Opheliac Read Online Free PDF Page A

away a few of her books back into her locker. When she looked up, she saw Orlando standing over her shoulder. The soft gaze of his blue eyes brought a smile to her lips. When he wanted to be, Orlando could be a sweetheart. There was so much more to him than his “too cool” attitude. The fact that he was smiling ever so subtly at her instead of glowering and glaring meant he was no longer enraged with her for a change. How could she mess things up with him so badly? What had she done to make him so mad in the first place? Man, my brain sucks today. Be cool. Try not to act desperate.
    â€œYeah?” she asked, flashing him a smile and batting her eyelashes playfully in an attempt to show him she was still interested, but also not put a lot of pressure on him either. Hopefully, it was obvious she was only joking with him.
    He briefly met her gaze before averting it to the floor. “Lunch?”
    Not the reaction I was hoping for, but he’s still talking to me, so that’s a start. “As in you want to eat with me?” she asked.
    â€œThat was the general idea.”
    She lit up inside; only this time she kept the happy glow to herself instead of letting it flow out of her. “You mean, I’m no longer banned from sitting with you?”
    â€œA temporary lift, just to see how things go. I think I can forgive you enough to talk more inside school, possibly even outside of it. I kind of miss you.” The way he kicked the ground as he said it was adorable.
    Tait nodded. “Talking would be amazing. Will your fan club mind?”
    He rolled his eyes. “They’ll deal. After all, I am the object of their affection, so whatever I say goes.”
    â€œOf course.”
    If only she were joking about the fan club. Nia’s fiercely possessive nature tended to keep all of the other girls away from him, but she didn’t seem like much of a threat to Tait’s quest of winning Orlando’s heart back. If he was interested in Nia, he hid it well.
    Every day, Tait watched as different girls vied for his attention. In class, they flirted with him by trying to get him as a part of their group for work, dropping things in front of him, and giggling at his occasional sarcastic commentary. At lunch, one or two would make an attempt to sit with him and then flee when they noticed Nia. The other girl could be intimidating, but she didn’t scare Tait. Respect for Orlando’s wishes was what kept her away from him ever since their breakup. Every so often, the two still hung out away from school, but he made it clear he didn’t want to be seen with her in public or be around her as often as he used to.
    â€œHow’ve you been?” he asked as they walked to the cafeteria.
    She raised an eyebrow. “Fine, why do you ask?”
    â€œCuriosity? Icebreaker? Last I heard, it was the polite way to start a conversation.” He rolled his eyes, his trademark move. At first it annoyed her to no end; after a while, she realized all of the things it said about him without him actually having to say the words out loud. Like how vulnerable and lonely he was, how he wanted to be those things. Whether he would admit to it or not, she knew he was pushing everyone away from him. The big mystery was why.
    Tait peered at him, trying to keep her body language as light and inviting as possible. “Right, but when have you ever been so…formal?”
    â€œMaybe I’m struggling with finding the right way to say what I want to.”
    She raised both of her eyebrows, trying to get a read on what that could possibly mean. Orlando hardly ever struggled with saying whatever was on his mind. Something was definitely going on, and she hoped he wasn’t about to break some bad news.
    He exhaled. “I’m still not sure you understand the seriousness of what you did to me in the fall.”
    I would if I could remember it. “Is that it, or is there a but attached to your