Saving Athena ✓

28) Catastrophe

A c e

(Tw: isolation, panic attacks, breakouts, OCD triggers)

"Mom?" I peek my head into her room. "What's up? Why did you need me to come over?"

Her brows pull together, she looks at dad who only shrugs. "Honey, we didn't call you. We knew you had exams today, we didn't want to interrupt."

This time, my brows pull together. "Then who called me?"

"That would be me!" Darnell yells, running down the halls and stopping in front of me.

"Darnell," I sneered, shaking my head. "What the hell? You knew I had exams today."

"Is it a crime to miss my brother?" He fake pouts, I scoff and shove past him. I rub my eyes and head down the stairs, only to hear him right on my trail, he wraps an arm around my shoulder and I push him off of me. He grimaces and asks, "What's wrong with you?"

"You knew I had exams today, and you thought it was a good idea to take mom's phone and text me saying she needed me urgently? What the fuck, Darnell?"

"Who screwed you up?" He laughs, then narrows his eyes. "It's snowman, isn't it?"

I turn to him quickly and clench my jaw. "She has a name."

"I don't care," he shrugs. "But really, what did she do?"

I haven't seen her in a week, and it bothers me, it bothers me that I care. But I kept my promise and gave her space, and it feels like everything is so drab without her little comments or her stupidly cute laugh that keeps replaying in my mind.

As if he can read my mind, he laughs and says, "She left you already? Damn dude."

"Shut up," I grumble, walking away from him, he follows me and I groan. "What do you want!"

"What did you do to make her leave?" He narrows his eyes. "And to think Zella thought she was the one."

"What did I ever do to you?" I suddenly snap, shaking my head. I've caught him off guard, his eyes narrow as his head tilts the slightest bit.

"What?"

"Darnell, tell me what I did to make you hate me so much." I nearly plead. "Tell me what I did to make you push yourself away from me." No response, my hands get clammy. "What did I do?" I repeat quietly.

"You sound stupid," he jeers, arms crossing across his chest.

"I don't care if I sound stupid," I shake my head and step closer. "What did I do?"

"Are you seriously going to cry over this?" He laughs, and it's a cruel laugh. "Damn, that girl really did something."

"This isn't about her!" I raise my voice. "Why are you so obsessed with her!"

He purses his lips, shrugs, and says, "I have my reasons."

"And what are those reasons?"

"None of your business," he says, then turns away from me but I'm so over it. I reach forward and yank him back to me.

"Answer me," I yell, my voice cracks at the end. I shove my hands against his chest and that pushes him back a bit. He makes no move to hit me or anything.

"No," he goes to turn around but I push him harder this time.

"Answer me!" I step closer and push him again, he looks disinterested, this only pisses me off more. "Hit me! Do something!"

A small smile creases his lips. "Oh, I did something."

I take a step back and draw my brows together. "What- What did you do?"