Ophelia
Most people see moving as a new beginning or the end of something, a fresh start in life. I see it as more of the same old same old. Moving is not going to make me more popular with kids at school. It’s not going to make my parents stop favoring my sister more, and start remembering my existence. It all boils down to we’re are going to be living in a new town that’s it.As I follow my parents, who are following the movers, I know that nothing will change. My sister will still be a spoiled brat, and I will be the one who picks up the pieces of everything she burns in her path. I can see her lounging in the back of my parent’s car talking on her phone without a care in the world. As cliché, as it sounds the girl, does live to make my life a living hell. Before we moved I had finally met someone that I liked a lot. We had begun to talk and had a date planned.I had only ever held the guy's hand. I haven’t had my first date or my first kiss, so this was a big deal for me. I was beyond excited at the thought of finally getting to know a guy and hopefully having a relationship that wasn’t tarnished by my sister and her moods. All of the girls that I would try and become friends with would magically start treating me differently once they met her. I could never understand what would change, I just knew that it did.I come home from school on the day of my date to hear sounds coming from my room. Now no one should be in my room as I am the only one staying in that room. My sister made sure that we never shared a room. Said it was to keep her life private from my prying ears. Whatever that meant. As I open my door, I find my sister Katherine and the guy I’m supposed to go on a date with humping like rabbits.“Wow. I’m glad that you guys picked my room out of all the rooms in the world to ruin my day in.” They both looked at me. He was of course in shock that he was caught, she just smirked knowing that she had beat me at something. “Don’t stop on my account. Please continue to plow my sister like you weren’t supposed to be taking me out tonight.” I grab a bag and stuff some clothes in it. “If the parents miraculously remember that they have a second older daughter, I’m staying at a friend’s tonight.”With that, I walked out of the house and gave up on ever having anything to call my own other than my car and my job. Those two things I earned on my own, and no one would want them to take them away. As I pull away from my house, I let all the feelings I was holding income out. I sobbed as if someone had died. To be honest, someone did die that day. The part of me that thought I could ever have anyone to call my own died at the hands of my sister and a guy that would most likely forever I ever existed.That night I spent in my car out in the country. I, of course, lied about staying with a friend. My sister made sure that I never had any of those. I laid in the back of my SUV with a spare blanket and cried all night. As pathetic as it sounds it helped. The one bright side is that at least it happened before I fell for him. Being in a relationship with him to only have him ripped away would be way worse.The next week at school, my sister and her new boy toy flaunted their relationship to everyone trying their hardest to hurt me. To be honest it did. It broke me, but I never let anyone see me cry or get upset. If I needed to do that, I drove outside of town to a meadow I would visit. I wouldn’t show anything in the house because god only knows what that witch had planted in my room to try and get something on me.That weekend my parents informed us that we would be moving to Frankford, a small coastal town that was in the middle of nowhere really but still was a step up from where we lived. My father had gotten a better-paying job so we were moving up north to a town I had never heard of. The funny thing is Katherine didn’t even tell the guy we were leaving or say goodbye. She dropped him like a bad habit and just left, more proof that she just did it to get at me.We finally pull up to the house and I’m shocked at what I see. It’s huge and not at all what I was expecting. I notice that there is a separate garage with what looks like an apartment. Something tells me that will be my new home. My parents step out of their car and smile at the house. They have never had anything this nice before, so I understand that they are excited.My relationship with my parents is strained at best. When we were younger there seemed to be no difference in the way that they treated us. We were both loved and doted on like we were little princesses. Things changed slowly over time, and before I realized what was happening, my parents made sure that there was a definite distinction in how they treated me versus my sister. I always had suspicions that she had something to do with that.
“Ophelia, you are going to be staying in the apartment over that garage. We thought you might like that.” My father says this in a way that says we want you out there. My parents have never abused me, it has just been more of neglect. Katherine has been the center of their world since the change in how they treat me started. Any time she does something wrong or that makes them look bad it is my job to take the fall and to protect the princess.The day they brought her home I was so happy. We got along and played together for a long time. Then it all changed. For years I did everything to show her how much I loved her, but it never did any good. For some reason, she hates me and does everything she can to show it. I see her trying to hide the fact that she is laughing at me. I would bet money that she put them up to this. I see the movers putting my bed and boxes into the apartment, so I make my way over.“Your father and I will give you some money toward your first trip to the store for what you need. Since you’re eighteen now, you are going to have to take care of yourself. We will pay your utilities, but you are responsible for your food and anything else you need. Here are five hundred to help your start. If you need us just call. We will continue to pay for your phone until you graduate. Oh and don’t just wander into the house please call and check before you come over.” My mom says this as she hands me the money and walks away.I make my way to the apartment and I’m surprised at the inside. It is not trashed per se but nowhere near what I imagine the main house is. The apartment is one bedroom with one bath. There is an open kitchen that leads into the living area. The only furniture I have is my bed, nightstand, and dresser. To be honest that is the only thing that I need. My phone dings and I see that my mother has at least given me internet access. I never thought that it would come to this. I knew that I wasn’t a priority but I never thought that they would shove me out as soon as they could.I unpack my stuff into my bedroom and make my way out to my car. I have a small SUV, and right now I am thanking God for it. I search my phone for the nearest store and make my way there. I am lucky that I have been smart with the money I have been making since I was a child. Babysitting and then my job has allowed me to save a lot. I also have played the stock market, so I have a good bit of savings. As I pull up to the store, I know that my adult life is starting before most people, and I only hope that I can make it through without too many bumps along the way.Ophelia As I followed my GPS toward the store, I notice just how small this town was. Most of the stores are located in the town square. It looks almost like something out of a fairytale. I laugh a little at myself for thinking that. I have always been an avid reader, and sometimes I think it is to my detriment. I try to stay in reality because my life is certainly not a fairytale. It is without a doubt as boring and unhopeful as you can get in some opinions. I still have hope though. I hope that I will get into a good college and will escape my family. I don’t think my parents hate me. I think they're easily influenced by my sister. Even after all this time, I still don't know what changed in my family. I get out of my car and start to walk around looking at all the different shops. There is a small house goods store, a book store, grocery, and even a clothing store. They all have the name Henson in the title. I am guessing that a rich family started thi
OpheliaGetting ready the next morning my thoughts were jumbled up. At my last school, many of my teachers had to make special curriculums for me because I was more advanced than most of the kids in my school. The area I grew up in is not one known for producing many scholars. I try to not let on to my family how well I do because I don’t want it to come back and bite me in the butt later. I just hope that my principal did as he said he would and sent all the information that the school would need so that I will hopefully be able to still be on track for scholarships and to get into a school that I want.My dream is to teach college literature and I’m hoping that my track record so far will put me on that track. At a young age, I discovered my love for books. It was a chance for me to escape all the cares of this world and to find peace in a story. I often used to sit and imagine myself as the characters in the books in hopes of making myself happy.
Ophelia After the teacher gives us instructions, she tells us we can scatter throughout the school and find a place to sketch. Without saying a word, Mason takes my hand and leads me out the door and out into the courtyard of the school. He takes a seat leaning against a tree and motions for me to sit as well. “So you are the famous Ophelia?” I look at him like he has just dropped a bomb, and he chuckles at my look. “Maggie didn’t shut up about you when she came home. I was visiting Cole and heard her.” I shake my head in understanding. “Cole is her brother.” “Oh, so that is the one that everyone is trying to sink their claws into.” I laugh at this. Mason smiles at me like he completely agrees. “Maggie was amazing last night. That girl won herself a spot in my heart.” I smile at him. “So, mind if I start first?” “No, go right ahead. Mind if I talk while you do?” I shake my head no letting him know he is free to talk. “So you seem different from your s
Ophelia I have never been so thankful in all my life for someone to walk into a classroom. The teacher I have for English was embarrassing me with all his praise for my grades and writing. My old school had sent over some of my writing, and Mr. Nash thought it was great. He was encouraging me to think about a job in literature. I told him multiple times that I wanted to be a literature professor. There was nothing wrong with our conversation, it just bothers me a lot when people overly praise me since I’m not used to getting that much praise. My old teachers had figured that out and made sure to keep the praise to a minimum. I quickly sat down and felt eyes staring at the back of my head. I turned around and saw the most gorgeous creature God had ever put on the earth. His dark brown hair was slicked back, and he was covered in tattoos. He had piercing gray eyes that held something I couldn’t place, was it mischief, curiosity, or something else entirely. He suddenly
OpheliaAs I sit down to eat Dominic and Pearce follow behind and sit at the table with me. I notice all of the whispers, and I notice Katherine walking in with a squad of look-alikes. I knew that she would find a spot right in the middle of the popular kids. The girls walk over to the table where Cole and Mason are sitting with a couple of other guys. I watch as Katherine tries flirting with Cole.I feel my heart hurt, and my stomach drops. The scene in front of me makes me look away. I can’t sit here and watch, as once again, she takes something I want. Wait, did I just think that I want Cole? That’s impossible. I just met him, and he is an arrogant man-whore.“I see she wastes no time going after what she wants,” Pearce says with a snarl. “I had a feeling this would happen. Some of the guys at this school go for the quick, easy lay. Cole is one of those guys. He just sleeps with a girl and moves on. I have never seen him date som
Ophelia As the bell rings, I make my way out of the room and then the school. I don’t want to be in her path, so I beeline for my car. I decide to call Maggie and see if she wants to hang out. I don’t start work until tomorrow, so I need a distraction for tonight. “My darling Ophelia, I was hoping you would call and give me all the details of the first day!” She giggles, and I can tell she is very happy to have gotten my call. I laugh, and I feel like I finally found someone that I can trust. “Well, are you free for dinner?” I am praying that she doesn’t have any plans. “I’m free. Meet me in the town square.” As we hang up, I see Katherine come storming out of the school, and I know that she is looking for me. She wants to make me pay for what happened in that class, and I know that she will be looking for anything she can use against me. As I begin to pull off, I see Cole and Mason walk out of the school looking as if they are looking for someone. As
Cole Today did not play out the way I had hoped. It's going to take a lot of hard work if I'm gonna get her to trust me or hell even like me. She didn’t outright say she hates me, but I can tell that she is far from falling for me. The usual technics I use to get girls to do nothing to her. The smirks, the stares, and the bad boy routine did nothing. The only person that I can think of that can help me is Maggie. I don’t want the lecture that will come along with her advice. Dominic and Pearce were able to hold a pretty decent conversation with her at lunch, and I’m dying to know what they said to her. She seemed to be very responsive to Pearce, and I can tell he has a thing for her. To be honest just about every guy in school has a thing for her. She's completely different from any girl in that school, and I think that's what is attracting every male in the school. There comes a point in time when the easy lay doesn’t do it for you anymore. I think most of us are at
Ophelia The next morning I get to school around the same time as Katherine. I witness the thing that I was scared of seeing. She saunters over to Cole, and I can already see by the look on his face that he got what he wanted, and he's done. I shut my locker just as Pearce and Dominic walk up, and we all turn to watch what will be a show for the ages. "This isn't going to end well is it?" Dominic asks. "I don't think so, man," Pearce says. “Hey, baby. Did you miss me?” Katherine purrs and flutters her eyelashes at Cole. She is rubbing her hands up and down his arms, and I see the irritation flowing off him in waves. Katherine is oblivious to all this. “Who told you that you could call me that? Better yet, what the hell do you think you’re doing? I just slept with you once, that doesn’t mean that we are a couple or that I even care about you. You were just an easy lay. No one claimed you, so I just took what I thought might be a good time. Turns