silence

twenty one

Athena

I woke up still angry about last night. My morning went really slowly as I kept thinking about it. Why would my parents even send me away. What was the point if I was going to come back only 6 years later? 

Nothing was making sense and it was annoying me greatly.

I snapped at my friends this morning, they realised I was irritated at something else and I apologised after feeling really bad about it. It's pissing me off to no end.

I definitely intend to get answers. I want them directly from Atticus but Khai told me he was busy all afternoon so I'm sat in my room playing a guitar from the music room in our house. Raeden is over, trying to teach me a new song.

"So G, D, C, Em, Am?"

"Yeah that's pretty much it. It's a really easy song," he replies.

He's teaching me American Pie.

"Do you want some snacks? I'm kinda hungry," I ask him. and he nods, telling me he's pretty hungry too.

We walk downstairs to find Khai, Phoenix and Isaiah in the kitchen too. I give them a blank hey and Raeden says hello too, gaining everyone's attention.

"I want your bedroom door open Athena." Isaiah states firmly.

I look at him confused, "Why?"

He looks between Raeden and I, the time my other brothers who are watching the interaction. "Because Raeden's here."

"And?" I question him again. Why's he being so weird about this.

He goes to speak before being cut off by Phoenix who's grinning. "Because he's a boy, and you're a girl."

"Yep, glad you nailed human biology Harvey. What does it have to do with anything?"

Raeden looks at me with a look that says 'seriously?'.

"Isaiah doesn't want you guys alone together. He thinks you're going to do something." Phoenix adds.

My face morphs into one of realisation. I snap my head to Isaiah who's looking at me blankly and giving me a slight nod. Is he serious? It's Raeden. My best friend Raeden.

Best. Friend.

"You're kidding right? Raeden and I are just friends! Have been for over 6 years! I'm not going to fuck him! Let alone anyone if my brothers are in the house with me!" I exclaim.

I might be slightly lying but to be fair, Phoenix was busy and Khai was downstairs. There was a whole party here when Ahren and I were in my room.

I grab a punnet of strawberries out of the fridge hurriedly and take ahold of Raeden's arm, dragging him back upstairs with me. The boys look at me shocked and disapprovingly.

I couldn't care less what they're thinking at the moment. They're all on Atticus' side with the family business, which I've made it a point to hate on.

I'm doing what I want until they tell me what I want to know.

•••

Raeden left about an hour ago, I'm now sitting in my room waiting for dinner to be called. 

I can already feel the tension in the air and I can't even see my brothers yet.

"Athena! Dinner!" A male voice from downstairs exclaims. I make my way down to the dining room and sit down, not making eye contact with any of my brothers, who I can feel staring at me.