Haunted

Chapter Four

Soon after Ophelia and I made our deal, soccer practice was over and it was time to pack up our little picnic. I was upset, I had such a good time actually talking to someone who wasn't Martha, and now I didn't want to leave. And although I had this terrifying image of Ophelia screaming embedded into my mind, it was better to talk to her than to be alone. Plus, Ophelia didn't seem like the type to scream outside of someone's window at three in the morning. Then again, who does? I shook it off, helping Ophelia by carrying the blanket and the picnic basket this time. We walked back to the car, and I placed the items in the trunk. Ophelia snuck up behind me as soon as I locked the hatch. "Am I pretty?" She asked me.

"For a girl, you're the prettiest." I replied.

"Be honest, Owen." She said, with a serious look on her face.

"Depends on the guys taste. So, if a guy was interested in girls who look like goddesses, then you'd definitely be his type. However, if he was interested in naked mole rats, he'd have to try his luck elsewhere." Ophelia cracked a smile, which made me crack one as well.

"Well at least I don't look like a naked mole rat." She said in a sassy tone, making me laugh. We didn't say anything after that. We just got into the car and Ophelia drove towards my host house. On the way there Ophelia and I jammed to Paramore, and I forgot all about the nightmare I had the night before.

By the time school started again and the weekend was over, I had decided that being on the soccer team was not an option. I had to for the sake of my Irish Experience. There was no way that I was going to take 'No' for an answer. I walked into the school that Monday with my head held high and a smile on my face, nobody was going to hold me back from achieving my goal. 

World History was the same as last week, long and agonizing. After class, I began my walk downstairs towards Physics when Ophelia's father stopped me in the hallway. "Well, well, well. If it isn't that boy my daughter keeps going on and on about." He said, patting my shoulder and leading me down the hallway. I chuckled nervously. She talked to him already?

"I'm Owen." I stated, going in for a handshake.

"Coach Birmingham, nice to meet you, Owen." He said, accepting my handshake. 

"Nice to meet you too, sir." I said, trying my best to be nice.

"So I'll see you on the field after school today, right?" He said, a small smile forming on his face. My eyebrows raised and my eyelids flew open.

"Wait, you're serious?" I ask. "You're really going to let me try out?" I question again.

"I'm an equal opportunist, Owen. You should know that about me. See you at 3:30." Coach Birmingham began to walk away. "And you better be wearing the appropriate shoes!" He called back, over his shoulder.

When Coach Birmingham was out of sight, I literally jumped from joy, and spun around. I couldn't believe Ophelia actually pulled through for me. 

I had to sprint to class to make it on time, since I had gotten distracted. As soon as I walked in, I saw Ophelia sitting at our usual table and walked over. She had been staring at me with a huge smile since I walked in the door, and my emotions mirrored hers almost identically. 

"Having a good day, Owen?" Ophelia asked when I finally reached the table.

"You're one absolutely wicked red head, you know that?" I stated in a joking tone. She laughed at that, and I sat down, pulling out my notebook. 

"I scratch your back, you scratch mine." She winked.

"I'll give you a whole damn massage, I don't care." I replied, making Ophelia and I both fall into fits of laughter.

"Is something funny?" Mr. Holloway asked us. Ophelia and I instantly quieted down, and a few students around us snickered. "I love comedy." He pushed further. When Ophelia and I both stayed silent, Mr. Holloway began his lesson. When he turned around, Ophelia and I made eye contact and began quietly giggling again.

I couldn't help but think to myself, It's so nice to have a friend.

After school I practically sprinted to the locker room to get ready to try out. I got ready as quickly as I could, making sure not to make eye contact with anyone. Because, well. That's just impolite. My sneakers were triple knotted to make sure I didn't accidentally trip over my own lace. However, not even that could have prepared me for the try outs that I was about to endure.

I started out with a mile and a half warm up, which wasn't bad. However when I finished I still didn't stop running. I pushed my body to the absolute limits to prove I was good enough to be on the team. Coach Birmingham made me play a couple of different positions to see which one I would fit in best. Although goalie was my main position, Alfonso was already goalie and he did a damn good job. 

"Alright everyone gather up." Coach Birmingham ushered, pushing everyone into a circle position. "We're going to practice scrimmage. Alfonso and Niall are team captains, choose teams." He said, clapping his hands together. 

When Coach walked away, Niall called out "First Pick!" and began choosing players back and forth with Alfonso. 

My eyes followed Coach Birmingham, as he walked towards a girl on a picnic blanket that I instantly recognized as Ophelia. Ophelia handed her dad a bottle of water, and he sat down with her and began talking. I wished I could hear what they were saying so that I would know if he was actually considering putting me on the team or not. Ophelia looked over at me, making eye contact from a good fifty yards away. I was startled instantly. 

Outside my bedroom window, stood Ophelia. She screamed as loud as she possibly could, looking me straight in the eyes. She never stopped to take a breath. It was a long, continuous scream that lasted well over two minutes.

The stare was the same. She absolutely terrified me when she looked at me like that, practically making my knees go weak. I was frozen in place- "Owen!" My head whipped behind me, breaking the eye contact with Ophelia.

"Yeah?" I questioned, looking around for who had said my name. 

"You're with me." Niall said. "Take goalie position." 

I smirked. Time to take this show on the road.