Chapter 20

296 3 5
                                    

'Isaac and I aren't together.' I wanted to mention something about him saying he's moved on, but that seems like a toxic ex thing to say, so I didn't.

"So what was Theo talking about then?" Derek tilted his head as he turned to me.

I didn't want to say the truth, not because I regretted it or anything, just because I have a feeling it'll ruin everything, it'll ruin their pack relationship, and it'll ruin any chance of Derek and I getting along again. Like I said though, I didn't want to, but..

'A hook-up, that's it, nothing more.' I felt a lift off of my chest once the words had came out.

"That's it? Just a hook-up?" Derek raised his eyebrow as he asked, I broke the eye contact we had and looked at the rear view mirror, trying to see Isaac through it. Isaac had a saddening look on his face as he looked out of the window, I already feel bad.

'Yes, that's all, why does it matter?' I couldn't bare to see Isaacs face anymore so I looked forward at the windshield, refusing to make eye contact with anyone in the car.

"I heard different, next subject." He sped up the car and no one said a word after him.

Who did he hear different from? Because I never said anything about Isaac and I. Unless Theo said something, I don't know how Derek would know. It was complete silence for a while. No music, no talking, no sound from a cellphone, no mumbling, nothing.

The silence lingered, no noise except a rock or a large piece of dirt occasionally hitting the windshield when the car drifted from the road, the reason for the drifting being Derek constantly staring at his phone. It wasn't in his hand though, it was sitting up in the cup holder.

I wanted to be nosey and peek my head over to see who's notification had him all flustered and drifting from the road, but I know one of the 3 other smart alecks in the car would notice and say something.

"I'll say it if none of you will, Derek, pick up your phone and have Athena respond to whoever texted you, your drifting is making it hard to get comfortable back here." Theo complained from the backseat, repositioning him as I felt a kick from the back of my seat.

"You kill people but you won't let Derek text and drive?" I heard Liam laugh and then Isaac did. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw Theo giving Liam a death stare, I wanted to laugh, but at the same time, I also wanted to remain the silent one, well, for now.

"Have Athena respond? Funny joke." Derek scoffed as he picked up his phone. I had a feeling spark in my stomach, I spoke up even though I shouldn't have.

'Who the hell is texting you to the point you don't want me to respond?' I looked at Derek, then at his phone, I couldn't make out any name or a text because his brightness was all the way down.

"I put my money on it being Erica." Theo said.

"I don't know, i'm thinking it's his new girlfriend." Isaac spoke up as well.

"Why does it matter who's texting me, Athena? Worry about who's texting Isaac." Derek shut his phone off then put it next to him in his seat.

'Wow, and I thought I was jealous ex.' I looked to the side and sat even further in my seat.

"I'm not jealous, Athena, i'm just fed up with seeing you and Isaac act all happy and mushy when you and I both know neither of us have stopped liking each other. I have had so many rebounds, but none of them were like you. Then you go on and meet who seems to be the perfect guy for you." Derek ranted, spitting his words out like they were venom.

"Sounds like jealousy to me.." Theo said, his words fading off as he spoke.

'Think of where you and I would be right now if you didn't have "so many rebounds", I wouldn't have been on the verge of death, I wouldn't be wanted in Cali, and this car ride wouldn't be as awkward as it is.' I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Can we have this conversation later? We can talk about this alone once we find somewhere to sleep tonight." Derek focused his eyes on the steering wheel as he asked me. I didn't say anything, I went silent again.

Him and I were clearly both shocked at what the other had said, so I thought to myself while it was silent, he could've been doing the same, but who knows?

"So, Isaac, are you gonna go for Erica now or something? You know, now that Athena and Derek are back?" Theo asked Isaac, that little instigator.

'Can you not?' I turned my body around, looking at Theo. He put his hands up and sat back in his seat.

I sat back in my seat and continued thinking, eventually my mind led to wanting to know who really texted Derek. I'm pretty convinced that it's Erica, but they have had so many blowouts just in the last few days, so I could be wrong.

Although, Erica does usually run back to Derek after a while passes, based off of what i've seen of them. I hope it isn't her, mainly because I thought she was with her one friend that I never spoke to, but the fact of wanting Derek to stop talking to her once and for all was also a reason.

"No, i'm not that messed up in the head to go for someone Athena hates just because she likes Derek, some people are more mature after rejection, i'm sure you wouldn't know." I heard Isaac speak up, hearing the attitude in his voice as I tried not to laugh.

"Well Athena clearly goes for the guys who are messed up in the head, so i'll stay this way." Theo joked, continuously laughing at himself.

'You're hilarious, but no.' I looked back at Theo and he was still laughing. 'Even before we met, i'm sure you were equally as messed up in the head, it seems everyone in this car is.' I looked at Theo, then Derek, then back at Theo.

"I don't know, you've made everyone in this car, excluding myself, go overboard sometimes. I'm not blaming you for their sanity or insanity, but he isn't fully wrong." Liam shrugged as I looked at him.

'That's because that's how they all react to rejection or mixed feelings, none of that is my fault." I argued with Liam for about 5 minutes until he admitted I was right.

The car was silent again, now, the only noise being chatter mixed with the staticky noise from the radio. The silence left me alone with nothing but my thoughts and many unspoken words that were crying to get out. There's always so much I want to say, but I never say it.

I want to tell Isaac that i'm sorry, I want to tell Theo that he can't expect an immediate apology for things he's done, and lastly, I want to tell Derek that I can't give him another chance.

But at the end of the day, Isaacs feelings are hurt because of my words, Theo moved too fast, and Derek, he knows how I feel.

I can't get my mind off of anything going on. I try to put all of those thoughts aside, just to be greeted by the panic of Aria and my parents, then it goes on to worrying about going back home, and it keeps circling around, always leading back to me coming back to California in the first place.

I should've stayed out of state, but like every teen romance and every bad love story, I was brought back because of love that won't ever work, love that shouldn't have ever happened, regrets. 

—————
hi lovelies, i'm SO sorry for how short this is like wtf??? but i'm making it short because the next chapter is gonna be full of so much. it won't be up until thursday (my apologies for it not being on wednesday, i work a very long shift this week 🥲🥲)

but for now, you all can have the imagination of Athena having to decide who she will share a hotel room with

*winky face winky face*

her alpha || teen wolfWhere stories live. Discover now