CHAPTER NUMBER TWO:
before the start of season four!

・・・・・☆

ALLISON HAD STILL BEEN STICKING AROUND — much to Ophelia's displeasure. Overall, she was a timid girl who didn't like to interact much with people. And Allison knew that the only way Ophelia would be able to help her was breaking out of her shell that confined her.

It was around noon, Ophelia Cooper was sat in the library, carefully skimming her eyes on the book that she needed to study for her class. It was only her, and a boy who had a significant crook in his jaw, searching around the isles with furrowed brows.

"That's him!"

Opehlia gasped, eyes wild as they laid upon Allison. "Of course," she grumbled, placing a hand on her heart to stop breathing heavy. "Back to torture me in public?"

Allison didn't bother to answer, her eyes locked on the boy in the back of the room. "That's him! That's Scott McCall." Her ghostly finger, that only Opehlia could see, pointed towards him eagerly. "You have to talk to him. This is a perfect chance because he's alone. That almost never happens."

Opehlia laughed, but it wasn't humorous. "Allison you're crazier than I thought if you think I'm talking to him."

As the two girls bantered, she hadn't noticed the McCall boy's head had snapped up and was watching her curiously. She was having a whole conversation with the chair beside her . . . that didn't host a person.

"Ophelia what are you scared of?" Allison asked. "He won't bite," she joked, but turned serious at her friends sour face.

Ophelia turned her head around slightly, watching him through her thick eyelashes. "I-I don't know. I'll make a fool out of myself, Allison. I'm not good with this."

Allison smiled softly, sliding her hand around Ophelia's pale one. "You could never make yourself a fool in front of, Scott. Opehlia once you get to know him, you'll see how great of a person he is. I promise."

Thinking to herself, she let out a deep sigh and stood up, never letting the lingering presence of the now dead girl leave her. If she was going to do this — it wouldn't be alone.

Scott's warm finger slid over the inked book, jumping at the small tap on his shoulder. He turned around, and allowed himself to smile for a second, his breathing hitched as he scanned the standing girl.

"I'm Opehlia," she introduced, her voice sounding small. "I think — uh — I think I'm in your geometry class with Lydia?" It came out more as a question than a statement, but Scott didn't seem to care as looked at her awestruck. Her beauty was awakening, and he felt little chills travel his spine when she spoke.

Scott nervously leaned against the bookcase, absentmindedly knocking down a few books. He blushed a bright red, and hurried to bend down and pick them up. Ophelia chuckled, and bent down to help him. "You're quite clumsy, huh?" She teased, handing him a couple of worn down books.

Allison stood back and watched the awkward pair communicating amongst themselves. She smiled in victory, knowing this was just the beginning. She was proud of her work, but most importantly, proud of Ophelia. Before seeking help from the young girl, she was warned by many it was a lost cause. Ophelia was damaged. She was struggling to keep herself in check, and do good for her parents, all while guarding the biggest secret of all.

After butting heads several times, Ophelia and Scott had finally managed to pick themselves up from the floor. "Thanks," he stuttered. "I haven't really seen you before. Are you sure you're in my geometry class?" Scott insinuated with a raised eyebrow.

Ophelia cleared her throat, her eyes squinted as she thought of things to say. "Well I have your geometry teacher, we're just not in the same class at the same time."

"You don't say," Scott laughed. "Because Lydia doesn't have my geometry class, either." Ophelia felt embarrassment bubble in her stomach, that she had been caught. Even though he didn't seem to mind.

"Well, you caught me." She murmured. Automatically regretting that she had even walked up to him. Feeling overwhelmed never settled right in her stomach, and decided it would be better to save herself the rejection and walk the other direction. "I have go. I didn't mean to bother you."

Turning on her heel, she quickly raced away — ignoring both Scott and Allison as they called her name to come back. She didn't bother to see the looks on their faces, either.