The Shadow of Stars

Five

I climbed down the ladder from my room, my boots hitting the hardwood floor of the hallway with a thud. My bag was still tinted blue but it didn't really bother me. Before all of this maybe I would have taken caution to it but I'm that much of a beacon now it doesn't really matter anymore.

It's nice, in its own way, to not have to worry about hiding and keeping to myself anymore but of course that comes with a large price. It's like being stuck in a game of hide and seek for such a long time that when your found, it isn't the worst thing in the world-its relieving. But the relief runs short when you remember that you still lost.

"Athena!" My mom calls from the kitchen and I am thankful that my dad has work so early on the docks, dealing with one of them after last night will be hard enough on its own.

"Coming," I reply, walking out to find my siblings sat on the couch in their pyjamas making me furrow my brows as I turn to my mom. "They aren't going to school today?" I ask and she shakes her head whilst drying her hands, quickly occupying them with the menial task of wiping an already clean bench shortly afterwards.

"They were putting up too much of a struggle so I said they could have the day off, spend some time with their momma. You can stay home too if you want," she says, stopping her work to look to me with hopeful eyes. "We can go get fish and chips for lunch and visit dad like we used to, maybe watch some movies or bake."

My face softens and I sigh moving towards her. "Mom," I say and I pull her in for a hug.

She grips onto me tightly. "You're still my baby," she mummers, holding me so tight its like she thinks I am about to be ripped from her grip-never to be seen again.

"Of course. Mom, I'll always be your baby. About last night..." I say, pulling away from her and she wipes away the tears on her face before holding her hand up for me to stop.

"I talked to your father and you are right, this can't just be avoided. But he isn't happy about this, and neither am I. The idea of going on dates... we get tolerating this Thea but please, just hold back on befriending him-at least for a while until we can sort something out. You know your dad, he won't budge on this and the last thing we need is for a showdown," she says, smiling slightly at the end.

I nod my head, gulping as I do so. "I get it," I say, even though I really don't. But I can't put my parents through that heartache. My mom is clearly already freaking out over it and I know my dad is the same even if he doesn't show it.

I'm just going to have to try figure this whole bond thing out on the down low. I'll do my best to try avoid it but in my heart I know there is going to be a confrontation at some point and how I react now, will likely determine how that turns out. If Micah or his damn family get a whiff of my parents disdain towards the bond then who knows what they'll do? They are the people in power here, the top of the top.

"Home day!" My brother yells as he runs into the kitchen, his curly brown hair bobbing as he runs straight for the cupboard, exiting with a jar of cookies.

"Hey mister! Who said you could have any of those?" My mom scolds but he runs off giggling.

"I should probably text Harry and let him know I'm not coming and I guess I'll call the school while I'm at it," I say and she smiles.

"Sounds good, I'll get ingredients out for cinnamon rolls, your dad will love that," she says beginning to pull out ingredients and I smile before walking back to my room, climbing up the ladder to jump onto my bed.

I chuck Henry a quick text letting him know I won't be there and I make a point to be blunt about it. He ratted out my plans to my overbearing parents which is a textbook shitty friend move. I don't check to see if he replies and instead pull up the school's number in my phone, contacting admin.