The Quiet

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

*Nathan's Point of View*

It has been about a month since Athena's boyfriend went off on her. Every day he would drop her off at school and pick her up. Every single time he saw me, then he would be to making out with her the next second. My heart did break a little every time I saw it. I just hid my emotions, I wasn't going to let him win. I have become very good friends with her brothers, especially Ivan. I have started talking to Athena more, when I say talking, I mean me talking and her typing. I didn't mind it, through a phone she still allowed her emotions to flow.

The ways she worded certain things and her word choice, in general, was amazing. She wasn't someone who would cut corners in texts, everything had to be perfect in her messages before she showed them to me. I feel like she is secretly an author.

Right now, the guys and I are sitting outside of the school. They are passing a joint around the group, no one questioned them. I still haven't started smoking, at this point, I might. Mason rode his motorcycle to the front of the school, letting her off. She began talking softly to him. She must've said something he didn't like, he ripped his helmet off his head quickly. "I don't give a shit! I am not way going to that stupid concert. They are such a shitty band. All emos, who cut themselves. Do you want to be like them?!" He yelled at her, pointing a finger at her. Mason continued on his loud rant, his voice getting louder with every sentence. Everyone in the parking lot stared at them as he yelled at her, humiliating her. She didn't dare look at the others, it was easy to see she was embarrassed. He finally drove away.

Athena stood there for a few seconds, wiping her face. She was crying from sadness, embarrassment and other things that ran through her mind. From where I stood, her expression was heartbroken, as if a piece of her left. Her boyfriend really hurt her with his cruel words, everyone now knew their problems. How he really was with her. His true colors bled through his mask

Finally, she came to the entrance of the school, her face was stained. Even though she was upset, she gave me smile. It was a fake one. "Why was he yelling at you? I do not like the way he speaks to you! How doesn't have any right to say those things to you, especially at school." Ivan lightly grabbed her arm, scared to hurt her. She shook her head, looking at the floor. "Tell me, please. I don't like seeing you upset." Right when she was about to say something to him, her oldest brother walked up, Viktor.

"Why is she crying? Ivan, you fucking idiot, did you pull her hair again?!" Viktor slapped Ivan behind his head.

"I didn't do shit. It was Mason, he was yelling at her, in front of everyone. Why do you think everyone is staring?" Ivan answered. Viktor looked down at his little sister before pulling her into a tight hug.

"What was he saying?" Viktor whispered to her. She mumbled to him. Viktor sighed, Athena held her hand up, stopping his response. She said something else to him before pulling away from him.

"If you really want to go to the concert, I would go for you. I know you love that band, Athena." Viktor confessed. She shook her head again.

"Whose concert?" I asked. All three of them looked at me.

"She wants to go to a Pierce the Veil concert. Mason is being a dick and won't go with her. We don't want her going alone. Her being stubborn doesn't want me to take her." Viktor admitted to me. Athena slapped his arm. He just gave her a look.

"I can go, I like that band too." I offered. I did enjoy listening to their music, but I wasn't completely obsessed. "I wouldn't mind at all."

Viktor looked down at her, waiting for her answer. She stood there, looking into my eyes like she was trying to find a white lie. My eyes remained calm even though my heart was beating very fast. She nodded her head, I let out a large breath I didn't know I was holding in. Athena gave me a large smile, a real one and then gave me a hug. She leaned in very close to my ear, "thank you" was all she said before pulling away.

My heart stopped, she said something to me. It was only two words but it meant a lot. She was known for not talking and she said something to me. Her voice was so softly yet so deep, it was a soothing voice. I would want to hear it all day if I could.

Those two words played over and over in my head for the rest of the day.

The last bell of the day rang through the hallways, which caused all the students to flow into the small hallway. I made my way outside and sat where I did every day. I waited for the rest of the guys to get out of the school so we could get food from the local diner. As I waited for them, I began drawing in my sketchbook. Most of the sketches consisted of Athena or random things I saw.

I hear a loud motorcycle pull up to the front of the school and yell someone's name. I didn't look up from my sketch until I heard another yell. Mason tried to grab Athena's arm but she pushes him away. He tried to do it again but she pushed him harder, trying to give him a hint. She started yelling but she was still quiet so others couldn't hear her. Mason looked upset, regretting what he said earlier. Athena didn't care, she was hurt by what he said and he needed to know. He raised his hand, she flinched. I stood up immediately. Mason saw where his hand was and lowered it. His voice was loud enough to her, "you think I would hit you?"

His girlfriend stayed quiet and just walked away, towards me. She grabbed my arm and held it close to her body as if she was scared of what her boyfriend was going to do. "Are you okay?" She gave me a small smile and nodded her head.

Mason yelled out for her again, she didn't even turn around. Then her brothers yelled out her name and mine, we both looked in their direction. Everyone was sitting in the truck, waiting for us.

The beautiful girl pulled my arm until we got to the truck, I took her backpack and mine, throwing it into the bed. Mason continued to yell out her name, she wouldn't turn around. "Athena, get your ass back here!" She stood up and gave him the middle finger, then sat back down. The biker stood there, angrier than ever. She knew how to push his buttons.

All of her brothers were proud of that. I laid my arm on the edge of the truck, behind Athena. As we drove to the diner, she occasionally bumped into me due to the rocky road. It didn't seem like she cared about being close to me. Internally, I was screaming with pure happiness.

The dog tags that she was wearing made a decent amount of noise throughout the whole ride. I realized that she wore them every day. Some days, she would put a black rubber band on it, to keep it quiet. Her small hand took the tags into them, keeping it close to her heart.