"Can you explain these text messages, Ophelia?"

Ophelia sat in the cold interrogation seat. Her mother sat in the seat next to her, and her lawyer, one sent by Zach's mother, stood next to her.

The lawyer nodded for her to answer.

Ophelia leaned forward slightly. She was nervous. She was innocent, but nervous. She was shivering because of the cold temperature in the room.

The text messages were printed on a piece of paper and slid over to her. She read them to herself.

12:57 am

BRYCE WALKER: Hey, Ophelia. Can we talk?

12:59am

BRYCE WALKER: About last year?

1:08am

BRYCE WALKER: I'm at the pier. The one where the Hillcrest bus drops off. I noticed you didn't come back with the rest of the cheerleaders.

1:11am

BRYCE WALKER: Please, Ophelia. I just really want to talk.

Ophelia looked away from the messages. She was being honest when she said she never received them. She was shocked seeing what they said.

And it made her feel even sadder that Bryce died. Like he had wanted to tell her something so badly and never got the opportunity. What if it was an apology? Ophelia felt sad thinking about him wanting to apologize, just for her to stand him up.

She shouldn't feel sad. He was an awful person and deserved what he got, right?

No. She didn't think he deserved to die. Not even a rapist like Bryce deserved to die. Especially not by being murdered.

Murdered.

Someone murdered him. Someone in her town.

The thought scared her.

Ophelia shook her head, looking up at the officers. She said honestly, "I never received these text messages."

Standall and the Sheriff were both sitting across from her. Sheriff had his arms crossed. He was watching Ophelia with judgement and inquiry.

Standall had a softer expression, but spoke with insistence. He wanted the truth as much as any other officer did. Most of the police officers knew Ophelia by name because of the trial against Montgomery De La Cruz. It was a quick trial, and he was given parole for abusing her. He was let off easy because he was given the Walker family's attorney, and Standall resented the kid ever since.

But Ophelia had evidence against her. And even though Standall was on Ophelia's side, he needed answers.

"His phone records say you did," the Sheriff told her. He then continued with, "His phone records say he even left you a voicemail."

"Well, he didn't," Ophelia insisted. "I would've remembered."

It was a traumatic night for Ophelia. She remembered every detail of it.

The Sheriff straightened up in his seat. "You got it. We're sure you got it."

"I didn't," she said, desperately. She looked at Standall. "You have to believe me."

Standall sighed deeply. "What can you tell us about the money, Ophelia?"

Ophelia looked at her lawyer. He shook his head, telling her not to answer. She bit her lip, staying quiet.

"Alright," Standall said. "What about the bloody baton?"

Her lawyer shook his head again, but she didn't listen. Instead she bursted out, "Why does it even matter? Bryce was shot."

"Actually," the Sheriff told her, "He wasn't. He was beaten to death."

Ophelia leaned back, shocked.

"Oh..."

Beaten to death? What a terrible, terrible way to die. Ophelia felt nausea thinking of it. And again, she felt sad. She did think Bryce deserved a beating. But to be beaten to death?

What awful human being could hurt someone else so badly? To bash someone's head in so badly people thought he was shot?

The baton made things look really, really bad for Ophelia now.

"S-Still, it wasn't mine," she insisted.

"So who's was it?" Standall pressed.

Ophelia looked at her mother.

"Tell them," her mother snapped at her. She had been angry the entire time. Ophelia had gone over what happened with the money, and with the baton with her lawyer. To say her mother was furious at both stories was an understatement.

Ophelia gulped. She looked up at the two officers.

"It was...Montgomery's."

Standall frowned and leaned forward. "Montgomery De La Cruz?"

Ophelia wiped a hand over the side of her face, nervous. "Yes."

He seemed shocked. "You're in contact with him? He was in your car?"

Ophelia's mother spoke up now. "How could you be so stupid?"

The lawyer walked over quickly and put an arm on her mother's shoulder, non verbally telling her to quiet down.

"Mom, I'm not in contact with him," Ophelia said. She was more scared speaking with her mother than to the police. "I-I just gave him a ride."

"A ride where?" Standall pressed. "A ride Homecoming night?"

"No, Saturday night."

Standall leaned back and whispered something to the Sheriff. The Sheriff nodded.

Standall looked back to Ophelia. "Did this have anything to do with the anonymous domestic violence call we received Sunday morning?"

Ophelia stayed silent, shamefully. Her mother hit her on the arm.

Ophelia quickly said, "He needed a ride to his car. I gave it to him."

Standall asked, "A ride? Where did this baton come in? The bloodied baton?"

The lawyer stopped her quickly before she could answer. "Thats enough talk of the baton. We can prove it has nothing to do with Bryce Walker. A simple blood test would prove it. And, if I'm correct, I heard that her fingers prints weren't found on the baton at all."

The Sheriff looked unhappy, like he didn't want the lawyer to have that information. He leaned forward and said, "Then explain it."

Ophelia opened her mouth, ready to, but the lawyer cut her off again. "She won't. Like I said. It doesn't have anything to do with what she's being charged with. In fact, without the baton you have no real case at all. Just some text messages? For all we know, she never got them. Or they could have been erased."

They couldn't have been erased. Ophelia hadn't been around anyone who would have erased them.

The lawyer then said, "So if you're done asking about this 'murder weapon' that was no where near the victim, I would like you to please drop the charges against my client."

The Sheriff laughed. "Nice try. But your client still hasn't explained the ten thousand dollars she received from Bryce-"

"What about Tony Padilla?" The lawyer suddenly asked. Ophelia turned and looked at the lawyer, shocked at Tony's name coming up. "He was given fifty thousand dollars cash from Bryce Walker."

Standall and the Sheriff shared a look. "We were already aware of this."

"I know," the lawyer said. "And were you aware she was not the only one to receive this kind of money? There are numerous people receiving payments, and returning payments to Mr. Walker, no doubt something to do with the steroids found in his vehicle."

Standall asked, "So did her money have anything to do with steroids?"

"No!" Ophelia said quickly.

The lawyer held up a hand to shush her. Her mother shushed her vocally.

Ophelia sat back, quiet.

"Of course it did not," the lawyer said. "But it is a private matter between Ms. Tristano and Mr. Walker. Their privacy will not be violated because of this false arrest."

Standall sat back in his seat, and looked to the Sheriff. "What do you think?"

Standall didn't mind letting her go. He knew she had nothing to do with Bryce. Montgomery De La Cruz could, but he had a solid alibi.

"Fine," the Sheriff said. "We'll drop the charges. As long as your client stays in town in case we need to question her anymore."

The lawyer just smiled. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Ophelia was shocked at how easily they let her go.

The lawyer brought back Ophelia's chair so she could stand. She did, and her mother and her lawyer exited the interrogation room, Standall opening the door for them.

Ophelia wanted to say something to him, but her mother forced her out.

"So they dropped the charges?" Ophelia asked quietly. "That's it?"

"You're lucky if that's if," Ophelia's mother snapped at her. "In fact, you're lucky you're not dead. What in the hell were you doing with that boy again?"

The lawyer came up to them quietly. "Please, ladies, wait until we exit the building."

When they did, her mother stopped holding back.

"I cannot believe you!" her mother hissed at her. "You've made me feel so guilty for not getting you into a different school. You made me think I forced you to see that boy. But you went to his house. Willingly."

"Mom, please, you know I wouldn't-"

"Enough!" her mother yelled at her. "You're grounded. You're more than grounded. You will not be leaving the house except for school."

Ophelia winced. "I didn't mean to-"

Her mother barely let her get a word on. "From now on, if you want to see your friends, or see Zach, they come to our house. You stay home."

Ophelia felt upset, but there wasn't much she could say. She got arrested because of decisions she made. And her mother had to suffer the disappointment of a daughter being arrested.

"And I don't want to hear about that money again," her mother snapped. "If I hear about it, you're losing it all."

Ophelia knew her mother would never take money that was hers, but she also knew her mother wanted more to threaten her with. So Ophelia didn't say anything.

"If you need to go anywhere else, Zach takes you," her mother told her as they got into the car. "Zach's a good boy. He'll make sure you behave."

"I didn't-" She stopped herself.

Ophelia wanted to scream. She didn't misbehave.

"And I'll be calling your father tonight," her mother said.

Ophelia felt guilty. She didn't want her father to have to worry about her. Not while he was down in Mexico trying to help the Padilla's get their citizenship.

"Can't you wait until he gets back?" Ophelia asked, feeling awful he would have to stress over her.

"No, I can't!" she told her. "Because I don't know how to pay out the lawyer! The lawyer I needed to hire because of you!"

Ophelia looked back at the window. Again, she just wanted to scream.

"All I did to keep you away from that boy-and you were too stupid to stay away."

She tried. She really had tried.

"I wouldn't have been surprised if Honor tells me you sneaked him in the house," her mother scoffed.

Ophelia couldn't defend herself. She had brought Montgomery into their house, back at Homecoming night. After everything her mother did to ensure she wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.

"You take everything for granted," her mother continued lecturing. "You take your own safety for granted. And your take Zach for granted." Ophelia winced. "Where was Zach when you were going to that boy's house? Did he know?"

Ophelia just shook her head.

Her mother looked angry. "So you went without telling your boyfriend. You're lucky if he forgives you for this. He shouldn't have to put up with this."

Ophelia just looked out the door and continued to listen to her mother's yelling.

She didn't talk the rest of the way home. When she got home, she went straight to her room, and she didn't talk for the entire rest of the day.

Ani, Clay, and Jessica sat in the library. They were at a secluded table in the corner. Ani picked it. Justin walked up with Zach next to him.

"What the hell is this?" Zach asked. He had barely gotten to school before Justin came up to him, pulling him to the library before morning practice. Zach had struggled to keep up with Justin's fast pace while using his crutches.

Apparently, a meeting had been called. Justin wouldn't tell him what about.

"Zachary," Ani greeted him with a smile. "Glad you could make it."

Justin and him both sat down.

"What's this about?" Zach persisted. There was a suspicious edge to his voice that Justin picked up on.

"Jesus, Zach, you don't have to be so angry," Jessica told him. "It's about Ophelia."

Now, he felt like he did have a reason to be angry. "What, you guys actually think she did something?"

"Of course not," Justin said quickly. They didn't plan a meeting to slander Ophelia. He wouldn't let them do that. "We're just worried is all."

"Speak for yourself," Clay told Justin. "Ophelia was caught with a bloody bat the same night we find out Bryce was beaten to death?"

"Hop the fuck off, Clay," Justin mumbled. "I already told you she didn't do shit. She's not strong enough to take on Bryce anyway."

Ani asked, "How would you know that for sure?"

Justin looked down at his hands. He remembered all the stuff that happened the year before. He felt sad when he had to say, "If she was strong enough, she would have stopped him from doing a lot of stuff."

Zach winced, remembering how Bryce had overpowered her the year before in the Clubhouse. He clenched his fists. That memory alone reignited his hatred for Bryce. In that moment, he didn't feel bad that he was dead.

"Ophelia couldn't do something like that," Jessica agreed. "Not just physically, but mentally. She couldn't do something that evil."

"Why the fuck are we even talking about this?" Zach asked them. "I doubt it was any one of us. It could have been some random robber, or someone from Hillcrest. They all hated him."

Jessica stared at Zach for a moment. "Yeah. Couldn't have been one of us."

Clay and Ani shared a look.

"Is Ophelia coming to school today?" Clay asked.

"No, she's home," Zach told them. "She got let go late last night. Her mom wanted her to take the day off."

"At least she can rest," Ani said.

Zach almost laughed. "I doubt she's resting. Her moms hella mad at her."

Justin cringed. "Why's her mom mad?" Her mom should be supportive. This was obviously hard for Ophelia.

Zach didn't want to tell the whole story of how that bloodied baton ended up in her backseat to everyone at the table. So instead he just mumbled to Justin, "She found out about Saturday night."

Justin's eyes widened. "Oh, shit."

Clay looked between them. "What happened Saturday night?"

Zach looked at him. "Saturday night doesn't matter. The police care about Homecoming night. But she has an alibi, me. And Bryce's blood isn't on the baton. They had to drop the charges."

Ani raised an eyebrow. "And who's blood was it?"

For a moment, no one said anything.

Then Justin spoke up. "I think it was just Monty's."

"Justin!" Zach scolded. "The fuck?"

Ani's she widened. Clay leaned forward and asked, "Montgomery's blood?"

Justin felt bad, but he thought he should tell them. "They want to help, Zach."

Zach didn't believe it. "They don't want to help. They're just being nosy."

Justin was innocent to the fact that they had bad intentions. Or maybe he just overlooked it in the endless worry he had for Ophelia the night before. "Zach, come on, we're all here because we care about Ophelia."

Zach was distrusting. "Ani barely even knows her."

"But I've met her," Ani insisted. Zach looked over at her. "She seems like a nice person. I'd hate for a nice person to be treated cruelly."

He asked Ani, "So this isn't about you guys trying to play detectives?"

Ani challenged, "What better way is there to help than find who really hurt Bryce?"

Zach felt himself beginning to sweat.

"You don't need to find anything," he said quickly. He told them,"They already dropped the charges."

"That doesn't explain why she had a bat with Montgomery's blood on it," Clay continued.

Jessica had been watching Zach carefully. She jumped in by asking, "Did she do something to Montgomery?"

Jessica wondered if Ophelia went after Montgomery herself. Jessica didn't think Ophelia could do something like that. But if she had, Jessica wanted to stand by her, and keep her out of trouble. That's why Jessica was there. To help.

Jessica could admit her relationship with Ophelia has struggled. They didn't really have a relationship before the tapes. Ophelia was just the girlfriend of her boyfriend's best friend.

Ophelia had always been nice to her. Ophelia was glad there was girl being added to Bryce's group of boys. Ophelia had been the only girl normally. Jessica never knew why. The other boys had girlfriends on and off. Montgomery was the only one that brought her around everyday.

Jessica really did think they were a cute couple when she first met them. She always had a bad feeling about Montgomery, but not when he was with Ophelia. So when Jessica heard Ophelia's tape, she wasn't completely shocked. But it was devastating.

Jessica never pictured Zach and Ophelia as a couple before they started dating. But Jessica didn't trust her instinct for who was and wasn't good together. It had been so wrong before.

"She didn't do anything to anyone," Justin said quickly. "She was helping Estella."

"Justin!" Zach yelled again.

He was just telling them everything.

Justin's face gained a guilty expression. "I'm sorry, Zach. But the only reason she didn't want to tell anyone is because she didn't want to get in trouble, right? She's not gonna her in trouble with us."

Zach wasn't sure. Ani and Clay could do a lot of trouble together.

"Why are you guys so obsessed with this?" Zach asked.

"You don't want to know who killed Bryce?" Ani asked, surprised. "Yesterday you were ready to turn Tyler in. Now you don't care?"

"Well, yesterday I thought Tyler did it," Zach shot back. "Ophelia obviously didn't."

Ani tried to say it lightly, "We don't think she did. But she got arrested. She might know more than she's telling us."

Zach scoffed. He looked at Justin, "You're really okay with them having a whole ass meeting talking about how suspicious Ophelia is?"

Justin shrank down in his seat. "It's not like that."

Jessica was upset as his hostile tone towards Justin. "Stop being a fucking dick, Zach. She's acting suspicious, okay? The police say Bryce sent her ten thousand dollars. What the fuck was that for?"

Zach sat back in his seat. He admitted, "I don't know."

"That's why we want to figure it out," Ani said, trying to calm him. "They said they found drugs and steroids that belonged to Bryce. Do you think she could have been dealing?"

Zach grimaced. He turned to Justin and said, "You really brought me over here for this bullshit?"

"Fucking knock it off," Jessica snapped at Zach, who was just making Justin feel worse and worse. "You can fucking leave if you want to."

"I'm not leaving because no ones else is going to defend Ophelia," Zach told her.

Justin looked away. He realized he hadn't been defending her.

Ani scoffed, and leaned forward. "Ophelia was given money by Bryce, and she's known to be in contact with all the Hillcrest athletes. She was popular. How do you think she got that way?"

"Not with drugs!" Zach snapped.

Justin pushed him, shushing him as people began looking over.

"She was in contact with Montgomery De La Cruz," Ani said, matching his attitude now. "Obviously she's doing something."

Zach frowned. "She's not in contact with him."

Ani and Clay shared a look. Zach caught onto it. "What?"

Ani started saying something, but Jessica cut her off. "Stop Ani. You know he was probably lying."

Zach's eyes snapped to Jessica. "Who's lying?"

Ani felt the need to say, "She thinks Montgomery was lying. When he says Ophelia was with him Homecoming night."

Zach froze. He felt upset, and mad, and angry, and horrified. He was lying. He was obviously fucking lying.

"She wasn't with him," Zach scoffed. "She was with me."

"Before she was with you," Ani said, "Who knows what she could have-"

"What Ani means to say is, we think something more could have been going on," Clay finished for her. "All we know, Ophelia could have stolen the money."

"She didn't-" Zach stopped himself. He didn't want to argue anymore. "You guys are being fucking idiots."

Justin held a hand out to keep him from standing up. "Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money, Zach."

"Yeah, I know-"

"You don't know," Justin told him coldly. "It's not as big of a deal to someone like you than to people like us."

Zach did not like the insinuation that Ophelia wasn't a person like him. Of course she was. Yes, Zach's family had a lot more money than Ophelia's, but not enough to make her different from him. Why did Justin think he could relate to her more?

"What the fuck are you implying?"

Justin turned away. "I'm not saying anything. I'm just saying we should listen."

"Listen to what?"

"Stop fucking interrogating him and we'll tell you what," Jessica told him. She scoffed. "I'm on your side, Zach. Obviously, it wasn't her. But let's just see what the theory is so we can prove it wrong and move on."

Zach sat back, and crossed his arms. "Fine. You've got two minutes." He might as well let them say what they've been thinking. It would be easier to disprove once he had the theory.

Jessica rolled her eyes. Jesus Christ, Zach was so aggressive nowadays. He used to be so calm and collected.

Ani leaned forward, ready to tell the theory she had been dwelling on all day.

"Are you absolutely, positively sure the blood on that bat was Montgomery De La Cruz's?"

Zach shook his head. Justin vocally said, "Well, not exactly. It's what she said."

Ani looked at Clay, who nodded. He was letting her know it was time to explain her theory.

"Drugs, gambling, anything. Somehow Ophelia got that ten thousand dollars from Bryce. Maybe she stole it, maybe he just chose to give it to her." Zach was already rolling his eyes. Ani continued with, "Now, what if Bryce wanted it back? But Ophelia didn't want to return it? She calls Montgomery, the boy who is known for violence, and who's still obviously in love with her. She tells him that she will take him back if he convinces Bryce to let her keep the money by threatening him-"

"Jesus Christ," Zach scoffed.

Ani just continued. "-he agrees, and confronts Bryce. That's why they were so upset at the game. But Bryce doesn't fall for his threats, not thinking his own friend could hurt him. So Ophelia rescinds her offer. Outraged, Montgomery wants to prove himself. He kills Bryce, without Ophelia knowing. He then goes to her house and tells her. He even brings the bat he used. I'm sure Ophelia was horrified, and sent him away. But that's why she's been so secretive. So suspicious. She didn't hurt Bryce, but she knows who did."

Justin's face was in a confused, upset expression. "That's a fucked in story. I-I don't think it could be right."

"Obviously, it's not!" Zach turned to Jessica. "Okay, now disprove it's like you said."

Jessica didn't like his disrespectful attitude. "Fine. Ophelia hates Montgomery. Hates him. Honestly, she hates him more than Bryce. So she wouldn't do anything with him just to hurt Bryce."

Justin said, "Thats true. Bryce wasn't as bad to her as Monty was. If anything, she would have gotten Bryce to kill Monty."

Zach sent him a look. Justin quickly said, "She wouldn't, obviously."

Ani had more to say, but didn't want to say it in front of Zach. Luckily, someone came to get him a few moments later.

"Zach Dempsey?"

Zach looked up. The football coach walked up to them. Two officers behind him. And then the Sheriff. Zach's mouth parted open, both surprised and worried.

Zach stood up. "Yes, Coach?"

He nodded to Justin. "Why don't you come with me? Foley, too. We're going to do a search of the football lockers."

Justin winced. "A search?"

The Sheriff said, "A search for steroids."

Zach tried to forget the fact he caused Ophelia's arrest. He wanted to stay respectful now. To not be suspicious.

"We can do a search," Zach agreed. "But you shouldn't find anything. My team plays clean."

The Sheriff nodded, approvingly. "Let's hope all your teammates agree with that thinking."

Zach fixed his crutches under his armpits, and pushed himself forward in front of the officers, leading them into the back locker room.

Justin followed, but came back for a moment to say. "Look guys, Ophelia will be back tomorrow. Why don't you just ask her then?"

"She'll lie," Ani was convinced.

"Not necessarily," Clay told her. "Maybe she's been wanting to confess but didn't know how? Maybe giving her this opportunity to just say 'yes' instead of having to go into a complete confession will be easier to her?"

"And what if she doesn't?" Ani asked. "What if she still wants to protect Montgomery?"

Jessica shook her head, "She wouldn't do that. And-And Montgomery wouldn't kill Bryce just because Ophelia promised some reconnection. I don't even think he would believe her."

Ani took a deep breath. She contemplated her next words. If they were wrong, it could be terrible. But if she was right, this could solve everything.

"What if Ophelia did something drastic to convince him she really wanted him back?"

Clay scratched the back of his head. "How could she do that? I mean, I'm pretty sure she's said 'I hate you' to his face."

Ani looked at Justin, trying to decided if he would get angry or not.

He shrugged. "What?"

"I think Ophelia slept with Montgomery on Homecoming night."

Surprisingly, it was Jessica who spoke on her behalf this time.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" She seemed upset now. "Just like how you thought I slept with Bryce?"

Ani seemed unphased by her disbelief. "I heard Charlie say Montgomery and Ophelia were together when Bryce was killed."

This stalled Jessica's rant, but didn't stop it. "It was for something else. Ophelia hates Montgomery. And even if she didn't, she wouldn't cheat on Zach."

"Didn't she cheat on Montgomery with Zach?"

"No!" Justin said. "You-You weren't here. Zach saved her."

"Saved her?" Ani questioned.

Justin said, upset, "She-She was going to stay with him. If Zach hadn't been there she would have stayed with Monty. And he would have kept doing shit. If she had been with him during the trial who knows what would have happened? He was angry enough to do shit to all of us. He probably would have been worse to Ophelia if she was there to take his anger out on."

Ani saw how passionate he was about the topic.

Clay said to Justin, "Okay, so she didn't cheat. But do you think Montgomery still got jealous?"

Justin said, "Well, yeah. Of course. Jealousy is, like, a type of anger. That dude feels every version of anger."

"Maybe he was jealous of Ophelia and Bryce," Clay suggested. "I mean, something must have happened between them for Bryce to give her ten thousand dollars."

"No way," Justin said. "Nothing would have happened. And Monty was in anger management last year. I think he's better at controlling shit, you know? I mean, when that thing with Ophelia and Scott happened, Zach was the one to blow up, not Monty."

Clay looked at Ani quickly. Ani asked Justin, "Scott Reed? What happened?"

Justin regretted his words. "Nothing. Shit. I gotta go."

Justin left the library.

Jessica turned to Clay and Ani. "Look, don't you two go harassing Ophelia when she gets back tomorrow. We all know she had nothing to do with it."

"But Montgomery could have-"

"They didn't sleep together," Jessica snapped. She shook her head, standing and gathering her things. "You have no idea how hurtful it is to accuse a victim of sleeping with their abuser."

Ani shrank down. "I didn't mean any offense by it-"

"Well, it's offensive," Jessica snapped at her. "You're basically saying you don't believe what he did was bad enough for Ophelia to want to stay away. You're downplaying her pain."

Clay spoke up, "She was with him, Jessica. We know it."

"I don't believe it," Jessica said. "Montgomery is a liar. You should know this."

As Jessica left, Ani wondered if anyone truly knew Montgomery De La Cruz.

She couldn't think of anyone besides Ophelia.

Marisa sat at the edge of Ophelia's bed. She was looking around, admiring the pretty colored walls.

"When did you paint it light blue?"

Ophelia laughed. "Marisa, you've been in here a million times. It's always been blue."

Ophelia was surprised her mother allowed Marisa over. Maybe it was because she liked her. Or maybe she was calming down. Hopefully.

"Hmm," Marisa said. "Maybe it just seems more blue. Like the sky. Like freedom."

Ophelia rolled her eyes. "Marisa, you're so dramatic."

"I'm not," Marisa laughed. "It's a good color for an ex con."

Ophelia laughed too now. "Oh my god. I was never even in a cell."

Marisa tutted. "That's where they planned to put you."

Ophelia threw a pillow at her.

"Enough of that. I got it all from my mom already."

Marisa sat up more on the bed. "Oh, yikes. How's she taking it?"

"Terrible," Ophelia groaned. "I'm pretty sure she's contemplating whether or not to put me in any school, or if she just wants to homeschool me for the rest of the year."

Marisa hissed.

"Damn. At least you would have a handsome boyfriend to come see you."

Ophelia chuckled for a moment, then fell silent. "Maybe."

Marisa frowned. "What do you mean 'maybe'?" Her eyes widened. She had been laying on the bed, but she sat up quickly now. "Oh shit, are you guys going to break up?"

"No," Ophelia said quickly. Her voice went down, and she spoke sadly when she said, "I hope not. I just...I feel like Zach may be getting tired of me."

"What?" Marisa edge closer to Ophelia on the bed. "You've got to be kidding! That boy is crazy about you."

"I know, I know," Ophelia said, suddenly wishing she hadn't brought it up.

It's just that sometimes, to Ophelia, it felt like their relationship was a chore to Zach. Like the reason he wanted to still be with her is because of how close they were, and how close their families were.

Ophelia shook her head. Obviously that wasn't it. But the fact was that Ophelia herself made their relationship feel like a chore. She constantly created problems he needed to solve. She regretted how it always turned out like that.

"Come on, Ophelia, why would you say that?" Marisa pressed, not ready to let it go. "You think he just doesn't like you anymore?"

Ophelia shook her head quickly saying, "No, I know he likes me, I just-"

Ophelia thought back to what caused this sudden train of thought. What made her start thinking Zach might want another.

She sighed. "When I got arrested, he called his mom, and my mom, and lawyers. He called, like, everyone to get me out as soon as possible."

"Because he loves you," Marisa said, nodding.

Yeah. Maybe that was why.

"You're right," Ophelia said, scared of her wandering thoughts. "He loves me. Of course that's why."

"Wait, Wait, Wait," Marisa said, still confused. "Why would he do that if it wasn't for you?"

Marisa liked Zach and Ophelia together. She didn't want them to break up. After all, he was the one decent athlete the school ever had. Minus, Jeff Atkins of course.

"I don't know," Ophelia said, frustrated with herself. "I think, I don't know, that he cared more about getting me out, then how I was doing."

Marisa shook his head. "No way! No way."

Ophelia covered her face with her hands. She asked, pitifully, "Then why hasn't he come to see me yet?"

She knew he was busy. And she got out late last night. But she thought he would have come by in the morning. She hoped.

Marisa bit her lip. She moved even closer, and brought Ophelia's hands away from her face.

"I am sure you are the only thing he's thinking about at school right now."

Ophelia nodded, trying to clear her head of her negative thinking. "You're right. You're right."

Zach hadn't texted Ophelia much either that day. Maybe he had, but she didn't recognize it as being a lot because Montgomery used to text her all the time. But she recognized now that Montgomery was controlling in their relationship, and texting twenty-four seven may have been part of that.

Maybe Ophelia should be happy Zach didn't message her as much. She was given time for herself.

No. She wouldn't be happy with it. Maybe that meant Ophelia was the controlling one in this relationship. Maybe her constant communication was a bother to him and that's why he seemed to be pulling away.

Marisa stood up. "Now, do you want to practice some cheers with me?"

Ophelia cracked a smile. "Cheerleading? For an ex con?"

Marisa laughed. "Yes, for an ex con. And trust me, cheer is good for clearing your head of boy troubles. Why do you think I practice so much?"

"But you haven't been practicing," Ophelia laughed. "That's why you need my help today."

She saw Marisa blush. "Well, I guess I haven't been having boy problems lately."

Ophelia smiled, knowing things between her and Paul had been going great.

"Go ahead and put on your uniform," Marisa told her. "Imma change in your bathroom."

Marisa had her cheer bag with her. She grabbed it and left Ophelia's room, going to the bathroom in the hallway.

Ophelia sighed, getting off her bed. She went over to where her cheer uniform was. It was stuffed into her cheer bag.

She grabbed the bag and put it on her bed. She hesitated when opening it. Her fingers frozen on the zipper. She had stuffed her uniform in the bag on Homecoming night, and hadn't opened it since.

She took a deep breath, and opened it. The familiar purple color of the uniform made her smile. Ophelia lifted her shirt over her head, and grabbed the cheer shirt from her bag. She noticed that the edges of the neckline still had red paint on it from that night.

She felt her breath bitch in her throat. She swallowed her nervousness and put it on. Familiar scents hit her all at once. She tried to ignore them, taking her pants off and putting on her cheer skirt.

The uniform felt tight on her. She went to the mirror. Ophelia wanted to see if it looked smaller on her. Maybe she gained a lot of weight since that night. It didn't. It looked the same size.

Ophelia used to like how the uniform looked on her. But now it just looked so...exposing.

She felt herself getting worked up as she noticed how much more paint was on the skirt, flashes of that night coming back, not going away.

Ophelia took a deep breath. This caused the scents to consume her again. The scent of the field, the game, and the scent that forced itself onto the uniform.

She tried to go past it, but Homecoming night wouldn't leave her mind. She thought back to it. Every detail of it. From when she put on the uniform that afternoon, to when she took it off at Zach's house.

Ophelia wanted to forget that night. Every single other time she wore the uniform she had been happy. One night ruined everything. Nothing in her life stayed good. Not for long.

Suddenly, it felt too tight. She felt like she was suffocating in it. Like it was someone gripping her and not letting go.

Marisa was standing by her bedroom door when Ophelia burst out of it. Marisa was startled. Ophelia was in leggings and a t-shirt, and was carrying her uniform. She brushed by Marisa, heading downstairs.

Marisa asked, "What're you doing?"

Ophelia didn't answer. At first, she thought Ophelia didn't say anything because she was on a mission. Then she registered that Ophelia was...crying?

Marisa rushed down the stairs after her.

"Ophelia, what happened?"

Ophelia swallowed, and sniffed, clearing her sinuses. She went all the way outside to her side yard, and she opened up her gray trash can, and threw the clothes in there, slamming it shut.

Marisa rushed to her, throwing the trash can back open. "Ophelia, what are you doing?!" She was shocked at her throwing the uniform away.

Ophelia wiped her eyes. "Why should I keep it? Look, there's paint all over it."

Marisa was stressed. "You-You can wash the paint off! Why just throw it out? These are so much money!"

"I'm not going to use it anymore!" Ophelia insisted. "I-I can't cheer for Hillcrest anymore. There's no point in keeping it."

Marisa tried to convince her. "But-But even just keep it just to keep it! I mean, I'll keep mine! The memories-"

"I don't want those memories!" Ophelia suddenly screamed at her.

Marisa had never heard Ophelia use a voice that loud, not even on the field. And never with that tone. That frustrated, yet devastated tone. It stopped Marisa in her tracks, and forced Marisa to remind herself that Ophelia had, for some reason been crying in her room.

"Is..." Marisa hesitated. "Is this about...what happened Homecoming night?"

Ophelia flinched, and her face curled up, like she was in pain. She tried to relax herself, by forcing her lips to fall in a straight line instead of a grimace.

"I just don't need it," Ophelia insisted. "I'm not a cheerleader anymore. I don't ever want to be a cheerleader again."

She's couldn't imagine standing on a field with every eye on her. It was terrifying. Men were terrifying. And that's who she pictured watching her the closest.

Marisa closed the trash can. "Okay. You're right, you don't need it. I'm sorry, I'm just sentimental over things. I get it if you're not."

Ophelia just crossed her arms, hugging herself. She nodded.

Marisa felt out of place in her uniform now.

She bit her lip. "Hey, how about we skip the workout. Let's go watch a movie."

Ophelia felt guilty. "I can still help you practice. I cleared a little spot in the backyard."

"No," Marisa insisted. "I just realized I'm kind of sore anyway. We can watch a movie. By the time it's over Zach will probably be here."

Ophelia felt terrible for making Marisa not want to practice. "Really, I-"

"Ophelia, it's fine," Marisa told her. "Let's go...watch one of those Harry Potter movies. I've been really wanting to see them."

Ophelia knew that wasn't true. But she appreciated her trying.

The two girls went inside. They watched the first Harry Potter movie, and we a few minutes into the second movie when Zach arrived. Football practice must have gone a little longer.

"Hey, Zach," Marisa greeted. She stood up and grabbed her bag. "I've got to get going. Bye, Ophelia."

Ophelia paused the movie. "Bye."

Zach was setting his crutches against the wall by the door when Marisa was leaving. He was out of view of Ophelia at the moment, so Marisa grabbed him.

"She's upset," Marisa told him.

Zach looked sad at her words. "Shit, were they that hard on her?"

Marisa admitted, "It didn't sound like they were. Just...can you be nice?"

Zach frowned, offended. "I'm not going to be fucking mean to her."

Marisa stepped back, not liking his tone. Marisa shouldn't have had to tell him to be nice. Normally, she wouldn't have. Zach used to be so kind and sweet to everyone. He was like a dog, loyal and happy. But for the last few days he's been so focused on the team, and on keeping Ophelia away from all the Bryce drama.

It was exhausting to watch.

Marisa scoffed. "No, of course not." She knew damn well Ophelia was feeling rejected by him. Marisa left, knowing it wasn't her place to tell him to put in more effort. He had to figure it out himself.

Zach sat on the couch with Ophelia. He looked at the tv. "What is this?" He didn't recognize the characters on the screen.

Ophelia mumbled, "Just a movie."

"Oh." He nodded.

Ophelia just wanted him to ask if she was okay. That's all she wanted to hear from him.

'Are you okay?'

Maybe if he asked her, just one time, she could admit that she wasn't. She could admit the things that happened Homecoming night.

He had asked her before if she was okay, and she always said yes. But she wasn't. After being questioned about Homecoming, and having to rethink and rethink what happened, she felt like she had to confess it to someone.

Ophelia felt like she finally could tell someone what happened with Montgomery. What he did. She didn't have to strength to bring it up herself. But maybe if he just asked, 'Are you okay?', it would be enough to push her to say 'no'.

She waited as Zach leaned into the couch. He took her hand in his, and watched her intently.

"What did they ask you about?" he asked her, nervously.

She knew he was talking about the officers at the police station. She answered, "Everything they brought up at school. And then how I got in a fight with him at Hillcrest, and how I supposedly tased him during that big Liberty fight last year."

Zach rubbed his thumb on her hand, gently. "They weren't mean to you or anything, right? You can tell me if they were. My mom can get them fired."

Ophelia felt herself chuckle. "No, they weren't being mean to me." She felt thankful for him being there to make her feel better. Even the slightest.

Zach didn't seem to be in a joking mood, though. He looked serious. "Did they ask where you were the whole night?"

"Of course," she told him. "I told them the truth. Marisa drove me to the hospital. I wasn't let in so I walked home. And then I went to your house and stayed to make sure you were okay."

Zach nodded, approvingly. "You didn't tell them I left or anything?"

Ophelia frowned. "I wouldn't do that. Why would I say that?"

"Sorry," Zach said, defensively. "I was just making sure, you know?"

Ophelia swallowed. "Why are you so nervous about it?"

Zach shrugged it off. He looked at the tv, paused on the Harry Potter characters. He suddenly recognized the robes they were wearing. "Is this that Harry Potter movie?"

"Yeah," Ophelia said. "It's the second one." She noticed him changing the subject.

Zach just nodded, and looked back at her. "We can watch these together, you know?"

Ophelia nodded, "Yeah, we should."

Ophelia's phone started ringing. That old Elvis Presley song "Love Me Tender". She clicked it off immediately.

"I keep trying to change that stupid ringtone," she muttered.

"I thought you liked that song," Zach pointed out.

She ran a hand through her hair. "I don't like it anymore."

He thought it was weird, and he wanted to ask why, but Ophelia suddenly stood up. She went into the kitchen and grabbed two Pepsi's, which was her favorite soda. She sat back down, giving one to Zach.

It felt weird, acting like it was a normal day, and that she hadn't been accused of murder the day before. But nothing was completely normal anymore anyway.

Three people she went to school with were dead. First Jeff, then Hannah, now Bryce.

She was glad it was her last year of school, and that there wasn't time for many more things to happen. She couldn't handle anymore death.

"I'm sorry if it seems like I'm worried about myself," Zach confessed. "I swear, you're all I've been thinking about. All day. I just needed to make sure you were okay."

If he needed to know, why didn't he ask?

She saw him glance at her, and she could tell there was a question on his mind.

Zach then asked, "Ophelia, why the fuck did Bryce give you ten thousand dollars?"

Ophelia looked down. She could almost laugh. "When I got arrested, I kept thinking it was dumb to accept it. But, I don't know, I don't think so anymore. I don't regret taking it. I'm glad I did."

He scooted closer to her, looking more intently in her eyes when he asked, "But why?"

Ophelia thought back to the night the money had first been brought up.

"He fucking owed me."

Winston held a bag of ice to his face.

The host of the party, Paul, had run in and grabbed it for him.

Bryce, Alex, Ophelia, and Marisa all stood by Winston. Ophelia sat next to him on the stairs. Marisa had grabbed a first aide kit from her car, and Ophelia was putting cooling gel on one of the cuts on his head. Winston was staring blankly ahead.

"You were so crazy for jumping in like that!" Paul told Ophelia, excitedly.

Another bystander by said, "It was kind of hot."

Marisa rolled her eyes. "Back off, Chad. She has a boyfriend."

The boy Chad smiled at Marisa. "And what about you?"

"Dude, go inside," Paul told him.

Alex looked Winston up and down, suspiciously. "Why'd he go after you?"

Winston looked like he was in shock. He shook his head. "No clue. Never seen him before."

Ophelia paused what she was doing. She thought she heard him say it was nice to meet Montgomery. Maybe she was right. Maybe he was just lying now. She wasn't going to call him out on it, but she still wondered.

Bryce told him, "No one called the cops. No one has to. Here's two thousand, I can get you three more tomorrow."

Bryce handed Winston an envelope full of money. She was startled to see that he had that much cash on him already.

She was also surprised by his loyalty to Montgomery, the boy who turned his back on him the semester before. He was paying someone off so that Montgomery wouldn't get in trouble?

Winston looked at the money, unconvinced.

Bryce sighed, and leaned down. "Look, man. I'm sorry. He's...fucked up. He gets, like, beat at home and shit."

Ophelia felt herself pulling away from Winston. Bryce's truthful words upsetting her.

"Shit," Paul mumbled.

Ophelia flinched. "So thats an excuse to just take his anger out on whoever he wants?"

Marisa stood next to Bryce awkwardly. She didn't know if she should say anything. Ophelia wasn't involved much in the fight, but it felt like it was her business.

Bryce's words seemed to soften Winston a bit.

Winston said, "Five thousand more tomorrow."

Bryce thought about it, and then sighed. "Alright." He handed Winston the money, and then shook his hand, "Pleasure doing business with you."

Winston let out a scoff, and laughed, not believing how causal Bryce could have been about the attack.

Bryce pushed himself off the step he was leaning on, and started walking away, toward Montgomery who sat heated in the car.

"Let's it?" Ophelia rushed in front of Bryce, stopping his walk. "You just give him seven thousand dollars and walk off like it's nothing?"

Bryce chuckled. "It's for a good cause, O."

She scoffed. "The fucked up kid who gets beat at home cause?"

Bryce just chuckled again, shaking his head. "You've believed in it more than anyone, O."

She didn't like him calling her 'O'. She didn't like anyone calling her it anymore.

Bryce tried to walk, but she blocked him again, farther away, only Alex could maybe hear.

"You just gave away seven thousand dollars. For one fight?"

Bryce acted like it wasn't a big deal to him. "And?"

Ophelia said boldly, "And I want that. I want more. I deserve more, for staying quiet. For-For dealing with all this shit you caused."

He asked, unbelieving, "What I caused?"

"You are always instigating," Ophelia clarified. "You find the worse in people. And then you exploit it."

He laughed. "Yeah. Thats what I'm doing."

She glared at him. "You knew what Monty used to do to me. And you just pretended it didn't happen-actually, worse-you thought I deserved it."

Bryce just shrugged. "Thats what friends do. I was Montys friend, so I didn't tell anyone that when you two played house, it was his fucked up home he imagined. And that's why Justin let me be with Jessica. It's what boys do."

Ophelia glared at him. He moved past her. She felt a fury rise in her. She ran in front of him once more.

"Ten thousand," Ophelia snapped.

Bryce smiled. "You want me to give you ten thousand dollars? No way. You took me and Monty to court."

"He's on parole," she agreed. "So what's stopping me from not saying anything?"

Bryce laughed. "Nothing's stopping you."

"So, maybe I will," she threatened.

He smiled. "Actually, you won't. It wasn't you to get him arrested the first time. I know you don't have it in you."

She stammered, "I-I could of I wanted to."

Bryce patted her on the shoulder. "Go inside. Enjoy the rest of the party, O."

She felt upset as he walked to his car. When he got there, he turned back. Montgomery and Bryce both had their eyes on her now.

"Oh, and O?" Bryce called.

Ophelia looked back at him.

"Don't let Zach fool you with that 'good guy' act, alright? There's reasons we were best friends once."

Ophelia told him the story, leaving out only minor details, including the final words Bryce said to her that night.

"Ten thousand dollars," Ophelia let out a scoff. "I was being generous. Should've gotten at least fifteen thinking about it. Bet he would've given it to me too. Anything to make him feel like a better person. He wanted to be one, you know? He was trying to change and shit." Ophelia just shook her head. "I don't think anyone can change, Zach."

Zach had listened intently to the story. "And this guy Montgomery beat the shit out of? He didn't talk."

Ophelia shook her head, thinking of Winston. "No, he was a good guy."

Zach wasn't sure not ratting out someone who hurt you was a good thing.

"So, that's where the money came from," Ophelia admitted. "He sent it to me just two months ago. I had no idea he actually would. At first, I was just going to send it back. But, then I thought about it...Why should I? I had enough money to pay my parents back for when I took Montgomery to the hospital. And I saved most of it for college. I mean, I know my parents could afford college for me, but I didn't want to make them pay everything. And, if I took it, I wouldn't have to work my first years in college. I would have plenty of spending money if I didn't buy anything crazy. I just...I didn't have a real reason to return it."

Zach understood. Ten thousand was a lot. And Ophelia seemed like she really did think she deserved it. And honestly, Zach agreed. If this random boy at a party was paid to keep his mouth shut and not ruin Montgomery's life, Ophelia should get the same payment for doing it for years.

"Am I stupid for taking it?" Ophelia asked him.

"No!" Zach said quickly. "I mean, it was a good deal, I guess. And who cares if you're taking Bryce's money? The only person it hurts is him."

Ophelia seemed happy with his answer.

Zach then said, "But, you know I can buy you anything you want, right? You don't have to get money from other people."

Ophelia said quickly, "I know, I know. It was a lot. And..." Ophelia has to admit her selfishness. "I wanted it. I know, I seem dumb, and greedy. But I really, really wanted it. Maybe I was being lazy because I didn't want to keep doing that job my parents made me get to pay them back. But I think I also really wanted to have my own money. I've never really had my own money before."

Zach hadn't meant to make her feel selfish. He just wanted to make sure she knew she would never have to worry about money with him. He would never mind giving her any. Not that she could be used to a boyfriend offering money since she had dated Montgomery.

"So, yeah," Ophelia finished. "They were right. He gave me all that money. But the baton, that had nothing to do with him. So both those things checked out. But I still just..." She struggled. "I don't understand these texts."

Zach shifted in his seat. She saw his eyes dart back to the television.

Ophelia thought this meant he looked guilty. But that couldn't be it.

"They swore that their records show me getting these messages. I didn't, Zach. You have to believe me."

Zach nodded. "I believe you."

Ophelia bit her lip. "I promise I wasn't, like, texting him. Especially that night, after we..." After they had sex.

Zach thought about it for a moment. What he was about to say. He really didn't want her to be mad at him, but he also didn't want her to blame herself.

"I would have told you," she insisted. "If he texted me I would've told you. I would've showed you."

He stayed silent, and Ophelia thought it meant he was mad at her.

Ophelia slouched, feeling undeserving of him. He didn't deserve a girlfriend who had this many problems. Who communicates with bad people.

"I promise I would have showed you," she repeated. "And I probably would have deleted them anyway. But I didn't. I swear I didn't."

Zach looked back at her. He sighed. "I know you didn't, Ophelia."

She appreciated his acceptance.

Then Zach continued, "I know you didn't delete those messages. I did."

It was perfect.

Zach's first complete time with Ophelia was perfect.

He had forgotten how amazing sex was. He didn't know how, but he must have. Because he had been so shocked by how good Ophelia felt on top of him.

He was still awake, breathing heavily, far after things had ended. Ophelia was asleep already next to him. He found himself gazing at her, completely enchanted by her. She hadn't gotten dressed, neither had her. They were both asleep, naked.

She was curled into him slightly. He could feel her warm, naked skin on his. It drove him crazy.

He wanted to wake her up. To have sex again. Or to just touch and kiss her again.

But she looked exhausted. He would let her sleep. They would have time to do everything again in the morning.

His leg ached terribly. He was wondering if he should take more pain medicine, or just wait until morning.

Suddenly, Ophelia phone's started ringing. Zach saw her stir. The Elvis Presley ringtone ringing loudly. He was scared it would wake her. So he carefully pushed her off him, and got out of bed to grab it.

He turned it off, ending the call quickly.

That's when he saw it.

3 Missed Calls From Bryce Walker

"What the fuck?" Zach whispered.

He then saw that there were text messages unread in her phone. From Bryce. Bryce fucking Walker.

Bryce had no fucking reason to be texting Ophelia.

Zach was scared. What reason did he have to be contacting her?

Maybe he should wake her and ask why the fuck Bryce Walker was calling her?

No. He knew why. Bryce was probably bothering her, or trying to trick her into something. Bryce knew how kind Ophelia was, and how easily she could be manipulated by someone saying they needed help.

Zach wouldn't give Bryce a change to manipulate her.

Zach knew Ophelia's password. So he opened her phone. He looked at the message.

BRYCE WALKER: Hey, Ophelia. Can we talk?

BRYCE WALKER: About last year?

BRYCE WALKER: I'm at the pier. The one where the Hillcrest bus drops off. I noticed you didn't come back with the rest of the cheerleaders.

BRYCE WALKER: Please, Ophelia. I just really want to talk.

It made him feel sick. He thought Ophelia was just going to meet him?

Worse, he had been waiting for her cheer bus at the fucking pier? No, they couldn't fucking talk. Zach wouldn't let them fucking talk.

A new notification popped up.

1 New Voicemail From Bryce Walker

Zach looked over to make sure Ophelia was still asleep. He put the phone to his ear, and pressed play on the voicemail.

His stomach dropped.

Anger encased him.

The voicemail would have done it. It would have tricked Ophelia into going to see him. Fuck that. Fuck Bryce.

Bryce was really calling his girlfriend in the middle of the night, trying to fucking manipulate her? After trying to fucking assault her the year before?

Bryce hadn't been at Liberty, so he didn't know how strong Zach had become. He wasn't the same boy Bryce knew. He wasn't weak. He wasn't that weak, sweet kid everyone thought he was.

Zach was a man now.

And as a man, he was going to protect his girlfriend.

Zach wasn't giving Ophelia the chance to be manipulated. It was his job to make sure she wasn't.

Ophelia was too naive, too forgiving. The texts, the voicemail, they would've worked on her.

So Zach did what he thought he had to. He deleted everything. The messages, the voicemail, even the call notifications. She would never see them. And she would never be hurt by them.

Zach looked at Ophelia again. She had been bruised that night, he assumed from the fight.

She couldn't protect herself. It was up to him to protect her.

Zach decided then and there that he would go see Bryce at the pier. He would teach Bryce a lesson. Bryce would stay the fuck away from Ophelia. He would leave her the fuck alone at Hillcrest. He would never even fucking speak to her again.

Zach was furious. He wanted to more than yell at Bryce, he wanted to hurt him.

Bryce was going to leave Ophelia the fuck alone or else.

Zach was willing to show Bryce exactly how strong he had become.

Ophelia listened with wide eyes.

"I went to the pier," Zach told her. "And he was there. Waiting."

Ophelia inhaled deeply. Nervously.

"I told him to stay the fuck away from you," Zach admitted. "And I told him if he didn't, I would hurt him."

Ophelia bit her lip. This wasn't making any sense. Zach didn't threaten people, that wasn't him.

"I did it for you," Zach told her. "So he wouldn't fucking bother you anymore."

Bother her? Ophelia's lips parted. "He didn't...bother me. Not anymore. He had been staying to himself at Hillcrest." It was part of his 'change'.

"And he wouldn't," Zach said. "I fucking made sure of it."

Ophelia didn't like his tone. It...scared her.

"What did you do, Zach?"

He hesitated. Because he was thinking of a lie to tell her. He didn't want to lie to her. He was scared he would finally have to. "I told you. I just told him to stay away from you?"

Ophelia took a deep breath. "Did you...hurt him?"

Zach knew what she wanted to hear. So he told her it. "No. I just threatened to."

Ophelia believed him.

Zach didn't hurt people. That's not the kind of person he was. Zach was good. The only good man left at Liberty.

Ophelia swallowed. "How could you not tell me about the messages?"

Zach told her, honestly, "You would have wanted to meet with him."

Ophelia cringed. But she didn't disagree. She probably would have.

"What did the voicemail say?"

Zach scoffed. "It was some stupid fucking apology. Not even a good one."

Still, even if it wasn't a good apology, Ophelia would have liked to get one from him. One that wasn't just money, but actual words.

Ophelia then thought about what she wanted to speak of days before. "Zach, about my statement..."

He visibly frowned.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Ophelia asked him. "That you turned it in?"

Zach sighed. He admitted, "I was scared. I wasn't ashamed I did it. I was glad I got Montgomery arrested. But, when he told me you thought it was Scott, and how upset you were at Scott for turning it in, I was terrified for that anger to go back to me."

Ophelia felt ashamed of her dramatics. "I shouldn't have been angry at all."

Zach continued, "And Scott said he wanted to take the fall, so you wouldn't be angry at me-"

"He what?" Ophelia asked. He let her be angry at him? "Why would he do that?"

"Because he knew how much we meant to each other," Zach said. "And he didn't want us to be angry with each other."

Ophelia felt terrible.

There were a few moments where they didn't say anything. Zach eventually sighed.

"Look, this whole Bryce thing is going to go away eventually," Zach told her, desperate to change the subject. "Let's just try to forget about it. That's what's best."

Ophelia didn't know if she could forget about anything. Especially the fact he had hidden so much information from her. She felt scared, and paranoid, and untrusting.

"Does anyone know?" Ophelia asked. "About you going to the pier? Does Justin know?" Justin was his best friend, he would know out of anyone.

"No one," Zach said. He was nervous she wanted to tell someone. "Once they find Bryce's killer, we can tell someone, okay? Until then let's just be quiet about everything. And not tell anyone."

Ophelia felt scared for the future.

"No one needs to know," Zach repeated. "The best thing to do is just not saying anything about it."

Ophelia wanted to ask so much more, but she knew it was upset Zach. That last thing she wanted to do was continue to upset Zach.

So she did what he wanted. She stayed quiet.

That's the one thing Ophelia was good at.

Staying quiet.

A few days passed. Each one Ophelia felt more and more...useless. It felt like everyone was doing something productive but her.

Zach was the fucking football captain. And Ophelia was just the girl who got expelled from Hillcrest. Ophelia had been jealous when it seemed Chloe set her eyes on her boyfriend. Coming back to Liberty, she noticed even more girls had.

Ophelia saw girls look at him in class. Cheerleaders, soccer girls, softball girls. Volleyball girls too, those were the most attractive in Ophelia's opinion. And it made sense, who wouldn't find the captain of the football team handsome.

Day by day, Ophelia slowly realized she had nothing to offer over any other girl. The only advantage she had was that she had known Zach since they were kids.

Maybe that was why Ophelia was always more secure in her relationship with Montgomery. Montgomery chose her out of all the other girls at school. If Ophelia and Zach didn't know each other through their families, would he have even spoken to her at all?

Yes, of course he would of. Ophelia reminded herself that Zach told her he liked her for a long time. She tried to think they were meant for each other. Of course he would have been drawn to her either way.

Estella hadn't spoken to Ophelia since the incident with her father. Jessica had come up to Ophelia once and asked if she was interested in going back to HO. She wasn't. She felt like she couldn't.

It had been Teen Dating Violence week when Ophelia went back to school. There were posters of it everywhere. Apparently, there would be an assembly for it the next week. Ophelia really didn't want to go.

There were also posters about protesting Bryce Walker's funeral. Ophelia thought they were horrible.

Bryce Walker was dead. Bringing up his past wouldn't hurt him, it would only hurt his family.

Montgomery seemed to have forgotten the fact his father was in jail, awaiting trial. He laughed at school, Ophelia saw him laugh at school. It was like nothing happened.

And he still smiled the same. He smiled at her the same when he passed her in the hallways.

It's like what happened Homecoming night didn't bother him anymore. She hadn't told the police what happened, so he must have thought his secret was safe with her. It must have gave him confidence.

"So I guess you aren't switching school after all," Montgomery mentioned one day while passing her by in PE class.

Ophelia ignored him. Marisa was by her at the time and tried shoeing him away.

"Calm down, I was just asking a question," he spoke at Marisa. "I need to know whether or not a potential murderer is staying at my school."

"The charges were drop-" Ophelia suddenly stopped as her voice suddenly cracked mid sentence. She stopped talking, embarrassed.

Montgomery smiled. It was his handsome smile that drove her crazy for him so long ago. "Still make you that nervous?"

One of Montgomery's friends, who Ophelia recognized from baseball and Scott's graduation party, came up to Montgomery.

"Let's go, Teen Dating Violence," he said jokingly to Montgomery.

And as they left, Ophelia couldn't think of a single word to say back.

And as the days passed by, she felt herself never knowing what to say. She just stayed silent whenever possible.

And things just kept getting...worse.

She felt emotional all the time, and she hated that she did. Bryce was closer to Justin, and he did worse to Jessica. Did she even have a right to feel upset about his death?

Did she have the right to be upset about anything?

She felt like she had been lied to. But Zach never technically lied, did he? He just withheld information. A lot. And isn't that what she did?

Nothing had happened to her since she got arrested. But everyday felt like a burden. She felt sad, and sick, and just terrible. Everyday.

Zach tried getting conversation out of her. They started watching movies together more often. He made a point to come over every single day and do something with her.

She felt distant. But he just assumed she was mad at him because of the text messages, or meeting Bryce, or turning in her statement. Honestly, she had so many things to be mad at him for. So that's all he took her silence as. Anger and disappointment.

They still had sex everyday. Her mother went to bed at eight every night, and they would have time alone. Ophelia still felt uncomfortable with Zach being on top. Zach must have gotten used to being below her. He would grab her hips, and move her body exactly how he wanted her to be moving. Sometimes Ophelia felt like sex was the only thing she was really good at, even though she didn't feel like she knew how to do it as well as other girls.

Ophelia felt like sex was the only time Zach was truly, truly happy, not just stressed out by her. Making him cum was the greatest pleasure she could give him at the time being, so she wanted to do it as often as possible. Every other moment together she just made him anxious. Even right after he finished she could tell he became stressed again, wondering if she finished or if she liked it.

She hadn't been finishing still. But it didn't bother her. It felt dirty to her now.

It didn't bother Ophelia that Zach didn't notice how downcast she was. It didn't bother her that no one noticed. Ophelia felt like she didn't want to talk to anyone at all, for a long time. So the less that people noticed, the less that they reached out to ask questions. She really, really couldn't deal with questioning.

But Ani and Clay never really bended to anyone else's schedule when they were in a mission.

They found her while she was alone, of course. She sat on the bleachers, at the very top, while football practice went on below.

Ani greeted her by saying, "This seat taken?"

It was obviously a joke, since all the bleachers were empty except for a few freshmen girls sitting at the bottom, drooling over the football players.

Ophelia was reading a book. She closed it, and shook her head. She knew right away a conversation would follow. Ani sat next to her, Clay just in front of her, turning and facing her.

"How's it going?" Ani asked. "I mean, with being arrested and everything."

Ophelia bit her lip, not feeling much up to talking. "Bad. I don't really want to talk about it."

Clay felt bad they had to come bother her. He wanted to leave her alone, at peace, like she clearly wanted. But they had questions that needed answers.

"We won't stay long," he said, compromising with himself. "We just had a few questions. About Montgomery."

Ophelia winced, but didn't say anything.

"We know it was his bat they found in your car," Clay explained. He must have meant the baton. Ophelia wondered how he found out. She didn't really care. It wasn't such a big secret.

She nodded. "It was."

Ani spoke now. "How did it get so much blood on it?"

Ophelia swallowed. She thought back to Montgomery's father hitting him with it. Then she reminded Montgomery hitting his father's unconscious body with it. Hard.

"There was a fight," she said simply. She knew why they were there. "It had nothing to do with Bryce. If that's what you're wondering."

Ani and Clay had been wondering that.

Clay asked suddenly, "Do you know if Montgomery was buying steroids from Bryce?"

Ophelia frowned at the question, not expecting it. She almost said 'no', by habit. Then she remembered she didn't have to lie for him anymore. "I don't know who he got them from. But Montgomery used to use them. At least for baseball he did."

Ani sighed, and looked at Clay. "He must have just not had them at school." Unknowing to Ophelia, they had searched Montgomery's locker looking for steroids.

Clay sighed. He looked at Ophelia. "Can I ask you something about Montgomery? I just-It's something we heard. We're not sure if it's true, but we think you would know."

She gripped the book in her hands tighter against her chest. "What is it?"

Clay nodded to Ani, who then asked her, "Is Montgomery...gay?"

Ophelia's eyes widened. And she felt a drop in her heart.

She didn't know why. Why did she care if they thought he was gay? Why was she bothered by them knowing his secret?

Because she didn't want people to know. Montgomery was terrible to her, but she would have taken that secret to the grave. She wanted to. No matter what he did, to her, or to anybody, she never would have let that secret out. Because his life would be over if she did.

"W-Who told you that?"

Clay seemed surprised. "So it's true?"

"No," Ophelia said quickly.

Ani put in, "We met this boy. Winston. He seemed to think he was."

Winston? Ophelia was shocked Winston told them.

"What did he tell you?" Ophelia inquired.

Ani explained to her, "That he met Montgomery at a party. And that Montgomery let Winston do stuff to him. Sexual stuff. And then he beat him up, scared he would tell someone."

Ophelia couldn't bite her tongue before she snapped, "Well, he shouldn't have."

Ani took note of her protectiveness. It made sense with her theory that Ophelia was still in love with Montgomery.

Honestly, Ophelia was heartbroken to know Winston was telling Montgomery's secret.

"You know Winston from Hillcrest?" Ani asked. "Did he ever mention Montgomery being gay?"

"He wasn't gay," Ophelia insisted. "Just because he did that didn't mean he was gay."

Clay thought it did. "So what is he?"

Ophelia sighed. "Maybe he doesn't know, okay? But that stuff, it's not anyone's business."

Ani asked, "Do you think he's bisexual?"

Yes, Ophelia did. But she still didn't want to tell them. "It's not my place to say." She wasn't even sure if she was right. Maybe Montgomery was gay, and Ophelia had just been one exception.

"Did you know?" Clay asked. "I mean, you guys dated for two years. You would have had to know, right?"

Ophelia thought back to when she caught Montgomery in his room, watching gay pornography.

"Of course I knew."

A girl can't forgot the fact her boyfriend found men sexually attractive. It made her wonder if he truly find her attractive. And it made Ophelia wonder if that's why Montgomery liked her thin, underdeveloped body.

Zach didn't seem to find it that sexually attractive. Not until she gained weight.

Clay asked her, "And you didn't say anything to anyone?"

"Why would I?" Ophelia had no reason to.

Clay shrugged. "I don't know. He's always such a dick to you. You never wanted to tell anyone just to get back at him?"

Ophelia never had. "It's not something I would find pleasure in telling."

Secrets should stay secret. Especially if they weren't hers to tell.

"Do you think Montgomery would be upset with Bryce if Bryce put those pieces together?" Ani asked her.

Ophelia shook her head. "Bryce didn't know. I'm sure of it."

Ani nodded. She too told Clay that she didn't think Montgomery knew.

"But Montgomery and Bryce went at it at the Homecoming game," Clay pointed out. "What else did they have to fight about?"

Ophelia admitted, "A lot. They weren't friends when Bryce left, at least I didn't think so. Montgomery testified against Bryce."

Clay remembered that vaguely.

But Clay also remembered that Montgomery was violent and angry all the time. He still wasn't innocent in Clay's eyes.

"Winston said he was paid off," Ani told her. "That Bryce gave him seven thousand dollars to stay quiet about Montgomery assaulting him. Is that what happened with you?"

Ophelia was surprised she out that together. She was smart, she had to give her credit.

Ophelinadmitted, "I told Bryce I thought I deserved money for staying quiet about Montgomery hitting me for so long. At first, he didn't see it that way. But he tried to change during the school year. I think he was trying to better him myself. He gave me the money. As an apology."

Ani seemed uplifted that Ophelia noticed his change. She smiled slightly.

"What about the text messages?" Clay asked her. "Where Bryce told you to meet him in the pier."

Ophelia cringed, thinking back to what she had learned. Thinking back to Zach meeting Bryce in the pier. She wondered if she believed he only spoke to Bryce.

She would make herself believe that.

"I never got them," Ophelia said. "We think maybe he sent them, but they didn't reach my phone."

"You told the police that?" She nodded. Clay asked, "And they just believed that?"

Ophelia scoffed. "They had no reason not to. I didn't do anything to Bryce. I was completely shocked that he died."

Ani told her, "We know you didn't do anything to Bryce. I mean, you have an alibi, right? You and Zach were together the entire night after he got home?"

Ophelia felt herself stilling. "Yeah."

Ani leaned forward a bit, and lowered her voice. "And you weren't with anyone else?"

Ophelia leaned back, uncomfortable with their presence. She looked down to the book in her hand. "Marisa drive me to the hospital. And then she drove me home. So just her."

Ani and Clay shared a look.

Ani then said, "Marisa didn't drive you home, though. She met up with her boyfriend."

Ophelia froze. How did she know that? How the fuck did she know that?

"I..." Fuck. What could she say? "Yeah. Okay? I walked. So what?"

Clay frowned. "Why didn't you just say that?"

"I-I didn't want to worry Zach," she lied. "So, what?"

"And you saw no one else?" Ani asked, thinking back to Charlie's words.

"No," Ophelia insisted.

Ophelia had wanted to come clean about what happened. But not to them. Not to people who only wanted to know the truth for their own reasons.

Ani looked at Clay. Internally, they debated who would ask the next question. Of course it had to be Ani. Clay was too nervous.

Ani took a deep breath before asking Ophelia such a serious question. "Ophelia..."

Ophelia wanted to get up and leave. No more questions. They asked too many.

"...Were you with Montgomery on Homecoming night?"