Dear Ophelia

Chapter Four

"Have you been to the doctor's lately? 'Cause I think you're lacking some vitamin me."

Ophelia walked up to Ivo and tugged on his sleeve gently before he left the classroom.

"What is it now, Lia?" He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

"Ermm... you said that you would drop me off for chemo today." She whispered hesitantly, her hands busy playing with a yellow slip of paper.

"I'm sorry. I can't take you today." He mumbled.

"Oh...but you promised." She said frowning, looking at the ground, staring at her slightly warped reflection in the shiny leather of her shoe.

"I know, I'm sorry but I've got to go." He pulled out of her grasp and stormed off.

"But. It's the first session." She protested.

Ivo just ignored her and exited the room.

Lia felt her heart sink a bit. She knew that he wouldn't keep his promise and but she couldn't help but think that maybe this time would be different. She huffed out a sigh and trudged over to her desk to get her stuff, glancing at a tiny peice of white and smiled a little.

"Trouble in paradise, princess?" Romeo mumbled from his slouched position. He always slept through lessons and barely moved unless it was time to go.

Romeo and Lia had become good friends over the week. Romeo had yet to settle on one definitive nickname for Ophelia. They ranged from "Your royal Highness," to "Shiny Rock!" to "fellow Shakespearean character." She liked the latter the best.

Ophelia wacked him across his head. "No!" She said indignantly.

She sank down to sit next to him. "Yes." She huffed.

"What did he do now?" He sighed. Montague agreed with Novae and Madeline, Ivo was bad for her. When he found out about the proposal's true nature and how Ivo treated her he was furious. Romeo was ready to beat him up if Ophelia had so wished.

Ophelia glanced at Romeo who had his head in his arms next to her. "He was my ride."

Romeo sat up and grinned. "I can take you! I have time before my swimming practise."

Ophelia blanched. "No, no. There's no need. I can just take the bus."

"The bus?" He exclaimed. "A woman of you caliber?" He joked. "Come on. I've been dying for you to see my car! And I won't take no for an answer."

Ophelia weighed it over in her mind. She really didn't have any other way to get to the hospital. She forgot her purse at home and she was dropped off by her dad.

Ophelia huffed again but nodded at Romeo. He bounded out of his seat and took her hand, grabbing her out her seat, practically pushed her all the way to his Mercedes.

"Nice car." Ophelia nodded in appreciation.

It really was. It was a dark blue with a sleek body.

"Thanks, so much Your Majesty." He smirked as he opened the door for her.

"So, where to?" He asked after the two of them had been buckled and seated.

Ophelia swallowed hard. "Err... the hospital please."

Montague frowned the smallest bit and glanced at her. "Sure." He nodded.

After driving out of the car park he could no longer hold it in. "Why? I mean, why are you going to the hospital?"

"I'm...just meeting someone there." She lied.

"Ok." For the rest of the drive there he avoided the subject, sending that Ophelia didn't really want to talk about it. He came to the conclusion that if she felt like she needed to, she would tell him.

"What do you have there?" Montague asked, switching the subject.

"What?"

"Are you an echo? The piece of paper in your hands.

"Oh, I've been getting these notes every day. They're really nice. I think they're the only thing I can count on to make me smile." She explained, a small smile pulling at her lips.

"Now, I must hear what was written, since you speak so highly of it." He grinned, sneaking a quick glance at her.

"Ok, but heres's your warning now, it's really corny." She giggled. "Have you been to the doctor's lately? 'Cause I think you're lacking some vitamin me."

Romeo burst out laughing, it was lucky they were at a red light, because they would have been in trouble, with how hard his body was convulsing.

Ophelia followed suit, her slightly high pitched chuckles melding together with his into a beautiful symphony.

They quieted down just in time for the green light.

"Oh my god. I remember when I used that once." His remaining chuckles bubbling over his lips.

"Yeah? How did that go?" Ophelia asked, wiping away stray tears.

"Terribly."

With one glance at each other they started laughing again and had to pull over.

When they finally reached the hospital Ophelia looked over at the driver and smiled.

"Thanks a lot, Romeo." She said as she left the car.

He knew that it wasn't just for the car ride.

"No problem."

When he drove back to school and even during his swim practise, he thought about was Ophelia's visit to the hospital and how she walked into the cancer unit.