Keditha's Destiny

Chapter Thirteen

I follow Athena out of the room, pausing right in the door way behind her. "Hey Don, Athena's planning on helping." I tell him.

I half expected him to turn around and start glaring at me but he just shrugs. "That's fine, I already included her." He says.

"Really? What is she supposed to do? " I ask.

"Nothing, She's the bait."

I Stiffen. "The bait?"

"Think about it, Hollister wants Athena... well that or your life. But telling him he can kill you is too risky, he might able to do it. We know he won't kill Athena so if he takes her, no big deal. We'll just save her again."

"Donnie no, we can't ask her to do that." I tell him.

"No, I want to do it. I want to help in anyway I can. Plus he has a point." Athena tells me.

"Are you sure? You don't have to." I tell her.

She nods. "I know."

Louis sighs. "What's the plan Donnie?"

Donnie kneels next to the coffee table, dropping a hand drawn map on it along with two notebooks. "Okay, so we head back to Boxcord Lane. We contact Hollister telling you're willing to give him Athena if he was willing to go back to our original arrangement."

Donnie gestures to the map in front of us. "Louis and Kenny will be waiting in the building next to the one we'll be in. That way they'll see any possible incoming hostiles."

Kenny nods, narrowing his eyes. "And where will you be Donnie?" He asks.

"I'll be in the warehouse, hiding." He says.

"From what?" Louis asks.

Donnie rolls his eyes. "Ralph, you'll be in the getaway car in case anything goes wrong."

"That's all?" Ralph frowns.

I move past Athena to sit next to Louis. "You barely joined the gang. Wait until you gained our trust and have been trained." I tell him.

"I trust him." Donnie says.

"You trust everyone Don, I don't trust your judgement." I say rolling my eyes.

Donnie slaps his notebook shut, gathering up his map. "Well fine, figure this out on own." He snaps.

"Donnie come on. Don't an idiot." Louis flips a card in his hand, shaking his head.

"We're going to do your plan Donnie. When can we have everything set up?" Kenny asks.

Donnie glares at all of us. "Give me another twenty." He says darting into his room.

I glance around at everyone. "I still feel uncomfortable." Ralph says.

Louis rolls his eyes, turning to look at me. "How are you doing?" He asks.

"Does it matter?"

He nods. "Of course. I mean Richard quit on us when he about to tell you something important about your parents death."

I stretch, yawning. It was getting late and today had definitely been tiring. "I wouldn't say he quit, he was shot after all."

"Yeah well, life goes on. I'm sure we'll find another way to find my parents murderer." I tell him.

“You know I’d take a bullet for you right?” Louis says.

We hear Donnie gasp. “Woah woah, no.” He snaps. “That’s stupid. All you’re granting them is depression and guilt from your death. Let them die and then take the depression and guilt yourself. That’s how you show you care.”

“Your logic is really weird.” Louis says.

"Did you figure it out already?" Kenny asks Donnie.

Donnie shakes his head, darting into the kitchen. He runs back into the room, holding bag of chips. "Just need some fuel." He darts back into his room.

"Is there a reason you said this now?" I ask Louis, ignoring Donnie completely.

"I don't know, you seemed depressed." He tells me.

"Oh...okay, thanks."

"Here's a lesson on awkward friendship." Kenny mutters, sitting down in the loveseat next to the couch. He looks up at Athena who was still standing in the doorway. "You want to sit down?" He asks her, patting the seat next to him.

She shakes her head, suddenly seeming very shy. "No thank you, I'm good." She mutters.

Ralph clicks his tongue, causing everyone to look at him. "I feel like everyone is ignoring me." He tells us.

"Feel like?" Louis asks. I got the feeling he was in a bad mood.

"Why was Hollister holding you hostage?" I ask Ralph.

He shrugs. "I think I stole something of his."

"Oh, Julian did the something." Louis says, looking towards Athena.

I elbow him. "You think? It sounds like you definitely did." I tell him. "What did you take?"

"Just a couple of explosives and guns he had saved up. His security is incredibly easy to pass."

I exchange a look with Kenny. Hollister security was anything but easy to pass. Maybe Donnie was onto something. "You might actually be useful." I mutter to myself.

I move to my feet. "I assume Donnie will have everything set up soon, so I should go prepared myself.

"Okay, see you later." Louis says. He yawns himself.

I move past Athena, heading for my room. Athena follows me, sitting on my bed. "You don't have to follow me around like a little puppy you know."

Athena blushes, glancing away.  "I wasn't, I just wanted to talk with you."

"About what?"

"I... i'm not sure, I guess I just want to talk about anything."

I lean towards her, grinning. "Getting comfortable?" I ask her. "I thought you were scared of me."

Athena shoves me back so she could stand up. I grab her hand pulling her closer. “You’re not so bad.” Athena mutters.

I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “Is that so? So you're not scared of me anymore.” I ask, leaning closer.

She nods rapidly, looking down at my lips. I tip her chin up, gazing into her eyes. Slowly I lean in.

“Julian…”

“Mhm?” she places a hand in my chest, pushing me back slightly.

“I…I can’t.”

"Julian." Louis says, causing me to look up. He glances between me and Athena. "Donnie has everything set up. We'll be heading out in a few." he tells me before back into the living room.

I sigh. "Here, let me get you something new and clean to wear." I tell Athena. I grab a shirt and pair of pants from my closet, handing them to Athena.

"Are you sure these will fit me?" She asks.

"They were from when I was sixteen and still pretty small, they should fit. loose fit but still." I exit the room to give her some privacy.

Hopefully Hollister would show and hopefully I could get over the pain of being rejected.