Athena (L. Clearwater)

Chapter Two

Athena goes to high school with her 'family' the following morning after she's slept. She sleeps about once or twice a month, that's usually when she is tired. She had Edward have a bed in their bedroom just so she can sleep when her tiredness sleeps through her vampire exterior.

"I'll see you at lunch?" the vampire asks her boyfriend.

"You will." Edward kisses her cheek and she blushes, which she can do because of her gift. He smiles at the reaction and the couple go their separate ways.

Athena goes to her locker and she slides her leather jacket off her shoulders, revealing her red, off the shoulder sweater that's tucked into some black skinny jeans, which are paired with some black flats she decided to wear today. She looks in the mirror hanging in her locker and she primps a little and she touches up her red lipstick before she heads to AP French Culture, her first period class.
*****

"... And who are they?" a girl, the new girl, asks as Edward and Athena enter the cafeteria; the couple can hear them as clear as anyone else.

"Edward Cullen and Athena," the girl next to the new one, Jessica Stanley, replies. "They're both totally gorgeous but they only have eyes for each other. It's so adorable, it's also sickening. Athena's Greek, and she's totally nice, she's as senior along with Emmett and Rosalie. Edward is a junior with Alice and Jasper."

"Hey, you," Alice chirps as the couple sits down.

Athena smiles. "Hi, Alice," she greets and she sighs. "I'll be right back." She grabs the volleyball from her bag she brought to lunch and she walks across the cafeteria. "Jessica." She hands her the ball. "Thanks for letting me use it to throw at Emmett's head; he hates me now."

Jessica laughs. "I bet," she replies. "This is Bella Swan! She started today! Bella, this is Athena."

"Hi, Bella," Athena greets. "Welcome to Forks."

"T-t-thanks," Bella stammers, surprised that someone as beautiful as Athena is talking to her.

"Don't let Emmett be too hard on you, Athena," Jessica says and Athena smiles before walking back to her family. "See? She's amazing."

"That's where you got the volleyball from!" Emmett says bitterly. "I thought you stole it from the school."

"Jessica let me borrow it because I needed to pay you back for ruining my satin dress with blood and mud because you tacked Rosalie... while she borrowed it for your date  and hunt," Athena says and she glances at Edward. She notices his eyes locked on Bella, he looks confused. "Ed? Are you okay?"

"I can't..." Edward frowns, his head tilting to the side. "I can't read the new student's mind."

Athena frowns a little. "Really? Is that even possible?"

"It has to be," Edward murmurs. He grabs Athena's hand for comfort and she caresses his thumb.
******

"Where will you go?" Athena asks.

Edward just told his family about his reaction to Bella's scent during Biology II after lunch. Athena's upset because Bella is Edward's blood singer, but she's not letting it get to her.

'Blood singer is not a mate,' Athena mentally reprimands herself. She knows that Edward's mate will come along and she'll be left behind, but still, she fears for when that day happens.

"I might go to the Denali's," Edward says. "Eleazar and Carmen have been wanting me to visit. The same with the girls."

"When will you be back?" Carlisle asks.

"When I feel like I'm okay," Edward replies. He gently takes Athena's face into his hands and he kisses her. "I love you, Athena."

Carlisle and Jasper watch as Alice bows her head as Edward kisses the Greek vampire.

"I love you, too, Edward," Athena replies. "Be safe, and send my love to Eleazar and Carmen."

Edward gives everyone else a hug and he leaves. Athena deflates. 

"I know his mate will come one day and I will be left behind," Athena admits and everyone looks at her, "and I'm dreading that day."

"You'll always have us, Athena," Carlisle says.

"I know, but it's not the same," Athena says. "Did you know that I was Caius Volturi's blood singer while I was a dying child of the moon?"

"Really?" Carlisle gasps. "No, I didn't."

"That's how I learned that there is a very distinct difference between mates and blood singers," Athena says. "I had one once. It was in 1504. Her name was Luna. She died when she was fifty. I had to flee Germany when I met her."

"But no mate?"

"Clearly," Athena replies to Alice. "No mate. But then I met Edward. I wish we were mates but we're not. I know that. I'm dreading the day because... I know losing him will hurt."

Athena walks away without waiting for a response. Carlisle and Jasper soothe a worried Alice as Esme goes to hunt and Rosalie goes to comfort Athena while Emmett plays video games.