Artemis and the Constellation Vacation (#OnceUponNow)

➵ chapter three

The next morning, I awake with the thought of Dimitri's smile in the back of my mind. Though it hadn't even been a full day since we'd last seen each other, I grow to crave the radiance of his company. Therefore, when I hear the familiar chirp of my grandmother's voice outside in the patio, I look out my window and catch myself smiling at the very sight of Dimitri's glowing presence; bathed underneath the morning sun.

I'm just about to walk to my dresser and get ready for the day when the sudden mention of my name draws me back. Giving into the temptation of eavesdropping, I sneak a peek through the sheer material of my white curtains and listen.

"-can't thank you enough." Grandma says, bringing a hand over her heart. "Artemis really has begun to open up, just like you said she would."

Dimitri smiles, raising the coffee mug to his lips. He's sitting in my grandfather's chair. "There's no need to thank me. All she need was a little push."

"Ah! Well, I can't help but overhear that you've certainly had no trouble in that particular department." she replies with a wink.

Dimitri laughs, blushing a little. They exchange a momentary pause of silence before moving on to the subject of the weather.

I, on the other hand, could care less about the precipitation. Instead, my fingers find the edge of the vanity and, when I look up at the mirror, I see that my reflection is ghostly. What had been a bright morning, no less than five minutes ago, had now officially gone gray. The memories of yesterday's adventures come flooding in all at once and, for the first time, I think I may actually be sick.

Did he even feel the same way?

Feeling the need to escape from my taunting memories, I push open the door and rush downstairs in my pajamas. Just as expected, the car keys are on its usual hook. However, just as I am about to make my escape, Orion barks and in follows Dimitri's lively presence.

"Artemis! Good, you're awake!" he says, my back faced towards him. "I was thinking, since we didn't have a chance to visit that bookstore you mentioned yesterday, that maybe we could go later after lunch?"

In attempt to keep my emotions from gushing out, I close my eyes and take in a breath. When I exhale however, it comes short of steady. 

"Artemis?"

At the sound of my name, I turn around and will myself to present a blank expression. 

"Our deal is done." I point out, meeting his face. "You said if I helped you then you'd leave me alone."

In response to my sudden declaration, Dimitri raises a brow at my direction. He laughs uncertainly. "C'mon Artemis, you know I was only kidding."

"Yeah?" I bark back; my face catching scarlett. "And what else about yesterday was a joke to you?"

Coming to realize that something's wrong, Dimitri's bright expression falters. 

"Artemis, what are you talking about?"

No longer able to meet his gaze, I look away; blinking back the tears. When Dimitri catches sight of them however, he extends a cautious arm; to which I angrily swat away.

"A little push?" I ask, mimicking his words from earlier. "Was that all I really was to you?"

Coming to realize what has happened, Dimitri's expression falls— mortified. 

"Artemis, no." he says in a defensive, yet wary, tone. "Your grandmother and I-"

"Used me." I interject. "You actually used me."

"Now, you know that's not true." Dimitri replies, frowning. He takes a cautious step forward.

"No!" I blurt out, taking a step back. "I actually don't know if any of it was true."

At the most inconvenient of times, Apollo enters the room with a plate full of pancakes in his hands. However, when he notices the argument between Dimitri and I, he abandons his breakfast and walks over to us.

"What's going on?" 

Looking away from both of them, my gaze falls to the floor. "I want to go home."

Suddenly, a set of footsteps comes up from behind me.

"What's happened here?" my grandmother asks.

Apollo glances at my direction, to which our grandmother's attention follows. "Artemis wants to go home." 

Grandma stifles a laugh. "Oh sweetie, now don't be ridiculous."

Exhausted from all the secrets, I raise my voice. "Is that what you all really think of me? Some kind of joke?"

In response to my sudden outburst, Grandma's expression grows serious. "Now Artemis, that's not what I meant-"

"Oh yeah? Well then tell me exactly what you meant during that conversation with Dimitri." I exclaim, my tone growing accusatory. "Was that your plan all along? To get him to flirt with me so that I didn't have to be the lazy and boring person you all think I am."

When no one replies, my frustration grows beyond control.

"That's what you all wanted, right?" I ask, laughing incredulously through the tears. "For me to be more like him?"

Apollo stares back at my accusatory finger, frowning. 

He shakes his head in disappointment. "Artemis-"

"NO!" I shout back, startling even Orion who's hidden underneath the coffee table. 

"I just-" I pause, treading through the mud covering my heavy heart. "I just don't understand why you guys are always trying to change me."

When no one replies, I shake my head and make my way towards the stairs.

"Artemis." Dimitri calls back in one last attempt. Though my back is faced towards him, I hear a pained sigh escape from his lips. "It was real."

I close my eyes, feeling Dimitri's broken expression pierce right through me. Though my heart aches to forgive him, I take a stand and push my crumpled feelings aside.

"Just-" I pause, the anger finally melting into complete emptiness. "Just stay away from me."