A Public School? (OPEN)

Ophelia wasn't one to step in and help others. She didn't enjoy the fact that said person would consider it a favor. Having people owe her meant that they would be around her on occasion. She didn't want people around. She liked her solitary life and preferred it to stay that way. And yet, she couldn't help but find herself shifting forward towards the large boy who had stolen the obviously new kid's bag.

She sighed and simply plucked the bag from the tall boy's shoulder as she walked in the opposite direction. "Hey!" He called after her but she didn't stop, didn't even turn around. At least not until the guy had reached out a hand and grabbed her shoulder.

"You are favoring your right knee," she simply said before slamming the palm of her hand into it and hearing a satisfying crack. "I imagine you sprained it training or fighting or doing ballet. But now it is more than sprained. Seek medical attention." The boy had fallen into the wall and was leaning on it for support, merely staring at the slight, blonde haired girl with a slack jawed expression.

She moved easily away from him and approached the boy who owned the bag properly. "Try to keep a hold of your things." She said, dropping the bag at his feet.

She watched him take the bag from her, slinging it over his shoulder she heard his spoken gratitude. She expected that perhaps he would say something more. Introduce him, anything, but instead the kid just turned and walked away. This delighted Ophelia to no end. She hated small talk. She hated introductions. And most of all she hated getting to know strangers when she had a good book to read.

But as she saw him continue down the hallway, obviously alone and a little more than nervous, she felt something akin to...well, pity. She had never felt anxious in a new school. She had changed schools so much. And well she didn't rightly care about other people's opinions enough to feel the sting of loneliness of rejection. But here was this boy that seemed weighed down by it all.

She pursed her lips as her eyes followed him down the hallway. Did he know where he was going? For a brief moment she told herself no. That she wasn't going to help him. That she didn't want to help him. But even as she told herself these things she was moving towards him until she had fallen in step beside him.

"I'm Ophelia," she said abruptly. Almost harshly, like she was unused to pleasantries, which to be honest she was. "Do you know where you are going? What class do you have now?" Was she actually volunteering to help him? Apparently so, what was wrong with her today.

"Nice to meet you, Cyrus," She said trying to be sincere. "I'm in tenth grade too." She offered though she wasn't entirely sure how relevant that was. So what if they were in the same grade. Tons of people where in the same grade. Didn't make them have some grand connection, did it?

"I don't have English now though but I can help you find the class if you want?" She offered. It was honest enough. Simple enough. Help the new kid to his classroom, feel good about herself. Write a letter to her dad describing how she had put in effort into being social. This would count right? She had helped someone, spoke to someone, not retreated into her books for once. Something to be proud of for sure.

"Where are you from?" Good, that was a great question. She could do this. She could manage a simple conversation with a near stranger. She wasn't so anti-social now. Ophelia felt herself smile at telling the school counselor to take all her psycho-babble bull and shove it somewhere unpleasant.

Canada. Ophelia took a few moments to think about all the facts she knew about Canada. To be realistic she didn't know much but then there wasn't much to know about the country. It was a humble sort of place at least. If not a little eccentric for his french history.

"Canada sounds nice," she commented lamely before the turned a corner. "Your class is just up here, on the left." She told him while pointing at the open doorway that students were pouring out of.

"Look, I know I don't seem very social but if you ever need help or anything you can usually find me in the library." The offer was sincere though it was hard for the girl to say those words. Having someone disturb her in the library seemed like a horror story but she wanted to be better. Wanted to like people.

"Okay, by then." She waved once and turned the other direction. She had no intention of actually going to any of her classes. She was under the impression she knew more than the teachers anyway.