Her Escape, His Safe Haven

Chapter 54- What Are You Doing?

Athena's POV

"Meow!" A tiny squeak pulled me from a dreamless sleep. I felt a tiny weight deposit itself on my back as I am rested on Eli's chest. I let out a little giggle at how cute she is.

"Good morning to you too, Venus." I spoke and she purred in response before laying down and getting comfortable. 

"She loves you." Eli chuckled obviously having been woken up by her too.

"I love her too. She's right though we have to get up and get ready for school." I groaned.

We got back yesterday from LA, the flight wasn't bad since we slept the entire time again. When we got back Mark and Savannah were all cuddled up on the couch in the living room. Venus was sitting near the door her eyes not leaving it. She was waiting for us to come home. 

We could tell the moment we walked through the door that something had changed between the two of them. They seemed...I don't know more attached to each other? Eli noticed it too. He walked into the living room paused and looked at our friends for a moment before his face lit up in realization"You did it!" He exclaimed at them. 

Both of their faces went red as they denied it, but that just made us start to laugh really hard. Their denial made it all the more obvious. After about ten minutes or their denial they finally admitted to the fact that they told each other they loved each other and then proceeded to...prove it. They also thanked me for putting the condoms in the bedside table. 

Eli and I both reluctantly got out of bed and got ready for school. After a quick shower I pulled on a pair of black ripped skinny jeans and a cream colored oversized sweater. I quickly dried my hair and left it as is. I swiped on some mascara and chapstick before pulling on my gray bearpaw boots.

"Ready." I smiled at Eli who finished getting ready a few minutes ago and was now resting on the bed playing a game on his phone. 

"Beautiful." He smiled at me looking up from his phone. "Let's go. I figured we could stop at Jonie's for breakfast." 

"Sounds good." We left the house making sure to set the alarm and lock the door. Eli opened my door and I sat in my seat, buckling up while he ran over to the other side. 

"How are you doing baby girl?" Eli asked as he pulled out of the driveway. He glanced at me, but for the most part he kept his eyes on me. 

"I'm good. A little tired from this weekend, but other than that I'm good." I told him truthfully.

"That's good." He smiled. I know him and Charlie have been waiting for me to fall apart, and I guess I did break down just a little during my dance, but I don't think it's gonna happen. I don't feel any unresolved feelings hiding deep within me or anything. I genuinely feel relieved and happy that everything is over. I never have to deal with that guy again. 

For a long time I never felt like I would be okay someday. I always planned to escape, but I never thought I'd have such definite closure. I always thought I'd be living in fear all my life, until I got a random call that he was in a car accident or something. I never thought I would be there to witness the actual end to it all. 

That was something he drilled so far into my brain, I had no choice but to believe it. I had no reason to think otherwise. He was always good at getting me to believe whatever he wanted. Like that I was fat or ugly or worthless. That was his favorite thing to call me. 

Worthless.

I really felt that. I felt that way too often for it to be any form of healthy. I believed everything he said to me. I look back now and I can't understand why I would believe him. I find it hard to think about how I was because of him. I was weak. I was terrified. I was submissive. I was broken.