Ophelia Adrift by Helen Goltz

get the dark look but she was so pale, that her eyes just stood out. We sat next to each other on the bus and Harry dropped into the seat in front of us, extended over it and turned side-on so he didn’t miss the conversation. I could tell he liked her already; I couldn’t read Ophelia but I don’t think Harry was in her zone. I decided to find out who was in her zone.
    “So did you talk with Adam?” I asked her.
    “Pretty hard not to when he lives there with her,” Harry piped up.
    Ophelia nodded and said in a low voice. “We took the dogs for a walk along the beach last night.”
    “Really? I’m so jealous.” I think I squealed then lowered my voice. “I’ve had a crush on Adam Ferrier since ... well forever! He’s gorgeous—those dreamy, deep blue eyes and cute smile,” I daydreamed for a moment then remembered I wasn’t alone. “Half the girls in school have a crush on him or did when he was at school anyway. He was seeing Vanessa Jones in the year above us, but they split.”
    “What do the chicks see in him? I mean what’s he got that I haven’t?” Harry interrupted us. I looked at my twin brother with his ginger hair and freckles, his green eyes and slightly out of proportion nose. Whatever, someone would fall in love with him eventually. I ignored him and turned my attention back to Ophelia. “Do you like him?”
    “Sure,” Ophelia answered. “He said to think of him as my big brother and that he would have my back. I like that.”
    “I’d rather think of him as a boyfriend,” I said. “If you want my advice, don’t let him see you first thing in the morning yet ... you don’t want to scare him off too early.”
    “But we’re all living together ... kind of like Uncle Seb’s extended family of strays,” she smiled.
    “And I’m sure Lia’s head is better than yours in the morning,” my brother added. I continued to ignore him.
    “I wish I could be that close to him,” I sighed again. “I even love the name Adam. Adam ... Adam and Holly, Adam and Holly Ferrier.”
    “Give it up,” Harry said bringing me back to earth.
    Ophelia started laughing and I joined in.
    “Just make sure you don’t keep him out near midnight,” Harry muttered.
    I nudge Harry and give him a warning look. I don’t think Ophelia saw it.
     
     
    OPHELIA
     
    Harry, Holly and I were in the same class for nearly every subject except I did accounting while they took biology and we were all in different sport houses. I felt a bit sorry for Holly—her two best friends left at the end of year ten; one took up an apprentice chef role and the other went to Sydney with her parents when her father changed jobs. She still saw Sally, the apprentice on weekends, but she was almost as lost as I was—good for both of us that we bonded.
    I came from biology class and when I entered the history classroom Holly and Harry hadn’t arrived. I drew a deep breath and continued walking in; I dreaded entering a room and having to find a seat and try not to take someone else’s seat or look pathetic and sit on my own.
    I was relieved to see Peggy sitting in the corner and she waved me over and pointed at the seat next to her.
    “I know what you’re thinking,” Peggy started talking before I could say hello. I smiled a greeting and dropped down beside her.
    “What am I thinking?” I asked. I was pretty sure Peggy wouldn’t guess I was thinking about Adam and that guy I saw on the rocks at three o’clock this morning. Who was he?
    Peggy drew a deep breath and said with confidence, “you’re thinking what project topic should you pick this term? Me too, but I think I’ve worked it out.”
    “Of course. I was definitely going to be thinking about that soon,” I agreed, any day now for sure. Peggy was about to continue when a well-rounded, stocky man entered the room. Half a dozen students including Harry and Holly raced in behind him before he closed the door. Holly waved in my direction and dropped into a seat near