Athena was discharged the next morning despite Carlisle trying to persuade her to stay just in case. "Carlisle, I said no I will not be staying another second in this hospital, no offense to you truly." She said as she was signing papers. "I have plans that I am very committed to." she added "I really do think you should stay for a bit more observation, Your plans for La Push can always be changed to another day," Carlisle said. Athena stopped and kept her eyes on the paper
"Dr.Cullen, my plans are none of your business, nor is it your children's business. So help me lord if I hear one more of you say anything about me going to the Reservation, I will give you a real reason to be concerned about me that doesn't involve the Res, but with my friendship with your family. Like I told them, Your issues with the Reservation are none of my concern or problem. I am my own person not one of your kids so if you try to convince me not to go to La Push one more time, I promise you as much as it would pain me I will cut people off, I will not tolerate people telling me what to do or continuously trying to "suggest" what I should do with my life " Athena said to Carlisle while getting in his face a bit "So if the next words aren't you're discharged, take care. I don't want to hear it. " She said as she glared at him and then finished the paperwork and turned around almost tripping
"Oh, my-" She held her chest when she looked down to see a man in a wheelchair "I am so sorry sir, I really need to watch where I am going." She said in a polite tone which is very contradictory to her previous one. "No no I apologies, I wasn't watching where I was rolling." He said and chuckled and Athena giggled a bit. "Are you okay over here? You sounded a bit upset." He asked as he looked at Carlisle and then back to her
"Oh I'm just peachy, just an argument that has been settled and won't be brought up again," She said turning to Carlisle who frowned a bit but nodded understandingly "My apologies Athena I was out of line." He said "Yes you were, but I will accept the apology," she said and he nodded as he smiled a bit before he went to do other things. She sighed and turned back to the man in the wheelchair who was glaring at Dr. Cullen as he walked away.
"I'm so sorry I never introduced myself, I'm Athena Lockeheart, semi-new around here and leaving my mark everywhere I go. " She said, holding out her robotic hand. He looked back at her and smiled "Billy Black, been living around here on the Reservation since birth, left my mark within my years." he said taking her hand in his. "Nice to meet you, Billy, loving the wheels they look flashy." She said with a bright smile as she truly did admire.
"My wheels?, nothing can compare to that contraption you have there," He said as he gestured to her robotic hand "Never in my 53 years have I seen something like that. " He said and Athena held her arm out for him to look at it closer "Pretty awesome right, I only started wearing them about 3 or 4 years ago. It's a lifesaver truly, I mean I can't feel anything in it but I can move it like a normal arm. It was always a dream to be a cyborg" she said and laughed which made Billy laugh as well.
"My wife would have loved you I can already tell," Billy said smiling a bit sadder. "My dad would have wanted a friend like you," Athena said and patted his shoulder "Sorry for your loss" Athena added "Sorry for yours as well." Billy said and patted her hand "Thanks he died due to a car accident Seven years ago. Miss him every day, but I know he's here in my heart." Athena said and Billy's eyes widened a bit and he gave her a small smile
"My wife died seven years ago in a car accident. I also believe she is here in spirit. " Athena smiled at him "Small world isn't it?" she asked and Billy nodded "Seems it is, my son Jacob would like you" Athena smiled softly "Making a small assumption, I believe he is younger than me, I'm going to be 19 in about 3 and a half months" She said and Billy nodded "I see well maybe you could tutor him and his friends they could really use it" he joked and Athena thought for a moment "Actually I wouldn't say no to that. I'm a smart cookie" she said and Billy chuckled "Well didn't think I'd come to the hospital and gain a tutor for my son and his two friends"
Athena nodded "Me either, it was great meeting you Billy uhh" She looked around and grabbed a blank paper, wrote her number, and handed it to him "Just tell me when you need me," she said and smiled "Thank you, Athena, have a great rest of your day." He said and she nodded "You as well," she said and waved as she left, and then she stood there "...shoot," she said as she forgot one small detail, she didn't drive herself here. She got her phone out and looked through her contacts and bit her lip as she thought of who to call. "Mind if I give you a ride home?" an all too familiar southern accent said. She looked to her left,
"Why are you here?" she asked, more irritated than she meant. "Carlisle said he didn't think you had a ride so..." Jasper said and rubbed the back of his neck as he swallowed hard. "I see... I guess I'll have to accept, everyone else is busy or I don't want to see them." She said heading to the Jeep, she got in by pulling herself up with her robotic arm and shutting the door. Jasper sighed as he got in and looked over to her. Athena struggled to get her seatbelt on.
"Athena please let me help you with that." He said and she huffed as she handed it over and he buckled it in and she turned towards the door. "...Thanks for the ride," she mumbled. Jasper nodded "Of course," he said as he started the Jeep and drove "Athena I'm sorry about yesterday, we were really in the wrong. You're right about the whole thing and we should have respected you like you respect us." He said "I really don't wanna lose you, Athena.." he added. Athena relaxed a bit and sighed "I already forgave you guys, I just need a breather is all. I love you guys truly, but you can be a bit much at times." She said and looked at him. Jasper bit his lip as he nodded "Sorry again, we'll leave you be til you say you wanna talk." He said "I just wanted you safe... I guess it blinded me and I didn't know I was doing more bad than good." he continued.
Athena smiled a bit, "I know Jas" she said as she reached her robotic hand over and rubbed his arm gently. "Wanna stay with me til Bella comes to get me? I'll probably need help getting some stuff done" She asked and Jasper nodded "I would love to" He said and Athena smiled as she turned to look out the window again. Jasper watched her for a moment and then turned his attention back to the road "Also you're going 20 over the speed limit." She said and he looked and he let off the gas "Good job" she mumbled and Jasper bit his cheek. "Yeah" was all he could muster.
They arrived at Athena's home and she opened the door and hopped out, closing the door. She tripped on a rock and gasped thinking she was going to fall, but the ground never met her body, only a cold feeling engulfed her and she looked up at Jasper. "Jeez what is with your family being so fast," she said and smiled as he gently let her go "I think they aimed to adopt athletic children" Jasper joked and Athena laughed a bit as she headed down the hill and opened the slide door with a key.
"I'm going to shower, can you make that pizza in the freezer?" she asked as she took her jacket off and she didn't get a response, she turned and he was looking at her arms "I never noticed your scars before." He said as he tilted his head and moved closer "Haha I mean they're not hard to miss but I do wear long sleeves often and skin-colored tights with skirts and shorts." She said as she smiled. "Ah I see," He said as he brushed his hand up her arm "I'll tell you about it one day," she said and reached up ruffling his hair "Now be a good housewife and cook for me." She said and laughed a bit "Yes of course," he abided and chuckled as he went to the kitchen.
She smiled and watched him for a moment before she went to her room and grabbed some clothes that would be suitable for the windy beach, she placed a plastic bag over her hand and duck-taped it. Once she finished up in the shower she got dressed and took the bag off with the tape. "I hope you didn't burn down the house while I was in the shower," she said as she walked out and he turned to look at her and smiled "Almost, but not quite," he said as he placed the pizza on the island.
"Ohh I might have to make you my actual housewife." She said as she sat down and took a slice. She inspected it and hummed before she took a bite and then she hummed again, "So is it up to your standards?" Jasper asked, "It's perfecto, thank you for putting this in the oven and baking it." She said and ate a bit more. Jasper smiled and sat beside her and put his forehead on her shoulder, "Seems the tables have turned, I'm usually the one doing that" She said as she leaned her head on his a bit "I see the appeal" he mumbled and she giggled.
They sat like that for a few minutes as Athena ate her food. She looked over and noticed a mark on the lower part of his neck about where the crook of his neck met his shoulder, a bite mark, no it was a bite scar that she finally settled on. She didn't say anything and finished her last bit of Pizza. "Alright I gotta wash my hand you can head into the living room," she said and he nodded as he got up and went to the couch.
Athena cleaned her hand and dried it off before joining him on the couch. She looked at the time and then over to him, "You're so quiet today" she said softly and reached over and ran her fingers through his hair and he hummed quietly. Athena kept running her fingers through his hair and he leaned his head onto her shoulder again. "I wanna stay like this, in this moment," he said as he closed his eyes. "Maybe someday, but today is not the day," she said to him and he hummed in response.
Athena groaned as she woke up to the sound of her alarm and she rubbed her eye as she looked over to her phone and turned it off then she looked over to Jasper who was still leaning into her with his head on her shoulder. "Hey Jas, you gotta get going, Bella will be here in five," she said softly as she ran her fingers through his blonde locks. He sat up and looked around and raised his brows.
"Oh, has it been that long?" he said as he got up and stretched. "Indeed, I'll text you when I get there and when I leave okay?" She said and he nodded "Just um stay safe and if you need anything just call," he said softly as he reached up and caressed her cheek. "I will I will, now off you go and don't speed," she said as she nudged him towards the door and he laughed as he left "Goodbye Athena" "Goodbye Jasper".
Once Bella and her arrived she wrapped her hand up in a bag and taped it. She hopped out and the others were already getting suited up and unloading while the two sat with Angela and bundled up. After a bit Angela spoke up "I keep thinking Eric will ask me to prom but then he just doesn't" she said "Why don't you ask him you're a strong independent woman take control" Bella said and Angela smiled a bit "You really think so?" Angela asked, "Literally the sweetest girl I have ever met, I hope you become president one day." Athena said and Angela laughed a bit
"Alright, I'm gonna take control." Angela said "Looks like we have some visitors," Jessica said and Athena and Bella looked over to see 3 boys with long hair coming up the hill "Any of you know them?" Athena asked and they all shook their heads except for Bella "I think the one up front is Jacob" Bella said and the three came up and Jacob smiled "Hey Bella" "Hey, Everyone this is Jacob." Bella said and there were various greetings "So are you stalking me now?" "Hey you're on my Rez remember" he said and then he turned and looked at Athena " Jacob Black?" she questioned before he could speak "Athena Lockeheart?" he asked in return "Ah I guess Billy told you about me already huh." She laughed a bit as she got up and stretched.
"So you really do have a robotic arm," one of the guys said and gawked at it. "Yes I really do have a robotic arm," she said as she laughed a bit "That is so awesome, how does it work?" he asked "I connect it to my brain every morning, a very painful process," She said nonchalantly and the 2 guys looked at each other then Jacob "It's a joke, I'd show you how to do it but the real hand is currently out of commission." She said and held up the other hand "Can't seem to catch a break" Jacob said
Athena sighed "Tell me about it.", "You guys should keep them company especially Bella, her date bailed," Jessica said "What date?" Eric asked "She invited Edward Cullen" Jessica answered "To be nice", "I think it's sweet she invited him, no one ever invites them out." "Yeah, because the Cullen's are freaks," Mike said and laughed and one of the Quileute boys laughed a bit as well "Got that right", "Do you know him?" Bella asked as she furrowed her brows.
"The Cullens don't come here" He replied and Bella looked back at Athena but she was to busy glaring at Mike to even notice "You're one to talk Michael," Athena said in a cold manner "If it wasn't for the fact I am certain my robotic hand would break a few bones in your face I would slap you for that comment." She said calmly and looked back down at her phone. Mike went wide-eyed "Right sorry," He said and quickly made his way down to the ocean with Eric following closely. Jessica gave Athena the stank eye "I'll pluck those things out of your head if you don't stop." Athena said without looking up "Don't test me" She said and Jessica stopped as she ran to catch up with the guys.
"Hey Athena don't you think you're being a little harsh?" Angela said "Oh I know I am, but at least I can't do much to them at the moment. You should thank this hand for that one" She said and chuckled "I see, well good thing you can't commit violence for now." Angela said and laughed a bit "Bella do you wanna go for a walk?" Jacob asked and Bella looked at Athena "Can she come with?" Bella asked and Jacob smiled a bit more "Yeah of course she can," he said and Athena looked up to see the two staring at her "Alright I'll go," she said as she got up and followed behind the two.
"So what did your friend mean by "The Cullens don't come here" " Bella asked and Athena mentally facepalmed. "You caught that huh?" Bella nodded "I'm really not supposed to say," Jacob said "I...We can keep a secret", "Really it's just an old scary story," He said "I wanna know," Bella said and so Jacob told the story "I thought they just moved here?" Bella questioned "Or just moved back," Jacob said and as if it was on queue Angela screamed and the three jumped. "Let's head back to the van, it's cold as heck out here," Athena said and the two agreed as they headed back.
After some time the group dispersed to head home and Athena got into Bella's truck and sighed, Bella joined her not too long after. Bella looked at her "I think we're a step closer to finding out what they really are" Bella said and Athena hummed in response as she looked out the window, Bella looked at her for a moment before she drove Athena home "Thanks for the ride Bells. Cya at school Monday, bright and sunny." she said and waved as she left and went through the sliding doors.
She sighed as she placed her stuff by the door and took off the two coats she had on, she went to the bathroom and started a bath as she looked at her phone and hummed. As if the person she was thinking about could read her thoughts the name popped up on her phone and she didn't hesitate to answer. "Jas...I was just thinking about you," she said softly and he chuckled "Is that right?" his southern drawl made her smile. "It is so, what are you up to?" She asked as she looked at the water.
"I was just thinking about you and about Texas." He said and she hummed. "What are you doing? Sounds like water is running." Jasper said "About to take a bath," she said and smirked as a thought came to mind "Care to join me?" she asked and she heard the phone drop and then a loud sound which she assumed was the floor and she laughed. "Jas you are so easy to fluster," Athena said through laughs and then there was the sound of him picking up the phone.
"Well when a woman as beautiful as yourself says that I can't help but get a little bashful." he said and she bit her lip "You are such an old soul at heart," Athena said and Jasper chuckled "I like it, you don't meet many gentlemen these days," she added as she put her phone down and pulled her shirt off and tossed it into the hamper. "So am I staying on call for this bath?" he asked "If you want to," she said and Jasper hummed "I mean, what if you become a damsel in distress, I could be the one that saves you." Jaspe said and Athena laughed "Is that so? Well thank you for keeping me safe Cowboy." she said, making her southern Cajun accent a bit thicker and Jasper laughed.
After a moment she turned the water off, fully undressed herself, and slid into the water with a sigh "This is life." She said and Jasper let out a breathy laugh "Is that offer still open to join you?" he asked. "Ah, the offer window just closed, maybe next time." She said and he sighed "Dang so close." Athena laughed as she slid further into the water and relaxed. "Hey Athena," Jasper said "Yes Jasper? " She mumbled "Are you going to be in town for the prom?" he asked "I plan to be, when is it again?" She asked, "In 3 months I believe," He said, "That's so close, I gotta go dress shopping." She said as she swished the water around. "Do you have a date?" He asked, "Yeppers, a Quileute boy asked me." Athena said and Jasper took in a sharp breath "Kidding of course" She added
"Jeez you and your jokes and tricks," Jasper said as he relaxed "What you react so well to them" She joked and he mumbled under his breath. Athena laughed and got out of the bath and let the water drain as she dried herself off. "Why do you ask?" She hummed out as she got her pj's on. Jasper cleared his throat "I uh was just curious because you're just a wonderful woman is all, anyone would be lucky to go with you." He said and Athena hummed out a laugh "Well thank you, Mister," she said as she walked to her room and put her phone on charge. "Did Emmett fix my baby today?" She asked as she remembered. "Oh um...I'll ask," Jasper said as he got up and there were footsteps that went on the stairs. After a moment Jasper spoke up "Emmett, Athena wants to know if you fixed her Cadillac?"
"Oh yeah, It was quite simple actually but um- Wait she's talking to you again? Already?" Emmett said and got up. "Possibly, why does it matter?" Jasper asked and looked up at his adoptive brother. "You-" before Athena could hear anything else the line was quiet but still going. After 6 minutes Jasper spoke "Sorry ma'am it seems they are a little upset." Athena hummed "It's alright, no need to explain cowboy." she said in a soft tone "Get some rest Darlin" Jasper said "Right back at ya "Darlin"," Athena said in the same accent and Jasper chuckled "Hey that's my thing," he said and Athena giggled. "Goodnight Jas," she said softly as she yawned. "Goodnight Darlin..." He replied before she fell asleep for the night.