Athena (L. Clearwater)

Chapter Four

Edward drives himself and Athena to school a few hours later when he time comes in his Volvo and he works beside Emmett's Jeep. Edward pecks Athena on the cheek and he heads inside without her, smirking at her blush. Athena hears the loud roar of an old truck

Athena lifts her head and she sees Bella getting out of the truck. Her demeanor changes from light-hearted to jealous in an instant. She knows that Edward left so he could control himself around the human, but he came back. Athena doesn't even settle when Jasper gently places a hand in her shoulder.

"Relax," Jasper murmurs. "It'll be okay 'Thena,"

Athena doesn't relax, but she does utter an apology to the empath before she heads inside.
*****

It is lunch time now and Athena's eating the slice of pizza that's on her tray. She sees Edward continuously looking over at Bella, staring at her, right in front of her. She knows that he can read her mind, he knows how she's feeling, and he hates himself for feeling so drawn to this..... this human.

"Why don't you just dump me for the human already?" Athena asks mentally and Edward tenses. "You haven't taken your eyes off her."

"I..." Edward hesitates. "I plan to speak with Bella Swan today," he says to his family, and to Athena — his girlfriend tenses. "I am going to introduce myself to her in Biology II after lunch."

While Alice looks like she's in between thrilled and worried, Athena is far from thrilled. She grumbles up the can of soda in her hand and it spills all over her hand and foes down her arm and to her jeans. Edward winces as he hears her very loud thoughts. She gets up.

"I have to leave," Athena announces. She doesn't wake did a response before she pushes her tray toward Emmett and leaving.
******

Athena hunts... she has to so she doesn't lose her temper. She takes down a bear and a mountain lion before going home. She leaves her bloody clothes outside (she ate messily today) and she goes up to shower since no one is here. She wraps herself in a towel and goes to her and Edward's shared bedroom. She allows herself to air dry while she starts reading some Jane Austen.

She is dressed and halfway through her fifth book of the day when her phone rings. It's Rosalie.

"Hey, beautiful," Athena greets.

"Hey, baby," Rosalie muses and Emmett smirks. "Listen," her tone changes from rein flirty to pissed, "Edward exposed us."

Athena's quiet for a moment. "How? Why?"

"I'll tell you why," Rosalie sans sharply. "That human, Bella. She was going to be crushed by a van. Edward rushed over and saved her, stopping the van. Can you come to the hospital? I need you as a buffer so I don't kill Edward."

"Let me get dressed and I'll meet you there," Athena says and she hangs up.

"... Did you think about Athena?" Rosalie's snapping inside of Carlisle's office when she arrives at the hospital, passing by Bella and her father, Chief Swan. "Did you think about how she'd feel about you risking exposure for a girl who isn't your girlfriend? Risking exposure for someone else?"

When Edward is quiet for a minute, Athena enters the office.

"Answer the question," Athena instructs him, her arms crossing over her chest. "Did you think of me when you risked everything for another girl? A human girl?"

"Do you want the truth?" Edward asks after a moment. He knows better than to not answer Athena. She's two-thousand years old.

"That would be nice," Athena snd Rosalie reply in sync.

"Okay," Edward says. "The truth is no, I didn't think about you, Athena. I acted first. I couldn't let Bella did."

Athena wanted the truth and she got it, and it still stings. Edward sees that and he sighs.

"Thena..."

"We'll talk later."

Athena abruptly leaves the office after saying that and Edward exhales sharply before he quickly follows her to apologize. Carlisle and Rosalie share a concerned expression.