Athena and her mom have just moved to New York City her senior year of high school. Athena wants nothing more than to attend Columbia University in the fall. However Athena must work 3 jobs just to make ends meet for her and her mom. So when Lisa, a...
I woke up to someone shaking me. I groaned and pulled the covers over my head.
"We have 30 minutes get ready for school." It was Lucian. I looked around and it took me a while to realize where I was. It wasn't cold and damp like the apartment. I quickly got up when I finally process what Lucian had said.
Dammit only thirty minutes. I felt so warm and comfortable and school was a hellhole. I let out a huff as I got dressed and put my hair is a huge messy bun. I wore a pair of black leggings with an oversized Forrest green and white flannel. I put on my old black doc martins that I bought myself last Christmas. It was cold as it was almost November. If feels hard to believe that I've only been here in New York for a few months.
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I walked to the bathroom with my toiletries bag and washed my face and brushed my teeth. I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize myself. I looked horrible. My eyes and cheekbones were sunken and my under eye circles were horrendous. I put some concealer under my eyes and applied some mascara so my I wouldn't look so dead.
"10 minutes!" Lucian shouted and I grabbed my bag and headphones and ran into the kitchen. It feels like I haven't been to school in forever.
"Are you ready?" He asks as he grabs his keys. I just nod and follow him down the stairs. We sat in comfortable silence as Lucian drove to school. About a block before school I stopped Lucian.
"Stop here." I tell him and he looks at me weird but pulls over.
"I figured I could walk from here, you know so people won't think we came together." I said opening the door. I saw hurt flash in his eyes before he starts the car again without saying anything, he drives off. The last thing I needed was rumors getting around that we are dating.
I put my headphones on and play Frank Ocean's Chanel. I try to calm my nerves as I walk into school. Like usual I keep my head down as I walk to my locker and then to home room to get catch up work. Before I made it to the classroom I was corned. Greatttt just what I need.
"You look a lot better then when I last saw you." Mateo said with a smug smile. There were about 5 boys standing around me, they must be in the same gang.
"Yeah much better, how you feeling? Your boyfriend taking good care of you?" Jay asked with sarcastic worry.
"He's not my boyfriend, I told you I just babysit." I snapped and went to pick up my books that were now on the ground.
"You know if you were look for another gang to join you could have just asked instead of running to Lucian." Jay spat his name like it was poison. The way he said "another" male chills go down my spine.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I stated and grabbed my books. Jay let all his friends walk away but kept me against the wall.
"I told you to stay away from Lucian." Jay said lowly.
"Funny because Lucian said I should stay away from you." I told him trying to not show any fear but I couldn't help it, I was terrified.
"I'm supposed to make sure you don't get into anymore trouble." Jay grumbled.
"What did you say?" I asked him. My body felt like it could go limp at any moment.
"Stay out of trouble Athena." He said my name as if it had no association with me. I wasn't accepting that answer. I grabbed his jacket and pushed him against the wall.
"I asked what you said." I seethed and I could tell I had caught him off guard. I'm not as delicate as I look.
"I said stay out of trouble, just a message from your mom." He said with his sinister smirk. I can't believe I once thought he was the good guy.
"Now get your hands off of me." He said as he slipped his hands to my wait and pushed me off of him. I winced as he directed his force into my stitches.
"Athena." I heard some say from behind us.
"Lucian." Jay said still smirking.
"Go to class, I'll take care of this." Lucian said. Hell no this was my battle to fight and I was going to beat the shit out of Jay.
"No." I said as Lucian walked towards us. Jay stayed still holding onto me.
"There's nothing to take care of, Athena and I were just talking." Jay says as he gives me a warning look. I stayed quiet as his hand was threatening to reopen my healing stitches.
The rang all of sudden and people flooded the halls but the three of us stayed still. I decided to the chance and flipped Jay over using the self defense that Tate had taught me.
"If your going to hang with me and my friend you've got to know how to defend yourself." He would tell me.
There's one good thing I got out of the relationship.
Jay grunted loudly and stood up but I kicked him in the side. People were beginning to stare.
"Oh your my mom's little messenger now?"
Kick
"How much is she paying you?"
Kick
"She left me and asked you to look after me?!"
Kick
"Tell her that I say to fuck off!"
Kick
He was gasping for air. Oh my god what have I done? I turned around slowly to see everyone with their phones up most likely video taping. If I thought I was dead when Lucian found everything out I am actually dead now.
Lucian looked at me stunned and that's when I realized he was behind me the whole time. I walked past him and he tried to put his hands up to stop me from walking away but I shoved him against the lockers. I didn't know I had that much strength,
