Love Hits Hard

Chapter 1-The Truth Hurts

It was a Friday morning and my morning routine had initiated. Wake up, which was the hardest part, eat breakfast, shower, brush my teeth and hair, get dressed, and do makeup if I found the time and energy to do it. 

Don't get me wrong, I loved makeup and spending my money on trying to find really good dupes and whatnot but in the morning when getting ready for school, I couldn't find the motivation to do it. It just generally felt like there was no one to try to impress with a flawless eye liner or perfect contour. So I generally skipped that part of the routine and devoted it to social media. 

I grabbed my bag and headed towards the door as I heard my older brother call to me from upstairs.

"Athena, give Adelaide and Jackson a ride today. I have go to school early to get extra help from a teacher. " Ethan called from upstairs. 

"Ethan, it's your day. For once, can't you take the responsibility and get them up in time?" At this point, Ethan was making his way down the stairs with Jackson in his arms. I reached out and grabbed Jackson, playing and smiling with him. 

"Athena, please. I can't fail this exam, this is the last straw before the exam tomorrow and I can't fail it."

"So what, my grades don't matter anymore?"

"Please, Athena, I'm begging you."

"Go screw yourself," I replied as I called for Adelaide to come downstairs. "Quick, come downstairs with your bag too. Also, grab Jack's diaper bag please?"

"You're not my mom!" Ade called from upstairs. 

"Stop being dramatic, I'm asking for your help."

"Fine," Ade huffed as she came downstairs with a dramatic sigh.

"Love you too."

"Love you mom."

"Stop, Jack's enough." I laughed as I pulled Jack's coat out of the closet and Adelaide's as well. I set Jack down onto the ground and helped him out his jacket on and ran into the kitchen to grab a pacifier. 

Grabbing my keys on the way out, I rush to the car and open up the back door, quickly placing and buckling Jackson into his carseat. By the time I'm done, Ade is already in her seat.

I open the front door, get in, and go to turn on the engine when I see Ethan leaving the house and locking the front door while waving for me to stop. As he runs over, I roll down the window and wait to hear whatever excuse he has prepared.

"You know what you want to do?" He proposes to me.

"No, I don't. So please, enlighten me," I respond with a sarcastic tone.

"Well, my darling twin sister of mine, you want to drive me to school."

"Are you kidding me Ethan? The school is three blocks away, you can walk just like I was going to today until you declared it my day."

"I would have driven you if you asked."

"I call B.S."

"Fine, but I still want a ride."

"Ethan-" I began before getting interrupted by Ade.

"Just give him a ride, let's go." Ade said as she rolled her eyes and went back on her phone.

"Fine, get in," I said as Ethan made his way around to the other side, got in, and buckled up.

As I began to drive down the street towards the high school, I checked the clock to see that it read 7:45. I was going to be late to school but I guess that that's what it means to be the oldest in a family.

A few minutes later, I pull up to the high school and I let Ade out and Ethan right ahead of her.

"Love you guys," I called. "See you during lunch Ade. Alright," I said looking back at Jackson in my mirror. "Let's get you to daddy's."

I drive away from the school and drive for around ten minutes before pulling in front of an apartment complex. I grab Jackson's diaper bag from the passengers seat and get out of the car, going to the back door.

I open the door, get Jackson out, and walk through the lobby up to apartment 215. 

I knock a few times and I don't hear an answer.

"Adam, I don't have time for this shit today." I call as I bang on the door a few more times. "Do you want to see your son ever again in your life? No? Fine, screw this," I shout at the door. "Rot in hell."

I turn to walk away and leave, making it halfway down the hall before I hear the apartment door start to open and speed up my walking.

"Wait, Athena. Hold on, babe." Adam calls as he steps out and rushes over to me. 

"Don't babe me, we have an arrangement that you watch Jack when I go to school but no, your side chicks are more important than your own flesh and blood."

"Oh, come on. Babe, you know that isn't true." He reaches out to grab Jackson but I recoil, not wanting Adam to touch him. "Look, I'm sorry. I was stupid and should have been ready when you knocked the first few times." Adam says as he moves closer to me. 

He grabs Jack from my arms and pulls me close to him. Adam put his hand on my chin and tilted my head towards him, leaving my face barely an inch away from his, our lips only a breath apart.

He closes the gap with a kiss, leaving us breathless but pulls away, knowing that it can't go any further than a kiss with a child in his hands.

"I love you," he says softly and he grabs the diaper bag from him.

"Go say that to one of your side chicks, it will mean more to them."

"What is your problem?" He asks me.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe that I'm practically raising this child on my own but you don't give a damn as long as you aren't dragged into this. You'd rather be getting laid instead of seeing our son's first steps. But no, you're right, I'm the one being dramatic."

"You're acting like a bitch right now, what did I do to you?"

"Nothing, you innocent child."

"Stop acting to entitled and tell me what I did wrong."

"If you don't know, then I just can't help you...Give me my child."

"What? Athena, you're being ridiculous, you have to go to school."

"Give me my child, now." 

"No, he's my son too."

"Give me that boy or so help me god I will not hesitate to call 911."

"You're a bitch sometimes, you know that?"

"Thank you, dear." I said as I stuck my hand out to get my child. Adam reluctantly gave me back Jackson and I turned to walk away, "clean up your act if you want to see Jackson again."

***