Unpredictable

Chapter 20

So yeah, I have nightmares. I have since I was little. Some thing with my brain. The doctors thought it was post-traumatic stress disorder at first, but once they saw I wasn't that stressed, they diagnosed me with something called nightmare disorder. Though I'm not even sure that's a thing. They probably just wanted me to think that a sickness was what was wrong with me, not just something they couldn't describe.

But this wasn't going to put me down, I was going to walk into school with a smile on my face, even if my brother kept giving me weary looks. "Would you stop looking at me like that El? You're going to put holes in my head." We talked after getting off the bus. "I'm sorry. Why didn't you come to us?" I sighed. "I handled it." I tried to reason with him. "You cried yourself to sleep Ope. That's not handling." I shushed him. "Quiet. I don't want people to think I'm weak." He rolled his eyes. "Everyone cries Opal. It's fine." I have him a stern look. "Not me. I'm supposed to be the strong one; the one that comforts you when you're crying, not the other way around." He groaned. "That's not good for you sis. That emotion is going to bottle up inside of you until one day you just pop, and then what do you do?" I shrugged. "I guess I just won't pop then." I waved at him and started down a different hall.

You know when you try really hard to pay attention in a boring class? Because it's so boring and you know that you're prone to zoning off in here so you're trying really hard to stay focused, because you keep getting low grades in here and maybe if you listened you would do better. Then you're focusing so much on focusing and you realize you're not really listening. That's me in fifth period, biology. I can't do it, so I allow myself to daydream because I know I'm going to anyways so why not get it over with? The thing is, Mrs. Reuben has a thing for calling on people who look like they're not paying attention. And when I'm staring out the window, pretending that a skilled ninja is fighting a huge bear, I look pretty out of it. "So, Opal!" My chin fell out of my hand, nearly slamming on the desk.

"Huh?! Oh, yes Mrs. Reuben?" She smiled not so sweetly. "So, after my explanation, what did you pull from that?" I sat there, eyes wide. Because of course I had no idea what we were talking about, for a split second I nearly called out 27 but then I remembered I was in biology. "Um, yes, quite. The thing is..." Very discreetly, so subtly that the motion barely caught my eye, a hand placed a piece of paper in mine. I quickly opened it, trying not to make a sound. Inside was what I was guessing was the answer. "You see Mrs. Reuben, what I found interesting was the fact that some bugs have mastered walking on water by using the water property of surface tension, though water's resistance to temperature change was a close second." She raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised. "Interesting take Opal. Well done." She began to teach, and I glanced to my right. Michael Rockford sat there, trying not to smile. I had forgotten he sat next to me in this class. Suddenly this class had gotten a lot more interesting.

I was playing fetch with Lillie while I sketched. I would toss the ball, and while she got it and debated whether to give it to me or to keep it, I would draw my surroundings. Plus I heard from a little bird that Michael would be here, and I really wanted to thank him.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Because right as I thought this Michael was walking over the hill, beautiful yellow lab at his side. Lillie ran towards them, obviously recognizing them. But she surprised Michael causing him to drop whatever was in his hands everywhere. He got flustered, trying to control his dog and mine. I quickly ran to his aid, abandoning my sketchbook.

"Lillie! Come here girl!" She quickly trotted over to me. I told her to sit and went to help Michael. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! My dog, she kinda gets excited. I'm so sorry!" There were sheets of notebook paper everywhere, full of scribbled words. Some cursive, some not. Nevertheless, the papers were everywhere. "It's okay Opal. Calm down." He was chuckling at my outburst. "Oh it's not that funny." I said, trying to defend myself. "No, but you're adorable." I was so surprised by this I smacked my head against his, putting me back on my butt.

"Sorry! I thought I didn't say that out loud." I rubbed my head, and he stood so he could help me up. "It's fine. It's fine. I just don't get compliments very much." He quirked an eyebrow at me when I stood. I realized what I just said. "I mean, I get compliments all the time. Pfft.... totally all the time. Just not from cute boys... NOT THAT I THINK YOU'RE CUTE! I mean, I'm not saying you're not good looking! I'm just saying that I, uh.... I gotta go bye!" I took off, yelling Lillie's name as I sprinted. She thought it was a game, running after me.

I was on the phone with Alice. "I've never been more mortified!" I cried. "I beg to differ. Remember when you tripped in the lunchroom and fell into your lunch?" I thought about it. "Okay besides that." I responded. "Or when you weren't looking where you were walking and you ran right into the school's flagpole? You busted your lip." I rolled my eyes. "Besides that too." "Or when you..." "I get it! I'm clumsy and I've been mortified many times before." I chuckled while she full out busted out laughing. "You know, I'm starting to think we're only friends so you can laugh at me." I said jokingly. She gasped. "How did you catch on?" We laughed and talked awhile more, then I said I had to go. "Okay. But remember Opal, THE SUN WILL COME OUT! TOMORROW! BET YOU'RE BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT TOMORROW THEY'LL BE..." I hit the call end button then, laughing all the while.