelia just stood back for them. "Of course, come on in."
Julio smiled again her. "Gracias, rica."
Antonio winked at her, and said something she didn't catch. It must have been inappropriate, because Tony told him to shut up.
Ophelia was about to close the door when she saw it pull up. Montgomery's Jeep. It pulled up and parked right in front of the house. Her heart dropped.
What the fuck was he doing here? He wasn't fucking invited.
Why the fuck would he come?
Ophelia felt frozen. She didn't know what she would do if he walked out and came to the door. Maybe she would scream. Maybe call the police. But she knew for sure that she didn't want him there. The door opened and she braved herself to see him, and braces herself for whatever evil purpose he had there that night.
But instead, Estella stepped out. She waved to Ophelia when she saw her and jogged up to her.
"Estella?" Ophelia asked. "Did you drive here?"
"Yeah!" she said, excited. "I saw the flyer on snap. Thought you wouldn't mind me coming."
"No, of course I wouldn't," Ophelia said, "But, you're not old enough to drive."
"I have my permit," Estella corrected her. "Er, I almost do. It'll be fine. Monty's, like, passed out. He won't even notice the car gone."
Ophelia couldn't help but feel worried. "He's passed out?"
"Drunk," she laughed. "Like always."
It really did seem like it was always.
"That was risky," Ophelia told her. She couldn't help but worry about Estella either. "And all for a party where I'm not gonna let you drink."
Estella just said, "I don't need to drink. I just wanted to come. You know, since it's a party for you."
Estella always had a way of warming Ophelia's heart. She stepped aside for her.
"I think we might play another game," Ophelia told her. Just not 'never have I ever'. That would be embarrassing in front of Estella. "Come play with us."
Estella smiled. "Fun." She stepped inside. "This is technically the first high school party I've been to, besides the ones at my house."
Ophelia told her, "I invited you to my last birthday party."
Estella rolled her eyes. "That ended at, like, ten. It didn't count."
Ophelia laughed.
People kept coming until one in the morning, and they didn't start trickling out until three. Ophelia regretted volunteering to drive, because she was beyond tired. Justin and Zach both fell asleep on the couch next to each other. She didn't know how that was possible with all the loud music.
Paul and Marisa came back down eventually, and Ophelia and Estella visited some more with them. It was almost four am when Ophelia called it.
"I need to get these people home,"Ophelia said.
Paul offered, "You guys can just spend the night."
"Thanks," said Ophelia, "But if my mom, or Zach's mom, sees we're not there in the morning, they will be calling the police."
Paul laughed. "Hey, it's great seeing you again. Remember, you're still welcome at any Hillcrest party."
She smiled at him. "Thanks, Paul."
She shook Zach awake. He sat up, startled. He then shook Justin, who obviously wanted to go back to sleep. Ophelia said, "Justin might want to stay."
Paul stood up and told Marisa, "I'll go grab him a blanket."
"Come on," Ophelia told Zach, trying to haul him up. Estella came to help her. He had sobered up more, but he was still stumbling.
Ophelia put his arm over his shoulder and helped him out. Estella helped her put him in the car. Ophelia put him in the backseat, so he could lay down.
"Love you, O," he told her, as he curled up in the backseat to go back to sleep. She shut the door, laughing.
Estella smiled, and she told Ophelia, "You guys are cute."
Ophelia appreciated the compliment. She said, "Thanks. We try."
Estella was happy Ophelia was with Zach. She always liked Ophelia. She had been hoping Ophelia would become part of her family one day.
It was clear now that wouldn't be happening. But if not a family member, Estella was glad she was a friend.
"I had fun tonight," Estella told her.
"I'm glad," Ophelia said.
Estella looked to the ground. "Maybe...we can start hanging out more?"
Ophelia beamed, "I'd love that."
Estella waved at her, as she backed up to Montgomery's Jeep. "Bye, O."
Ophelia waved back, "See you Monday."
She watched Estella walk up to the Jeep. Ophelia then flinched as she heard Estella let our an aggravated shout. She then saw Estella kick the Jeep.
Ophelia jogged over. "What happened?"
Estella spoke with anger now. "Dammit! I lost the fucking keys!"
Estella hit door of the car again. Her mood had changed so fast. Just like her brother.
"Hey, hey, hey," Ophelia said, trying to calm her. "It's okay."
"It's not fucking okay!" Estella snapped. "Monty's gonna fucking kill me!"
Ophelia cringed at her tone, but didn't let it phase her.
"We'll go look inside, okay?" Ophelia offered. "I'll get people to help us look, it'll be alright."
Estella started to say, "I'm fucking dead-"
"No. No, you're not." Ophelia assured her. "Does he have any spare keys in case we can't find them?""
Estella groaned. "Back at the fucking house."
"Okay," Ophelia said. "That's great! At least there is one."
"Ophelia, if Monty finds out I took his car..." Estella tugged at her hair, and kicked the Jeep again. "He'll fucking kill me. He'll kill me, O."
"He won't," she assured her. "You'll be fine we'll find those keys. Okay?" Estella didn't answer, so Ophelia repeated, "Okay?"
Estella took a deep breath, "Okay..."
"Alright," Ophelia said. "Let's go back inside."
Estella didn't want to move, so Ophelia took her hand and forced her inside. Paul and Marisa helped them look, so did Tony and his cousins, who had been outside playing poker with some Hillcrest boys. Ophelia never would have guessed they would get along that well.
They looked everywhere, but couldn't find it, and Estella started freaking out.
"I'm fucking dead," she kept whispered. "What if Monty tells my dad I snuck out? He'll..." Estella stopped and covered her face.
"He wouldn't," Ophelia said quickly. She rubbed Estella's shoulders, trying to calm her down. "I promise he wouldn't."
Estella took a deep breath. "I...I don't know what to do."
Ophelia looked to her car across the street. She decided, "I'm going to drive you home, okay?"
Estella looked unsure. "Are you sure?"
Ophelia nodded. "I'll drop off Zach, and we'll go to your house, you'll find the keys, and I'll bring you back. We'll be fast, okay?"
Estella hesitated. "Are you sure you want to...do that?"
Was she sure she wanted to visit Montgomery's house late at night? No. Especially since he was supposedly drunk. But she would. For Estella.
"We'll be fast," Ophelia repeated.
Estella just nodded, and Ophelia helped her into the passenger seat of the car.
Ophelia walked around the car, and hesitated before getting in. She let out a long, exhausted breath. She straightened up, and told herself to hide her fear, and hide her nerves.
It would be fine.
They would be fast.
But nothing really works out the way it's planned. Especially not with Montgomery.
