silence

nine

Khai

Athena sat in the passenger seat very quietly. The car was filled with silence, yet it wasn't awkward. I think Phoenix was a bit harsh with his words but he's kinda right. What she's wearing is fine - for a dance class with girls. Not really fine for walking around the school. It's just that the cut of the white leotard is pretty much the same as underwear, and all she's got over it is a very transparent skirt.

Phoenix's gym, which his mate James owns. He started going there when he was 15, and became pretty good friends with Jamie. He often goes there to get his anger out - which is pretty often to be honest. He leaves me with the car after school and I'll drive home. Jamie usually drops him off when he finishes.

Arriving at home, Thena stays seated in the same position she's been in the whole drive. I hop out and grab her bag from the back, slinging it over my shoulder with mine. I walk around to her side and open the door.

"C'mon Thena, just come inside. Nothing bad is going to happen in there," I reassure her as gently as possible. She stays staring straight ahead, unmoving.
"Athena. We need to go inside, it's gonna get late. I'm right here."

Her gaze on the windscreen doesn't falter and I resort to picking her up to take her inside. She fights me off and climbs out of the car myself after I start to place her on my shoulder. 

We unlock and open the door, walking in to see Atticus and Isaiah sitting in the living room. I look back at Athena but she doesn't let her blank face slip. She hasn't been one to really show emotion in the recent days of her arrival back home. Leaving for boarding school really did have an affect on her.

I can't imagine her reaction to finding out about Atticus's businesses. Their illegality isn't something you hear everyday that's for sure. As much as she obviously doesn't know about it, there was a real reason she was sent to boarding school when our parents died and it wasn't her education. She could've well gone to Alderidge instead of Dalton and maybe she should've but they wanted her shipped off so she wouldn't see the turnover of the fucking mafia to Atticus.

It wasn't pretty. Guards and guns were everywhere for at least two years - the other mafias believing we were weaker now that our leader was dead. Atticus quickly took his position as per Father's will, and eventually we proved ourselves to be one of the most feared and powerful mafias again.

Atticus and Isaiah turn their heads to us as we both walk in, Thena with her blank face behind me. I know Phoenix had called them after lunch and I'm guessing again when he walked into the gym. They don't look too happy obviously.

"Athena, come here please," begins Atticus, "would you like to explain what happened at school today or should we skip straight to the consequences?"

Athena looks at them for a moment, void of emotion.
"Depends. What are the consequences?" She states boldly but quietly. I think she's still in a bit of shock from what Phoenix said. Something tells me it reminded her of the bastard at Dalton, but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe she's just exhausted. "Should I grab the belt?" She asks.

My brothers and look at her shocked. Did she actually just say that? After what she's gone through? How is she so calm with it? Atticus clenches his jaw.

"Watch what you're saying Athena. We would never do that to you."

"I've been here for five days and all Phoenix has argued with me about is my clothes. "You're not wearing that!", "That skirt, Athena", "Take that off right now.", sounds familiar to me." she stares blankly.

"Athena, you should know he doesn't mean it that way. He, nor any of us, have ever had that intention."

"Our parent's discipline was never physical, and neither is ours now," adds Isaiah.

"It's the only discipline I know. What other kinda consequences are there?" Asks Athena.

"They just add rules, or take your phone, or ground you or something Thena. Nobody will ever, ever try to discipline you like that ever again," I answer her as she stares at me.

She grabs her phone from her pocket and places it in Atticus' suit jacket pocket, turning to walk out. She reaches the door before Isaiah can grab her arm, but immediately stops in her tracks as she's blocked by Phoenix's tall figure in the doorway.

"Athena. Sit the fuck down," he demands.

She looks up at him challengingly for a moment, before stepping back and moving to sit on the arm of the couch.

"Would you like to explain both the arguments we had today or should I do it for you?" He asks tauntingly. Athena sits in silence and he takes that as her choosing the latter option.

"Our little sister ditched our wish of her sitting with us at lunch to sit with her friends. Walked in with a boy's arm around her," he snaps.

Atticus' gaze aims directly at Athena questioningly.

"Thena told us the boy was just a friend after Phoenix dragged her to our table and sat her down," I defend her.

"Athena, repeat to me what I told you your rules were when you got here?" Atticus asks.

"No boys," she replies without a thought.

"Exactly. So care to explain what that boys is to you?"

"Oh my god Atticus! He's just a friend, and always has been just a friend. His arm around my shoulder after not seeing me for almost a week is nothing compared to back in England!" She snaps back confidently.

"Didn't look like 'just friends' to me, Reign!" Challenges Phoenix back.

"Like you'd know what that looks like!" She spits.

"Enough!" Shouts Atticus. Everyone immediately whips their heads to him silently. "Athena, bring him around tomorrow night for dinner, if you're going to stay friends with him - which you're clearly set on - I need to approve of him. No discussions." He finishes and Athena nods her head.

"Athena, verbal responses please," Isaiah nudges.

"Yes Atticus, I understand."

"Fine, but the other two guys are coming here too," demands Phoenix angrily.

Atticus agrees, "Agreed, now should we address the other issue?" He asks rhetorically.

"There is no other issue," she defends, "Phoenix is being irrational."

Phoenix glares at her. He looks like he's gonna snap soon. "Irrational?! Irrational. You're fucking joking right?"

"No, I'm damn not."

"Irrational! Says little miss barely dressed!" He turns his head to Atticus, "I told her to get in the car because her skirt is fucking see-through and she fucking took it off the little-"

He stops mid sentence as he receives a stern glance from Atticus and Isaiah. He spins around and storms upstairs to his room. We hear a very loud slam of his door and then silence. Atticus takes a deep breath in.

"Athena, I want you to change out of your dance clothes after class please. I, nor any of your brothers, want you walking around school in them. End of story. I'm letting you off on a warning for the first issue as we already came to a conclusion," he gives his final speech before handing Athena her phone from his suit pocket and walking out.

"Get some rest Athena. You too Khai," adds Isaiah before walking out as well. I turn to look at Athena.

"Was expecting everyone to go all Phoenix on me to be honest."

"We aren't all that harsh, he's just protective. I don't want anyone looking at my little sister like that, none of us do," I state, walking over to hug her. I rest my chin on her head and she mutters a quiet thank you to me.

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I'm definitely a Khai stan, sry bout it xx
- Keyara