Ophelia's Arc

Chapter 3 of 3

The walk took Ophelia past quiet gardens and shuttered shops. Then the school rose up ahead, brick and wide, with tall windows and a sign that read Whispering Hollows High. She stopped at the bottom of the steps. Cars pulled in behind her. Voices grew loud as students climbed toward the doors. She knew none of them. Her key pressed cold against her leg. Eighth school. Same first-day dread. She made herself take the first step. Her boot caught the edge. She stumbled and her bag slipped off her shoulder. Books scattered down the concrete. Papers fanned out under passing feet. Nobody stopped. A few students stepped over her things and kept walking. Ophelia dropped to her knees and grabbed for her books. Her face burned. This was how it always started. New girl on the ground while everyone watched. "Hey, they're animals in the morning. Don't take it personal." A girl crouched beside her. Red hair, braided to one side. She wore a leather jacket like Ophelia's, and brown boots scuffed at the toe. She caught a loose paper before the wind took it. Her pale brown eyes flicked up with an easy grin. She didn't ask if Ophelia needed help. She just started stacking books. "I'm Riley," she said. She handed over the stack. "You're new. I'd remember that jacket and it’s nice to see someone with style." "Ophelia." She took the books and stood. Her knees stung. "Thanks. Most people just walk over you." "Most people are half asleep." Riley slung her own bag higher. "First day?" Ophelia nodded. She waited for the polite goodbye. In the old towns, help ended at the door. People were kind once, then forgot her by lunch. But Riley tilted her head toward the entrance. "Come on. I'll show you where the office is. They'll want to hand you a schedule and lose you in the halls." She started up the steps, then looked back. "Well? You coming, or you gonna study the sidewalk?" Ophelia laughed. It came out real, surprised. She climbed after her. Inside, Riley walked fast and talked faster. She pointed at a broken water fountain, a hallway that flooded when it rained, a teacher to avoid. She waved at a few people, but she stayed at Ophelia's side. At the office door she stopped. "They'll take a minute," Riley said. "I've got history down that hall. What's your first class?" Ophelia checked the paper. "History." Riley grinned wider. "See? The school likes you already." She pulled out her phone. "Give me your number. So you don't eat lunch alone like a sad movie." Ophelia typed it in. Her hands felt light. She had a friend before the first bell rang. A real one, in a town that stayed.