Creative Girl and Him

Chapter 26

At school the next day I'm tired and actually a bit sore. I walk to the place we all meet up and everyone is laughing. Jude and Frankie are joking around and Asia and Peter are kissing. I smile as I jump into Jude's back.

"Hi!" I yell.

"Hey." Everyone says together.

"You're lighter than usual Opal." I laugh and hop off Jude's back.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Jude laughs.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm good. Just really sore for some reason." I look around and see Peter looking away blushing a bit.

"Why are you sore? Did you go running or something?" Frankie asks.

"Well yesterday I walked to the river."

"Maybe you pulled something walking." Asia adds in.

"Yeah maybe."

"Opal." I turn around and see Art. He looks like crap.

"Art?"

"Can I talk to you for a second? Please?" I turn to look at everyone.

"We'll leave you guys alone for a bit." Jude buts in and everyone walks away. I turn back to Art.

"What do you want Art?"

"I'm sorry Opal."

"Sorry doesn't have much of a meaning for you Art." I start to walk away but he grabs my arm.

"Opal please." Art looks like he's about to cry. "Just one more chance." I look down at his arm. This is the arm with his bicep and forearm tattoo, and one scar that I have no idea where he got it.

"Let me think about it."

"Okay. Okay I'll take that." The bell rings and Art let's me go.

"I'll see you in class."

"Actually, can we have lunch together?" Art is acting like a totally different person now...

"Sure."

"Rooftop?" I nod. "Okay. I'll see you there."

~~~

"Do you want us to come with you Opal?" Peter asks as we grab our lunches.

"No, I'll be okay. But thanks for the concern." I grab my lunch and wave to them. "See you guys later." I walk to the rooftop and when I climb to the top I see Art standing on the edge. "Art!" He turns around quickly.

"You came."

"What are you doing on the edge of the building?! Get away from there, you're gonna hurt yourself." Art laughs and steps away from the edge.

"I'm crazy, not suicidal." He walks to the bench and sits down, "Not that there is something wrong with being suicidal." I set my lunch down and sit beside him.

"Why am I here Art?"

"Because you love me." A lump forms in my throat.

"I wouldn't go that far with it." I add in. "In all seriousness Art... Can you tell me why I'm here?"

"Fate?" I sigh and stand up. "Opal."

"Art I'm done with jokes." I turn around but I feel Art's hands grab my waist.

"I'm sorry. I've never done this before." I turn to him.

"Done what?"

"Opened up." I cross my arms over my chest and Art sighs. "She cheated. I may have been over reacting.." He ruffles his already messy hair. "I did overreact..." He sits back down on the bench, looking up at me. "I have problems and I just snapped. After she told me I blacked out and the last thing I remember was being in the interrogation room."

"And heartless?" Art looks down at the ground. "Art." I walk over and kneel in front of him. I slide my hand against his cheek and he closes his eyes.

"It was my mantra." I raise an eyebrow. "Heartless... I didn't want to snap again.... I didn't want to fall for someone so hard and hurt them with my own hands. So I find its best to be heartless..." I drop my hands to his knees and exhale slowly. "I have dissociative personality disorder. I black out in fits of high emotions and my body keeps going. I can lose minutes, hours... Even days."

"So it wasn't you who killed Jessica." I say quietly, still trying to understand.

"I did... My hands did it."

"But you loved her. If you were you then you never would have hurt her." Art nods.

"Why didn't you tell the cops that Art?"

"I'm not sick." I stand up and sit beside him holding his hand tightly. "I don't deserve to get off easy."

"Art, that is sick... And it's not getting off easy when you didn't want to commit the crime."

"That doesn't matter in the big house Opal." My heart stops.

"Who did she cheat with?"

"One of her best friends." I bite my lip and push back the thoughts of Peter and I. "Raymond Grey." My heart beats faster.

"The Raymond you beat into the hospital my first day here?" Art nods.

"I was able to talk my way out of it but I had to go to the station later that day." I exhale heavily. "Funny thing is, me telling you these things don't begin to explain why I am the way I am." I intertwine my hand with his.

"Well, I have all the time in the world." Art smiles up at me and I can't help but smile back. He leans forward and kisses me lightly. It's a light peck and it proved how sweet Art can be.

As he pulls away though.... I can't get the thoughts of Peter and I out if my mind...