Saving Athena ✓

8) Gravitational

A t h e n a

My finger grazes along the displays of glass, the cupcakes sit nicely behind the counter, decorated and frosted to utter perfection. I never had a tang for sweets really, for the simple delicacies. But I was walking and I had an urge to come into the bakery, so that's what I did. I think it was the pretty displays in the windows that drew me in.

"Next," the girl ushers for me to step up, I do and furrow my brows at the menu before I tell her I want the strawberry cupcake with cream on top, I give her a smile and she returns it, I feel right in my skin for the first time.

She packages the cupcake in a white box with a pink string that wraps around the box, I give her the cash and take a seat, unwrapping the box carefully as if it was glass.

It was finally sunny, although it was freezing and it felt as if the temperature was dropping drastically by the second, the weather here was bipolar, you never really knew what to expect.

I think the display of the bakery threw me off course, it looks beautiful but my tastebuds disagree, I set the cupcake down and seize a napkin as I carefully wipe at the corners of my lips. I discreetly throw it out and walk out of the bakery.

Oh how easily I'm deceived by the beauty of things.

✧

My hands are tucked into the pockets of my black coat, securely wrapped around the edges of the fabric as I take slow steps to the bakery, maybe time will slow down, maybe not. It's something I'm willing to wager.

The plants here are all withering away, the petals fall to the ground and beg for hydration they won't get. I look up at the sun only to close my eyes immediately from the blaze of it, I look back down and smile when I see Ace leaning against his car, on the phone. It's pressed securely to his ear as his hand wraps around the side of his neck.

"Hey, stranger," I beam as I get closer, his eyes look me once over before he raises a finger. I get the hint and lower my voice as I stop walking until I'm in front of him, a few inches away.

I don't hear the conversation, I only hear Ace say things like, "yes" or "maybe" or the occasional grunt to let the person know he was still there. He finally hangs up and turns to me. "Athena," my name rolls off his tongue perfectly. "I told you stalking isn't cute."

I scoff, rolling my head back. "This is the way I take to work, Ace. No need to be egotistical. And if anything, it looks like you're the one stalking me now."

"I have better things to do."

"Then go do them," I blankly reply. He narrows his eyes, I dig into my purse and pass him his sweater. "I washed it," I clarify.

"Why did you bring this with you?" He asks, tilting a brow up.

"Because I knew you would come to see me today."

He scoffs. "What would you have done if I hadn't?"

"I would've given it to a homeless man, and did you just confess to coming to see me?" A small smirk pops on my face as I cross my arms across my chest, he runs a hand through his hair and rolls his eyes.

"Shut up," his voice is back to blank.

"Nope," I deadpan, he furrows his brows as his lip turns up in a scowl. "You want to walk with me? I'm going to the diner, you know, the place you stalk me at."

"I'm alright," he shakes his head. I nod and begin walking.

"Offers still on the table!" I yell out a few feet away from him. Soon enough, I feel his footsteps behind me and I smile as his figure appears behind me. "Couldn't resist, huh?"

"Oh, shut up," he sneers. "Not like I have anything better to do." I wince at his comment but relish the feeling of having a friend, not caring whether he thinks of me as one or not.

"You and me," I point between us. "We're going to be great friends."

"Is that all you know how to say?" He snarls, tone getting more and more fessed up by the second.

"Maybe, my vocabulary is quite wide," I shoot him a glance as he glares at me. I turn back ahead and let out a breath, it turns white and smokey. "Do you ever feel like life is repeating itself?" I randomly ask, looking up at him to see his reaction.

"Hm?" He doesn't sound interested.

"I feel like- I don't know- like every day is the same as the last, you know?"

"Maybe you just have a boring life." He states, I scoff.

"Maybe you just have a pissy attitude." I snap, matching his tone.

He bends down a bit, his breath hits my nose. "Maybe I do."

✧

"Miss Sheila!" I laugh, running over and throwing my arms around her, she chuckles and runs a hand through my hair, I take in her grandmotherly essence because she's all I have. "I missed you, so much."

"You too, crazy girl," she smiles and I slide into the booth across from her. I already got her food so I bring my knees to my chest and tilt my head against the window. "So, talk to me," she wipes at her mouth. "How are things?"

"Things are wonderful," I laugh. I tell her about Ace, about the bakery that disappointed me, about everything in between. "What about you?"

She coughs, and covers it with her napkin. "Well, in my book, the girl had to be the damsel in desperate need of saving, and the prince disappointed. I quit with them." She shakes her head like a disappointed mother. "I mean, Athena, it's so sad at this point."

"I want a prince," I mutter, smiling slightly.

"Honey, you're beautiful. Don't worry, men will soon be at their knees for your attention." I've never been called beautiful before, but to know that she thinks so, makes me smile and blush a bit. "You're telling me there's no prince in shining armor yet?" I peer up to Ace, he's reading a book and scribbling something down in it.

I shake my head.

✧

"So then I said, what? You know, it was unexpected." I continue to ramble as Ace ignores me completely. "Then she laughed at me and told me she was the one behind the surprise."

Ace makes a show of taking his headphones out of his bag, he plugs them in and stares me dead in the eyes as he puts them on his ears. I smile a bit. "You don't have to be shy to talk to me, you know. I'm a kindred soul."

He ignores me again. I sigh and trace the stickers on his computer with my eyes, there all black, little doodles, one of the Japanese waves, a show I've never heard about, some metal bands. They're all in designated spots.

"I went to this bakery today," I continue. He throws his pen down and looks up at me. I giggle. "They had the worst cupcakes you know? I was disappointed-"

"Ace!"

I slightly jump at the sound of someone calling his name, I turn and freeze when Vinnie walks towards us, a grin on his face as he stares me down before walking to Ace who takes off his headphones and gets up. They do a handshake and pat each other's backs as they talk.

My heart plummets when I realize Vinnie is the friend that Ace comes to the diner for.

✧

Plot twist, but don't let this throw you off, Ace is nothing like Vinnie.