Ophelia wore the same dress to Bryce's funeral that she had worn to Jeff's and Hannah's. It fit a little tighter, but she thought it worked fine. It was the only completely black dress she had.

She had been tempted to buy a new one, one that fit a little better at the arms. But she didn't want to waste that much money on a dress she hoped she would wear only once, and then not again for years.

Ophelia thought Zach looked a lot better than she did. He wore a suit and tie, with a white button down underneath. He wasn't wearing a jersey over his button down like the rest of the football team was. The football jerseys that had been ordered with the name 'Walker' on the back, in memory of Bryce. Zach had received one, but hadn't taken it out of the package. He never planned on wearing it. He didn't have to. Zach would be speaking at the funeral.

Zach had to speak. He was the football captain. He saw it as his duty. Ophelia didn't know if he actually wanted to.

Zach had been stressed out the last few days about what he would say. It was hard. Bryce and him weren't friends in the end. In fact, Zach hated him in the end. But unknown to Ophelia, it wasn't just hard because he was stressed. It was hard because he was guilty. His conscience was heavy with the secrets he held, and he was scared they would weight on him too heavily for him to get on stage at the funeral at all.

Ophelia was surprised she was allowed to go to the funeral after all the yelling her mother did, saying she was allowed nowhere but school. But she realized her mother had more grace than that. Especially when it came to paying respects to the dead.

In fact, her mother was going. They met Zach and his mom at the church.

Ophelia curled her hair, and put on modest makeup, and had a black blazer over her dress. But when she got out of the car at the church, and saw Zach's handsome self waiting for her, she felt that pull of self-consciousness again.

"You look really nice," he told her, even though she didn't know if she really did.

"Thank you," she breathed. She reached out and straightened his tie a little bit more. "You look really nice too." Nicer than her.

He let out a nervous breath. He started to run his hand through his hair, but stopped. "My mom insisted she did my hair. Spend twenty minutes on it. Made me get a haircut last night."

Ophelia admired his new hair style. She touched it lightly, and felt the gel. She smiled. "She did a good job."

Zach smiled too. But his smile was strained.

They stood just outside the church, their mothers conversing a few feet away.

Zach stepped closer to her and whispered in her ear. "I don't know if I can do this, Ophelia."

She touched his arm. "Talk? Or go in?"

"Either," he said. He let out a groan. "I'm supposed to speak on...behalf of him? I wouldn't have even come if I didn't have to."

Ophelia winced. She saw Bryce's mother walking into the church. Ani was with her, and a woman that looked like her mother wheeling someone in. Ophelia guessed it was Bryce's grandfather.

Ophelia felt scared they heard him.

"Don't say that," she pleaded. "At least, not while we're here."

Zach turned and saw the family also.

"I don't...believe my own words."

Ophelia rubbed his arm a bit. She tried to be uplifting when she said, "That's okay. As long as his family believes it. I mean, that's what this is for. I think it's good for them to see people being kind to Bryce."

Zach understood why she was so sensitive. She wasn't good with death. She was gone for months when Hannah died.

But he didn't like her feeling this upset over Bryce.

"You're so..." Zach sighed. "You're so nice, Ophelia."

She didn't see it as being nice. Just being considerate.

"You're nice, Zach," she told him. She smiled. "You're the nicest guy I know."

Zach said, "I used to be."

She didn't like the way he said it.

"What are you talking about? You're still the same guy."

But things had changed. He had changed. Ophelia couldn't see it yet.

She reached into the pocket of the black blazer she wore, and pulled out her broken, yellow necklace. It had stayed broke since Homecoming night. The clasp torn.

"I'm really sorry," she started, "But I accidentally broke the necklace you gave me."

There was nothing accidental about it breaking.

"Do you think you can fix it?" she asked him.

He took it from her.

"I think you just need to squeeze the clamp closed. I haven't been able to." It hurt her fingers to try.

Zach looked down at it. He messed with it, but got frustrated when it didn't work. "I can't. I'm sorry."

She sighed. "I'm so sorry it's broken."

"It's okay," he said. He seemed unbothered. "Actually, you can just get rid of it. I'll get you another one."

Ophelia didn't want to get rid of it. She felt attached to it. Even if he got her the exact same one, this one felt special. It was one of the reasons they got back together at the Spring Fling.

Ophelia took it back, suddenly nervous of it being in his grip. She was scared he'd just throw it away. "It's okay. Maybe I can just get a new chain."

He watched her put it back in her pocket. Why hadn't she just worn one of the other necklaces he got her?

Ophelia looped her arm around Zach's. "Let's head inside, alright?"

They did. Their mothers walking after them.

They sat in the fourth row, family taking up the first three. Surprisingly, there was a very large turnout. Ophelia's mother sat next to Zach's. Then sat Zach, then Ophelia. Ophelia took her blazer off, and set it next to her, saving the seat for Marisa, who had promised to come.

There were a lot more people from Liberty, and barely any from Hillcrest.

The only football players were from Liberty. They began filling the row up behind them.

"Hey, guys."

Ophelia looked up, surprised, and saw Chloe had stopped at their aisle.

Ophelia's lips parted, but she couldn't find anything to say. What could she say? To a girl that she had been jealous of? That her boyfriend knows she had been jealous of?

"Chloe, hey," Zach stammered. He looked between her and Ophelia. He didn't know if Ophelia wanted Chloe to be around them at all. He guessed not.

Chloe asked hesitantly, "Can I sit?"

She pointed down to the spot next to Ophelia.

"Um..." Ophelia was just looking at her.

"Ophelia, move your jacket," her mother told her.

Ophelia bit her lip. She grabbed her blazer, and moved it onto her lap, silently. Chloe sat next to her.

"How's the new school?" Zach asked her.

Chloe smiled. "It's been great. The girls there are really nice. It's easy to get along with them."

Zach seemed happy with the information. "You're easy to get along with."

Chloe just kept smiling at him.

Ophelia sunk further into her seat. She thought about how hard it was for her to make friends at Liberty. Yes, she was popular at Hillcrest. But she gave credit to Marisa for making that happen. Ophelia wasn't easy to get along with, she realized.

Zach noticed Ophelia sink away from him. He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. She forced herself to smile up at him.

He told Chloe, "You know Ophelia was the cheer captain a few times at Hillcrest?" Zach liked telling people.

Actually, it was only once. And it ended terribly.

Chloe looked at Ophelia. She smiled, surprised. "Really? You cheer?"

"I did," Ophelia said, quietly. "But then I got expelled. I go to Liberty now."

Ophelia's voice was unconfident. Because how could she be confident this close to Chloe? She could see her face so clearly, and was able to see that there were no blemishes. She was so pretty. Chloe was more Zach's league than Ophelia was.

"I'm sorry," Chloe told her, honestly. "Is it hard? Being back?"

She just said, "Very."

Chloe didn't notice Ophelia uncomfortable with her being there. She confessed to Ophelia, "I wouldn't be able to go back. Not even after..." Chloe stopped, and looked down at her hands.

They all knew she meant after Bryce's death.

"It'd be really hard," Chloe finished. "I could barely get up today. Knowing that this was happening today."

Her ex-boyfriend's funeral. Ophelia couldn't imagine her pain. Yes, Bryce was a bad person, but Ophelia knew him and Chloe had been in love before everything came out. Chloe was going to bury the boy she used to be in love with.

Ophelia hoped to everything she would never have to do that. She hoped she wouldn't be at another funeral for a long, long, long time.

"Are you okay?" Zach asked Chloe.

Ophelia kept her eyes on her shoes planted on the ground. All she could think about is how much she wanted Zach to ask her that the days before.

"I mean, with everything?" Zach finished.

He was referencing the funeral about to take place. The closed casket at the front of the room. The portrait of Bryce surrounded by flowers.

Chloe shook her head. "No...I'm not." She sighed deeply. "But thank you for asking."

Chloe's voice was so elegant. Ophelia wished her voice sounded that pretty.

"I know what you mean. It's hard," Zach mentioned. He looked down at the speech notes he held in his hands. "I don't think I can do this."

His mother looked over at him. "You can," she said softly. She then spoke stricter. "You have to."

Chloe tried to help encourage him. "It's okay to love the things about him you loved. You can tell whatever truth you want to."

It sounded to Ophelia that Chloe was talking more to herself. Like she was convincing herself she could forget Bryce's sins that day, to properly grieve him.

Zach smiled at her again, thankful for her words.

Ophelia looked away. She didn't want to see him smiling at Chloe anymore.

"Sorry we're a little late." Ophelia was relieved to hear Marisa's voice. She walked up to them, in a sexy skin tight black dress, gorgeous hair. Paul stood behind her, wearing his Hillcrest football uniform over his black button down.

"You're good. You're not late," Zach told them, kindly. "Doesn't start for another twenty minutes."

Marisa looked down at Chloe, who sat next to Ophelia.

Marisa knew all about Ophelia's beef with Chloe, even if Chloe herself didn't.

Marisa put on an obviously fake smile. "Excuse me."

Chloe's eyes widened, and she looked embarrassed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I can go sit somewhere else."

She stood up. Zach's mom caught sight of it.

"It's okay, honey. We can move," she pointed to herself and Ophelia's mom.

"You don't have to go," Zach told his mother.

"It's okay," she assured him. "We will go sit with the Phillips. Haven't seen them since football last year."

The Phillips were a family who had a senior son that graduated the year before.

Ophelia's mom stood. She said quietly and sternly to Ophelia, "Stay with Zach."

Zach's mother collected her things and pointed to the seat next to Zach. "There you are."

The two mothers left to go to a further back row.

Chloe has smiled gratefully, and took his mother's seat, right next to him on his left side.

Ophelia watched Chloe, wordlessly, as she took her seat next to Zach, and she could do nothing but stayed quiet as Zach and her gave each other a little smile as she sat.

Marisa and Paul sat down. Marisa was giving Chloe a dirty look.

"You're really dressed up," Ophelia commented. She looked like she was on a date night. The dress was low cut, showing off Marisa's smooth cleavage.

Marisa looked embarrassed. "It's inappropriate, isn't it? It's all I had that was all black. Paul said it was fine." Marisa turned to Paul, angry, and said, "You said it was fine."

Paul just shrugged. "It is fine." And he liked looking at her in it.

Ophelia said quickly, "I didn't mean it was bad. You look pretty. Really, really pretty."

She looked down at her own, boring, unflattering dress. Fuck. She should've done something more with her makeup, or her hair.

She wondered if Zach noticed that he was surrounded by girls, and his girlfriend was the least pretty out of all of them.

"Very pretty," Paul complimented Marisa. "That's why we're late. Forty-five minutes for curling your fucking hair."

Marisa brushed him off. She said to Zach, "Are you ready? For your speech and everything?"

Zach looked nervous. "It's not really a speech. I'm just speaking."

Marisa figured that's what a speech was.

Marisa said, "He did a lot for the cheer team. Maybe you should mention that."

Chloe smiled. "Yeah, he did. He, like, convinced his dad to get us new uniforms." Chloe laughed. "God, remember the cheer party?"

Marisa chuckled. "Yeah." Marisa looked at Ophelia and said, "I mean, it was fun. It was sophomore year. He was, um. He was good then. I think."

Ophelia felt guilty for making her think she had to apologize for trying to find the good things he had done.

"Yeah, I think he was good then," Ophelia agreed.

But then again, she couldn't be sure.

Behind them, the row filled with the rest of the football team. Ophelia saw Montgomery come in out of the corner of her eye. Charlie came in behind him.

Ophelia risked a glance behind her. Montgomery walked slowly, and Ophelia could tell his emotions by his expression alone.

He had good posture. Ophelia knew this meant he was sad. Montgomery usually slouched a bit. But he always tried to stand tallest when he felt the lowest.

Charlie moved down the aisle first, sitting just behind Zach. He reached forward and patted Zach on the shoulder. "Hey, man."

Zach nodded to him. "How you doing, Charlie?"

Charlie shrugged, and his expression was solemn. "How good can someone be right now, right?"

Zach knew exactly what he meant. He spared a glance at Montgomery, whose eyes were slightly glossed over.

"How are you doing, Montgomery?"

Montgomery looked surprised he spoke to him. Montgomery's sarcastic demeanor that took ahold of him at school was gone. In fact, his expression would seem blank if you didn't know him.

The corners of his mouth fell downwards, like he had been fine staring ahead, but someone speaking to him made him snap out of denial.

Montgomery was at his best friend's funeral. How was he?

"I'll be fine as long as Jessica fucking Davis doesn't try fucking things up," Montgomery seethed. He missed his friend. And he was angered to learn some people at the school would use his funeral to further disrespect him.

Zach expected the angry answer. Ophelia didn't. She wanted to tell him off, and say Jessica hadn't done anything wrong.

Jessica's name wasn't on any of the protest flyers. Ophelia knew she had nothing to do with it. She had to bite her tongue to stay silent.

Zach turned back around to face forward, and grabbed Ophelia's hand again. Ophelia tried to ignore Montgomery behind her.

Marisa rolled her eyes.

"I don't think she's coming," Charlie told him. "I didn't see her."

Montgomery scoffed. "Not yet. That bitch finds her way into everything."

Bitch. That word hurt. And Ophelia knew people called her that a lot, to her face and behind her back. Ophelia hated it. So when she heard Montgomery call Jessica a bitch, she wanted to defend her.

Ophelia didn't turn around. She just stayed facing forward when she said aloud, "She's not coming, Montgomery. She had nothing to do with planning the protest."

Montgomery looked directly at the back of her head. He scoffed. "It's her fucking club that's doing it."

Ophelia let out an angry sigh, still looking forward. "Stop acting like you know everything. It wasn't her."

Marisa turned around to face Montgomery. She withheld a laugh. "Yeah, stop acting like you fucking know everything. I worked in the office last semester. I've seen your grades."

Charlie snorted, unable to hold in his laughter. Zach smiled.

Montgomery leaned forward. Ophelia did too, Zach pulling her in closer to him by putting his arm over her shoulder.

Montgomery scooted forward in his seat, and looked at Marisa. He glanced over the seat back, and looked her up and down.

"You worked in the office? With that dress on it looks more like you worked the streets."

Marisa's mouth fell open. Now, Ophelia did turn all the way around, just to glare at him.

Paul said angrily, "Watch your mouth, man."

Montgomery just said, "Watch your girl. You know she kept trying to hook up with me last year?"

Marisa scoffed. "Worst mistake of my life."

"Knock it off," Ophelia said to Montgomery.

"God, you're so much more annoying now that Bryce isn't hear to tell you to shut up," Marisa mumbled.

Montgomery must have heard her. His mouth shut, tightly. He fell back against the back rest of his seat, suddenly silent.

Marisa's words hurt him. They reminded him that Bryce wasn't there, and he would never be there, ever again. Bryce had been Montgomery's filter. He had been the group peacekeeper.

How could he have been so kind to his boys? But so cruel to every girl?

Ophelia faced forward again.

Zach started rehearsing his speech quietly, mouthing the words over and over. She saw him take a pen out of his pocket, and cross stuff out, then write new stuff.

"Can you read it?" Zach asked Ophelia. He held the cards out to her. She took them carefully. "Just-to make sure it makes sense."

"Of course," she breathed.

She read the words he had written, reading them in his own voice in her head. Ophelia smiled at the end. A sad, smile. She was touched by his ending.

She handed him the notecards back.

"I think it's beautiful," she whispered. "You did an amazing job."

"I wouldn't be able to go up if you weren't here," he admitted to her. He took her hand again. "I'm so lucky to have you at all."

Ophelia felt herself leaning more into him. She continued holding his hand, as he kept repeating his little speech, over and over. Ophelia saw his confidence increase with each go.

She saw Bryce's dad come in, and begin greeting people. He seemed upbeat, happy, and drunk. Ophelia couldn't judge him, not now.

Ophelia couldn't imagine what it felt like to lose a child. She prayed she would never have to. That's the worst thing to happen to a parent, them having to bury their own child.

"Hey, Scotty. You made it."

Ophelia felt herself turning around immediately. Montgomery had spoken. He had scooted in a little more to make room.

Scott Reed had walked into the church. He wore the blue 'Walker' uniform that the rest of the current and former football players did. He had on a white button down beneath it, with a tie barely visible. He greeted Montgomery with a quick handshake, before he sat down next to him.

Scott had spotted Ophelia from the back of her head as soon as he walked in, and he was beyond nervous that Montgomery chose to sit behind Zach and her. As soon as she turned her head, he made eye contact with her. The eye contact was held as he sat down, and it didn't break until Charlie reached over shook his hand, pulling his attention away from her.

"Hey, I'm Charlie," Charlie greeted. "I was just a freshmen last year. Don't know if you remember me."

Scott gave him a firm handshake. "Yeah. I think I remember. You had an older brother that went to Liberty a few years ago?"

Charlie smiled, "Yeah. I do."

When the handshake was broken, and Scott leaned back in his seat, he felt like his attention was physically pulled back to Ophelia, who was still turned around looking at him. She felt frozen, just looking at him.

He looked different. He was a lot tanner, the darker skin making his dirty blonde hair pop out more. And his hair, that changed to. It wasn't gelled up anymore, or forced up off his forehead. In fact, it was longer, and he had let it grow out almost like bangs.

It was a little longer on the sides too, giving him a little more mature look. It looked good on him. And it drew even more attention to his pretty eyes.

Scott broke eye contact and said to Zach, "Hey, Zach. Heard you were captain this year. That's great."

Zach just nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

Things weren't good between them. They hadn't been. Not after his graduation party. And after what Zach had done.

Again, Scott's eyes went back to Ophelia.

Scott held up a hand, giving a small, pathetic wave. He mumbled, "H-Hey, Ophelia." He really hadn't meant to stutter. It embarrassed him. He wished he hadn't said anything at all.

He didn't stutter on anyone else's name. She must have noticed and thought he was dumb or something.

Ophelia felt Zach put his arm back over her shoulder. Zach cleared his throat, pulling Ophelia back to face forward. She did face forward, turning her head toward him to quickly say, "Hey, Scott."

Ophelia gulped. For some reason, she just wanted to blurt out an apology. For the grad party, for Spring Fling, for being so angry. Everything.

That's all she wanted to do. Apologize. But she didn't want to in front of Zach, because it would embarrass him. So she stayed looking forward.

Chloe turned and smiled at him. "Hi, Scotty." He smiled back at her, nodding.

Chloe kept looking at him, but Scott just found himself looking back at Ophelia, staring at the back of her head as she stayed looking forward.

Montgomery asked Chloe, "Did Mrs. Walker tell you about the memorial at her house afterwards?"

Chloe nodded, and said to Montgomery, "She called me yesterday about it."

Montgomery didn't know why Chloe was sitting with Zach. She should be sitting with Charlie and them. They were closer to Bryce, after all.

"I heard she's having an open bar," Charlie mentioned.

Montgomery told him, "Dude, they're not gonna serve anyone in a high school jersey."

Charlie sat back in his seat, crossing his arms, disappointed. "Didn't think about bringing a fake to a funeral."

Zach turned his head to say, "You guys drink enough anyway. You shouldn't be worried about it today."

Charlie said, "I didn't mean I wanted to get drunk. It's just...I've never had the rich stuff, ya know?"

Montgomery chuckled. "Zach wouldn't know. He's only had the rich stuff."

Zach just shook his head, wondering why the fuck boys were talking about alcohol at a funeral.

But they were teenage boys. And their friend died. Talking about getting drunk was easier than talking about death.

"Let's go say 'hi' to Bryce's dad," Montgomery said to Scott, spotting Bryce's father greeting people in the front row.

Scott stood up. He turned to get out of the row, only to accidentally hit the back of Ophelia's head with his hand. He cursed himself.

"Shit," he said. He reached out and tried to use his fingers to brush down the hair he slightly ruffled. "I'm sorry."

Ophelia jerked herself forward, out of his touch. She brought her hand back to the back of her head, smoothing it herself. "It's fine," she mumbled.

Montgomery elbowed Scott, and jokingly said, "Careful. She's got a temper, haven't you heard?"

Marisa scoffed, and turned to Montgomery to snap, "You're one to talk, Anger Management."

Montgomery still seemed humored. "Well, I wasn't arrested for murder."

Ophelia felt embarrassed thinking of her arrest. And she found herself looking back at Scott. What would he think of it?

"Oh-fuck. I heard about that," Scott said. Another boy from the football team had seen her get arrested and told him. Scott then asked Ophelia, immediately, "Are you okay?"

Ophelia felt her mouth drop open, and she wanted to reply. But she didn't know how.

And confess what she wanted to. Not with Montgomery right there.

"She's good, Scotty." Zach answered for her. He pulled her closer to him.

Ophelia left it at that.

Scott wanted to say more, but felt Montgomery impatient next to him. And he didn't want to force her into conversation.

Marisa eyed Ophelia. "Did you know he was coming?" She recalled just a few days ago Ophelia was asking about Scott Reed.

Ophelia shook her head quickly. "No, I had no idea."

Ophelia didn't know that she would ever see him again. At least, she never thought they would speak. She would probably see him at the graduation. No doubt he'd be there to see Montgomery graduate.

Marisa looked at Zach, "Did you?"

Zach hesitated. Ophelia looked up at him. "Yes," he admitted. "I think I heard Montgomery talking about it."

Which is why he was so angry the thing about the statement came up so recently.

Ophelia was surprised Zach knew. He didn't mention it. Even though they had just been talking about him the other day.

She heard Montgomery greeting Bryce's father. He even brought him in for a hug. She watched Scott shake his hands. The man didn't seem like he was at his son's funeral, he seemed happier, but maybe that was good.

Mrs. Walker sat in the front row and looked terrible. Ophelia didn't wish that pain on anyone.

Ophelia caught Justin coming in with Clay and Clay's parents. Or, Clay and Justin's parents.

Ophelia looked away quickly when seeing Clay.

A few days before, Ani and Clay approached her while she was alone, and they asked if she was with Montgomery on Homecoming night.

She was. But Ophelia was terrified to tell them that.

She wasn't proud of it, but Ophelia yelled at them. She told them to stay the fuck out of her business, and practically ran off the bleachers.

So Ophelia figured they knew. They knew she had been. She had looked so guilty.

Montgomery and Scott came and sat back down behind them. Ophelia tried her hardest to pretend they weren't there.

Zach whispered to her, "Do you want to move?"

She wanted Chloe to move.

"No, I'm fine," Ophelia said.

Chloe turned to say to Scott, "Will you be going to the Walker house afterwards?"

Scott nodded, "Yeah. Of course."

Scott hesitated, before asking, "What about you guys?"

He looked directly at Zach when he said it, but he had been thinking only of Ophelia. Zach obviously knew this, knowing Scott's intentions better than Scott did. Zach clenched his jaw, and refused to turn around and acknowledge him, instead just pretending he didn't know who he was talking to.

Ophelia eventually looked back, when there was a moment of silence of no one answering. "Us?"

"Y-Yeah." Fuck. Why the fuck did he stutter again?

"I'm pretty sure," Ophelia said. She looked to Zach, "Right?"

He just nodded. So Ophelia said confidently, "Yes. We are."

Scott spared a smile. "Cool." Scott questioned why he said cool. There was nothing cool about a memorial. He was so stupid.

But Ophelia didn't think so. She just smiled back at him. She had been feeling so awful today, but at that moment she just wanted to smile.

Montgomery could often admit he got jealous. Especially when it came to Ophelia. Because boys seemed to like Ophelia, more than she ever realized. Yes, he found himself jealous of Zach. Everyday he saw Ophelia and him together he felt that sting of jealousy. But it always went away. Even when they dated for longer it went away. Because Montgomery was sure that the feelings between him and Ophelia couldn't be replicated with anyone.

Montgomery was sure that Zach would never make Ophelia feel the same way that he did. She didn't look at Zach the way she used to look at him.

But he caught the smile between Ophelia and Scott. And he saw it. He saw that look that for so long he had thought was just for him. Montgomery doubted Scott noticed, and he doubted Ophelia noticed herself. But Montgomery noticed.

And he hated it.

"Scott, how's your girlfriend?" Montgomery suddenly brought up.

Ophelia stopped smiling immediately. Scott did too. His smile fell slowly, and for a moment, he looked guilty.

Scott cleared his throat. "She's good."

Yes, Ophelia did know that Scott had a girlfriend. He had posted a photo of them together on Instagram. They had done a marathon together, a color run. They were covered in colored powder, but they both were smiling widely. The powder darkened their skin, making their white teeth and brightly colored eyes pop out more.

His girlfriend was blonde, and slim. She reminded Ophelia of Chloe. Short, pretty, perfect.

"Her name is Cherry, right?" Montgomery asked. He laughed. "That is totally a stripper name, dude."

Scott said quickly, "It's short for Charlotte."

"And a blonde?" Montgomery elbowed him playfully. "Those are the best, man."

Ophelia bit her lip.

Scott thought it was inappropriate for him to say that in front of girls who weren't blonde, so he didn't reply. Scott tried to convince himself he would've found Montgomery's words offensive if he said it in front of any dark haired girl, not just Ophelia.

Montgomery looked at Paul. "I don't got to tell you that, do I?" He then glanced at Chloe next to Zach. "I guess I don't have to tell Zach either."

Scott winced at his words, and watched as Ophelia seemed to shrink into herself.

Ophelia stood up suddenly, and grabbed her things. "Zach, let's move."

He stood up too.

"Are we moving?" Chloe asked. "I think most of the benches are full now."

"Ooh," Montgomery laughed. "Which of your girlfriends are you going to listen to?"

Chloe looked confused. She didn't know what she meant.

"Shut up, Monty," Zach snapped at him. He put his hand on the small of Ophelia's back. "We'll go sit in the back."

Marisa told Montgomery and Scott, "Do you guys have to be so rude all the time?"

Marisa and Paul went with them. Chloe went too. But this time, Ophelia had Zach sit on the end so only she was next to him. Chloe sat next to Paul on the other side.

Ophelia saw Scott glance back at them as they sat. Ophelia tried to ignore it.

Scott blew out a nervous breath. He held the envelope in his hand.

He looked ahead, to where Ophelia and Zach sat in the lunchroom. They were by themselves at the moment. Zach was talking, and he must have been talking about something exciting, because he was smiling widely as he spoke. Ophelia was smiling widely just listening to him.

She looked really pretty to Scott when she smiled. She had one of those smiles that changed the person's whole expression. Her cheeks got bigger and her eyes crinkled up with joy.

Scott took a deep breath, put his nerves to the side, and walked over to them.

"Hey, you guys."

Zach stopped talking, and his smile went away. He glanced at Ophelia nervously, and then looked back at Scott.

"Hey." Why was he there? Was he planning on telling Ophelia who really turned in the statement? Zach was paranoid of that.

"Hi, Scott," Ophelia said. She too wasn't sure how to react to him being there.

Scott hesitated. It must have been for too long, because Zach asked, "What is it?"

Scott blurted out, "I wanted to invite you to my graduation party."

He shoved the envelope forward. Zach flinched back. Scott regretted shoving it forward so far. Zach had his hand around Ophelia's waist, but he pulled away to grab the envelope and open it, looking at the invitation.

"Next Sunday?" Zach asked.

"Yeah, the day after graduation," he clarified.

Zach looked unsure. He said, "Um, yeah. I'll see if I can make it."

"Nice, nice," Scott said, nodding. He turned around, but turned back to say, "Actually, um..." He scratched the back of his head. "...the invitation...it's for the both of you."

Ophelia's eyes lit up. "Me too?"

He smiled. "Yeah. Of course."

Ophelia looked over at the invitation. She looked back up at Scott and said excitedly, "Yeah. Of course we'll come." She looked at Zach. "Right?"

Zach just brought up, "You invited Montgomery too?"

Scott shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. "Oh, yeah. I did."

"Hmm," Zach said, making Scott fell bad for it.

"We can stop by just to say 'hi'," Ophelia suggested.

Honestly, she didn't want the fact that Montgomery was going to stop her. She didn't want him controlling what she did in her life anymore.

Zach just said, "Maybe. I think I have to watch May."

Ophelia elbowed him for his rude tone. Zach sighed, looking up at Scott and saying, "I'll try."

Scott tried not to seem upset. It was obvious Zach didn't want to go, and it maybe meant Ophelia wouldn't want to go either.

"Okay, cool. I'll see you guys at graduation?"

Zach said, "Yeah. The whole team's going."

Scott glanced at Ophelia. She nodded, "We'll both be there."

Scott grinned. "Cool. I'll be looking for you." Scott saw Zach frown and quickly said, "You guys, I mean. Both of you."

He wished he could put words back in his mouth.

He walked away, awkwardly. When he was gone, Zach turned back to Ophelia.

"You want to go to his graduation party?"

He spoke to her like she was doing something wrong.

"Yeah, why not?"

Zach hesitated. "I don't know. I just..."

"What's wrong?"

Zach sighed. He admitted. "I don't want to go."

She frowned, suddenly sad. "But isn't Scott your friend?"

He was. Barely. But Zach felt a weight on his shoulders whenever he saw him, and guilt on his conscience.

Because Scott had taken the fall for Zach. Ophelia thought Scott was the one that got Montgomery arrested. She thought that Scott went behind her back. Zach had. And he was terrified of Ophelia finding out.

"I just don't want to go," Zach told her. "And I still have to watch May like I said."

"What if I have my mom watch her? She can come over and hang out with Honor-"

"It's just not something I want to do,"

Ophelia picked up on his tone. The passive aggressiveness.

Ophelia knew what he was hinting at. She had been used to this tone. But only from Montgomery. Not from Zach.

"So you don't want me to go?"

Zach frowned. "Why would you go if I don't?"

Ophelia found herself frowning at her boyfriend. She was her own person. She could go where she wanted.

But Ophelia thought he was right. If she was uncomfortable with him going to a girl's party, she would hope he'd stay away.

"Fine," she said. "I won't go."

Zach saw her irritation. "I didn't say you couldn't. I just don't know why you would want to."

"I don't want to anymore," she told him, simply.

Zach groaned. "I know you're lying. I'm not, like, banning you from the party."

"I know," she said.

Zach felt like she didn't know. And he felt guilty for it.

"I'm serious. You can go if you want."

"I don't want to go without you," she insisted. "And you're right. There's no place for me without you. They're your friends, not mine."

Zach wanted to say that wasn't true. He wanted to tell her a lot of people were on her side more than his at the moment.

But he didn't. Because he didn't want her to go. Because he didn't like her being with Scott.

"How's the family?" Charlie asked Montgomery as him and Scott sat back down.

Montgomery told him, "The dad seems pretty good. His mom, maybe not so much."

Scott mentioned, "The moms the one that's been living with him. I heard his dad fucking left them. All she has left is her father now, and he looks in pretty bad shape. No way she'll be alright for a while."

Montgomery scoffed. "The mom's the one that fucking kicked him out. I like Mrs. Walker but you gotta admit she was kind of a bitch after the trial."

Scott said, "Lay off her, man. What's wrong with you today?"

"Nothing's wrong with me," he said. "I'm just saying it like it is."

"Well, don't just say anything if you're going to be rude," Scott told him strictly. "And I thought Dr. Bridges told you to stop saying the word 'Bitch'."

Montgomery scoffed. "He can't tell me what to do."

Scott just said, "He kind of can. Now that's he's court ordered." Montgomery had to do a few hours of anger management with his parole.

"That's shits over," Montgomery said. "I finished the course. And even when I was in it he couldn't boss me around."

Scott was confused. "No way you finished that shit already."

"Well, I did the mandatory weeks. I'm out now," he said, casually.

Scott was upset. "You didn't have to stop."

Montgomery said, "I wanted to."

So Montgomery had left Anger Management after Scott had left for college, and was unable to force him to stay in it. It made Scott sad.

"That's why you're fucking snapping at everyone. And that's why you were so mean to Zach and..." Scott hesitated. "...Marisa."

Montgomery chuckled. "The fuck do you care about Marisa?"

Scott admitted, "I don't." Scott thought about it. "Actually, Marisa is kind of a bitch." Scott did not like Marisa. It was only fair, Marisa didn't like Scott. They had never gotten along.

"Yeah, she's fucking friends with Ophelia now," Montgomery filled him in. Scott noticed how much he still talked about her, so casually. "Fucking drives me crazy."

Scott didn't think they went good together. Hopefully, Marisa didn't go to the Walker house. He couldn't even pretend to like her.

"And Zach...that asshole hated Bryce. I don't know why he's fucking talking."

"Cause he's the team captain." The boys looked to see Justin had walked over to them. He sat next to Scott. He wasn't wearing the Walker uniform, only a suit.

"Hey, Scotty," Justin greeted him as he sat down. He had missed Scott's presence on the football team. And at school in general.

Montgomery scoffed. "Why are you even here? You weren't his friend at the end."

Justin felt a pang of regret hit him. A year ago, he never would have thought him and Bryce wouldn't be friends. They were inseparable then.

Justin swallowed his hurt and told Montgomery, "Neither were you, man. Neither were you, Scott. No one was. But there was a time when we all loved him."

Montgomery looked away. He felt embarrassed. "I didn't...love him." No, of course he didn't love a boy. Only gay men loved boys in his mind.

Justin said simply, "I did."

Charlie, from next to Montgomery spoke up. "He was always nice to me. Even when I was a freshmen. I guess he changed."

Justin shook his head. "No. The same guy who was nice to you is the same guy someone wanted dead."

Scott cringed. "And they're sure it was murder? He couldn't have just gotten drunk and fallen in and drowned?"

"He was fucking beaten to death," Montgomery told him. "The cops seem to think it must be a fucking high schooler."

Justin shook his head. "It must be Bryce's mom insisting on it. They've had so many bullshit theories."

Scott said, "Like, how they thought it was Ophelia?"

Justin nodded. "It was bullshit."

Montgomery was suddenly thankful that Justin didn't mentioned the bloody baton that had been from Montgomery, or the incident with him at all. Scott knew about his home life, and wouldn't leave him alone if he knew what happened.

"It was probably fucking Zach," Montgomery scoffed. "That fucking asshole didn't even seem sad about his death. He's probably just talking so people think he cares."

"Come on," Justin said. "We all know Zach's one of the better people at the school."

Montgomery let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah. You would say that. You haven't taken one of his hits like me and Scott have."

Scott just said, "I don't think anyone we know could have done it. Bryce dealt drugs. It was probably one of the guys he sold for."

Montgomery muttered, "Or one of the guys he sold to."

His eyes stayed on Justin. Justin just scoffed, and looked away.

Zach took the stage.

Ophelia sat up straighter, making sure he could see her in the back in case he got nervous. The church went quiet, waiting.

She saw his nervousness, even from all the way back at the last row.

Zach took a deep breath. He looked down at his cards.

He cleared his throat. "Bryce was a true competitor on the field. He fought for his team. Always."

Ophelia noticed Justin hanging his head a few rows ahead, sitting next to Scott and the rest of the football team.

Zach continued, "He was loyal, and he was strong. The kind of strong that I always wished that I could be. In a way."

Zach remembered clearly when he met Bryce, and how impressed he always was of his skill. Zach was always so happy whenever Bryce hung out with him, because Bryce made him feel important. When Zach grew, he realized some of his talent in baseball and football was better then Bryce's. But he never made Bryce feel inferior for it, because Bryce had never done that to him.

Zach caught Ophelia's eye. She nodded, telling him he was doing great. Zach felt so guilty standing up there and talking good about someone who had been so awful to her. But he felt guilty for a lot of reasons.

Zach paused for a moment.

"I didn't always agree with Bryce. Or what he did. But I wonder sometimes if all we are is a sum of our actions in the end, or if we're more than that. I want to believe that we're more than that."

Ophelia saw Justin wipe his eyes. She regretted moving seats for selfish reasons. She could have been closer to comfort him.

"There was a time where I called Bryce Walker my brother. And there was a time where I didn't. But we're all brothers and sisters. All of us. And whether I like it or not..." Zach paused, having to clear his throat one more time from the abundance of sadness that came upon him. "...I am my brother's keeper."

His brother's keeper. It reminded Ophelia about how those boys always looked out for each other. But only for each other. That was the problem.

Zach looked over to the coffin. "So Bryce..."

Ophelia didn't know what he would say next. His notes already ended.

She saw Zach's eyes gloss up, even from all the way in the back row.

"...I'm sorry. And goodbye."

Ophelia bit her lip. She felt so sad for Zach, and Justin, and Bryce's parents. And she felt sad for Bryce. She felt sad in general.

The last time she saw Bryce he was just playing football. A stupid high school football game. Because he was just a kid, just a high schooler.

Ophelia didn't know why Zach said sorry. He had nothing to feel sorry about. Maybe he just felt guilty for everything, like she did.

Ophelia sniffed, loudly. Marisa reaches over to touch her, making sure she was already.

Ophelia saw Scott turn around. He must have heard her, and she felt bad that she had been so loud. But she didn't regret it. Because he smiled at her before turning back around. And it made her feel just a little bit better.

He just knew how to do that. So well.

Ophelia changed her mind. But not until the day of graduation.

Her and Zach had gone to the graduation to cheer for the people they knew.

When they called Scott's name, the entire baseball team stood up on the bleachers and cheered for him.

When Zach didn't stand, Ophelia felt bad. Especially because Scott had seen her in the crowd, and knew he hadn't been excited for him, even though she had been.

So she told Zach should wanted to go to Scott's graduation party, just to say goodbye to Scott. She didn't want Scott to think there was bad blood between any of them.

Zach told her she could go. But he wouldn't.

Ophelia didn't feel completely comfortable going alone. She had never gone to parties before without a boyfriend, or someone with her. She was scared. What if she didn't have anyone to talk to? What if she just sat there like a loser?

She convinced herself to muster up the courage and go. It would be quick. She would just be quick.

Ophelia brought Scott a small gift, and she was clutching it nervously. She got to his door, and became even more scared.

She heard voices in the backyard, and inside. And loud music. People were laughing, and seemed to be having a good time. It made her even more nervous.

Maybe she should just knock, and hand him the gift, and leave. That would work. Just knock and leave.

Ophelia took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Surprisingly, an older woman answered. She smiled at Ophelia. "Hi, come on in!"

The woman stepped aside and Ophelia walked into the house.

"I'm Mrs. Reed!" the woman greeted happily. "And you are?"

"Ophelia."

Ophelia was surprised Scott's mom was there. He assumed no parents would be there. Most seniors had their grad parties at night so the adults would leave. Scott didn't mind having his parents here.

"This is for Scott," Ophelia said, handing her the bag.

"Oh, how kind of you!" Scott's mother said. "I can put that right in the living room." She looked at the tissue paper in the bag. "What a good job you did decorating it. Most of his friends just put it in newspaper or plastic store bags. Boys."

Ophelia smiled as she was led into the living room, which was empty.

"You just know him from school?"

She nodded. "Yeah. We have a class together."

That's as far into their relationship as she would go.

"He's really smart," Ophelia mentioned, even though his grades weren't as good as hers. He was a C student.

"What a sweet lie," Mrs. Reed laughed. "But I know the unfortunate truth."

Ophelia laughed too.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Ophelia?"

"Mom!"

Scott suddenly came into the living room. He looked embarrassed. "What are you doing?"

"Just talking to your friend, Scott."

Scott came between the two. "I've got it."

Mrs. Reed looked at Ophelia. "Did he not tell you it was a swim party?"

Ophelia just now noticed he was wearing swim trunks, and his his t-shirt and hair was slightly wet. She wore jeans, and a floral blouse.

"He did," Ophelia said quickly. "It was on the invitation. I'm just not much of a swimmer."

"Of course I told her, mom," Scott said.

His mom held her hands up. "Alright. I see you want me to go, so I'll head back upstairs." She pointed behind her. "Your dad just got back from the store. He put everything in the kitchen. Including the Pepsi you insisted on." She said to Ophelia, "We had three cases of coke, but apparently that wasn't good enough. He needed Pepsi."

"Mom," Scott groaned, seeming embarrassed.

"Alright, alright."

When she left them, Scott said quickly, "I didn't insist on it. I just, like, asked for it."

Ophelia smiled sweetly. "It's okay. I insist on it. I like it better."

Scott smiled to himself. "Oh, cool. I didn't know that." There was something off with his voice when he said it.

"I'm glad you came," he told her. "I didn't think you guys would." But he was ecstatic if that she decided to. And he was kind of glad she was alone.

"I was just going to stop and say 'hi'," she confessed. "I don't know how long I can stay."

Scott was saddened, but didn't want to show it. "Well, let me show you what's going on first."

"Going on?" She smiled. "Okay."

He led her outside. He had a fairly large pool, and tons of people were there. It surprised her that with this many people there to see him, he bothered spending any one on one time with her.

He pointed to a ping pong table where a few boys were around. Beer pong was set up.

"We got beer pong over here," he leaned closer to her and said, "Actually, water pong. Beer pong will happen once I'm sure my parents went to sleep."

Ophelia laughed.

There were a lot of girls there. Ophelia didn't recognize them all. They wore pretty bikinis, or shorts and tank tops. Ophelia bit her lip, feeling out of place.

He pointed to the pool. "We have swimming, of course. But most people have just been playing chicken, or just casually throwing people in. You're in clothes so I think you're safe. Maybe."

She giggled, feeling slight better now. She said joking, "Well now I'm scared to stand by the pool at all."

He joked back, "That's a rational fear. I suggest you stay away."

She couldn't help but laugh at the things he said. Now he pointed to the patio, "Food and drinks under the awning. If we run out of pizza, or are close to running out, pick up the phone and order some more. Whatever kind you'd like."

She raised an eyebrow. "Any kind? Even if I want extra toppings?"

He laughed, nodding. "Even if you want extra toppings."

"I'm impressed. This is real luxury."

Scott shrugged. "Well, I was really close to failing one of my classes and not graduating, so my moms celebrating all out."

Ophelia doubted he would ever fail a class. He was good at charming teachers.

She looked ahead and noticed he had a pool house. "A pool house? Wow, Scott. You guys really are living rich over here."

Scott laughed again. "Not rich. And definitely not your kind of rich. My dad works with pool construction so he actually put in the pool and the pool house himself."

She was impressed. "He built this pool?"

Scott grinned, "Yeah. You need one? I'll give you the friends and family discount."

She bit her lip, smiling.

She heard yelling coming from the pool house. "What's going on in there?"

"Oh, that." Scott ran a hand through his wet hair, slicking it back. "Um, I was thinking you could stay out here, ya know? I'll probably be out here anyway."

She grew suspicious. And scared. What was he doing in there? Drugs? Drinking? Were there girls in there that were doing things they didn't want to be doing?

"Why can't I go in there?" she demanded. What was he hiding?

Scott just said, "You can. But that's where Monty is. He'll probably be in there the whole night."

Ophelia expression softened. "Oh." Suddenly, she felt thankful for the heads up.

"We have a little Desert Duty tournament going on," he explained. "A lot of boys are gonna be preoccupied in there. But everyone can join. I can put your name in if you want."

Ophelia shook her head. "I don't even know how to play."

Scott stepped closer. "I told you I could teach you, remember?"

Ophelia did remember. From all those weeks ago.

"So, how long do you think you can stay?" he asked her.

When he stepped closer, Ophelia felt that feeling again. That weird feeling that was sparked only with him. Normally, she'd tried to suppress it. But she wouldn't be seeing him after that day, right? So what was the harm?

Ophelia smiled at him. "Actually, I think I'll be able to stay for a while."

"There is a son that...only a mother can see."

Zach had sat back down with Ophelia, and he held her hand tightly.

His eyes were still red and wet by the time Mrs. Walker went up stage to speak.

"A mother always sees the little boy inside the man."

Ophelia thought of how hard it must have been for Mrs. Walker. She had only learned of his terrible actions less than a year ago. For the rest of his life, Bryce had always been a good boy to her. What a shock to learn of his sins, and then have to deal with his grief.

"So there is a Bryce I wish you all had known."

Zach squeezed Ophelia's hand just a bit tighter.

"He was capable of...hurtful things. And he was capable of deep love."

Ophelia saw Chloe put her face in her hands in the corner of her eye.

Ophelia suddenly regretted being so rude to her, and possibly making her feel unwelcome. Chloe did nothing wrong. Her only crime was Ophelia considered her really pretty.

Ophelia hated herself for being so selfish and cruel and jealous. She hoped she could make it up to Chloe later on.

In the front she thought saw Ani crying? It must have all been too emotional for her too.

"He had a soul that..." Mrs. Walker had to stop to clear her throat. "...wanted to be good. And a heart that didn't always know how."

Ophelia hated that her eyes drifted to Montgomery. The boy that promised her to do better, but was never able to.

They were best friends for a reason, Montgomery and Bryce. They were so similar. Ophelia hadn't seen it at first. But she did now. She was forced to see their brutal similarities now.

But no matter how bad things were between Montgomery and her, Ophelia knew that she would be torn apart if things ended for Montgomery the same way they did for Bryce.

"But he-he was growing, and getting better. And there were moments in these last months where I saw not only the little boy...but the good man he might become."

Mrs. Walker took a moment of silence. Ophelia felt the thickness in the air.

"I loved him," she breathed. Mrs. Walker looked at Mr. Walker in the front row. "We loved him."

Ophelia felt herself leaning into Zach. He put his arm around her, and pulled her closer, hugging her.

Suddenly, a girl two rows in front of her stood up.

"Bryce Walker was a rapist!"

Ophelia flinched back, shocked at the sudden intrusion.

Another girl stood. "Believe survivors!"

She heard lots of girls shouting, "Mourn the victim, not the rapist!"

"Oh my god..." Ophelia whispered.

She watched as Mrs. Walker's face fell painfully.

"Mourn the victims! Not the rapist!"

This yell was heard from above. Ophelia looked up and saw girls at the second floor of the church, dropping a sign that said 'MOURN THE VICTIMS, NOT THE RAPIST'.

"What the hell are they doing?" Ophelia said aloud.

"Just reminding people of the truth," Zach mumbled.

"At a funeral?" Ophelia asked.

"I didn't say they had the right to," Zach said, agreeing with her. "It's fucked up."

Mr. Walker shot up out of his seat.

"Get that sign down!"

A blonde girl in front of the Jensens stood. "Bryce Walker should burn in hell!"

"Shut up!" Mr. Walker screamed loudly.

"What the fuck?" Montgomery yelled loudly.

Another girl stood up. It seemed like woman were planted in the crowds.

"Justice for Hannah!"

Ophelia's face fell at the name.

Was it wrong for Ophelia to be at this funeral? After what Bryce did to Hannah? She figured she was an awful friend for it.

"Take that sign down!" Mr. Walker screamed again.

A girl two rows in front of the football team stood. "Justice for Jessica!"

Suddenly, Montgomery stood up, staring at the girl angrily.

"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled at her.

Ophelia saw the anger in his eyes, and she knew exactly what his next move would be.

Ophelia jumped to her feet, and called to the person closest to him. "Scott, stop him!"

Scott looked back at her for only a moment before jumping up and grabbing Montgomery, right as he launched forward towards the girl.

"Monty, stop!" Scott yelled at him. He grabbed him by the back of the collar.

While Montgomery was stopped, Mr. Walker wasn't. He grabbed one of the girls at the arm and began yelling at them.

Zach stood up, bring Ophelia with her. "Let's get out of here before things get ugly."

"End rape culture!"

"Shut your mouth!"

"Justice for the victims!"

"Where the hell are the police?"

Zach helped Ophelia our as the police began making their way inside.

"Get your hands off our bodies!" a girl screamed at an officer.

Scott was grabbing Montgomery, pulling him out also as things heated up. He knew Montgomery wanted to do something drastic. Scott refused to let him.

"Bullshit!" Montgomery yelled. There was grief in his voice. "Fucking bullshit!"

Montgomery's voice cracked slightly, obviously emotionally distressed. He was embarrassed by the obviousness. More than that, he was embarrassed because he thought he'd start crying. He would die before he let anyone see that.

Scott walked behind him. Montgomery came up on Zach and Ophelia quickly.

"Get out of my fucking way," he snapped, shoving Zach. Zach stumbled into Ophelia.

Scott said a quick, "Sorry," before following Montgomery. "I'll see you guys at the Walker house."

"God, those fucking assholes," Zach snapped.

Marisa, now coming up behind them said, "I know, right?"

But Ophelia didn't think they were being mean to be mean. Montgomery just wanted to get out, quick, before he started crying. Ophelia knew this. And Scott was just making sure he didn't blow up.

But she didn't want disagree with Zach and make him upset.

So they all left the church. And soon, everyone did.

"Do you even want to still go over there?" Zach asked her.

"I think it'd be good," Ophelia said. "Especially for Bryce's mom. She's so upset seeing everyone against him today."

Paul piped up, "I definitely think we should go. I mean, I think I'm the only one from the Hillcrest team that ever came. To tell you the truth, I think someone from Hillcrest would have more to do with Bryce's death than someone from Liberty. No one there liked him."

Chloe walked up to them now, barely leaving the church. "I'm gonna head over to Bryce's-um, I mean-the Walker's house now. I'll call my mom to take me."

Ophelia felt guilty for her behavior earlier so she said, "You can ride with us."

"Really?"

"Yeah, come on. We'll go together."

Chloe smiled, no longer scared to show up alone. "Okay, great. Thanks."

Zach handed Ophelia the keys. "You two head to the car. I'm going to go tell my mom we're leaving."

Ophelia nodded, and led Chloe to the car, ignoring the look Marisa was giving her, obviously unhappy with her actions to ride with Chloe.

Zach stepped into the church, and saw Montgomery and Scott talking in the corner on the lobby. Scott looked like he was trying to calm him down before letting him leave anywhere.

Zach went to say goodbye to their mom's. When walking back out, Montgomery was walking outside to his Jeep already. Scott stood waiting in the lobby. Zach didn't know what he was waiting for.

Actually, Scott had been waiting for Zach himself. He walked up to him once he saw him.

"Hey, Zach, do you have a second?"

Shit. Maybe he was mad at Zach for the statement now. Or the necklace. Or just anything.

"Whats up?" Zach asked.

Scott looked nervous. "Just-I was wondering about Ophelia. If she's alright. With being arrested and everything."

Zach frowned. "Yeah, she's okay."

Zach went to leave, but Scott stepped in front of him quickly. Zach groaned.

"Yeah, I'm sure she is," Scott agreed. "But, I don't know, she was acting weird today. To me, she was."

Zach just said, "It's a funeral, Scott. What do you expect?"

Scott nodded. "Yeah, yeah, she is. But, you know, she's really quiet."

"Ophelia always has been really quiet," Zach commented, becoming annoyed.

"Yeah, but after she broke up with Monty, she got louder, you know? Not louder, but more talkative. I just-I don't know. Did something happen?"

Zach scoffed. "You think you know her a lot better, don't you?"

Scott shrank back. "No, that's not what I-"

"How about you worry about your own girlfriend?" Zach said. "I'll worry about mine."

Scott watched Zach walk out of the church. Scott scoffed, shaking his head.

Scott made his way to Montgomery's Jeep. He had been dropped off at the church, and Montgomery would drive him to Bryce's house.

Montgomery saw his expression. "Zach being a fucking dick again?"

Scott scoffed. "Yeah."

a/n: there's your damn Scott scenes y'all wanted so bad ? ゚リツ? ゚リツ jk I love him too

next chapter will take place at Bryce's memorial

and yes Ani and Clay aren't done with Ophelia ?