Chapter 13

Cole

I look up when I hear the door open, and in walks Ophelia. It amazes me how the girl can light up a room even when she isn't trying. She's dressed the way she would any day of the week at school, but she looks absolutely beautiful. She looks our way and smiles, heading toward us. Then for some reason, she looks around the place, and her smile drops. I follow the direction she is looking, and there sits her sister.

Katherine has a murderous look on her face, and Ophelia pales a little. The one thing that she is afraid of happening did happen. Katherine has this need to be on top and to take everything away from her sister. As far as I can tell, Ophelia has done nothing to warrant any of these actions.

"Hey, guys. I'm not late, am I" She asks smiling.

Pearce pulls her to sit next to him and gives me a look that can only be described as a smirk. The boy thinks he's being slick, and that I don't know what he is up to. He wants her for himself, but there is no way I am letting that happen. She will be mine, and there is nothing that any of them can do to change that.

"No, Ophelia, we were all just a little early," Mason says.

"So what's everyone getting to eat?" Jacob asks.

While everyone is looking over the menu, I look at Ophelia. She's biting on her lip in deep concentration. Pearce leans over and whispers something in her ear, and she blushes. Damn him. He thinks that he is going to win her, and it pisses me off. I have to do something to get her attention on me.

"Ophelia? You wanna split a pizza with me? Maggie said you, love the pepperoni here." Her eyes light up with that, and she nods her head furiously.

"The pepperoni here is my favorite. I think I've had it like three times already since I moved here." She chuckles.

I smile at her, and she gives me one in return. Pearce glares at me and opens his mouth to say something, but changes his mind. He knows that he can't say anything, which makes me smirk at him. Ophelia has no clue that any of this is going on, while she talks to Dominic.

"Alright, Cole, what can I get for you?" The waitress walks up and asks seductively.

I look up and try to figure out who the girl is. She's not bad-looking, and I think that I may recognize her. She has her uniform on, and the name tag says, Rebecca. It hits me then that she went to school with Maggie. She was one of the so-called friends that only wanted to hang around Maggie to get to me. I slept with her and then confronted her on it in front of my sister. The moron was still trying to get my attention.

"You can get me, and my girl here, a large pepperoni, and if I think anything is off with it, I will make sure you never work again," I say in the coldest voice that I can manage.

The girl swallows deeply and looks at Ophelia, who looks like a deer caught in the headlights. Mason is trying to hold his laughter in as the girl turns red from anger and embarrassment. I notice that the rest of the restaurant is also listening in so that means that Katherine most likely heard me call Ophelia my girl. I'll have to keep my eyes on her.

"If she's your girl, why is she sitting overhear and not beside you?" Rebecca snarls at us.

"Because I won't be able to keep my hands to myself, and she doesn't like PDA. Isn't that right, Baby?" I purr at Ophelia.

"That's... That's right." Ophelia says as she turns as red as an apple.

"Now, don't you think you need to get everyone else's order?" I ask, raising my brow to let her know that I'm done with this conversation.

The rest of the guys quickly give her their orders, and she heads toward the back. The table erupts in laughter, and everyone is almost in tears except Ophelia. She is still sitting there with a stunned look on her face. I settle myself down and wave my hand in front of her face to get her attention.

"You good over there Harris?" I ask.

"Um, yeah, I think so. What just happened?" She still looks in a daze.

"Cole used you to get some girl he slept with off his back."Pearce spits out.

"Look, that chick was using Maggie to try and get to me. She hurt my sister, so I took a little revenge. I didn't mean to upset you, Ophelia. I'm sorry if I did." I try to sound as genuine as possible.

The last thing I wanted to do was upset her. If she thought I was using her for my gains, then she wouldn't give me a chance with her. Mason told me that I had to show her that she means more to me, and I am trying to do that by apologizing. I never apologize to anyone, that is a known fact throughout the school.

"It's fine, I just don't want any problems with my sister over it."

she gives me a weak smile.

"I'll explain it to her if she tries anything." I give her a smile which she returns.

"Ok. So what movie are we watching?" She asks.

Diner goes great with all of us cutting up and having a good time. Ophelia looks so carefree and happy that I almost don't recognize her. Rebecca doesn't give us any trouble, but Katherine stays the entire time watching us like a hawk. When the time comes to pay, I grab the checks and run to go pay. The guys and Ophelia are all yelling to stop, but I know this is the only way she will allow me to pay for her food.

We head over to the door to leave, and I notice Rebecca watching, so I use this opportunity to grab Ophelia's hand. She goes to pull away, and I whisper to her.

"She's watching. Don't worry, I'll make sure you are in the clear."

Ophelia nods in understanding, and I take advantage of this and hold her hand the entire walk to the theatre. Once there, I buy her a ticket and pull her along to the snack bar. She tries arguing with me, but I ignore it. This is the first time that I have ever taken a girl on a date and I'm having to be sneaking about it now.

There is no way that she would allow me to take her on a date yet. I plan on changing that very soon. I want to make this work and I know that somewhere deep inside that brain of hers she wants it to work too. Her fear of her sister holds her back from enjoying so much in this world.

"Do you want a snack?" She looks at the board to see if there is anything she wants.

"I want a slushie. Red, please." She says to the cashier.

I reluctantly let go of her hand and give the cashier my card. As soon as he gives it back, I take her hand again. she looks at me like I'm crazy, and I turn my head and keep holding on. Once she has her slushie, we join the guys and head into the room. We head toward the back, and I lead Ophelia to the middle of the row. Mason enters from the other side, helping me keep Pearce away from her.

"So I don't have your number yet," I say, hoping she catches onto the hint.

"That's because I haven't given it to you." She says with her brow raised. She's challenging me.

"Does that mean I can't have it?"

"No. It just means that I haven't given it to you." She looks away, and a faint blush appears on her cheeks.

I pull my phone out and unlock it, handing it to her. I have to let her hand go so she can enter the number, but I'm willing to give in a little to get that number. She hands it back, and I look at her contact. It reads The Girl Smarter Than You.

"Funny. Do you know what my IQ is princess?" She shakes her head no. "163."

Her gasp is loud, and everyone in the group turns and looks at her. This embarrasses her even more, so she shrinks into her seat. I chuckle and take her hand again as the lights die down, and the previews start.

I look over and see her sitting there looking so cute watching the movie. How did things change so quickly? I never wanted to spend time with the same girl more than once. Now all I want is to spend time getting to know this strange creature next to me. Life is full of surprises.