Lost Hope

NINE

〡↻ ◁◁ II ▷▷ ↺〡

Athena leaned her head on the window as Chris drove, tears were running down her pale cheeks as she pressed her eyes shut.

Chris glanced at her and his expression became anguished, he drove out of the traffic and stopped somewhere on the side, just staring at the front glass, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

It took Athena two minutes to start sobbing like she never did before and the sound physically hurt Chris. He got out of the car and went to her side, opening her door and crouching down to face her. Athena looked away, trying to stop crying.

"Thea..." he whispered, sounding pained. "You never cry like this, what's wrong? This isn't just about Cole, is it?"

Athena shook her head, heaving in sharp breaths.

"Then, talk to me, Thea. Tell me everything. I hate seeing you like this," pleaded Chris, touching the side of her face and wiping her tears.

"Chris, what have we done to deserve all that?" she cried, meeting his worried eyes. "You're easily the kindest and funniest guy around and I don't think I'm that bad. Why does everyone hate us? Why do they treat us like that? Why did Seb leave me, Chris, why?" Her sobs got louder and the pain was clear in them.

Honestly, Chris didn't know how Athena kept it together all the time. She never had a proper childhood with a mother like hers. Her father abandoned them when she was barely two months old. She was kind, she let people step over her in the past. She put everyone first even when they did her bad. Aiden, their other friend, suddenly left town just a few days before her sixteenth birthday. Atlas left. Will was always on work trips. She had gone through a car crash just a few months ago, was unconscious for a couple of days, and had a broken arm for a while. PTSD still took a part of her daily life. Her life was just a series of misfortunate events, each worse than the last. But she kept up the smile. She didn't give up. And for that, Chris admired her strength.

"It's just a shit world, Thena," he whispered, standing up to hug her.

He let her cry, stroking her hair and her back. She didn't stop until it began to rain and his jacket got soaked.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Chris smiled sadly and shook his head, taking off his wet jacket and starting to drive.

Athena fell asleep on the way.

When they reached the house, the rented car was parked and Henry was pacing on the porch.

Chris carried Athena towards Henry.

"Hey, mate, what took you so long?"

"I drove her around for a bit, she wasn't ready to go home yet," replied Chris, kissing her head and handing her over to Henry.

"Come in, will you?" said Henry, raising his eyebrows.

Chris shook his head. "Nah, I'm beat. I'll just head home. See you tomorrow." He saluted Henry with a small smile and turned to his house.

That night, he received some news from his mother. He had never raised his voice at her before but that night, he did. And she cried, begging him to understand.

"PATHETIC!" he barked, taking the stairs and slamming his door shut.

He trashed his room, breaking things and ripping paper.

He hadn't slept crying since the beginning of the year. He did that night. He cried for himself, he cried for Athena, he cried for what his mother had done. He just let everything out, wishing that he could be just another normal guy, worrying about the newest video game.