Rosebud's Revenge

Chapter 10: Telling Stories

*IT'S MY BIRTHDAY YA'LL🎂🥳🍾

*And because it's my birthday and I'm stuck in the house, I've decided to give you all a gift. I've been writing nonstop for three days and was originally going to post these chapters sometime next week but I said screw it. It's my birthday and I do what I want. And I want to give you guys and early update.

*This chapter was originally over 7,000 words but I decided to shorten it and make it into two parts. But I'm not going to make you wait for part two because I'm going to post it right after this.

I hope everyone is practicing social distancing, staying inside (unless you have to go to work) and are washing their hands. Stay safe everyone. And, I know your probably bored because you're stuck in your house, but I hope this update lessens your boredom...ENJOY!

When Athena awoke from her nap some time later she wasn't the least bit surprised to find that she was alone. Nor was she surprised a few hours later when Lance was a no show for dinner, or even when it was time to go to bed.

In fact, this was the first time in a while that Athena was actually ecstatic to be left alone with her thoughts. It gave her the chance to think, and dream about a future that for once looked brighter instead of its usual dull grey.

And when she awoke that next morning to an empty bed the usual frown that would appear on her face-nearly every morning-was replaced with a smile. A smile that she couldn't control even if she wanted to.

Climbing out of bed, Athena practically skipped towards the bathroom-making sure to put on a show for the cameras-as she got ready for the day.

Turning the shower to its hottest setting possible, Athena watched as the steam emerged from within the glass box-filling the room around her.

Discarding her pajamas, Athena stepped into her own personal makeshift sauna and let the showers hot pelting streams relax her tired muscles and soothe away any aches a painkiller couldn't resolve.

It couldn't have been no longer than fifteen minutes before Athena decided that after scrubbing her body good and clean with her favorite pomegranate body wash that it was time to get out. And despite her body's protest for another five minutes under the shower heads soothing sprays, Athena knew that she didn't have much time to spare...especially today.

Walking to the counter, Athena took a second to stare at her foggy reflection before slowly wiping away the mist that covered the bathrooms mirror with her hand.

It was then that she finally acknowledged the scars. The scars-although faint-that littered nearly her entire body. The scars that if you weren't paying close enough attention too you would miss. The scars that made her cry almost every time she saw them.

But today was different, because instead of nearly bursting out in tears and wanting to crawl into a hole and die-she smiled. A smile so big and so wide that it made her cheeks hurt.

"Today's the day." She giddily muttered wrapping her towel tighter around her body before walking out of the bathroom and into her closet.

Grabbing ahold of the essentials such as lotion, deodorant, and underwear Athena wasted no time in getting dressed, every now and then letting her eyes drift towards the spot where she had hid Xavier's message.

She had practically memorized the note despite only having read it once. Xavier's words were engraved in her head whether she wanted them to be or not.

"Today's the day." Athena muttered to herself once again as she pulled the first shirt she could get her hands on over her head before bypassing the full bodied mirror and practically skipping out of her bedroom and downstairs, where the mouthwatering smell of breakfast surrounded her.