tw: parental abuse, physical assault

"Are you really still mad at me?"

Ophelia huffed as she continued marching ahead of Zach, not bothering to say a word. Zach had told her mother about her walking home with Montgomery. Now she was grounded with no phone. Of course she was still mad at him.

"Ophelia, come on," he whined.

Ophelia scoffed. "You come on. You totally snitched on me."

Snitched? Ophelia didn't normally say words like 'snitched'. Zach figured Montgomery had probably said it before, and that's where Ophelia got it. He figured she was trying to use his slang to impress him.

"You shouldn't have let him walk you home," Zach insisted, speaking up loudly from behind her. "Something bad could've happened."

She rolled her eyes, not that he could see her face. But he could tell just by her voice she was annoyed. "Like what, Zach? He was being nice."

"No, he was being sneaky. That's why he didn't tell me you two were going."

Ophelia stopped now and turned around. "I thought Monty was your friend? Why are you acting like you hate him?"

"Monty?" Zach asked. "You guys have little nicknames for each other now?"

Ophelia huffed. "And what about it?" Most people called him 'Monty', so it didn't seem like that big of a deal. But it did excite her to think of them having their own names for each other. How romantic.

"He's bad news," Zach told her. "He's fun as my friend, but I wouldn't trust him as your friend."

Ophelia felt offended for Montgomery. She said, boldly, "Well, lucky for you he isn't gonna be my friend."

Zach narrowed his eyes at her. "What does that mean?"

She threw her hair behind her shoulder. "Monty wants to be my boyfriend."

"What?" His eyes widened now. "You-You can't date him. He's not a good guy."

She huffed, and turned around and started walking. "Yes, he is. He's nice to me."

Zach caught up with her. "You're not allowed to have a boyfriend."

She was suspicious now. "Are you going to snitch on me again?"

"Ophelia-" He struggled to keep up with her quick walking. "I don't think he's good for you. He-He's really inappropriate."

"Inappropriate?"

"He talks about bad stuff," Zach tried to explain. He didn't want to say he talked about sex, because Zach was too embarrassed to say the word in front of her. But he thought that's all Montgomery wanted her for, so he wanted her to know that. "He's just using you."

She didn't catch on to what he was implying. "What would he use me for? You think he's gonna make me do his homework or something?"

Zach couldn't believe her ignorance. "Stop acting stupid, you know what I mean."

Ophelia stopped walking again. Zach regretted his words when he saw the hurt look on her face. She frowned, confused and now upset.

"I'm not stupid, Zach. Don't call me stupid."

But he realized she actually did not pick up on what he meant.

"He is always talking about doing stuff with girls. How can you be sure he doesn't just want to..." he took a deep breath. "How do you know he doesn't just want to have sex with you?"

Her eyes widened, and her cheeks turned red. She looked away quickly. "T-That's not what h-he wants." She crossed her arms, suddenly wanting to cover her body. "S-Shut up, Zach."

But how could he? Montgomery spoke crudely in the locker room, talking about how he'd already fucked girls, and sexual acts Zach didn't understand. Zach had heard him talk about Ophelia too. He hadn't said anything inappropriate about her, only that he thought she was really cute, and he would always try to talk to Zach about her. Zach never let the conversations go far.

"You shouldn't be with that kind of guy," Zach tried again. He felt protective over her. And slightly jealous. "Montgomery is mean. And he cusses."

"Stop it," Ophelia said again. "If-If you don't stop talking then I'm going to tell your mom you're trying to talk to me about sex."

His eyes widened, and he took a step back, knowing how much trouble he would get in for that. Ophelia walked ahead of him again, and this time, he quietly stayed a few steps behind.

Montgomery was sitting alone on a bench. He stood nervously when he saw them coming. He thought he had done something wrong. He walked Ophelia home the day before, and thought they had a good time. But maybe he went too far by saying he wanted to be her boyfriend, or saying he wanted to kiss her, because when he got home he found out she had blocked him on everything.

"Hey, Ophelia," he breathed when he saw her.

She smiled at him, which relaxed and confused him.

"Hey, Monty," she said. She tucked a hair behind her ear, also nervous. "Thought it was 'O' now?"

He did want to call her O, a nickname that he gave her, one that would let her know she was special to him. But he thought she was mad at him.

"O," he corrected himself. He then said, "You look nice today."

She didn't think she did. Ophelia didn't usually wear that much makeup, but her mom confiscated what she had, saying she could have it back once she was sure she wasn't wearing it for boys. Actually, Ophelia hadn't been wearing it for boys.

Just one boy.

"Dempsey," Montgomery nodded at him.

Zach stopped by her now, to Ophelia's annoyance. He didn't want to leave them alone again, Ophelia's mother told him not to. "Hey, Montgomery."

Zach tried to nudge Ophelia to keep moving, but she stayed. She told Montgomery, "I'm sorry I couldn't message you. My mom found out you walked me home. She got mad and took my phone away."

Montgomery visibly relaxed, letting out a long, loud sigh of relief. "Oh, shit," he breathed. He then smiled. "I thought-" he ran his hand through his hair. His smile was bigger now. Ophelia wasn't mad at him. He was ecstatic. "I thought I fucked up or something."

Ophelia was embarrassed that Montgomery was cussing in front of Zach. He definitely wouldn't think he was a good influence now.

"No, I wasn't mad or anything," Ophelia said quickly. "Just my mom. I thought the walk was...nice."

Montgomery laughed. "Me too. Damn, your mom did a lot more than take your phone. She blocked me on everything."

Ophelia's eyes widened. She stepped back, now even more embarrassed. She really had to tell this hot football player that she was grounded and her mom blocked him? How absolutely humiliating.

Her cheeks were dark red now. "I-I didn't know that. I didn't know she knew how to do that."

"It's okay," he told her. The smile remained. "My parents are crazy like that too."

His parents were worse than that. But Montgomery hoped she would never know.

Ophelia relaxed now. "I'm really sorry."

"It's not your fault," he said. He nodded towards the building. "How about I walk you to class?"

Ophelia couldn't help but grin now. "Okay."

"I can walk her," Zach said.

Her smile dropped, and she turned around to scowl at Zach. The sweet voice she used on Montgomery left, and the deeper voice she used on Zach came back. "Shut up," she whispered. She turned back to Montgomery, who had clearly heard her but was pretending he didn't. She smiled. "You can walk me."

Montgomery still did not lose his smile. That handsome, handsome smile that drove her crazy.

"I'll see you at practice," Montgomery told Zach.

Zach just nodded, and watched Ophelia walk off with Montgomery.

He just let her go. And he never forgave himself for that.

Ophelia pulled into Estella's driveway slowly. She had turned her lights off so that they wouldn't shine into the window and wake anyone up. She had dropped Zach off at his house just moments ago. He seemed out of it still, and probably didn't notice Estella in her passenger seat.

Ophelia would make sure to fill Zach in on why she needed to drive her in the morning.

Ophelia was nervous when she told Estella, "I'm going to keep the car running."

Estella took a deep breath. She nodded. "Okay. I'll be quick."

"Do you know where the keys are?" Ophelia asked her before she opened the door. She didn't want to send her in without a plan.

Estella paused. She looked like she was concentrating, then her face relaxed and she said confidently, "On the kitchen table. We have the extra keys there in a bowl."

"Okay," Ophelia told her. "I'll be right out here."

Estella nodded, and pushed the car door open. She quietly shut it, before jogging inside, opening her front door with just as much carefulness.

Ophelia watched the clock. It was late, really late. She locked her doors, not knowing who else would be out at this time of night.

She looked up at the familiar house in front of her. Ophelia recalled how this place used to bring her so much excitement. All she felt now was anxiety and fear.

She wanted to leave.

Estella was inside for less than five minutes before coming back out. She smiled from the porch, holding up the spare keys. Ophelia smiled back, relieved she found them so quickly.

Behind Estella, the door opened. Ophelia's smile dropped. Estella's father had opened the door, and he looked pissed. Estella turned around just in time for her father to reach out and try to grab her. He caught her hair, and she heard Estella yelp. She dropped to the ground, tugging herself out of her grip, before forcing herself away from him.

Ophelia felt frozen, unsure what to do. She unlocked her door, and threw off her seatbelt, throwing open the door and running to the lawn as she watched Estella's father grab her by the arm now, forcing her up.

"Hey!" Ophelia shouted. She hoped her fear didn't show in her voice. "Let her go!"

Estella's father looked at her. "Get the fuck out of here, whore!"

Ophelia flinched at his words. He spat them so evilly. But by that single sentence Ophelia heard the slurring of his words, and knew that he was drunk.

"Papi, stop!" Estella pleaded, trying to make him let her go. He wasn't just hurting her, he was humiliating her. She didn't want Ophelia to see either of them like this.

"Where the fuck have you been?" he demanded, his arm tightening around her. He looked at Ophelia. "Have you girls been out drinking, huh? Sneaking off and drinking?"

"No, I swear!" Estella yelled. "I didn't drink anything!"

Ophelia looked behind her. From the shouting, she would have thought someone would hear and wake up. She looked at the houses nearby, expecting someone to come to their rescue. But no lights came on, and no one came out.

"We weren't drinking!" Ophelia tried. "We-We were playing a game! We lost track of time!"

"Shut your fucking mouth, you lying bitch!" he snapped at Ophelia. Ophelia tried to take a step forward, but flinched back again as he spat, "Stop treating me like a fucking idiot! I'll fucking beat the shit out of you!"

Estella cringed, and felt herself tearing up, humiliated and terrified of what his next actions would be. She tried, as calm as she could, but sobs clearly in her throat, "Please, stop. Papi, she didn't do anything. We were just playin-"

He struck her. Estella's father struck her.

And Ophelia felt completely at fault. She always thought he would never hurt Estella, but Ophelia saw her split lip the days before, and she didn't do anything. She allowed her to go back to the house. That awful house with that awful man. And she got hit again.

Ophelia found herself bolting forward. Her father must have been weaker because of his drunkenness, because Ophelia pulled Estella right out of his arms. She grabbed Estella as tight as she could, and pulled her back.

Her father lunged forward, but tripped over his own clumsy self, and fell to the ground.

"Get in the car!" Ophelia told her.

She opened her passenger seat, and forced Estella in. Estella screamed as Ophelia shut the door, and suddenly Ophelia felt someone tugging her hair, gripping her and slamming her on the grass.

"Stop!" Estella screamed, opening the door again.

Ophelia wanted to scream at her to get back in the car, and to stay in there. But all that left her mouth was a scream, as she was struck with something. Not a fist, something hard. Something really, really painful.

"Papi, please!" Estella's cry was desperate now. She had gotten completely out of the car, and had fallen onto her knees in front of Ophelia, blocking her. "She-She's not family, she could call the cops!"

Her father seemed to have hesitated, but it didn't stop him from bringing his arm down and striking Estella. Ophelia saw what it was now. It was long and black, like a police baton. It hit Estella in the face. Ophelia saw it.

Estella's head was thrown back, and Ophelia scrambled to her feet. She pushed Estella's father away from Estella, only for his elbow to jolt up, and catch Ophelia's nose. Pain exploded to her face, and she fell down again, completely.

"Monty!" she heard Estella screaming. "Monty! Monty!"

He spit in Ophelia, like she was nothing. She felt it hit her right in the face, but all she could concentrate on was the pain in her nose.

"Monty!"

Ophelia kept hearing Estella's voice. She kept wanting to call out for her to leave. Or to call out for help. But there's no way their screams weren't heard by the houses near them, or the whole neighborhood. And no one came out.

"You stay down, you bitch," he snarled at her.

Ophelia started kicking herself away from him. She didn't know what he was doing, or why he was doing it. Was he just mad at Estella for going out? Is that really what caused this whole thing?

Ophelia looked ahead, and saw Estella was gone. Her father noticed as well.

"Where the fuck did you go?" he yelled, to no one.

Ophelia stood up now, only to trip over her own feet, falling back down, and unfortunately gaining back his attention.

"Where the fuck did she go?" he yelled at Ophelia.

Ophelia just covered her face, scared for the worst.

He marched forwards, only to, in a single instance, be tackled to the ground.

Montgomery was on top of him now. He had tackled him easily, as though he had been an opponent on the football field. She wondered if that's why Montgomery liked football so much out of any other sport. The physical control over others.

Montgomery was now punching his own father in the face. His father didn't want to go down without a fight, using the baton in his hand to smack Montgomery in the face with it. It broke skin on contact, Ophelia knew this because she could see blood running down Montgomery's face.

"Get off me, you fucking bastard!" his father shouted at him. "You fucking piece of shit!"

Montgomery hit him again. And again. And again. And his father stopped writhing on the ground as much, his defensive moments now much slower. Montgomery stayed on top of him. His anger at his father showing through each hit.

"Monty, that's enough!" Estella tried. She had run back out of the house, reappearing. She was crying. Ophelia was too. She didn't notice until his father got so quiet that she could hear herself sobbing.

And her nose. Her nose hurt.

"Monty, stop, you're gonna kill him!" Estella said.

Ophelia didn't think it was enough. Ophelia didn't think he should stop.

Finally, it seemed his father stopped moving completely. Montgomery gave a few more exhausted hits, his movements slow and obviously tired. Then he stood up, and spit on his father's face, just like his father had spit on Ophelia's.

Montgomery was breathing heavily. His fists red and blotchy. His face still bleeding. Maybe no one up notice this either. His face was still bruised from the fight after all. He reached down and grabbed the baton his father had been using on them.

Montgomery raised it suddenly, and with force he struck his father with it. He aimed for his face, and it struck his skull loudly. Ophelia flinched it sounded bad. He hit his eyebrow, splitting it open, blood pouring down his father's face, matching his.

Estella screamed. Montgomery just kicked him. "Not so tough now, you fucking piece of shit." He kicked him again.

"Stop!" Estella yelled. She now came over and kneeled over her father. She gasped at all the blood. "Monty, you could've killed him!"

"I fucking should've," he spat.

He turned now, and made eye contact with Ophelia. She had kicked herself all the way back to her car, and was on the ground, leaning against it. He walked over and fell next to her, exhausted.

Ophelia, overcome with emotion, suddenly lunged away from him, and threw up on his driveway, her body overcome with stress and anxiety. Now her throat throbbed in pain as well.

Estella still kneeled over her father, quietly saying, "Papi? Papi?"

He didn't respond. He wouldn't wake up. The heaving in his chest let Ophelia know he wasn't dead.

Montgomery sat next to Ophelia, still breathing heavily. He looked over at her. Her face was red in the middle, by her nose. He touched it before she realized what he was doing, and she let out a cry in pain. He wondered if it was broken.

No. He had seen it broken before. It looked different now.

Ophelia just kept crying. So much.

"You're okay now," he tried to console. "He's fucking out. He won't wake up til morning."

She seemed unsure, and scared. And she kept crying. Her heart was beating so fast, she was scared she would pass out. She had become terrified of his father, and even thought he was unconscious, the terror took its time leaving.

"You're okay," he told her again. He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder. He pulled her closer, and her head fell on his shoulder, and she found herself hiding her face in his chest now.

Suddenly, it didn't matter who was there. She was thankful for them.

He put his other arm around her now, pulling her even tighter. She wrapped her arms around him now, hugging him, and continuing to cry into his arms. She could hear his heart beating. He could feel hers.

Montgomery had been sleeping before Estella came into his room, shouting their father had gone crazy outside. And he hurried out. But then he saw Ophelia. And Montgomery felt himself lose control.

Montgomery felt like he hadn't done anything. It was like his body had taken control.

It had been his worst nightmare for his father's wrath to touch Ophelia. And it had happened, after he thought she was finally safe and away from his family.

He didn't know what happened, he just felt himself go crazy. He had never struck his father like that. He had hit him, and fought back from time to time. But never like that. Estella had freaked out for good reason.

Montgomery felt like he wanted to kill him. And the only thing that stopped him was spotting Ophelia sitting alone in pain.

Montgomery was terrified of the repercussions that would come when his father woke up. He hit him with the retractable baton his father would go after him with sometimes. Montgomery wondered if his father would try to kill him because of it.

But Montgomery figured it was alright if he did. If his father woke up in the morning, and finally had enough of him, and decided to kill him off, Montgomery would be fine with it. At least he would get to hold Ophelia in his arms, and her hold him back, one last time.

An hour had passed, and they were all still in Montgomery's front yard. Ophelia fell asleep. She fell asleep right in Montgomery's arms. He held her still.

Montgomery didn't want her to wake up. He knew that once she did, she would leave his embrace, and never come back to it.

His father laid passed out on the grass in front of them. It was a little passed five am. The sun was starting to come up, and the yard was starting to be lit up. He could see his father clearly. A thick stream of blood running from his eyebrow, down his face, into the grass. His nose was bleeding too, and his jawbone bruised. That was all Montgomery could see from where he sat, but he hoped that he did more damage.

Estella was sitting, still crying to herself. She curled herself up, sitting with her hands around her legs, next to her father. Her father struck her, but she didn't bleed. There was only a small, light bruise on her cheekbone. She was lucky. Montgomery looked worse.

Montgomery was furious at Estella. He had no idea why Ophelia had been there, but he knew it was her fault. Looking around in the light, he spotted his spare car keys on the ground. That's when he noticed his car wasn't there.

He looked between his keys to his sister. She caught his eye, and knew he finally noticed them too. She looked away, guilty.

"I'm sorry," she said.

He didn't respond. He didn't want his voice to wake Ophelia, he just looked away from her, clenching his jaw.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," Estella cried. "I-I just wanted to-"

"Shut up," he snapped at her. He didn't want her talking to wake Ophelia up.

"I wanted to go to her party. The-The one Hillcrest was throwing," Estella continued anyway. "I'm s-sorry. I took your car."

"My fucking-" He stopped himself, knowing he was about to start yelling. Ophelia moved slightly.

"I'm sorry!" Estella yelled. "I didn't fucking think he would notice me gone!"

"Shut the f-"

Ophelia stirred again, and then suddenly, bolted awake, pushing herself away from him. She yelled.

"What were you doing?" Ophelia yelled at him, distrustfully. "What the fuck were you doing to me?"

"Nothing-" he started.

She yelled, "What the fuck happened? What did you do?"

"You fell asleep," he said quickly.

She looked around, and noticed how light it was suddenly becoming. "Oh my god. What time is it?"

She looked over, and saw Estella. Her eyes were red, and puffy. Her expression was tearful. Ophelia crawled over to her.

"Estella..." Ophelia took Estella's face in her hands, looking at her. Estella pulled herself away.

"I'm sorry..." Estella said. "I didn't know he would notice me gone..."

"It's not your fault," Ophelia said quickly. "I-I promise I'm not mad at you."

Montgomery stood now. He took a step closer to her, but Ophelia snapped, "Stay the fuck away from me."

Montgomery flinched back. Her words hurt him, more than she could have realized. And they humiliated him.

The hurt was clear on his face. And even more embarrassing was that the words stung him so bad he felt his throat closing, like he wanted to cry. All that for her to hate him more than anything.

But he wouldn't let himself cry. He would yell before he would cry. And yell he did, at Estella. "Where the fuck is my car?"

Ophelia looked back at him, shocked. "You're worried about your fucking car?" Ophelia looked around. "No one heard this and called the police?"

"They all heard," Montgomery said. "They don't give a fuck. No one gives a fuck. No one cares. Now where's my fucking car?"

Ophelia felt disheartened by his words. She cared.

"It's up towards town, where the Hillcrest kids live," Estella said.

"Are you fucking stupid?" Montgomery asked her. Anger the only thing he felt. The only thing he allowed himself to feel. "Taking my fucking car and getting drunk and fucking leaving it?"

"She didn't drink," Ophelia snapped at him. She held onto Estella's arm tightly. She stood, and helped her up. "She just lost the keys."

Montgomery scoffed. "You lost the keys?"

Estella looked down. "I'm sorry-"

"Someone probably took them!" Montgomery yelled at her. "And someone probably stole my fucking car!"

"Don't fucking yell at her," Ophelia snapped at him. "Can't you see she's been through enough?"

She looked down at their unconscious father on the ground. It was horrifying, but the two acted like it wasn't uncommon.

Montgomery reached down and grabbed his keys off the grass, and brushed the dirt off of them.

"I think you need to go to the hospital," Ophelia told Estella.

She shook her head quickly. "W-What? No!"

"Estella-"

"She's okay," Montgomery told her. He came up and grabbed Estella from her arms, looking her over. He cringed when he realized she had been struck in the face.

She just had a bruise. She didn't need to go to the hospital. But she was still hurt, and Montgomery wondered if Ophelia would call the police on their father. Secretly, he hoped she did. And before he woke up.

"I'm sorry, Monty," Estella said again, faintly.

Ophelia saw him glance at her, before glancing back to Estella. "Just-where's the fucking car so I can go get it?" His voice was softer now.

"I'm going to take her to get it," Ophelia said. "It's at Paul's house. You can go back inside and we'll bring it back."

Montgomery scoffed. "You'll bring it back?"

"I will," Estella told him. "I-I'll bring it."

"No. You won't," he said, sternly. "I'll go get it."

He turned to Ophelia, who quickly shook her head. "I'm not driving you."

Montgomery scoffed. Estella said quickly, "We'll all go."

Ophelia hesitated. "Montgomery sits in the back."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine." His annoyed look was directed at Estella.

Estella looked down at their father again. "We should put him inside."

"Fuck that," Montgomery spat. "He can wake up to the fucking sprinklers."

"Monty-" Estella spoke sadly.

"Fuck him," Montgomery said again. He grabbed the baton off the ground. He didn't want his father anywhere near it when he awoke. He opened Ophelia's passenger door. "Get in the car."

Estella got in, sending one more look to her father. She felt bad for him, something Montgomery would never feel for him.

Ophelia was the last one in the car. She felt frozen on the lawn, staring down at their father.

Was this...normal to them?

She heard Montgomery and Estella start arguing in her car, and it broke her out of her trance.

She got in, and started driving them to Paul's house. She felt like she was in shock. Her nose was stinging slightly. She felt a pain in her stomach.

"You turn fifteen and think you're grown," Montgomery snapped at his younger sister. "Think you can fucking sneak out and go drinking."

Ophelia wanted to bite back at him that he was doing much worse at fifteen, but Estella beat him to it.

"You were sneaking out at thirteen," Estella turned around in the seat to snap at him. "You out of anyone can't judge me."

"I'm your older brother I can judge you all I fucking want," he snapped back at her. "Now drop your fucking attitude before I-"

"Before you what?" Estella didn't seem scared. "I'll smack you in the face if you try touching me."

"You're acting like a fucking bitch." They just kept talking like Ophelia wasn't even there. "After all that shit at the house. That was your fault."

Estella sink down at his words. She knew it was right. It was her fault. She felt guilty.

"Stop it," Ophelia said, noticing her solemn expression. "You-You're being mean." Her voice came out wavered.

Estella suddenly grabbed a plastic water bottle that had been in Ophelia's cup holder, and turned around and started hitting Montgomery with it. Montgomery held his hands up, and shoved her hard back into the front seat.

Ophelia stayed still in the front seat, hoping they would just sit down and be quiet. She was hoping as hard as she could, in her mind repeating over and over, 'please just sit down, please just sit down, please just sit down'.

"Dad doesn't treat me like that," Estella tried to say, "You-You must have done something."

"Or you just pissed him off by leaving," Montgomery said. It was true their father was kinder to Estella, not physically abusing her, only yelling at her. But that had started changing recently. Ever since Estella got old enough to start trying to lead a life of her own. "He slapped the shit out of you last week, what the fuck makes you think he wouldn't do it again?"

Estella slumped in her seat, and Ophelia felt her eyes. That just have been why she had the cut lip. Her father had slapped her. Estella didn't want to admit it fully to Ophelia, and she was upset Montgomery brought it up.

They stayed silent the rest of the ride. Ophelia had no idea how they could fight and bicker like this after what just happened. How could they even be talking right now. Ophelia felt like if she tried saying anything else she would start crying again.

She pulled up to Paul's house. There was still plenty of cars left. She pulled next to Montgomery's car, and parked.

"Montgomery gets out first," Ophelia said, before she unlocked the door.

She met his eyes in the rear view mirror. He didn't say anything, he just unlocked the door himself, and got out. Estella turned to Ophelia.

"I'm sorry, Ophelia," she whispered.

Ophelia hesitated. "It-" She cleared her throat. "It's okay."

Estella reaches over and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry," she said, again. Estella pulled away. She sniffed. "Did-Did he hurt you?"

Yes.

"It's okay," she just said again.

Estella looked like she wanted to say more, but didn't know what. "Thank you, O."

Ophelia just nodded.

Estella pushed open the door, but hesitated. "Please don't tell anyone what happened."

Ophelia didn't say anything. She couldn't promise not to.

"Please," Estella said. "Please, he's not like that all the time."

But Ophelia knew better than that. She knew past that lie.

"Let's go, Estella," she heard Montgomery call. He started up his car.

Estella gave Ophelia one last look before hopping out of the car and getting in Montgomery's Jeep. Ophelia felt her hand reaching for her cell phone. She could call right now. She should call right now. Call the police.

Montgomery suddenly got back out of his car, leaving it running, but closing the door behind him. Ophelia hesitated as he car to her drivers side window. She rolled it down, only halfway.

"W-What do you want?" she asked him, scared why he approached her alone.

"I'm sorry about that shit," he started, not knowing how else to jumped into things. Ophelia didn't respond. Montgomery then ran a hand over his face. "I never wanted you to..." he took a moment, "...I never wanted you to go through the shit I did. That was always my biggest fear, O. For my dad to..." He trailed off again.

Ophelia gulped, and straightened herself in her seat. She told him, not sparing any emotion. "You already put me through that shit."

His face fell, and she could see clearly how toxic those words had been to him. "O, I-"

"My name is Ophelia," she snapped. "And you know what? You put me through worse. My nose is fucking throbbing because your dad elbowed me in my fucking face. But you broke my nose by hitting me."

Montgomery looked down. He didn't say anything, he looked remorseful, but Ophelia wasn't buying it.

"Stop this fucking act," she snapped at him, emotionally. He looked back up at her. "This fucking 'I still love you' act, and 'I can change' act. I don't fucking believe it anymore."

He gritted his teeth together. "It's not a fucking act-"

"Bullshit," Ophelia snapped. "After what you..." Ophelia had to stop and take a deep breath. "After what you did."

He knew she was referring to Homecoming night. Montgomery hands formed and unformed fists, while Ophelia's hands started shaking just thinking about it. She waited for his reply.

"I didn't do shit that we hadn't done a million times."

So that was it. She wasn't expecting and apology, but she also wasn't expecting that. She just wanted to see remorse, or guilt, or anything that could connect with regret. Montgomery was regretful, but he was too scared to show it. Maybe if he refused to apologize, she would drive herself crazy, wondering if he was really in the wrong, or if she asked for it in some sort of way. She had briefly kissed him back that night, after all. In his mind, she had chosen to kiss him back.

"You gonna call the cops?" Montgomery asked her.

She didn't respond. He knew she would.

"Good," he said. "They don't really believe me anymore."

Ophelia gulped. "Estella won't hate me? Right?" She feared losing her friendship with the younger girl.

Montgomery just said, "Maybe. But at least she won't-"

"Get the fuck away from her." Montgomery was suddenly pushed away from the door. Justin stood in front of both of them. He must have woken up from Paul's house. Shit. It only reminded her of how early it was. Her mother could be up in less then an hour.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Justin asked Montgomery. "She doesn't want to fucking talk to you."

Montgomery just stumbled back from the push, and stayed away. He sent Ophelia one last look before getting back in his car. He revved his engine, loudly, before taking off.

Justin looked at Ophelia. "What did he say to you?"

Ophelia hesitated. "He, um..."

Justin waited.

Ophelia bit her lip.

"Are you okay?" Justin asked her, noticing the redness of her eyes.

"I need to go to see Zach," she said, suddenly.

She wanted to hug Zach, and tell him what happened. She wanted to be in his arms, and she wanted him to tell her everything would be alright. She was scared to call the police, but she wouldn't be if he was there with her.

But she needed Zach's comfort. And she was worried after telling him what happened, he would go straight to the police with anger. She wanted to bring Justin along to calm him down in case that happened.

"Can you come?" she asked him.

"Yeah," Justin said, "Of course."

He jogged around the car and got in the passenger seat.

"But you're alright?"

She just said blankly, "I'm alive, aren't I?"

Zach had been the one to call the police, just like Ophelia thought would happen. He was angry, but most of all, he was concerned for her. And she was glad that he was consoling. He made sure she was alright before calling the cops.

Ophelia changed into some clothes she had in the trunk of her car, and convinced Zach's mom and her mom that she left early in the morning to pick up Justin from Paul's house. They both believed it.

Justin and her sat on Zach's bed as Zach stepped into his private bathroom to make the phone call.

"What do you think he's going to say?" Ophelia asked Justin.

Justin winced. He had been silent the whole time Ophelia told Zach what happened.

"I don't know. Just what you told him probably."

"I...don't want him to tell them I was there." She didn't want her mom finding out she stayed out all night. And if his father did get arrested, or go to trial, she didn't want to be called to testify. She didn't think she could go through that again.

"He knows that," Justin said, blankly.

Ophelia noticed his silence. "What's wrong?" She asked him.

Justin let out his held breath. "Nothing, Ophelia."

"You're being really quiet," she pointed out.

Normally, she couldn't get him quiet.

Justin admitted, "I'm trying not to say anything mean."

Ophelia shrank down. "Mean?"

He exhaled loudly.

"Just say it," Ophelia mumbled. She felt a drop in her heart. "I'm probably thinking worse now."

Justin ran a hand through his hair. "I think you were being fucking stupid."

Ophelia shrank even further away from him.

Justin continued, frowning, "I mean...you went to Montgomery's house? Alone? W-What the fuck were you thinking?" He sounded so upset. "Do you know what could have happened? What if Montgomery wasn't even home? His dad could have fucked you up, Ophelia? He could've..." He didn't want to say out loud that he could have killed her. Justin knew firsthand drunken dads didn't spot hitting until someone stopped moving.

"I wasn't alone," Ophelia tried to say, "And I-I wasn't supposed to be there. Not long. She was just going to run in and-"

"It doesn't fucking matter what was supposed to happen," Justin said. She recognized the tone in his voice was scolding. "The fuck happened, Ophelia? I was at Paul's house. You could have just woken me up. I would have gone with you."

"You were passed out," she told him.

"I wasn't," he insisted. "I was sleeping, but I wasn't passed out."

Ophelia went silent. Justin regretted his words. He knew he sounded mean, and he hadn't meant to. She just really, really worried him.

"I didn't mean to call you stupid," he mumbled.

Ophelia just nodded. "It's okay." But she still felt hurt. But he was right, wasn't he?

Zach came out of the bathroom. He sighed loudly. "Alright, I told them what happened." Before she could ask Zach told Ophelia, "I left you out of it. I left the tip anonymously."

Ophelia gulped. "Thank you."

Justin frowned. "Why'd you leave her out of it?"

"My mom would know I lied to her about last night," Ophelia told him. "And if she found out I got hurt...I would never leave the house again. She barely started letting me go out when I got to Hillcrest."

Justin said, "But wouldn't it be easier to prove with a witness?"

"Montgomery will talk," Ophelia insisted. "He used to protect his dad but...he's not going to anymore."

Zach stood a few feet away from the bed and asked, "How do you know?"

Ophelia didn't know how to explain it. "I just do."

Zach frowned. He felt like Justin. He wanted to lash out, and ask her why she had been to stupid to go to the De La Cruz house, especially without anyone else. Internally, he wanted to yell at her.

Things had been so bad lately, especially since Bryce had been found dead. He just wanted to keep her safe. He finally felt powerful enough to keep her safe.

But she kept getting herself in stupid situations. And she kept getting hurt.

"Why did you go to his house?" Zach asked her. He was upset about it. Really upset. But he was keeping his calm tone, for her benefit.

"I told you," Ophelia said. She had explained the whole night. "It was supposed to be quick."

"But it was-" He stopped, because his voice was getting to loud again without him even noticing. "It was Montgomery's house. You went to Montgomery's house."

"I went to Estella's house-"

"It's still Montgomery's house," Zach snapped at her. Ophelia flinched at his hostile tone, but she knew he was right. She had been stupid.

"I wasn't just going to leave her," Ophelia told him.

Zach knew she meant Estella, so he said, "Maybe you should just stop hanging out with her."

Ophelia only blinked. "Why?"

"It just gets you into shit with him," Zach said. "Montgomery was out of your life and things were fine. Now you're hanging out with her and this shit happens."

"Shits happening because I'm at Liberty again," Ophelia snapped back. "You're the one who's fucking teammates with him."

Justin sat awkwardly on the bed. Zach put the attention on him by saying, "What do you think, Justin?"

He hesitated. "Think about what?"

"Do you think she should stop hanging out with Estella?"

Ophelia scoffed. She turned to Justin, expecting him to side with her. When she saw his guilty expression, she knew immediately that that wouldn't be happening.

"I think it'd be better if you did," Justin admitted. Ophelia turned away. He quickly added, "I mean, what's even the point of the friendship? It's not like you're gonna be sister in laws anymore."

Zach disliked the mention of them becoming that.

"That doesn't mean anything," Ophelia tried. She looked at Zach now. "She's still my friend. I can't just abandon her."

Zach said, "Well, she might abandon you. I mean, do you think she'll be mad about us calling the cops?"

Ophelia stilled, knowing Estella would definitely be upset with her. But not enough to never speak to her again. Right?

"Estella hasn't done anything wrong," Ophelia defended her, passionately. "The only reason she even went to that party was to see me."

Maybe if Ophelia had looked harder and found the keys, Estella wouldn't have woken her dad up. Then again, maybe he would have been even worse if Ophelia wasn't there.

"You should at least think about it," Justin said. "Montgomery probably thinks that if you hang out with Estella you still like him."

"Exactly," Zach agreed quickly.

"That-That doesn't make sense," Ophelia sputtered. "Why would he think that?"

"Because he's a fucking idiot," Zach said, "And he had nothing better to do in his life than bother other people."

Ophelia cringed at his harsh words. She stood up. "I-I have to go home. I promised to take Honor to the mall today."

Zach's face fell. "Wait-you don't still want me to come?"

Ophelia hesitated. "You should just take Justin home."

"Wait," Zach told her, stopping her before she reached the bedroom door. He spoke softer now. "I'm not mad at you, Ophelia. I'm mad. Just mad. But not at you. I don't agree with the choices you made, but I know it's just you being trying to be kind."

Ophelia hesitated. "I'm sorry I upset you so much, Zach. I fell like...I feel like you were happier when I was at Hillcrest, and you didn't have to see me everyday."

His face scrunched up, hurt. "What the fuck? Ophelia, w-why would you think that?"

"I fucking stress you out," she said. "You're the fucking football captain, and you don't seem stressed except for when I make a mistake and you have to fix it."

Justin sat awkwardly on the bed.

"I'm stressed out all the time," Zach told her. "The only reason I seem more stressed out with you is because I'm comfortable enough to share when I actually am upset. I don't do that on the field, okay? My teammates don't care about me like you do."

"Ay, you know I got you Zach," Justin said. Neither of them responded so he just said, "Okay then."

"I'm sorry if it seems like I'm upset a lot," Zach said, sincerely. "It's just everything going on. And you're the only person I feel I can talk to about it."

Ophelia nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm being dramatic. You have every right to worry because I do make stupid decisions."

"It's because you're a good person," he insisted. "And you want to help everyone. I get it. But let me know first, Ophelia. Let me know before you do this stuff. And I can help you so it doesn't end up dangerous."

Ophelia hesitated again before nodding. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Zach wished she would stop apologizing. It made him feel guilty.

"I think I want to go home and get some sleep," Ophelia told Zach. "Maybe after you can come over? You can pick me and Honor up and we can go to the mall after all?"

Zach looked relieved, and happy. "Yeah, I'll drive, of course."

She reached up and kissed him on the cheek, quickly, feeling a little embarrassed to do it in front of Justin. But it caused Justin to smile.

"What about me?" he asked.

"I'm sure the Jensens are worried about you," Ophelia said.

"I'm sure they're mad," Justin laughed. "How about I go to the mall with you guys? Wait for them to blow off steam?"

Zach and Ophelia looked at each other and laughed.

"We're babysitting your sister anyway," Zach pointed out. "Why not add one more?"

"One more to babysit?" Ophelia joked.

"Hey, hey, hey," Justin complained. "If anything I need to babysit you guys, make sure you don't sneak off and leave Honor alone."

Ophelia said, "You barely even know Honor."

"For now," Justin said. "We'll be besties by the end of the day for sure."

Ophelia just rolled her eyes.

"Are you sure you want to go today?" Zach asked her. "I'm sure your sister wouldn't mind waiting until tomorrow."

He was making sure she still felt up to it after what happened.

"She'll throw a fit," Ophelia explained. "And I just really don't want to worry about what happened all day. It's gonna drive me crazy just thinking about it."

Honestly, what would drive her crazy would be imagining the police going to the De La Cruz house, arresting the father, and then wondering how Estella and Montgomery would react. Would Estella really hate her?

She didn't know. Ophelia also didn't know if she was up to going to the mall. She felt sunken. Maybe a nap would help.

It made her happy to know Justin was going to the mall too. Justin and Zach always joked around with each other. Even on her worse day, they would make her laugh. Even when she didn't want to.

"I'll call you in a bit," Ophelia told Zach. She said bye to Justin and left.

She got in her car and drove home, not realizing Montgomery had brought the black retractable baton into the car with him, and that he had forgotten it on the floor in the backseat.

The mall had been fun. Justin seemed to have the better time out of anyone. He bought new clothes. Apparently, the Jensens gave him a credit card he could use whenever he wanted. This was the first time he had been at the mall with money to spend, and the first time the clothes he picked out on his own were new.

When she got home, Ophelia felt at peace with her decision of calling the police. She knew she had done the right thing. She was sure of it.

But Estella didn't see it that way. She approached Ophelia at her locker the next morning at school, just moments after Zach left for his first period. She must have been watching and waiting for her to be alone.

"What did you do?" Estella snapped at her. Ophelia jumped. She hadn't even seen her walk up.

Ophelia turned to Estella. She looked bad. Her lip was still cut, and her bruise was still clear on her face. She also looked tired. Exhausted actually.

Ophelia didn't know what to say. She felt guilty, but more worried. "What?"

"You called the police?" Estella asked, her voice shaking. She kept quiet. "I asked you not to. I begged you not to."

"I couldn't just-"

"They arrested my dad," Estella said. Her hair looked tangled, like she hadn't bothered to brush it. "They-They came and took him. Said they had gotten an anonymous tip but I know it was you. It was, right? It was you?"

Her neighbors wouldn't have called the police. They never had before.

Ophelia swallowed. She admitted, "What did you expect me to do, Estella? Just ignore what he did? He-He was hurting you-"

"Monty hurt you," Estella told her, "And you never called the police on him."

Ophelia felt the sting of her words, and the reminder of her past pains. She let it go, since Estella was obviously upset. "I realized, eventually, that admitting Montgomery's actions was a good idea-"

"No you didn't," Estella snapped. "Your fucking boyfriend turned Monty in, not you."

Ophelia frowned. Did she mean Scott? Scott was never her boyfriend. She doubted he had actually ever wanted to be.

"Because you knew Monty wasn't just his bad moments," Estella continued. "And-And my dad is more than what happened last night."

Montgomery never seemed to think so. And Montgomery himself had been mostly bad moments.

"Look, my dad is the one who looks out for me," Estella said, upset. "He-He wakes me up for school, he makes dinner most nights, the only time he acts that way is if he's drunk or-or Monty does something to upset him. My mom and Monty-they don't care about me like my dad does."

Ophelia was shocked. "I'm sure your mom and Monty care about you-"

"My mom was home Saturday night," Estella confessed.

Now, Ophelia wasn't just shocked. She was horrified.

"She was home, and she heard everything, and she didn't do anything," Estella continued. "And all Monty has done since Saturday is yell at me, and blame me. And that's who you left me with."

Montgomery had done cruel things, but she couldn't believe he would be that cruel to his sister.

"Estella, Monty can take better care of you then-"

She couldn't finish her sentences, Estella kept cutting her off.

"You shouldn't have called the police," Estella insisted. "My dads gonna think one of us did it."

Ophelia didn't think so. But if Estella was so scared of what would happen if he thought that, didn't it mean she was scared of him as a person?

"I did it because I care about you, Estella," Ophelia told her. "Look, I know how you feel. Believe me."

"If you know how I feel then you would know I didn't want this," Estella snapped at her, her anger finally showing.

Justin came up behind Ophelia suddenly. "Hey, are you guys okay?"

He saw the tension between them from down the hall.

"Fine," Estella snapped at him, showing Justin more anger than she had showed Ophelia.

Justin steppes closer to Ophelia. "You sure?" he asked Ophelia now.

"Yeah," Ophelia told him. The bell for first period rang. She said to Estella, "Can we talk later? At lunch or something?"

Estella just scoffed, disbelieving. "No, we can't."

She left them, and Ophelia felt defeated. She tried to go after her, but Justin stopped her.

"It's for the best," he told her. Ophelia didn't think so. Justin then said, "We have bigger things to worry about right now. Where's Zach?"

Bigger things? What else could have happened?

"He went to conditioning," she explained.

"Okay, lets go find him." Justin started pulling her towards the conditioning room.

"Wait," she said. "Our class is about to start."

"This is important," he told her. She seemed hesitant. Justin said, "Trust me."

Ophelia sighed. She did trust him. She let him take her to the conditioning room, where he caught Zach's attention through the window of the door.

He looked confused at Justin being there, but when he stepped out and saw Ophelia he smiled. He limped out, not bothering to take his crutches. He was constantly trying to prove that he didn't need them. He had tried not using them at the mall, but Ophelia insisted he did.

"Skipping class to see me?" he teased, cockily. "Trynna sneak in some making out?"

Justin spoke before she could, "You know I love that Zach, but I just got some fucked up news from Clay."

Ophelia listened intently, while Zach frowned. It seemed like recently Clay only brought bad news.

"What happened?" he asked, his joking attitude gone.

Justin sighed, and ran a hand over his face, stressed. "It's about Tyler."

Ophelia and Zach stilled. Zach reached out and pulled Ophelia closer to him, putting a hand over her shoulder and pulling her tight. Just the sound of his name send shivers down her spine and anger through his body.

"What about Tyler?" Zach asked, through gritted teeth.

Justin wondered if he should tell them after all. Clay definitely wouldn't want him to. But Zach and Ophelia were a part of this. They knew who Tyler really was.

"Apparently...and we just learned this..." Zach waited impatiently. "...Tyler still has a gun."

Zach's hand fell off Ophelia's shoulder and he stepped closer to Justin. His stance was threatening. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Hey," Ophelia said, putting a hand on his chest and pulling him back slightly.

"How the fuck could you guys let this happen?" Zach snapped.

Tyler still had a gun, and in Zach's mind, that meant he still had a chance to kill. Maybe to kill Ophelia.

"I didn't give him a fucking gun, Zach," Justin snapped at him. "So why are you mad at me?"

"You guys said you had this under control," Zach reminded him. "Now, because we didn't call the police at the dance, someone could get hurt! Ophelia could get hurt!"

Justin shouted, "No one fucking knew about this!"

Ophelia winced at all the yelling.

"Stop," she whispered, scolding them. "You shouldn't fight with each other about it." She looked to Justin. "Did he tell you he had it?"

Justin nodded. "He told Clay. Says he wants to get rid of it."

"Okay, that's good," she said. "I mean, it means he doesn't want it, right?"

Justin hesitated. "Actually, he said he's done with it. He doesn't need it anymore."

Ophelia noticed a scared look between Zach and Justin.

"What?"

Zach explained to her. "The newspaper said Bryce was shot. And now he doesn't need it anymore?"

Ophelia mouth fell open. Could Tyler have...shot Bryce?"

Ophelia's hand flew to her stomach, the thought alone upsetting it. "I feel like I'm going to be sick," she said, reimagine the gruesome death.

"Take some deep breaths," Zach told her. He had grown used to her soft stomach over the years. To Justin he said, with a much deeper voice, "What the fuck does Clay plan on doing about this?"

"He's meeting with Ani right now to discuss it," Justin said. "I told him I'd meet him there. We'll all go."

"Now?" Ophelia asked. Did they expect her to miss the whole period?

Zach sighed. He asked Ophelia, "Can you go grab my crutches?"

"Of course," she told him, heading in the weight room.

Zach stayed out with Justin. When the door shut behind her to told Justin quietly, "Have you heard anything new about Bryce?"

Justin shook his head. "Nothing besides the fact he got shot."

Zach told him, "Look, when it comes to Bryce...don't worry Ophelia about it, okay?"

Justin frowned. Zach didn't want Ophelia to know what would be going on?

"She just has enough to worry about," Zach told him. "Let me worry for her."

Justin wasn't sure. But he didn't want to make a big deal out of it at the time. "Sure, man. Sounds good."

But Zach another, darker reason for wanting to keep Ophelia in the dark of what happened Homecoming night.

When Ophelia went into the conditioning room to grab Zach's crutches, she found herself being harassed by the boys in there.

Luke whistled when he spotted her. "You come to do another halftime show?"

She ignored him.

"She's too good for us now," said Taylor. "She went to Hillcrest and doesn't even talk to us Liberty boys anymore."

Still, she ignored them.

"Except Dempsey," Taylor continued, "but that's being they're fuc-"

"Shut up, Taylor," Alex snapped at him. He was doing arm weights next to where Ophelia needed to be. Zach's crutches right next to him. They must have been working out together. Alex finished by saying, "You know damn well the rest of the Liberty girls don't want to talk to you either."

A few boys 'ooh'ed. When Ophelia approached him, Alex grabbed the crutches and held them out to her. "This is what you want, right?"

"Yeah," Ophelia said, thankfully. She then said, "Zach and Justin and I are meeting up with Ani. It's about Tyler. Did you want to come?" She wasn't sure how much he knew about the situation.

"No way," Alex said. "There's nothing to talk about. They think he's doing worse. He's not."

She asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Alex said. "You know, you should talk to him."

She almost laughed in his face at the suggestion. He saw her doubt.

"I'm serious," he told her. "He's sorry about what he did. He's been wanting to apologize. Especially to you."

Ophelia felt a pull to believe he could change. She always felt the need to give second chances. But things were different after Homecoming.

Second chances were dangerous.

"He says he wasn't looking for you, you know."

She blinked. "What?"

"I asked him about the texts," Alex continued. "When he got there, he wasn't looking for you."

He wasn't looking for Ophelia when he got to the Spring Fling dance.

But he would still have taken her out if he had the chance. Both of them knew that.

"And who was he looking for?" she asked.

Alex's eyes drifted to the left of her. Montgomery laid on the bench press, Charlie spotting him.

Tyler had been looking for Montgomery.

It made sense to Ophelia. Montgomery always treated him terribly.

As if he could sense their eyes on him, Montgomery suddenly finished what he was doing on the bench press, putting the weight back on the holder and sitting up. When he sat up, he caught her eye. Ophelia looked away quickly.

"I'll think about it," she told Alex. She would feel guilty for not giving someone a chance to better themselves.

When she stepped back into the hall Zach and Justin were conversing, but quieted when she came out. She helped Zach get his crutches under his arms.

"Ready?" she asked.

Zach hesitated. "Actually, why don't you head to first? Me and Justin'll go, and I'll tell you what we decide."

Ophelia felt bad. Did she make it seem like she didn't want to go?

"I can go, I don't mind."

"It's okay," Zach said. "Go to class."

It felt like he was telling what to do rather than suggesting it.

"Okay..." she felt like she was being forced out of their conversation.

"See you at lunch," Zach said, and reached down to give her a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Okay..." she just said again.

"See you," Justin told her, feeling guilty for leaving, but knowing Zach knew what was best for her.

She sighed as she watched them disappear.

"Damn, he just fucking left you like that?"

Ophelia jumped, and turned to see Montgomery had left the conditioning room and come out into the hallway.

"What a nice boyfriend you have," he said, sarcastically.

She wondered if he was angry at her for calling the police. She would care if he was. She didn't bother asking him, because she didn't care to be alone with him. She started walking down the hall. Montgomery came up behind her quickly, blocking her path.

"You got my dad arrested," he told her.

"Yeah. I did. Move or I'll get you arrested too," she threatened confidently. Yet, inside, she was shaking. She didn't trust him alone, not even with so many people nearby.

"I was gonna say 'thank you'," he told her. "Piece of shit doesn't deserve us staying quiet anymore."

She didn't accept his thanks. She just said, "Estella isn't happy about it."

Montgomery let out a humorless laugh. "No, she isn't. But he'll be back soon enough."

Ophelia said seriously, "I hope not."

She tried to step past him, but he blocked her again. "Move, Montgomery."

"Monty?"

They both looked to see that Charlie entered the hallway. He was eying then, cautiously. He looked scared for Ophelia.

Montgomery scoffed. He told Ophelia, "You make things really fucking difficult, you know that? I'm just trying to fucking talk to you."

"I don't want to talk to you," she snapped at him. "I don't want to be around you. At all."

Montgomery shook his head, now angry. "Fine. Fuck off then." He stepped away and she bolted past him. "By the way, I know it was Zach who ended up calling the police. Once a snitch always a snitch I guess."

He wasn't a snitch. Not when the stuff he was reporting helped people. And Montgomery even admitted it helped him.

But Ophelia couldn't say that, because she was too busy thinking of what Estella said earlier, about Zach turning in Montgomery.

She turned now, as Montgomery reach Charlie and was a safe distance away.

"...What do you mean?"

Montgomery was surprised she spoke again. So was Charlie. "About what?"

"Zach being a..." She wasn't going to say snitch. It was a rude word and Zach didn't deserve to be called it.

Montgomery scoffed. "C'mon, O. He fucking turned me in. Think I wouldn't know he did the same to my dad?"

She shook her head. "You mean, with my statement? Scott turned that in."

Montgomery let out a chuckle. "You still think that, O? Scott wouldn't do that to me. Zach fucking Dempsey would."

"Well, he didn't," Ophelia defended him adamantly. "He would have told me if he did."

"So you asked him?"

Ophelia stilled. No. She never did ask him. She just assumed it was Scott.

Actually, she never asked Scott.

She just blamed him. But he didn't disagree. Montgomery must have just been getting under her skin.

"Of course not," Montgomery said. "I know who turned me in, O. My fucking lawyer told me. Everyone fucking knows it was Zach."

His lawyer told him it was Zach? That was impossible.

"You're a fucking liar," Ophelia said. Suddenly, she was angry. He had to be lying. "You've always been a fucking liar."

Ophelia left the hallway suddenly. And Charlie stood out with Montgomery still.

"She didn't know it was Zach?" Charlie asked Montgomery. "I mean-I knew Zach turned you in. Guys on the team were talking about that when he got picked for captain."

"He's a fucking asshole," Montgomery said, "It's obvious to everyone but her."

Charlie hesitated with what he was about to say. "Monty...you're kind of an asshole. At least to Ophelia. You bother her a lot."

Montgomery frowned at him. "She puts herself in business. Probably on purpose."

Charlie didn't know what to say to that. He didn't want to speak ill of Ophelia, but he didn't want to disagree with his friend. So he changed the subject.

"Hey, man, people are saying Bryce got shot. And that-that it's officially a homicide."

Montgomery tensed hearing Bryce's name. "So?"

Charlie looked bewildered. "So? If we get called in, should we tell them the truth?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding, "The truth that you and I got drunk at your house."

"But-" Charlie took a deep breath. "I can't. I can't say that if I don't know where you really were."

Montgomery stepped back. "Excuse me?"

Charlie saw his anger and spoke quickly. "I just mean, if you can tell me where you were, and I know they can't disprove it, it'll be easier for me to lie. You know?"

Charlie hoped that worked.

Montgomery realized, fearfully, that Charlie wouldn't let this go. So he hatched a plan, that to him, seemed like the only thing to do.

"Fine. I'll tell you what really happened. But you can't tell anyone."

Charlie sighed, relieved. "I won't man. I promise."

As long as Montgomery didn't say he went and shot Bryce, Charlie felt like anything he said would be fine with him.

Montgomery leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. Charlie's eyes fell on Ophelia as she reached the end of the hall finally and disappeared from their view.

Charlie pulled away from Montgomery when he was finished. "Really?"

Montgomery just smirked. "Really."

Charlie wasn't worried anymore, he was disgusted.

He was disgusted with Ophelia.

"Clay made me promise not to call the cops," Zach told her in an upset voice. "But if he does something crazy I'm not just gonna let him walk around here with a weapon."

They were sitting in the cafeteria in the corner. They were the first ones there. She saw other football players that normally sat with them, and Marisa, still in the food line.

"And let me know if he tries anything with you," Zach continued. "If he talks to you, or even looks at you. Let me know. I'll deal with him."

Ophelia saw the football players continue in line, and realized she only had a few more minutes alone with him.

She had something that had been on her mind since that morning. She had to ask now.

"Zach..."

She didn't know how to start. He looked at her now. Serious and attentive.

She bit her lip.

He frowned. "Did something already happen with Tyler?"

"No," she said quickly, "It's not that. It's, um..." she sighed, "Montgomery on in probation because of my testimony."

Zach eyed her. "Did he fucking do anything?"

Yes. A lot of things. But if Ophelia started going into everything he had ever done she would never get to the point. The point which was to ask, "It's just...I didn't turn in the testimony." He hesitated. So Ophelia finished, "Scott did."

Zach looked down at the lunch he brought. Suddenly, his full attention was on the dry cereal in front on him.

"Okay?"

Ophelia watched him carefully. Ophelia hated to say it, but she wasn't able to read Zach as well as she was able to read Montgomery, despite all the years she had know Zach longer. She didn't know if he was acting guilty.

"Did Scott tell you he turned it in?" she asked.

Zach picked his words very carefully. "Ophelia, you told me he turned it in."

Ophelia watched him carefully. He didn't look back up at her. Not at all since she had gone to this topic. She realized he wasn't eating the food in front of him, just picking at it. Now that was something she knew about him, he was a pig when it came to food, and he always had an appetite. Something had made it go away.

Ophelia braced herself, and took a deep breath. She drew from the confidence she gained at Hillcrest, and she asked the question she had been dreading receiving the answer to all day.

"Zach..."

Still he didn't look up. Not until she finished the question, because then he looked at her with those wide, guilty eyes.

"...were you the one to turn in my statement?"