Aries || Calum Hood

nine

ARIES: those who can't stand belittlement

A T H E N A

STAGGERED BREATHS ESCAPED Athena's tightened throat, her inability to scream clenched her heart more than it already was.  The imprint of her bracelet flashed on her pressurized palm, imprints of her fingernails caused small cuts to appear.

Her body lay curled into a ball at the corner of her room, her body rocking back and forth as she forcefully shoved her back into the white walls.  Her mind was spinning with hatred, words that whirled into shape until diminishing before she could utter out anything.

It was like history repeated itself yet again.  Athena isolated in a slowly suffocating room.  Athena struggling to breath as her nails dug into her skin.  Athena drunk in her utmost rage, something that she never fully brought out until that one trigger collapsed it all.

According to Athena, the members of her life were eliminating, the worthy never hurt her.  She limited who she got attached to, who she trusted, and she eliminated those who did her wrong.  In no way would she ever predict that her own brother would be put into that list.

A tinge of guilt sank into her stomach once she replied her encounter with Calum an hour ago.  Sure, the asshole annoyed her to the depths of hell, but he did nothing but return her bracelet.  That bracelet even calmed her down a bit, like a souvenir from Earth reminding her that she was still alive, things were gonna get better.

Pulling out her phone from underneath her bed covers, Athena was greeted with a spam of messages, most of them from her group of friends, but Athena dismissed those as she tapped on her messages to Calum -yes, they messaged occasionally.

Athena: Hey, sorry about earlier today.

Athena tossed her phone onto the carpet until she heard it vibrate immediately afterwards.

Calum: dont worry. it was pretty hot seeing you all angry and shit. wanna come over later tonight for tutoring?

Sighing in realization that she indeed was doing bad in math, Athena smiled a little at how Calum refused to interfere with her personal issues.

Athena:  Yeah sure.

"Athena, it's dinnertime," Zach lightly knocked at the door, as if afraid that a beast was creeping through the floors on the other side of the wall.

"I'll be down in a minute."  Athena rolled her eyes, her fingers searching for her binder in her backpack.  She didn't complete her homework from the night before since she knew she was going to be absent, but she couldn't just flunk everything because of a fight with Michael.  No, she refused to give him that privilege.

Putting on a random pair of leggings to cover herself, Athena took a look at herself in the mirror, glaring at herself to bring her guards up and toughen up.  Though this was a slightly pessimistic quality, Athena valued her pride more than putting it aside to cease problems.

"Athena, why weren't you at school today?"  Her mother acknowledged her once she stepped foot in the kitchen.  Of course, Willow was there right next to Michael, who glanced up at Athena.

"Because I didn't want to go." Athena ambulated towards the sink, the hot water stinging her hands as she lathered them with soap.

"I don't like this attitude of yours.  If you don't quit it, I won't hesitate to transfer you to another school."  Athena's mother tucked a loose piece of black hair that fell from her bun behind her ear. "In another state."

"Please do." Athena scoffed, her lightly tanned hand grabbed a clear cup from the dishwasher, getting herself water to cool herself off of what was yet to come.