Athena's Savior

8 For as long as she needed me ~

^^i love this song so much and it seemed kind of fitting for this chapter in a way.

Aaron's pov

"It was my sister's" she said quietly. For a few moments there was a deafening silence.
"You know you can talk about her...if you want to," confusion flashed over her features so I continued, "over the past few weeks, you've mentioned her but you always retreat when someone gets too close. It just seems like you want to talk about her but you can't for some reason, I'm letting you know that you can talk to me about it if you ever want to." I was honestly holding my breath because a part of me thought she might be mad at what I just said.

She took a deep breath and gave a dry laugh, "Trust me you'd be running for the hills if you knew what I thought about my sister," I cut her off, "I already do, remember that first party when I found you screaming at the sky?" She might've forgotten about that night but I hadn't. I know she's hurting and all I want is to help her she just has to let me in.

"Okay." She whispered.
"Okay?"
She nodded, "okay I'll talk about it, when I'm ready." She looked hesitant but it's progress and I've never been happier. The moment was interrupted by the slamming of a door downstairs. Thea seemed unsettled by it but not surprised so I assumed she was expecting someone.

I had asked Athena where her bathroom was and she motioned towards the door adjacent to the one we entered through.

After a few minutes I heard muffled voices. I turned off the sink to hear the commotion more clearly; a voice emerged of someone whom I assume was Thea's mother.

At some point over the past few seconds I had opened the bathroom door but I didn't have a view of her mom from where I was standing and assumed she didn't have one of me.

"To come back from a trip early because I get a call from Wren's mother suggesting I come check on you, is unacceptable. And to make matters worse I come home to my daughter looking and acting like a slut in black tights, tiny skirts, and skimpy shirts. My lord Athena don't you have any self respect, your sister would've never acted like this." Her mother concluded.

Just the look on Thea's face was enough for me to fantasize about wringing her mother's neck. What she was saying couldn't be further from the truth. First off, Thea wears nothing but long sleeves and jeans, today was actually the first time I'd seen her wear a skirt in a while. And might I say she looks gorgeous in them, oh god not the time Aaron.
Not to mention, Thea isn't a slut, even when intoxicated she set boundaries, we never did more than make out and I'm pretty sure she was still a virgin so what was her mom on about?

"What, you don't have a witty comeback today?" Her mother added.
"MOM, stop it can't you see what you're doing to her?" A familiar voice warned. Miles. I'd only met him a few times but he seemed protective over Thea. A wave of relief washed over me as I heard his voice continue, "I've been watching her while you were gone I would've told you if she was doing any of those things!"

"Well you obviously aren't doing a very good job because she's making our family look worse day by day." As her brother and mom fought, Athena stood with no emotion in her face, but tears escaping her dark eyes and it pained me to see her like this, I just wanted to hold her. I didn't think I'd make the situation any better by inserting myself so I stayed hidden past the bathroom door still holding my view of Athena.
Her hands were fisted to where her knuckles turned white, she did the same thing that night on the balcony. Was she hurting herself?

"Mom you need to go downstairs with dad right now," Miles said in a strained voice.
"I will do no such thing Miles Cadman, I am your mother too and I demand respect in my own home." Without a second thought she continued to attack Thea, "and you, child have cost us quite enough. I have paid for doctors you won't speak to, allowed you to skip events, and cut you slack you don't deserve; for all I care you can recreate the drunken mess you caused that night and meet the same fate as your sister."

"TESSA, STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!" A fourth voice boomed from the staircase leading to Thea's room. "You will not speak to our only daughter like that!" The voice of whom I can imagine is Athena's father bellowed.

"She isn't our only daughter WE HAD LILITH!" Her mother screamed back. And with that, I watched as something finally broke in Thea, she closed her eyes and it was like I could see her heart shatter piece by piece with every word they said. I want to slaughter them all for making her feel like this.

The room fell silent again and I could hear footsteps retreating. "I'm sorry sweetheart you know how your mother gets," her father said quietly and left the hall.
Did this happen often? No wonder she's been going hard at parties lately, her family's basically drowning her themselves.

"Athena, are you- " Thea held a hand up to stop him and took a few steps back. As I looked at the blood covered palm opened before Miles, I finally understood why she made fists the way she did. To say my heart broke for her would be an understatement. A ghost of a whisper left her lips, "please, just leave me alone for now."
"But I- "
"Please," she begged, somehow more broken than before.
"Okay." He finally said.

I could hear his steps retreat slowly until, "Miles," she said in a quiet voice, "Thank you." Their relationship seemed complicated but he cared for her as much as she'd let him. And I liked the thought that at least one person under this roof looked out for her. He didn't walk closer but I could see him turn back when he said, "I love you, T. And put bandages on those okay?"
"Okay." He sent her a sad smile and she closed her door, pushing her back against it with closed eyes.

Knowing it was safe to come out, I walked to her slowly as she silently cried like the first time on that balcony. My hand lightly grazed her arm, and her eyes flew open with the realization that I was still here. In that moment, I had never in my life seen someone in so much pain. Someone so defeated. As if all the walls she built had fallen in an instant.
I pulled her into me and she cried, she screamed as her tears soaked my shirt.
I didn't realize it until now, but I would hold her as long as she needed me too, and if that was forever I wouldn't mind.

Thea's pov
I screamed until my throat was sore and finally settled with uneven breaths and no tears left to cry. An entire hour had passed and at some point I had collapsed in tears. Now he laid with his back against the wall and me in his embrace. His presence did something to me, easily tearing down walls that I had tried so hard to build and it scared me.

"You're going to okay, Thea," He whispered. "Everything is going to be okay." After a few beats I finally looked up at him in awe. How could he say that everything was going to be okay? I felt as if I were running out of air and he thought I was going to be okay? "You don't know that, Aaron." I said burying my head in his chest again. "I do, because you are one of the strongest people I've ever known," he used his index finger to trace my shoulder and continued, "and you'll always have me to back you up." I smiled up at him as he looked down at me. "Plus you're like super hot so you got that going for you." He teased and began tickling and poking me until I was smiling so hard it hurt.

I'd never met anyone like him. No one had ever made me smile the way he did and once again the gut feeling of fear washed over me.

I think he could see my change in thought because he stopped and looked at me with serious eyes. "Thea, just remember that I'll always be here for you okay?" He asked and I nodded.

He helped me up to where I could feel my headache from crying coming on. I decided I should try washing my tear-stained face and walked to the bathroom. Leaving the door open, Aaron appeared in the entrance. He leaned against the wall and watched as I rinsed my red-rimmed eyes and blood stained palms. For some unknown reason I didn't mind him watching me and he just stood with a soft smile, comforting me through the silence.
In that moment, I had never been more thankful for a human being in my life.

"Thea?" He asked as I dried my face and hands. "Yeah?" I responded.
"Do you want to stay with me tonight?"
I didn't know exactly what he was asking but all I know is I don't want to stay home

tonight.
"Would you mind?" I asked.
"Never," and wrapped me in his soft arms again, giving me the reassurance I desperately needed.