Athena

Chapter 40

"I was in my new house placing daydreams, patching up the crack along the wall"
-Taylor Swift

"So your brother is okay now?" Blake asks as he flops on the bed beside Emery.

"Yup, if anything he has gotten more demanding, always asking for things as if he's incapacitated." I reply as I sit in my desk chair.

"Well, at least he's alive." Emery points out.

"Yeah... He gave all of us a good scare. Ivan too."

"How is Ivan dealing with the... You know?"

"You can say it Em, he's paralyzed, not dead." Blake mutters, while taking a pillow from my bed and hitting her with it.

"I know, it's just... It must be hard for him."

"Honestly, I don't know why you ask me. Blake spends much more time with him than I do." I wiggle my eyebrows and wink at him.

This time Blake grabs a pillow to shove his face in. "Ugh... Stop! We're just friends." He blushes intensely.

"Mhm... That's why Ares had to ask you to be quiet last night -"

A pillow flies through the air, landing on Athena.

"Okay, you know what, leave my pillows alone!" Athena glares at Blake.

"No way!" Em gasps, "You spent the night here?!  And you didn't tell me?"

"Ugh! I hate you guys... This is why I didn't tell you! You make a big deal out of nothing!"

"I mean, you getting some is definitely something-"

"Em!" Blake shouts, his cheeks burning bright red.

Emery giggles, "Okay, sorry! I'm just messing with you Blakey. You know I love you."

"I know." He mumbles into the pillow that he once again placed on his face.

"What about you, Athena? Have any fun with Gray recently?" Emery grins.

"Oh, we're having all the fun babysitting Noah while everyone else deals with the mafia." Athena smiles.

"Where's the little guy anyway?" Blake asks.

"He's with Tony. I think he likes him more than me. I don't mind though, I like that they're bonding-"

A knock interrupts me.

"Come in."

The door opens and Atlas pops his head inside.

"Hey, dinner's ready. You guys coming?"

"Yup, we'll be down in a minute."

With that Atlas softly closes the door and we get ready for dinner.

"You guys go ahead, I'll, uh, I'll meet you down." Blake mumbles.

"Sure thing, Blakey. We'll make sure there's food left for you and Ivan when you guys are done. You're gonna be hungry after all." Emery giggles as we exit the room.

"Stop messing with him, Em." I say with a smile.

"I can't help it!" She laughs.

Dinner goes by unexpectedly fast and it's filled with laughter and playful banter. It's been so long since we've all sat together and enjoyed a meal, free of worries and problems.

Emery leaves soon after, while Blake follows Ivan up to his room.

Although we've had a calm day I can't help feeling exhausted so I excuse myself and go to my room.