O P A L

I lay my head on the bathroom rug, it feels like I have nothing left in my stomach. I can hardly handle food. I push my sweater away from my thigh, brushing my finger along a painful scar, created by the man I killed. I close my eyes and try my hardest not to be sick.

Pushing myself off the ground I wander to the sink, splashing icy cold water onto my pale face. I wish I could forget his face, I wish I could forget this ever happened to me. He will always be planted in my head. He left marks for me to remember. I don't think I've gotten sleep since.

I pull the door open, slowly making my way to the kitchen table, sitting at my usual seat. "Hey Opal." Marci wraps her arms around me, scooting her chair closer to mine. "How are you doing sis?"

I shrug, not glancing in her direction.

"Do you want to do anything today? We could go get our hair done, go to the park, get our nails done, anything you want." She smiles a hopeful smile, hoping for me to feel better.

I wish I could feel better, my family has been the best through this. Constantly making sure I know that I'm loved, always having someone by my side to comfort me. Moms been sleeping with me in my bed every night, Polli and Marci even curled up with us, dad and Leelan both have laid on my bedroom floor. I really have the best family, it's sad, them wanting to make everything go away but it's just impossible.

She stares at me waiting for an answer. "Did you hear me?" She asks gently. I nod slightly, pulling my sweater as far down my legs as it can go. "Do you just want to stay home?"

I push her arms off of me and stand up, "You can do whatever you want Marci."

"Opie, I want to hangout with you. What do you want to do?"

"I... just want to be alone." I hurry up the stairs before she can get another word out. I sink into my bed, pulling my blankets over my face, wanting to suffocate. I bring my knees to my chest, trying to find some sort of comfort.

A light tap breaks the silence in my room, my door squeaks open. "Opie, you have a visitor." Marci calls out.  I lift myself up, seeing Knox stand in my doorway. "I'll give you two some privacy, I'll be right here if you need me." She gently closes the door.

"What are you doing here Knox?"

He sits on the edge of my bed, "Well, I thought I'd check on you. It's been a week since I last saw you."

"Thanks." I mumble.

His bright blue eyes stare back at me, making me feel vulnerable. "So how are you?"

"Good."

"How are you really?"

I turn away from him, hiding behind my hair, hoping he doesn't see the tears escaping. "Like I said, I'm good."

"You're obviously not Opal." He stands up to sit right beside me, placing his arm around my back. "It's okay to not be okay. Please, don't be ashamed." He tucks my hair behind my ear, exposing my distress. He cups my hand in his. "Can I take you somewhere?"

"I don't really want to go anywhere."

"To bad." He grabs my wrists, pulling me off my bed. "Let's get some fresh air, it's good to get out of the house." He stares at my body, making me more self conscious than I already was. "It's cold out." He walks towards my dresser and digs through my drawers. "Here." He hands me a pair of heather grey leggings.

I stare at the leggings, almost like I don't know what to do with them, but I do know, it's just I don't want to leave the house. "Okay." He pushes me onto the bed squatting down and helps me put them on. He walks back over to my dresser and grabs a pair of socks. "These are cute." He bends back down, pulling my white ruffle socks onto my feet. "Slippers... slippers." He mumbles to himself. "Ah ha!" He heaps my knit slippers slipping them onto my feet. He grabs my white cardigan off the back of my door, wrapping it around me.

"You look cute and cozy. I got good taste." He grins to himself. "Come on." He grabs my arm tugging me down the stairs. "Marci, Opal and I are leaving."

"Oh," she tosses her curly red hair over her shoulder, "Can I come along?"

"No." He shakes his head.

"What?"

"Sorry Marci, another time though. I'll bring her back home in a few."

"Okay, stay safe please. Bye Opal, love you!" She shouts as he closes the door behind him.

He helps me into his car, even pulling the seatbelt around me. He clicks his start button, "You ready?"

"Not really."

-

I glance at Knox as he stares at the menu, completely confused on what he should get. We've been sitting here for over ten minutes because he can't decide. "Damn." He murmurs.

"What's wrong?" I inquire, covering my hands with my sleeves.

"There's just to many gosh damn flavors."

"Still here when you're ready to order." The guy through the speaker booms, hinting that we're taking too long.

"There's a line behind us." I point out.

"Okay okay. One chocolate with strawberry drizzle and cherry toppings, annnnnd.... um. Hmm... uh I guess mango, both in a waffle cone please. Oh and two large waters."

"That'll be ten fifty at the window."

"Okay thanks."

We pull up to the window waiting for the guy to take the person behind us order. Putting us in park he turns to look at me. "Yes?" I question.

"Has Ko-"

The guy opens his window and grabs Knoxs card swiping it and giving it back. He hands him both cones, handing me mine. "Thank you Knox, you didn't need to get me anything."

"I still remembered your order. Besides, when Koas down, this is the only thing that makes him feel better. He doesn't vomit it back up, like most things." He licks up his ice cream cone on the way to where ever he's taking us.

A few minutes pass and he pulls along a dirt path, "Does this place look familiar?"

"Yes, it's where Koa and I used to hangout, he took me here once two months ago."

We walk down the wooden boat dock, sitting on the edge. "What were you going to say earlier?"

"I was gonna ask you if Koa has talked to you since... the incident."

"No, he hasn't."

"I'm going to kill him."

"It's fine Knox. He doesn't want to be my friend, he's made it clear. I'll just have to try and get used to that."

"I don't understand him sometimes."

"He's... just broken."

He takes his fingers through his dark head, "Aren't we all?"

I shrug, watching the sun leave for the night. "Maybe." I cross my arms over my chest, brushing my hair away from my face. "Knox."

"Uh-huh?"

"Can I ask you something, personal?"

"Always."

"Um," I play with the hem of my light pink sweater, not turning to look at Knox. "Did your dad ever sexually abuse you?"

"Yes, he did. Did Koa tell you?"

"Kinda, I heard it from a guy and asked Koa about it. How old were you?"

"Nine, maybe ten."

"Why aren't you more like Koa?"

"Like with drugs?"

"Yeah, I guess."

His blue eyes stare into mine, "I'm more level headed. Koa doesn't know how to handle emotions and turned to drugs for help. He lets things get the best of him, but, he also doesn't know how to stand up for himself when it comes to Henry. It's like he has a trance or spell over Koa. Like kryptonite or something. You've never met Henry, and I hope you never do. He's very intimidating, and can charm his way into anything. Everyone that meets him loves him, because he's powerful and kind hearted, you can't say no to the man, for most people it's impossible. But I see how he really is, I know him, and he's monstrous. One day I built up the courage to stand up to him."

"So why did you leave Harvard?"

"Because my brothers needed help. Princeton had called me, saying he caught Koa in the bathroom with some pills."

"Does your dad do anything to Princeton?"

"Nope, he's never tried and he sure as hell isn't going to. I'd kill him, and he knows that."

"Wow, Knox. I'm so sorry... how's Eileen doing?"

"I don't know, she broke up with me. I haven't spoken to her, she won't return my calls. She said I needed to be here for my family, and she wanted to make sure they are the priorities, she didn't want to get in the way."

He extends his arm out, taking my hand in his. "Oh Knox, I'm sorry. Eileen is such a great person. Maybe you two will find each other again."