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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE;
[ A MESS OF THINGS ]
[CONSTELLATION || GLENN RHEE]
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Athena could feel all color drain from her face at the sight of Glenn holding up Rick's jacket, his eyes averted to the large shirt lying only inches away from her books. Her mouth was slightly open, lips parted as her mind searched for words that could possibly get her out of the mess that was to come. But she could not think of any, making Glenn more uneasy as his eyes twisted and face fell at her lack of explanation. There was no getting out of this—Athena knew that. The truth would come out sooner or later, and there was no way she could withhold such a thing from someone she cared for with all her life.
"I slept with him." Athena said calmly, the sentence falling from her mouth in both a daze and a rush. She could feel her hands begin shaking, the very mention of it sending chills down her spine. Athena kept her eyes on the floor, not wanting to meet his gaze in fear of the disappointment or judgement that would cloud them. But she did, nonetheless, and felt her chest hollow at the sight of meeting nothing but a cold expression and deadly dark eyes.
"You slept with Rick?" He repeated, as if to confirm it, but he already knew. Athena bit her lip as her eyes dropped to the floor. "Why?"
"What do you mean why?" Athena said back harshly, trying her best to remain clam. "I slept with him because I wanted to."
"I don't believe that." Glenn said back, hands curling in and out of fists before he raised to run his fingers through his hair. "I didn't expect—"
"Well it happened," Athena interrupted, sitting up and covering her legs with the blanket cascaded on her bed. "And I can't change the past, but Glenn I—"
"Just stop, please."
Glenn resisted from speaking out again, seeming to be holding back his tongue as he stared Athena dead in the face. The brunette continued to keep her solid gaze from him to prevent herself from breaking down. She slept with Rick because she thought it was right in the moment—but it wasn't. Athena damn right knew what—who—she truly wanted, but still she continued to place even more obstacles between the two of them.
"I don't know what to say." Glenn said quietly, but his tone was as thick as venom and tone laced with disbelief even so. "You slept with Rick—"
"And?" Athena finally snapped, "Why are you so upset about it?"
The words left her lips in such a hurry that she didn't have time to process them, and once they reached his ears and his face contorted into hurt, Athena knew she had made an even bigger mistake when he turned on his heel to leave.
"You know damn well why I'm upset about it, Athena." Glenn said roughly before leaving her cell.
Looking after his retreating figure, Athena could feel the world crash all around her. She had made yet another mistake. First the kiss, then Rick, and now this. It was like Athena's mouth was only good for one thing, and that was for hurting people with the words she crafted in her mind. Falling to her knees, Athena clenched her white shirt in her hand and held back from letting out a small sob. If she hadn't lost Glenn before, she had surely lost him now. And all because of what?
Because Athena was too much of a coward to actually go after the man she truly wanted. The fear of rejection, of getting hurt, of him getting hurt—it kept her from pursuing happiness in the wake of chaos, and now it seemed as if that happiness was no longer an option anymore. An apology wouldn't work, neither would anything else, but even then, Athena felt as if there was only one way left of saving whatever the two of them had left.
And that was by taking a risk.
Sniffling, Athena slowly rose to her feet, lifting Rick's jacket along with herself. The material was soft in her hands, the brunette running her thumb over the zipper before throwing on a pair of shorts. Her swimsuit was still soaking wet, but the uncomfortable garments didn't bother Athena as she made her way out the cell and down the stairs. Reaching the open cell block, her eyes landed on everyone but Glenn or Rick. The two were no where in sight, but by Carol's gesture towards the bridge that loomed overhead the prison, Athena knew where to go.
Slinging her wet hair over her shoulder, she quickly dodged the rest and made her way out, catching Maggie's and Beth's questioning eyes as she did so. Athena merely dismissed them though, barging out the doors and onto the elevated bridge. Her piercing stare met Rick's, and the man looked rather surprised from her sudden appearance. His hands were placed on his hips, gaze set on her as Athena walked forward with a determined mind.
"We need to talk." Both Athena and Rick said at once, but Athena wasn't going to wait for him to go first—so she started speaking. "Rick, we've known each other for months now and there's no doubt about the fact that you and everyone else here mean so much to me. But sleeping with you—it can't happen again, nothing like that can. And I'm sorry for that."
Rick sucked in a deep breath, his fingers that were intertwined within another slightly unsteady as he nodded once, much to Athena's shock. "I understand." Rick said, but then he stepped forward and titled his head ever so slightly. "But what I want for you to understand is that I need you in a way that isn't possible, and that I care for you and will always been there for you when you need it. That's not going to change, Athena"
Athena nodded, looking towards the horizon. "I hope we can put this behind us. For the sake of—"
"You and Glenn." Rick finished, and a small laugh escaped his mouth when Athena looked bewildered. "Everyone sees it. You should go after him, you know. He's up in the south guard tower."
Athena nodded, flashing him an apologetic look before moving past him to make her way towards the tower. She could hear him hold his breath as she passed him, but Athena tried her best to push away any thoughts about the man's feelings. She knew Rick was hurting—because of her—and although it pained Athena to admit it, he was not her number one priority at the moment. The tower that loomed over her short frame confirmed that, knowing well enough that her and Glenn's relationship would depend on the conversation she'd have in a few minutes. That was her main priority. Salvaging what they had left.
Making sure that her hands were no longer slippery, Athena began her descend up the latter. Her hair was matted to her face, lips chapped and face streaked with already dry tears. She knew what she was going to say to Glenn; surprisingly she knew exactly what she was going to say. Athena was going to spill out everything she's ever wanted to tell him in a matter of seconds.
A risk, she was taking a risk.
Pushing up the trapdoor, Athena braced for the worst before pulling herself into the enclosed space. Her eyes met Glenn's standing figure, the man looking down at her with a shocked gaze from her sudden appearance. "What are you doing here?" He asked quizzically, and Athena breathed out deeply as she continued to stay seated on the ground.
"I'm here," The brunette began, swinging her legs as they dangled out the trapdoor, "to apologize because I made a mistake. A terrible and very wrong one." Glenn scoffed in return, still seeming angry from the earlier turn of events, but Athena quickly silenced his doubts by raising her hand. "Wait, Glenn, before you shut me out or do anything else. I need to say a few things."
"Haven't you said enough?" Glenn pressed on, and Athena sighed deeply. "Done enough too."
"That's why I'm here." She exclaimed, finally standing to her feet, only to watch Glenn step back closer to the walls as Athena struggled to claim the words that encircled her mind. "Glenn, I admit it clearly. I slept with Rick—yes—and it was great." He looks down as Athena continues. "But he's not who I want. Glenn, can't you see that? I want you."
"It's always been you." She breathed out, walking forward, and this time he didn't back away. "And I know you're with Maggie, and it pains me to see you with her—"
"You got it all wrong." Glenn chuckled, and Athena felt a sense of relief flow through her from the laugh that left his mouth. "Maggie and I aren't together anymore."
Athena's jaw dropped, feeling what she could only describe as complete shock flow through her. "Wait—what? When?"
"Yesterday," he said quietly, shifting uncomfortably. "I had to. I don't see her in that way anymore." The room shifted into silence from his declaration, but there was no tension as Glenn moved forward towards Athena. Her heart beat unevenly in her chest, pounding rapidly as if wishing for an escape. The blood that ran in her veins seemed to boil as Glenn placed his hand on her cheek, taking Athena's face in the tips of his fingers—and oh how she loved it, because for the first time holding her breath had never felt so good when his dark eyes were the ones keeping her from swallowing the dark waters that threatened to consume her. "I've liked you since the farm. I always have, after you got shot I could see that. You've never made me feel so worried for someone who isn't my real blood, the mere thought of you has been driving me insane since I laid my eyes on your face. You captivate me, Athena, and that's why I need to be with you."
Athena was at loss for words as she took in everything he had just said to her. He had broken up with Maggie—for her.
Glenn had chosen her.
And Athena had chosen him in return.
"I don't think I've ever heard anything more promising." She breathed out, placing her hands on the sides of his face, watching with keen eyes as his lips twinged into a smile. "Because I feel the exact same."
Athena leaned forward and lightly pressed her lips to his, feeling a course of pure heat run through her as Glenn wrapped his arms around the small of her waist. She could feel his fingers graze the bits of skin that peaked out from underneath her white shirt, sending courses of shivers up Athena's spine. She smiled into the kiss as Glenn accidentally stumbled forward, seeming so lost and captivated as Athena entangled her hands in his hair and tugged lightly.
"You really are a beauty." Glenn mumbled as Athena took his lower lip in her own, "You're going to be the death of me one day, Athena Lee."
Athena smiled, pulling away.
"And you of me.
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word count; 2001
this chapter was whack at first and now I feel okay because I haven't drawn out their pain that long
yet
this book is drawing close to an end, so I've already gotten together the sequel + the cover + the summary. I'm so so excited to write season five through seven y'all have no idea I'm stoked
vote/comment/leave some feedback? any thoughts on athena & glenn? also, the next chapter is going to be centered around ares and nate so expect that!
alright everyone, until the next chapter, thank you and goodbye!
—Celeste xx