-Chapter 18-

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Athena

"Athena, Ryder. Wake up" I heard as I slowly woke up from sleeping, yawning in the process. I felt arms wrapped around me so I opened my eyes and realised they were Ryder's.

"Finally, the both of you are awake" My mom laughs, with Ares in her hand? Wait a minute. My mom's here. "M-Mom?!" I jump up but then feel myself fall down only to get caught by Ryder.

"I didn't want to wake the two of you up but William will be home and I'm sure you don't want your father to see you hugging a boy. Plus I turned on Ares and made sure he didn't cry with me, isn't that right Ares? " She sats while cooing the fake baby. I didn't even question the madwoman in front of me, I think she was desperate for a grandchild.

Ryder lets out a yawn and places me back on the couch and puts the blanket on me. "If you need anything just tell me." He whispers in my ear. " Anything" He adds and winks making me scoff. "Just leave" I joke and he laughs and says bye to me and my mom who thanks him for looking after me and gives him back Ares to look after.

"So what's going on between the two of you" My mum raises her eyebrows up and down and I shake my head. "Nothing mom. We are just friends." I state. "Doesn't seem like that to me" She giggles. "Huh?" I tilt my head. "The way you look at one another is the way your father and I look at each other" She smiles at me and I laugh. "Oh please mom" I roll my eyes but smile at her.

My mom and dad were completely in love with one another. They off course had their occasional arguments but what normal lovers don't have them. My dad would often buy my mom flowers and my mom would come to me bragging about it since she was so excited. It made me happy every time she would barge into my room with a pair of flowers in her hands.


When I woke up the next morning my foot hurt way less than it did before and was not as swollen. I could walk on it without falling. Although it did hurt still and I was walking with a slight limp.

I went into my shower and washed myself up. I was in a good mood today although I had no clue why. After a few minutes, I hopped out and got dressed in a pair of mom Jeans and a grey crop top. I did the routine as usual then went to the door and waited for Alex.

He made his way downstairs. "Sup slut" I say to him and feel a hand slap the back of my head. I turn to see my mom walking past me and glaring at me. "Language." She's much worse than me. I promise.

Alex and I walk over and get Cole but before we leave Ryder grabs my wrist. The two boys look at us but then shrug and walk off.

How dare they leave me.

"Is your ankle better?" Ryder asks as he leans on the door frame and I nod "Much better all thanks to you" I smile and he bows " Well aren't I just amazing" He smirks and I roll my eyes. He goes into the house grabs Ares then closes it behind him and opens the door in the passenger seat. "Get in" He instructs.

He puts Ares in the back and gets into the driver's side. "You don't have to tell me twice. Since dumb and dumber left me" I laugh and he joins. "Oh no. Poor Athena" He acts dramatic and I shake my head.

We get to school quickly and when he parks we both get out of the car receiving stares. I look down but he pulls my chin up. "Why are you looking down dummy" He laughs and goes to the back of the car and grabs Ares.

We walk side by side to my locker so I prepare my stuff and he goes to his and turns Ares off and puts him in there. "His screeching has really been getting on my nerves for the past few nights" He sighs. I laugh "See what I had to deal with." I smile and he nods. "Surely there's no baby that screams like that" He pleads to God. "That's what I thought. These are just overreacting screams." I shiver at the thought of its Screeching.

We walk over to Oliva and Mason who were talking to each other and laughing. "Athena~" She sings as she sees me and hugs me tightly. "We have study hall in a few minutes" We cry together. On Wednesdays, we had study hall for periods 1 and 2. We were meant to sit in silence but we often got told off for talking or giggling since we couldn't help ourselves sometimes.

Study hall went by quickly and just as I said, we got in trouble again but at least we didn't get sent to the principal's office this time. We walked over to the cafeteria, since it was break, and the seconds we do I see the back of the head of the boy they must have been talking about last time. As we got closer Michael started talking. "Athena~," Michael says and a boy who I knew ages ago turns around.

"Athena meet-" "Zane?" I question "Athena?" He says and we hug each other. "Oh my god, what are you doing here?" He questions in shock. "I moved here a couple of months ago!" I smile and he smiles back. "This is where I moved to during sophomore year" He laughs.

Then I realise something and hit him round the back of the head. "What was that for" He pouts "I heard you went to jail" I sigh and he laughs. "Oh that. It wasn't my fault!" I scoff "Not your fault my ass. What did I tell you about getting into fights ages ago." I question him with my hand on my hip "Take it like a man because you could get in more trouble" He says in a mocking voice making me hit him.

"Wait am I missing something? You two know each other?" Mason asks in confusion and I nod. Zane pulls me into a tight hug " We have been best friends since we were young but I moved and we couldn't get in contact for reasons" He laughs and I laugh as I try to push him off me. "He's like a lost puppy that doesn't get along with other dogs" I sigh "Says the one that hasn't grown since she was ten" He mutters making the others laugh. As I glare at him.

"Did you guys have a thing or something? You guys are close" Olivia asks and I look over at Ryder who tenses slightly. Why did I immediately look at him?

"Nope." I say and then a slight thought goes into my mind making me space out for a second. "Athena?" Ryder whispers in my ear I turn to him and smile "Huh?" I ask and he shrugs "You seemed out of it for a second I thought I would knock some sense into you" He whispers again making me shiver.

"What about you two?" Zane points to me and Ryder "Are you guys a thing?" He asks. "N-" "Yes" Ryder answers and puts his arms around my waist and pulls me closer. "Oh be quiet" I laugh "We aren't. We are friends" I smile and look up to see Ryder glaring at Zane for no reason.

Most of the day was of me and Zane catching up a load while Ryder kept sending him glares. It was great to see my best friend after so long.

We all walked out of school together since we planned to go movies but then I turn and see someone leaning on a motorcycle waiting for Zane. I freeze at the sight of him and the others notice I wasn't walking anymore but frozen, staring at Zane's older brother, "Meteor! You got my jacket!" Zane yells as he runs up to him but mid-way he freezes and reveals a horrified face as he looks at me and Meteor.

"M-meteor?" I stutter hoping the person infront of me wasn't real. He looks up at me and seems shocked before smirking "What are you doing here? Did you miss me?" He says making me take a step back.

I couldn't get it in my head that he was here. I continued to stare at him without moving an inch. "Athena?" Olivia says worriedly. "L-lets hurry to the movie theatre or we'll miss it," I say in a weak voice as I look down and begin speed walking before I feel someone grab my wrist and pull me towards them.

"Where are you going?" Whispers Ryder that when he sees my face gets shocked. "Yeah. Let's head to the movies or we are going to be late" He puts on a laugh and puts an arm around me as he takes me to his car and we get in. Zane and Michael also get in while Mason and Olivia take their own car.

Meteor luckily leaves without a word.

"What is that thing?" Asked Zane who points at Ares sitting in a booster seat next to him. "Mine and Athena's baby for the baby project. Wait till it cries" Laughs Ryder.

I sat at the front of the car and composed myself. When we got out of the car I looked fine again. "Let's get some snacks" I smile to Ryder who follows me over to the food section in the theatre. "Are you really ok?" He looks me in the eyes. "For now" I smile slightly and look back over to the food.

We get a few snacks and head in with the others after getting a few weird looks as a few of us walk in with babies.

While watching the movie I was stress eating and ate a lot more than I was meant to. I feel someone's hand cover mine and I look up at Ryder who looks worried. "You're clearly not fine," He tells me and I don't bother to answer him and continue to stare into his eyes and he does to mine. "You're pretty," He says to me all of a sudden making me blush. "Thanks, Ryder"

Whether he meant the compliment or he was just putting my mind off of things, I didn't know. But I appreciated whatever his intentions were behind it.

When we get out Ares begins to cry so Ryder wraps him in a blanket and he stops after a few minutes luckily. "Why is that thing so loud" Zane looks in disgust while he covers his ears. "Excuse me that thing Is our son" I laugh and he starts begging for forgiveness and we become a part of a drama somehow.

We end up going to a small restaurant that didn't have anyone in. "So what happened back there?" Michael looks at me and I freeze. "Look she probably doesn't want to talk about it," Ryder says in my defence and I smile but I trust these friends.

"Me and Zane's older brother was in a relationship before" I start "But after a year he started changing and becoming a completely different and rude person. Although he had his reasons, i will never forgive him" I look down and feel Ryder put his hand on mine and grip it for support.  'We broke up because he and Zane had to move but we should've done it way before. N-no.. I should of" I felt tears well in my eyes but I immediately stopped and prevented any emotion from showing. I was a completely different person from who I was in the past. I would never let anyone treat me the way meteor had done ever again, that was for sure.

"It must have been hard" Michael sympathises. "I'm proud of you" Olivia smiles "Me too" Mason adds making me smile. I looked at Zane and I could see the sadness that was surrounding him. I put my hand on his and smiled at him, "I wouldn't be the person I am today, without my little hero Zane" A smile crept onto his face.

"Hey let's go home" Ryder whispers and I nod. We stand and he wraps his arm around my waist with Ares in his other hand. "We are going now. Enjoy the food" Ryder waves them goodbye and we walk off.

He drives me home and when we get out he holds me as we walk up to the door. No one was home for some reason so he takes me upstairs. "Have a good sleep" He says as he looks at me and takes a step to leave. "Don't go" I reach out to him. He turns around and looks at me. "Stay." The tears in my eyes begin to rise and he sits down next to me and hugs me. I felt so bad about bringing down the mood while we were out, I felt bad that I had shown Meteor I was upset about him being there, I felt horrible that I actually felt so horrible about a past i wanted to forget about, but most of all I hated seeing Zane feel guilty when he shouldn't.

"You need to get dressed" He orders and I shake my head "I don't feel like it," I say quietly as he holds me.

He looks at me and takes his hoodie and then his shirt off. I couldn't help but look at his body. "Take your shirt off," He says to me and I look up at him in shock. But I don't refuse and take it off. The second I do he puts his shirt on me.

I feel warm and I decide to take off my uncomfortable jeans that squished my thighs. The shirt went up to my upper thigh anyway. I laid down with Ryder in my bed and instantly fall asleep in his arms which made me feel safe the second I made contact with them.


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