Everglow | Liam O'Donovan - TDG

Chapter 7 - A Visitor

The days leading up to Ophelia's mums visit were agonisingly long for the teenager, she hadn't told the rest of the kids yet as she's seen the way they can get when a parent comes to visit – either out of jealousy or anger that their parents weren't making the same effort to see them. Ophelia hadn't even told Liam; she knew that he would react badly when he found out that she had kept it from her, but she couldn't bring herself to tell anyone more than Lily and Carmen. The two girls were very supportive of the anxious Ophelia and comforted her when it all started to get a little bit much, especially on the night before when it all started to get very, very real.

Liam had noticed that something was wrong, but with the way that Ophelia was quite withdrawn he had decided not to push with what was going on and instead he would just take one of her hands in his and squeeze for reassurance.

When the day of reckoning arrived, Ophelia was a mess of nerves and felt very, very sick. Carmen and Lily helped Ophelia to pick out an outfit, well they say they helped, but really there were just looking for things they could borrow from her wardrobe in the future. The teenage girl chose a big yellow sweater with sunflowers on the front which was tucked into a pair of black chequered long trousers with a black belt holding the trousers up. After a moment of long thinking, she kept her mums locket on but under the jumper and left the ring on her bedside table.

At breakfast, Mike decided to break the news to everybody that Ophelia's mum was visiting that day and that they should all be on their best behaviour. Everybody was shocked as they glanced at the retreating Ophelia, who was shrinking in her seat slowly, they really didn't know much about what her mother was like as the girl barely spoke about her parents – and for good reason given the state that she was in when she arrived.

"Wait what?" Liam asked, the fury bubbled under his skin quite harshly and he tried to detain it for the sake of not causing a scene this early in the morning and as to not set off Ophelia – he'd never forgive himself if he did that.

Ophelia pushed her fairly soggy cereal around in her plate, "yeah, I got told a couple of days ago."

"So that's why you been so off?" Frank asked as he passed the water jug down to Harry, who was practically oblivious to what was going on.

The girl hummed as the conversation of her mum carried on circulating the table, Elektra spoke up next, "It's not that big of a deal that she kept it quiet, parents are not a huge deal."

Gus clicked his pen as he opened his notebook, "what time will she be arriving? Where will you be sitting? How long will she be here for?"

Ophelia dropped her spoon with a loud clatter as she covered her face with her hands and rubbed harshly, all of the questions were not making her feel any better about the day. "Guys, please just shut up."

Tracy spoke up and quietened them all, "It's none of your business about what happens between Ophelia and Michelle, alright? Keep your big noses out."

Tyler was bouncing in his seat at the mention of a visitor, "could I meet her? Barely anyone's parents come to visit ever."

"I wonder what she's like." Tee thought out loud to herself as she buttered another piece of toast.

"Well given that Ophelia was ever put into care, I don't imagine that great." Elektra snarked.

Carmen stuck up for Ophelia's mother, "well it's not like she knew where Ophelia had ended up!"

"Well then she should have never left in the first place!" Johnny piped up from his end of the table.

Ophelia had had enough, she stood up abruptly from where she was sat at one of the heads of the table and walked out of the backdoor and into the garden quickly, she slammed the door behind her harshly. Mike scolded everyone at the table for hounding the teenager with questions and making her overthink everything, he decided just to let Ophelia stay in the garden to cool off instead of going after her, all it would likely do would be to set her off even further. Carmen wanted to go after Ophelia, but Mark said no and just told her to stay put.