The Quiet

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

*Nathan's Point of View*

I couldn't get her out of my head, I just couldn't. My brother forbids me to go back to the diner where Athena works at because he knew what I was going to try and do. I just wanted to see her again. I wanted to hear her talk again. I felt isolated from the world because of Grayson. At one point, I snuck out of the back of my house and walked into the woods to get away from my life. I couldn't stand being in that house any longer.

My father took all of the liquor that was in the house and hid it from me. It made it harder for me to get through the boring days without any alcohol. My bruises from the crash are starting to fade, but they are still evident on my pale skin. There was a large scar on my jaw that was going to be there forever, I wasn't complaining. To be completely honest, it looked badass.

I had no clue where I was going as I made my way through the woods, tripping on every stick that I stepped on. I don't know how long I was walking until I got to a lake with a small dock. There was a body sitting on the edge of the dock, my curious thoughts got the best of me as I walked near the person.

The girl had dark curly hair which I recognized to be Athena. I smiled to myself, this was too easy. Everything was in my favor lately. I placed my foot on the wooden dock, making a loud creak under my weight. She turned around and her eyes hardened at the sight of me. "Sorry," I said loudly. Athena turned back towards the still lake, ignoring that I was there. I felt a ping of pain hit my body at her reaction. I made my way towards her and took a seat next to her.

She didn't look at me when I sat next to her, probably hoping that I would get the message and leave. "It's nice to see you again," I smiled at her. She glanced over at me with a bored look.

"I wish I could say the same," she replied. My smile faded after hearing her words. "What do you want?" Her tone was harsh and loud, nothing like what I heard when I was at the diner.

"I wanted to keep you company. You seemed a little lonely. A pretty girl like you shouldn't have to sit around alone like that." I attempted to make her smile with my compliment, but she frowned instead. I wanted to know why she was so harsh towards me, I didn't do anything.

"Maybe the pretty girl wants to be alone," she mumbled as her hand grabbed the objects lying next to her leg. She picked up a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the dock's surface. My face scrunched up in disgust as she lit one and breathed in the poison. "If you don't like it, you could leave." She looked into my olive colored eyes and waited for me to leave. I wasn't going to even if she asked. I smirked, watching her become more irritated with my presence.

"I don't mind," I lied, but she didn't need to know that. I did have a problem with the smoking because of my family's past with cigarettes. They never do anything for you besides kill you. Maybe that's what she was trying to do, die. "Who gave you that ring? It's really nice." I asked, pointing to the ring with the black gems wrapped around it. I wondered if her boyfriend got it for her, did she have a boyfriend?

She spun the ring around her finger, sighing. "My ex-boyfriend bought it for me," Athena answered. I questioned why she still wore it if they weren't together anymore. When people break up, they usually want to get rid of all traces of their ex. "I wear it because it reminds me that life will always get better. He was someone who made me very happy and sad at the same time." I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, I mistakenly spoke out loud and she heard me.

"Fuck him for making you sad, ever. Wait, don't fuck him, well you can. I mean you guys broke up, so you probably won't fuck, right? Shit, you know what I mean." I stopped for a second to collect my thoughts, what I said didn't sound the way I thought it would. Athena chuckled quietly at my confusion. "My point is boyfriends are meant to make their girl happy, no matter what. They aren't supposed to make you sad like your ex did to you. No one deserves that, especially not you," I spoke my thoughts and it made her smile. Athena's attitude faded and was replaced with the girl I met at the diner. I broke her.