Curious Stars

Chapter 14 - bloody formal

Music was blasting through the decorated gym and people were everywhere. In other words, it was Ophelia's nightmare. She didn't even remember agreeing to this whole thing, but there she was, sitting at one of the benches next to Brett Talbott.

Ophelia nearly jumped up in her seat when she heard the coach scream through the whole room. "McCall, you are not supposed to - What the hell are you doing?" Yeah, Scott had officially been banned from the formal.

Every student was quiet by then, watching the scene intently. Scott was in a dancing position with Danny who looked confused to no end.

"Yes, Coach?" Ophelia chuckled slightly when she understood Scott's plan. He pulled Danny closer for extra demonstration.

"O-okay, hold on. Hold on you - I was just - I wasn't saying that he shouldn't be - you guys think?", he rambled and shook his head 'no'. "Dance everybody! It's a dance, it's a party!"

The DJ put some music back on and everyone went back to what they had been doing before.

"You want to dance?", Brett asked while standing up, offering her his hand.

"I would love to", she took it and they made their way to the dance floor. A slow song was playing in the background and Ophelia put her hands on Brett's shoulder while he put his on her waist.

"You do look beautiful", he admitted. His eyes fixed on her blue ones.

She let out a giggle, squirming in the white dress. "You did say so about five times. I'm starting to believe you."

"Well, you should."

"You do look not that bad yourself", she said and he smirked. "Not that bad? Please, I saw your look when I got out of the car."

Ophelia blushed and stared at her feet. It had been so embarrassing. Never had she ever felt so attracted to someone before.

"It's the suit", she stated confidently and Brett chuckled. "I know you are lying. I can nearly hear your heart beating faster." They stared at each other intently.

Ophelia wouldn't have thought that she would stand here, dancing with Brett, some weeks ago. But there she was, feeling nothing except safety and something she couldn't quite put her finger on. In other words it felt like a dream.

"Lia! I looked everywhere for you, I can't find Jackson", Lydia appeared and looked around with her eyes filled with tears.

"What do you mean you can't find him?" Ophelia let go of Brett and followed her friend with an apologetic smile towards Brett. A bad feeling formed in her gut and she was feeling lightheaded.

"One second he was there and then we talked and I stayed there. When I came in here, he was nowhere to be found. I just hope he is alright." Lydia looked devastated. Her eyes were a little swollen and puffy as if she had been crying. Ophelia quickly hugged her friend, softly rubbing her back in a comforting manner.

"Don't worry, he will probably be in the gym or head home. It is Jackson we are talking about, he can take care of himself." Little did she know that the boy was putting himself in danger right at that moment. "We can just look around once again and then head home. I think this night's been long enough."

Lydia nodded and when they reached the entrance to the gym, Brett stood in front of them. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"

Ophelia's heart sped up. She didn't know what he wanted to talk about, but it was certainly going to be nothing good. "Uhm, actually I have to look for - " "Oh no, talk, you two. I am going back inside", said Lydia and hugged the girl before leaving.

Brett took her hand and led her towards an empty hallway. The colourful light from the gym faded and turned into shadows as they kept on walking. It felt like time stopped and was flying faster and faster at the same time. When they eventually stopped, he took both of her hands in his.

"I have been wanting to talk to you for a long time. I just never knew how to start, but I can't wait any longer." He took a deep breath, his eyes staring into hers. Brett knew this was going to hurt her, but he also knew she was going to be hurt either way.

"I see you, Ophelia." There was only silence except for the music that was resonating through the halls. Ironically enough "The Night We Met" was playing in the background.

When the night was full of terrors

"I see every side of you. I am not sure if your friends even notice because they are caught up so much in their own life, but I do. I notice how you are dangerously thin. I notice how easy it is to lift you up. I notice how you never eat, how you always grab something while standing up." He looked at her expectantly as if she was supposed to say something, but she was too overwhelmed to even think of anything. So he continued.

And your eyes were filled with tears.

"I have seen you that night you called me. I have noticed you flinch multiple times. This is not normal and you know it, I know it. Something is going on and I can't see the end if nothing changes."

When you had not touched me yet.

He stopped and looked at her. "You need help. If it is from professionals, just me, your friends, or your family. Well, I guess not your father. Isn't he the one that hurt you?" Her heart skipped a beat and she stared at him with wide eyes filled with terror.

Oh, take me back to the night we met.

"That's what I thought. You owe nothing to him, you don't have to stay there. You don't have to go through so much pain."
"But he is my dad", it was the first time Ophelia spoke up. Her voiced wavered, but she held her chin up high.

I had all and then most of you
some and now none of you.

"Is he really your dad, though? Would a father ever carve a word into the fucking skin of his own daughter? You deserve so much more. Let me show you how much living is worth. I can't keep seeing you destroying yourself, please, let me help you." His eyes begged her to listen to his words and no doubt he meant anything he said, but she couln't. It was her father, the one who raised her. The only family member she knew of. If he was gone, she would be alone. Nobody wanted her, he had said that multiple times.

Take me back to the night we met.

"I don't know what you are talking about", she forced her hands out of his and stammered back. Her world started spinning and she put her hand on a locker next to her. A lightheadedness appeared and she nearly let out a content sigh. "Can't you see I'm fine?"

I don't know what I'm supposed to do,
hunted by the ghost of you.

He took a step towards her but she took two back. "I don't believe you", he said and that was all she needed to know. Just when she wanted to turn around, the dizziness took over and she had no control over her body anymore. It was flying towards earth. Before she hit the ground though, it slowed down as somebody caught her.

Take me back to the night we met.

"Ophelia?", she heard in the far distance, but she didn't want to listen to Brett any longer. She would have to distance herself anyway, his knowledge was dangerous. So the black slowly appeared and without fighting everything went dark.