IT was with a sigh and major reluctance that Ophelia went back to school. All her notes, assignments, books, and supplies were back with her sister on Bowen Island and she did not care to venture back there for her backpack. The Cullens were more than willing to provide her with a backpack and some notebooks they had lying around. There was the subject of clothing, however.

    Alice was giddy, though miserably trying to hide it when she brought Ophelia to her closet. It consisted of various high-fashion dresses, skirts, and blouses and she shrunk under how powerful the clothes looked. They belonged on the bodies of billionaires. Ophelia preferred her typical soft colours and pastel clothes compared to the imposing ones in front of her. In the end, Ophelia chose a pair of jeans that were unbelievably soft whenever she rubbed her hands across the fabric and a pink knot front blouse. By the feel and look of the fabrics that Alice and Ophelia were wearing, Ophelia could tell everything was designer or high-fashion of some sort. Her skin itched in the new clothes and she couldn't help picking at the sleeves constantly. Ophelia thought she herself was short but Alice had to be under five feet. The shirt Ophelia borrowed was almost like a crop top but Alice said she pulled it off. The jeans thankfully weren't too short.

    Ophelia grabbed two Eggos that the Cullens bought only for her from the refrigerator and plopped them in the shiny silver toaster. The past few days had been a dream of life without responsibility and the ignorance of reality. Everyone else had already left for their school day and she was alone in the house. Carlisle generously left some money for a taxi and lunch. Ophelia was still upset that she had not seen her father since the first night she had come to the Cullen household. She couldn't shake off the feeling that he was avoiding her even though Esme constantly reassured her. Esme said it was just scheduling conflicts at his work.

•. •. •. •.

    "Where the hell have you been?" Ophelia dramatically fell to the pavement when she was pushed over by her friend. "You left me with my boring sisters to ride on the ferry and I have to admit they're starting to get a little creepy."

    "I've missed you too Ellie," Ophelia said.

    Elvira extended her arm to help pick Ophelia up off of the ground but Ophelia had other plans. She pulled her friend to the ground with her and quickly got up, leaving Ellie on the ground.

    "Ha. You're grounded. Both here and at home. Get it."

    "We need to work on your jokes." Elvira rolled her eyes.

    Elvira's nose wrinkled and she gagged as her hand picked out the grass and dirt that coiled around in her hair. Ophelia brushed off the dirt that covered her shirt and grabbed her bag off of the pavement. She heard the sound of a bell in the distance, signalling five minutes before their first class. Elvira was in none of Ophelia's classes but their rooms were always near. That is why Elvira took it upon herself to always walk with Ophelia to their classes and nickname themselves the 'passing pals'. Not to forget the 'ferry friends', and her 'cafeteria companions'.

    "So my ally, care to explain why you've completely ditched your ferry friend and even your passing pal?"

    "Sorry Ellie, I'm not living with Kalysta anymore. I have found my... aunt and uncle who are willing to let me stay with them. They live in Vancouver so no more ferry."

    "Ugh. Whatever let's just get to class." Elvira said before flinging some remaining dirt at Ophelia's face.

    Ophelia's hairs stood on end and goosebumps formed on her arms and legs. Both Elvira and Ophelia turned around to William, two of the triplets, and Nathan. William crashed into Ophelia and squeezed his body close to hers. Elvira raised her eyebrow at the pair.

    "Where've you been 'Lia? It's been impossibly boring in Japanese without you."

    "Oh. Um, You know, visiting my cousins." Ophelia cleared her throat.

    She snaked her body out of William's grip and straightened her clothes. She grinned at Will and stood in a circle with the others. His gaze drilled into her eyes and she could feel his breath from yards away. Ophelia's eyes connected to the grass underneath her body. The tip of her shoe dug into the ground, leaving her white shoe brown. The skin on her face reddened.

    "So where's Zach?" Eleanor asked.

    "He's like seriously contagious right now. It's pretty bad. I think it's mono or something." Elisabeth chimed in.

    Elisabeth acted like a stand-in girlfriend for Zach, only caring about him when something serious happened. Then the pair went on ignoring each other after their short reunions. Before Zach's recent disappearance from school, Elisabeth thought she was madly in love with her science teacher and didn't want anything to do with Zach. It was like a relationship between prepubescent children.

    The group parted ways to their separate classroom. Will tugged on Ophelia's hand when the rest left. He asked to speak to her alone in private. Ophelia agreed and she balled up her hands into fists as they shook. William's hazel eyes glistened in the morning sun. The spare rays created a golden hue surrounding his pupils. Ophelia reached her sweaty palms out to the boy and sighed. He grabbed her hand instantaneously and coughed to cover the reaction.

William took both of Ophelia's hands in his and his gaze fell anywhere but Ophelia. He cleared his throat. His heart pumped like the quick pecks of a woodpecker. Will swiped at the circles of sweat forming on his forehead.

"What is it, Will?" Ophelia's face deadpanned.

William's black pupils danced across their white background. His breath came in short bursts. His mouth formed into absent words and his face contorted into pain. Will's back bent over and his hands clutched onto his knees.

"He's coming for you Ophelia."

"Who?"

"Johnathan. I've been trying so hard to tell you but it's almost impossible. It felt like someone was choking me. Does that sound crazy?"

"Not as crazy as Johnathan hunting me for centuries. Listen I have to get to class. We only have a minute at most to be on time."

    "Wait-"

    Ophelia pushed away the thought of Johnathan. She did not need to deal with him right now. Nevertheless, the dark formless monster of her past crawled into her throat and seared her chest. It took the greatest effort for her to place one foot in front of the other. Her limbs were infused with lead and her breath caught short in her throat. Hairs on the back of her neck shot up to the sky and she whipped her head around to look. No one was there. He was back.