vibrant

sixteen; self portrait

After stopping briefly at her house to pick up her new canvas and the paints she needed for her latest project, John B dropped Ophelia off at the Chateau before driving the other Pogues around. They're scattering briefly to collect equipment to get down into the well, and Ophelia was told to wait for everyone to show up at John B's.

So, while she waits, Ophelia uses a pencil to lightly sketch out the dimensions of a self portrait, the same one she'd been planning the night they went to the cemetery. Once she's done Ophelia mixes her base colours, happily starting to brush them onto the canvas.

That is, until John B walks up onto the porch with Sarah Cameron beside him. Ophelia's eyes are wide as she stares at the other blonde girl, her hand slowly lowering from the canvas, "Sarah, this is my best friend, Ophelia," John B says, a smile on his face, "I don't know if you guys have actually met before."

"We have. Our parents are friends, I think," Sarah says, giving the green eyed girl a wide smile, "Hi Ophelia."

"Hi," Ophelia squeaks out, her heart starting to pick up pace in her chest.

John B and Sarah both plop onto a couch a few feet away from Ophelia, an awkward silence falling over the trio until John B asks, "What're you working on, da Vinci?"

"Me," Ophelia quickly responds, earning an arched brow from Sarah. Ophelia's palms start to sweat and her normally steady hand shakes slightly, "Sorry, uh, it's-it's a-a self portrait, I-I guess," Ophelia cringes at herself and uses a finger to pull at the neck of her t-shirt, "Is it hot in here?"

John B gives Ophelia an odd look, "We're outside."

"Right," Ophelia turns away, her cheeks getting hot out of embarrassment. She does her best to ignore John B and Sarah's quiet conversation, but, her hands are still a bit wobbly, and she can't quite phase out Sarah's loud giggles.

When Pope and Jj roll up on the ladder's bike, Ophelia's relieved. As the two boys head up to the porch and spot Sarah, they both shoot Ophelia a confused look, and she just shrugs. When Jj reaches her, he looks at the canvas, putting both his arms around her shoulders and linking them in front of her chest, "Whatcha paintin?"

"Self portrait," Ophelia mutters back.

"Why is Sarah here?" Jj whispers.

Ophelia shrugs with a frown on her face, "I don't know, but you missed me embarrassing myself," She pauses, "Again."

"I told Pope we should've left earlier," Jj jokes as he releases the blonde and stands up. His eyes skim over her painting, "Looks good so far."

Ophelia rolls her eyes at him as he walks away, moving to sit with Pope. Jj tries to make small talk with Sarah but gives up after a minute, leaving the group in silence yet again, the only sounds being Jj playing with his lighter, and Ophelia's brush meeting canvas.

Until Kiara finally arrives, and the calm before the storm is suddenly over.

""No effing way!" The brunette exclaims as her eyes land on Sarah. Ophelia cringes at the volume, setting her brush on the edge of her easel, zoning into the conversation. She had a suspicion that Kiara would react like this, "You brought her here? So what? She's in on this now?"

John B remains quiet, his gaze flicking over to Pope who quietly mutters, "I dunno," Then, he looks over to Ophelia, silently pleading with her, but she can't even begin to think of words to say.

"Look," Jj says, piping up and pointing between John B and Sarah, "All I care about is her cut comes out of your share."

"You know, I don't remember taking a vote!" Kiara yells, making Ophelia jump slightly, her shoulders raised out of tension, she hates fighting, "This is our thing, a Pogue thing."