cruel summer

Chapter 16

Athena

After we finished at the beach Logan drove us to pick up his brother from his friends on the way back to his house. Matty had gone into the living room and was watching cartoons.

Logan and I were currently in the kitchen making dinner for all of us because his mum was working late again we needed to feed Matty before he went to bed.

"It's so simple Lo comon" I said laughing at him while he poured the pasta into the boiling water. "The bloody waters splashing back at me" he said jumping. I took the jar of pasta out of his hands and finished pouring it gently into the pan while he huffed laughing and sat in the counter watching me.

I added the sauce and stirred it letting it all cook before turning to Logan. "What times your mum getting back" I said to him. He didn't say anything for a moment just sat watching me carefully studying me. I shifting under his gaze my heart racing.

He cleared his throat before finally answering. "Probably like 1am it's been busy lately I'm not sure" he said hopping of the counter and leaning against it facing me.

"She's works so hard for you both" I paused looking back at Matty. "It's amazing" I smiled up at him.

"Yeah I know. I don't know I just wish she was around more, for Matty" he sighed "for me". I didn't know what to say at this. We hadn't talked much about his dad leaving him but I know he must have felt abandoned. I didn't say anything but took a step towards him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a tight hug.

His mum would never leave him but I know when she's gone for long hours at the hospital he could be scared she wouldn't come back. He was first to pull back. "Thank you" he said in a whisper before turning away and stirring the pasta again before pouring it into three bowls for us while I called Matty.

~

After we ate I had put Matty to bed with Logan. And left briefly to go have a shower. I was stood looking at myself in the mirror of the guest bathroom, I had red marks and bruises all over my body. I was disgusting, my dad had done this to me with out a single care. It was so easy for him to hurt me.

I sat on the shower floor with the steaming hot water spraying on my back with my knees up to my chest while I finally let myself cry. Everything came out.

I had no idea how long I had been sat here but eventually a knock came from the other side of the door. "Hey Thena you ok? You've been in there a while" Logan's voice was threaded with concern.

"I'm fine" I tried to say but it came out scratched and week, just like me. I stood up from the floor and turned of the water stepping out of the shower. I could still hear Logan on the other side of the door but tried to ignore his presence while slipping on some sleep shorts and Logan's hoodie he left me.

I took some steady breaths and clicked open the bathroom door seeing Logan sat on the guest bed with his head in his hands. "Hey" I said in a whisper. His head shot up and looked at me smiling gently. He patted the space next to him motioning me to sit down.

"What's going on with you Athena?" He said looking down at his knees. I copied his body language looking down at me knees fiddling with my hands. "I don't know what your talking about" I said determined not to break.

"Thea please" he said his voice cracking. "look at you these aren't coming from nowhere" he said tracing the bruise on my neck from yesterday. I flinched away when he touched me and shuffled further away.

I could feel him looking at me my cheeks heated. "Nothings happening Logan" I said sternly. He lets out a breathy laugh and stood up facing me. "Athena please talk me I need to know what's happening to you" he said desperately.

I stood up as well feeling like I was going to cry from frustration "You lost the write to know what's going on in my life a long time ago" I said raising my voice without thinking. My heart was racing, I didn't mean that however true it was Logan was the best thing in my life right now.

He looked at me with tears in his eyes. "I know that Athena, just tell me why your here" he said sighing staying calm. I shook my head looking away begging the tears not to fall.

I wrapping my arms around myself stepping back. "I'll see you tomorrow Lo" I said, I needed him to leave because I knew I was going to break down again any second. He was still looking at me with worry but he knew my boundaries, we stepped towards me and placed a light kiss on my forehead before heading towards the door "see you tomorrow Thea" he said not looking at me and closing the door behind him.

~

"No no please" I said screaming wrestling around on the floor while my dad pinned me down. I felt a sharp slap to my face as the tears starting streaming down my face.

"stop it please dad" I said through sobs. "Stop calling me that your no daughter of mine" he said spitting. He kicked me repeatedly in the stomach as I was forced onto my side in pain.

"Your worthless"  A punch came to my face. "Your weak" another punch "You unloveable" another. "And your no daughter of mine" he said picking up the knife next to him slashing my thighs.

I screamed at the top of my lungs "please! Stop it I didn't do anything" I said sobbing. Aching all over as the never ending torture continued.

My own scream jolted me up from my nightmare. Breathing heavily I sat up in the bed gasping for air trying to calm myself down. I remembered that night so clearly, I had just gotten back from the soft-more dance and my dad thought I was out with a boy.

I stared at the wall for a few moments before getting up and leaving the guest room. I stood in the hallway for a moment second guessing myself. I tried to ignore my thoughts and knocked of Logan's door. I needed him right now.

I opened the door and softly closed it behind me. "Hey Lo are you awake" I said crouching my the side of the bed he was facing. He stirred awake sitting up slowly. He noticed my tear stained cheeks and pulling me down to sit in front of him on the bed. "Hey sweetheart your ok, what's wrong" he said tucking my hair behind my ears wresting his hand on the back of my neck.

"Could I sleep here with you tonight" I said hopefully, I knew it was the only way I was going to fall back asleep. "Off course come here" he said whispering not asking anymore questions he just knew what I needed. He pulling me to lay down next to him, holding me close so my head wrested in the crook of his neck.

Silent tears started to fall again while I snuggled closer to his warmth. "Your ok baby I've got you" he said placing a kiss on my forehead while gently rubbing patterns on my back lifting up his hoodie slightly.

Logan

She wrapped her arms tightly around me and I pulled her impossibly closer never wanting to let her go. She shook in my arms tears falling from her eyes not saying a word.

I held her to me stroking her hair and back gently with my hand trying to bring her comfort in anyway. I hate that I couldn't keep her safe. Something was hurting her and I couldn't stop it.

I felt her drift off in my arms and moved her head so it wrested against my heart pulling the blanket over her. "Nothing will ever hurt you here Thea. You safe with me" I said playing with her hair drifting of to sleep with her.

AN: I don't know if I like how this turned out it's kinda short chapter, I hope you like it. Vote and comment <3