Ophelia clenched her hands tightly. Her eyes focused on the mirror as her feet continued to move swiftly and steadily on the treadmill. She inhaled slowly but deeply, held it for a five-count, and then just as slowly exhaled. Five more minutes, and I’ll call it a night, she thought, glancing over at the clock on the wall. Forty-five minutes should be more than enough.

All of a sudden, music began blaring from outside her house. Who the hell is making that racket? she thought irritably, turning off the machine and hurrying to the window to see the cause of the terrible din. She was less than surprised to see AJ parked in her driveway, leaning against his car, grinning and scanning the windows of her house. With a sigh, Ophelia wiped her face with a towel, then walked outside.


“Hey,” AJ greeted her, not turning the sound down.

“Look,” Ophelia said impatiently, trying to speak over the blaring music, “if you’re trying to recreate that scene from Say Anything, you might want to at least try to play the right Peter Gabriel song. I don’t recall Modern Love being used in that stupid scene.”

“Who’s Peter Gabriel?” AJ asked.

Ophelia rolled her eyes and said, “Look, turn down the stupid music. You’ve got me outside, as was clearly your intention. Now, what do you want?”

“Fine,” AJ responded, turning off the radio. “I came by to clear up something.”


“Okay, fine,” Ophelia replied. “What is it?”

“Is it true you have some awesome guy that you’re seeing?”

“Awesome guy?” Ophelia repeated. “Where did you hear that?”

“Just something that’s been going around.”

Ophelia rolled her eyes. “Figures,” she remarked. “Well, it’s a lie. There’s no special guy in my life.”

“Oh,” AJ gasped, relieved. “So, it’s just a rumor, then?”

“Yeah, obviously. I mean, I have some friends who are guys, but I’m not dating them.”

“Oh, okay. I’m glad you cleared that up,” AJ said, grinning. “Well, I should be heading home now. See you in school tomorrow?”

“Yeah, sure,” Ophelia replied. She watched him get into his car and drive away.


With a shrug, Ophelia headed back into her house. “That sure was weird,” she muttered. “I mean, of course I’m not seeing any guys. Only person I’m seeing is Cy.”

“Figures,” AJ muttered, as he drove home. “Emily must have made up that boyfriend thing to keep me away from Ophelia.”

Ignorance truly is bliss.