What Lurks Below

~Chapter 1~

Ophelia Darlington lifted her arms up, yawning. Her blond hair in a mess, mascara from the night before striping the side of her face. Ophelia rubbed her green eyes, blinking a few eyelashes off her carmel skinned face, the redness still stinging from the suns kisses the day prior. Sitting up she glanced out the window, tall and clear. A small shelf accompanied the view with succulents of all shades, and sizes. A large one labeled 'Brutus' with vines reaching out four feet from the pot it was confined in.

Her sun spotted arm reached out grabbing her cell phone, messages from Elenor in attempts to wake Ophelia. She rolled her eyes at the messages, eyes flickering upward at the time, eleven am. It was past her normal nine am wake time. Ophelia giggled at her messages, Opi? Are you dead? Should I send help? Please answer ophelia this isn't funny! Eleanor, good heart just a fuzzy head.

***

Best friends since the sixth grade when Elenor got her head shaved. Elenor lost most of her 'popular' friends she hung around and became a part of. The small very pale girl sat alone at a deserted cafeteria table. Few chairs remaining, food left clutched onto the top. She covered her head with a cream sweater she often wore to keep warm despite the warm weather of the south coasts.

Ophelia was new to the school. She had little understanding of groups of kids at schools and social norms coming from a tiny school on the country side of London. All the kids played together on rolling hills without the status quo of the normal food chain where Elenor grew up. It was different, seeing the way that the kids treated her for the absence of hair like everyone else did. Ophelia joined her at her small broken table and they became close friends quickly. Elenor started more treatments and again lost her hair.

Elenor was distraught and cried to ophelia how she could never be as pretty as the other girls that walk through the school halls.

Ophelia hugged her tight and arrived the next morning without hair like Elenor. If we're going to be weird, we will be weird and outcasted together.

***

Surfing, Eden's favorite sport. He often stayed out on the water with nothing but a board and shorts. It was a frequent past time for him. A frequent past time for Ophelia and Elenor to enjoy the sunshine. The warm rays kissing Ophelia's already warm toned skin, burning Elenor's light skin.

"How long is Eden planning to stay out there today? I really don't want another third degree burn Opi." Elenor said pulling her ginger hair back into a tight ponytail, a hint of irritation in her squeaky voice. Ophelia rolled her eyes.

"Not sure honestly, are you still upset I wasn't up early enough to go to breakfast?"

"No, you know it's hard for me to talk to Katherina. She was working this morning Opi! I was like dying trying to talk to her. And I just had to say a number two please!" She squeaked crossing her arms. Ophelia patted her on the back, smiling at Elenor.

"I know, and I'm sorry I was up most of the night studying," she sympathized "although, did you order or leave? I'll bet five dollars you didn't order." Elenor smirked

"You would loose that five dollars, because I actually ordered!"

"Impressive"

"Right! I was so proud of myself!" Elenor giggled

"Maybe I needed to sleep in, so you could stop being a walking gay panic" ophelia joked turning her attention to the waves.

Eden started walking closer, his dark caramel skin scattered with drops of the ocean. His eyes capturing the sky in beautiful pools of interest, that drew so many people in to what he had to say. Ophelia falling victim of his gaze often.