CHAPTER THIRTEEN: ATHENA

When I finished cleaning up in the kitchen, I went to my room to get my belongings. I packed everything I needed for work in my bag and went to the living room to wait for Sophia to come from her room. After a few minutes, I became lost in my thoughts.

William Sanderson, the school football team's quarterback, was my first and only friend and boyfriend in junior year. I believed he cared about me, but it was all a lie. I vividly recall the day I discovered he was a lying good for nothing asshole.

My phone rang, and I looked at the caller ID; it was William, and as I picked it up, a smile spread across my face; his beautiful voice spoke on the other end of the phone.

"How are things in France, Will?"

"All right, I guess."

"What's going on with you?" I asked because he wasn't sounding like his usual self

"I have something to tell you."

"What are you scaring me about?"

"I'm breaking up with you, my parents said we're going to stay here now because my dad got a job," I said.

"And you just tell me what I'm going to do, William? You were the only person who made school bearable for me, and now you just up and leave, despite the fact that you were my friend and boyfriend for fuck sakes."

"I don't want you to find out in school, but it was all a bet, becoming your friend, dating you, everything between us was all a bet."

"I don't understand"

"Are you deaf, Athena? I never loved you or wanted to be your friend; the basketball team made a bet, and you were just collateral damage."

"I don't understand," I said again, trying to take in what he had just said.

"Dylan did all of this so he could mess with you when I left; he knew I was going to leave, so he made a bet to see if you were going to fall in love with me, and also if I was able to make you sleep with me, I would get extra money, but you were too much of a prude to put out, so I only got half"

"You son of a bitch, you made me feel safe, you made me trust you, you made me fall for you, all for a bet, you are a fucking asshole, William."

"You don't need to call me names, it was just a joke, no hard feelings, right?"

"Go fuck yourself, William."

After that, I hung up the phone. I cried myself to sleep that night, Sophia came over because my mother had called, I told her everything, she was so pissed she would have gone over to beat the shit out of William if he hadn't moved.

Dylan and the rest of the basketball team made certain that everyone was aware of their wager. For the rest of the year, I was a laughingstock. I never heard from William again, and I didn't want to; he was dead to me.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard Sophia calling my name.

"Everything okay honey, you just spaced out for a while"

"It's okay just thinking about school"

"If you say so, are you ready?"

"yeah let me go get my bag"

Before we left the apartment complex, I dashed to my room to get my bag. We arrived at Rudy's in about ten minutes and after saying our goodbyes, I walked into the diner, Anna was setting the tables and Rudy was preparing the grill for the day.

"Hey everyone"

"Hi Athena" they all said in unison.

I quickly placed my bag in the staff room and prepared to begin taking orders.

By 3:00pm, Leo had arrived with a little boy who resembled him. The only distinction was that the youngster had brown hair and blue eyes, whereas Leo had black hair and green eyes. I approached their table to take their order.

"Hi Athena,"

I blurted out in shock, "you know my name,"

He just smiled and replied, "yes I know your name, we go to the same school, and we sit together in every class we have together since I arrived at Riverview," Leo said casually.

"But why did you call me Principessa the last time we met?"

"Because you like the princess from Brave," he explained.

"Oh, hmm, okay, what would you like to eat, Leo and little Leo?" I joked, and the little boy smiled, his eyes lighting up like they did with Leo.

He raised his hands and signed "my name is Shane not little Leo" I smiled

"I kinda guessed little Leo will be kinda weird on your birth certificate, it's nice to meet you Shane".

"Nice to meet you, Athena," Shane said with a big grin on his face. When he was as old as his brother, this little kid was going to break people's hearts.

"We'd like two hamburgers and two large milkshakes," Leo said as he placed the menu on the table.

"Coming right up," I said as I walked towards the kitchen, giving Bernie their order. Their meal was ready in 20 minutes, after I served them and returned to serve other customers.

When the boys finished eating, I walked over to clean up since they were my last customers before another waitress took over so I could finish my shift.

Shane then slid a piece of paper my way with the words "Would you like to go to the park with us" written on it. When I turned to face Leo, he just shrugged.

"You're in luck, buddy, because I just finished my shift, so I'd love to go to the park with you, Shane. Please wait outside while I finish up here" After I finished wiping down the other tables, I changed into a pair of jeans and a black hood. After saying goodbye to everyone I left the restaurant and turned to look for them, I saw them leaning against the wall.

"Hello guys, so what park are we off to?" I asked, looking at the two boys standing in front of me,

"We actually don't know any park around here since we just moved here, Shane and I just wanted to hang out with you, so we used the park as an excuse" Leo said, ruffling his brother on the head,

"Riverview park is just a few blocks away, let's start going if we want to get there on time" I offered pulling them along as we walked in the direction of Riverview park

"You know I haven't seen Shane get attached to anyone this quickly, you must be a special girl to get my brother to like you," Leo leaned in and whispered into my ear. I blushed at his closeness; aside from William and the guys, I'd never been this close to a guy before, so it was all new to me.

"Kids just love me and I love them, I would pick a kid over an adult any day," I told him honestly, because children are pure and don't judge everything.

Leo just stared at me for a moment before saying, "Before I forget, thank you for repairing my book; where did you learn to do that?" Leo asked as we had arrived at the park, Shane left us and ran towards some kids playing ball, and Leo and I sat on one of the park's benches.

"I had a part-time job at the local library, so I picked up some things from the librarian who works there," I replied.

"Well, thanks anyway, you still fixed it even if it was that wanker who destroyed it," Leo said, his calm face replaced by a scowl.

"Dylan is a jerk; you should avoid him; his friends kinda own the school, so they do whatever they want and no one says anything; it's not fair, but life isn't fair, so I've come to accept it." I said, tugging on my hood's sleeve,

"It sounds like you've been on the receiving end of their idiotic behavior," Leo asked, facing me. I didn't trust him yet to tell him the truth, so I just shrugged and went to join Shane at the playground.

We played around for a while before heading back to Rudy's to get their truck, Shane had fallen asleep so Leo carried him on his back, and I helped carry his bag and mine so it would be easier for him to carry Shane.

"Thank you for hanging out with Shane and I today, he rarely warms up to people, but you are different," Leo said with a smile. "People walk on eggshells around him because he is mute, but you haven't even asked me about it. So, where did you learn to sign? "

"It's none of my business; if you wanted to tell me, you would have; I learned sign language because I thought it was cool; it was fun using it again with Shane; I know I sound corny."

"No, it's nice you feel that way, Principessa," he said, making me smile.

"Thank you guys for inviting me, tell Shane I had fun and I will go to the park with him any time he wants, this is my stop, goodbye Leo," I said, giving him a small hug before walking towards my building.

He yelled "bye Principessa, see you on Monday" before walking away. I went into the complex, checked on Sophia, but she wasn't there, so I went into my apartment, going to bed. This was the first time I'd had fun in a long time, and I fell asleep with a smile on my face. I really hope he was not another William just like aunt Sophia said.