Saving Athena ✓

3) Cosmos

A t h e n a

(Tw: slight violence)

When you work at a diner that's always busy, being late isn't the best thing to do. I speed up slightly, my feet slushing against the water, raindrops fall against my umbrella, it rained again this morning. The sun is safely tucked away, giving the clouds their time as the diner finally comes into view.

I step in, no one really looks at me but when someone yells, "Hey Snowy!" Everyone's heads swivel to me as deadpan quietness immerses the diner. I wince and turn only to see Vinnie, smiling as he leans against the doorway. I shake my head and ignore everyone's stares.

I try to go and walk past him but he reaches out and grasps my forearm, spinning me back to him. I furrow my brows and look at my arm before up at him. "What are you doing?"

"Why do you hate me?"

"What-"

"I just want an honest answer," he says. I shake my head and try to pull away only for him to tighten his grip on me. "Tell me why you hate me."

"Because you're horrible," I state, jerking away from him. "You've hated me ever since I walked into this diner."

"You don't think I can change?" He steps closer, I step away, drawing my brows together as I scoff. His eyes hold so much hate and anger.

"No," I shake my head. "Just leave me alone, I'm tired of you and you're stupid antics." I walk away from him, to the back only for him to follow me as he blocks the exit. I drape my apron up and turn around, immediately feeling stuck by his presence. "Dude! What do you want?"

"What are you and Milo?" He suddenly asks, I furrow my brows before rubbing my eyes and attempting to walk through but he holds his arms out to the side of the wall.

"Put your arms down- Vinnie," I attempt to walk away but he grabs both of my forearms as my hand's press to his chest, I bite my lip to contain my winces as I try to tug away only for his grip to harden, his fingers digging into my sweater. "Vincent- let me go!"

"Do you like him?" He asks again, a scowl on his lips as he brings his head closer to mine. His eyes trained on my lips. I gasp and slam my fist into his chest, he heaves and instantly lets me go, stepping back a bit as he grabs at his chest.

"Don't you ever touch me again." I snapped, shoving him to the wall as I stormed away from him, blinking rapidly to avoid tears.

✧

"Miss Sheila, I'm having an internal crisis," I slouch down, bringing my knees to my chest as I lean back on the booth and watch as she takes little bites of her salad, she wipes her mouth and looks up at me.

"And that would be?"

I furrow my brows. "I have no idea what it is really, guess there are too many to count."

✧

The pretty stranger is here, again, this time he sits at the barstool, sipping from a white straw in a tall glass filled with red liquid, he types hastily as his posture is stone straight. His computer is perfectly angled and his glass is placed neatly with a napkin underneath.

His feet tap on the barstool beneath him, he runs a hand through his hair before typing again, never taking his eyes off the screen. I take a deep breath and walk over, pulling out the barstool across from him. His eyes flicker up for a split moment, his jaw rigid as he looks back down.

"I take it back," I say, crossing my legs and pulling my blue crewneck closer to my body, I place my hands to the side of my face and wait for his response.

"Hm?" He doesn't take his eyes off the screen, his slender fingers coming up to wipe his upper brow before continuing what he was doing.

"I want to be friends with you," I clarify, his fingers stop moving as he looks up at me, narrowing his eyes.

"Deals off the table," he grumbles, tone hushed and I draw my brows together.

"Was there even a deal to begin with?"

Maybe for a split moment, I see a tiny smirk on his face as he types, it quickly gets erased as he locks eyes with me and says, "Guess you'll never know."

✧