The Secrets of Arliss Landon

Chapter 4

Chapter four-

Bizarre Dream, a Strange Follower

My second day of school was very uneventful- however, many things had changed. For one, Opal Channing never left my side, not for a second. I hadn’t noticed before, but she was in every one of my classes. Now that the fairy-like girl wasn’t hiding in the shadows, or trembling in the corner, her true character began to shine through. Opal was extremely energetic, almost hyperactive. She talked and walked with speed, often bouncing on her heels when she stood in the hallway. Her flaming red hair was a blazing beacon, and she was impossible to miss. I simply let her be- I liked her very much, with her outrageous antics and high voice. Even though I had sworn to myself to not make any friends in this school, or anywhere else for that matter, it became harder and harder to try to be indifferent to her. I was a little ashamed actually- had all those solemn vows I had made to myself been petty promises?

Another thing that had changed, was that Opal wasn’t the only one walking and talking with me. Lucas Donavan seemed to have decided something, a decision that I seemed to have been a part of. Whenever he could, he would walk Opal and I to our classes, sit next to us at the lunch tables. Of course, wherever Lucas went, so did Mark. The four of us were timid at first- carefully testing each other, to see if this friendship could really be possible. But after a week of being with each other, and listening, I found myself not being able to stay away from these three people, much to my consternation.

During all that time, Venus did not return to school- the atmosphere around the building had softened, and the eyes of the students around us seemed to have less fear. The only thing that had not changed, however, was the whispering. Girls and boys alike still pointed, whispered, and avoided Opal and I. Even though we weren’t deaf, we pretended to be. I slowly began to find solace in her company- she was a ball of fire, sparking with happiness.

I was very, very envious. Even though I found some comfort in Opal, in Lucas and Mark, the ache in my chest seemed to grow every day. Some days I was so distracted Opal had to pinch me to get my attention.

“You sure daydream a lot,” she said. “Are you tired?”

After two weeks of school, a routine seemed to have been set- I woke up, washed, dressed, ate, and walked for half an hour to the bus stop. There, Barzillai picked me up, and Lucas and I talked for the next half hour. When we arrived at school, Opal and Mark would be waiting on the sidewalk. The four of us had grown comfortable in this routine-and every day I learned something new about my three companions.

For instance, Mark liked to surf. He also had a ‘thing’ for Audrey, as Opal put it. Opal was overly cheerful, but could easily get depressed. She was very open, very trusting. As for Lucas….

His mother was dead, and I felt that our similarity in that matter made it easier for us to understand each other. He never talked about his father, and was always kind and gentlemanly.

It was on one day when the four of us had decided to eat together in the grassy football field, that Opal finally started asking questions I did not want to answer.

“So,” Opal asked, sprawling on the blanket Mark had brought. “Where did you go to school before this, Arliss?”

“I was homeschooled,” I said honestly. My heart beat a little faster at the mention of my past.

“Does that mean you’ve lived here all your life? That’s funny, I haven’t seen you around town.”

“She doesn’t live in town,” Lucas spoke. “Arliss lives a little ways from me.” His handsome face frowned. “Speaking of which, I’ve never seen another house besides mine that far away from Champ.”