Her Escape, His Safe Haven

Chapter 26- I Was Summoned

Athena's POV

Today I'm going to dance. I woke up not really feeling any pain, so I decided that today is the day I'm finally going to go back to myself. Back to my happy place. Back to my serenity. To be fair I have technically danced since he  attacked me, but I haven't gone full out since. 

I am thanking literally every possible there could be out there that there was no lasting damage from Beatrice. On me at least. We have a meeting this morning with the principal to go over what happened yesterday. 

I got out of bed and put on a nice fuzzy sweatshirt that is gray on top and white on bottom over a pair of deep wash skinny jeans and a pair of gray bearpaw boots. I just want to be comfortable today. As I'm pulling down my sweatshirt I noticed a nasty looking bruise on my ribs. I thought this would be done with, but damn Beatrice ruined that.

"ELI!" I yelled for him.

"Yeah?" He yelled back.

"Can you come here please?" He didn't answer instead he showed up on my room.

"That looks a lot worse today beautiful. I'm so sorry she did that to you." He said with concern in his voice.

"I know, It's okay Eli. Can you do me a favor though?"

"Of course."

"Can you take a picture of the bruise?" I want to have evidence to show the principal. "I used to take photos of my bruises all by myself in case I ever decided to report him, and I never really got a good angle for the ones on my torso." I told him.

"You have photos?" He asked almost sounding shocked.

"Yeah. They're in a box under the bed. I haven't had the courage to look in it. I usually just pop it open and shove the newest photos in real quick, so I've never really looked at them." I told him trying to keep a nonchalant tone to my voice.

"I'm glad you have them. It'll help when we report the fucker." 

"Anyway. Can you take the picture? I mean I guess I can just lift up my shirt and show him---"

"Don't worry beautiful, I'll take it." He pulled out his phone and went to the camera and took a photo both with and without the flash. "There you go." He smiled at me and kissed my forehead when I put my shirt back down. "I'm going to go with you to the principal's office today. No way in hell am I letting her near you while I'm not there to protect you again." Eli told me as we left my room to go to school.

"It's not like she can do anything with the principal there." 

"I'm not taking any chances baby girl." He said and I didn't bother to fight him on it. To be honest I'm really relieved I won't have to deal with this alone.

We got in the car and headed off to school. We decided to stop and get ourselves a drink. I ordered a raspberry pomegranate green tea and Eli got himself a blended chai. Then we went straight to school. We got out of the car with Eli opening my door like he always does, and then we walked hand in hand to the principal's office.  

"Are you okay Athena?" Eli asked, probably feeling me shake a little.

"Yeah, I don't know why I'm nervous. It's not like I did anything wrong. Maybe I'm nervous about seeing her?" I told him honestly. 

"You don't need to be. I know me saying that probably means nothing, I know you're going to feel however you're going to feel and that's perfectly okay. I just want you to know that I'm here okay?" He pulled me into his side and put his arm around my shoulders. I nodded as we made it to the office. I took a deep breath as Eli opened the door for us to walk in.