CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: LEO

"It started three years ago," she said, before telling us that Dylan and his friends began bullying her, and it only got worse with each passing year, and this year was no exception.

"What was Diana talking about when she said your and Dylan's last encounter?"

"I would rather not talk about it," She said as she wrapped her hands around her torso.

I wanted to press her but Austin touched my shoulder, I knew what he was thinking, I should let it go but that fucker did something to her and it must have been bad from her reaction just now.

"Will you tell us someday?" Austin and I asked,

"Maybe?" She replied, "that's if I live through their plans for me," but she said the last part quietly, so we couldn't hear her properly.

"I knew that fucker was messed up in the head, but fuck this is on another level, have you ever tried going to the cops?"

She laughed sarcastically, "I tried once but it was swept under the rug, the boys found out, I faced hell that next week, that video you saw Leo was my punishment."

"Which video?"

"You really don't want to know Austin," i said, but Austin didn't seem interested in letting it go.

"Try me?"

I looked at Athena, hoping she could explain things better because she was the only one who knew the whole story, and she nodded and faced him.

"It happened in my second year of junior year, right after William, my ex-boyfriend, had left me, there was this new substitute teacher, Mr Andrew, he was in his early twenties and was very handsome, he was every girl's crush but he only paid attention to one girl, me"

"I see"

"I just thought it was normal at first, but it got weirder and weirder every day; I'd get flowers and chocolate from him, or he'd give me extra time on my assignments; I felt uncomfortable, so I decided to confront him," she said.

"I don't think I'm going to like how this turns out," Austin said.

"I told you it was better you didn't know," I added, before Athena continued.

"When I arrived at his class, I discovered him and Diana kissing. She threatened me so I wouldn't tell on them, but Mr Andrew was unconvinced. He kept making me feel uneasy. One day, he gave me detention for no apparent reason; everyone had gone home after the closing bell had rung, leaving only Mr Andrew and me in the classroom; I was very uncomfortable, so I sat far away from him."

"I'm trying not to lose my shit and go looking for those assholes." Austin said, clenching his fist by his side.

"When all the faculty members had left, he went to the classroom door and locked it, he then took his seat and placed it beside me, he then tried to touch my thighs, so got out of my seat and tried get away from him, but he held onto my arm, trapping me in-between my chair and his body, I struggled against him begging him to let me go, but he ignored me and put his hands up my skirt, I kept resisting, which made him angry. He slapped my face with his other hand and forced me to the ground pulling up my skirt, he unbuckled his trousers, he was going to rape me and there was nothing I could do"

"Fuck" Austin cursed still trying to keep his shit together.

"I pushed and pushed but he was stronger than me, then I heard the door knob giggling, when Mr Andrew looked towards the door, I used the opportunity to free my legs and I kicked him in the nuts, he fell off, holding on to his crutch in pain I ran towards the door with my bag and ran without looking back, I didn't go to school the next day, but the day after that I went to school, and found out that Mr Andrew and left the school", Athena said taking a deep breath before continuing to speak.

"I was overjoyed, I didn't have to see the man who almost raped me ever again, but it wasn't over, because during lunch that same day, Dylan and his friends played the video of what happened that afternoon, cutting out all the parts where I struggled with him, and from that day on I was labelled a whore, and I later discovered Diana paid Mr Andrew to do it."

"Fuck, I don't know how you kept all this bottled up inside," Austin said as he wrapped his hands around her pulling her into a hug

"I couldn't keep this one in, I nearly killed myself after what happened, if it hadn't been for my aunt, I would have died, I want to fight but I just don't know how"

"You don't have to fight alone any longer; you have me." I said as I placed a kiss on her temple.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Austin joked in a British accent making Athena laugh,he was trying to make her feel better after everything she had told us. I'm not sure how she did it all on her own but she has us now.

"Athena, you may not remember, but you helped me when I was at my lowest, and I would love to repay the favor, so I will protect you with my life."

"What do you mean, I would remember if we had met before now?"

"That's a story for another time, Red." Austin stated, but Athena looked hesitant to let it go, but she did so anyway, it's best he tells us when he is ready.

"We have 30 minutes left, do we have to go to class?" I groaned, hoping we skipped but Athena wasn't having it.

"That is if you want to be marked absent," Athena said, as she dragged both of us to class.

"Mr Smith, Miss Marcos, and Mr Kendall, could you please explain why you are late to class? I expect it from Mr Kendall, a delinquent, and Miss Marcos, who is always skipping school, but not from you, Mr Smith."

"We don't want to tell you, it's our little secret," Austin said, and Athena and I laughed as Mr Hunter glared at us.

"it won't happen again Mr Hunter" I said trying to keep my anger in check when I spotted Dylan and his friends at the back glaring at Austin and I.

Austin just ignored them pulling us towards our chairs, they were only two empty chairs close to each other and the other on was on the other side of the class, so Austin chose to kick the person on the next one out of his seat.

Austin turned to face the guy I had a recent encounter with, I think his name was Mark or Marcus "Get up, she wants your seat?".

"Why would I get up for that slut?" Marcus said, and Austin's eyes grew menacing. This fucker seems to gave a death wish

"What did you call her?" Austin growled his fist clenched by his side, he was trying to hold back.

"A slut, what is a jailbird like you going to do about it?" Marcus said and I concluded that this fucker wants to die

Austin was about to retaliate, when I stepped in front of him, and put my hand on his shoulder, he turned to face me while Athena grabbed hold of his hands and drew him away from Marcus.

"You guys should take those seats, I'll take care of this moron," I said, and with a nod, he guided Athena to the empty seat, and once they were seated, I faced the idiot, leaning in so Mr Hunter wouldn't hear what I was about to say.

"What do you want?" He asked and I could see the fear in his eyes. Good, he should be scared so next time he won't make the same mistake of insulting my friends.

"Marcus, you really screwed up, didn't I tell you not to insult that girl over there but you still did, then you insulted my friend too, you must have a death wish because I can't think of any other reason why you would disobey me"

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again, please don't hurt me," he said, which made me smile; even if I wanted to, I couldn't hurt him because Mr Hunter was watching.

"If you want to show that you're sorry, get up and go over there, because this seat is mine today, do I make myself clear?"

He shuddered and nodded, and I said, "Use your words, boy."

"Yes, I understand the seat is yours, I'm sorry for insulting your friends, it won't happen again," he said as I moved away from him. Marcus got up from his seat, picking up his belongings before walking to the seat across the room to sit for the rest of the class, and I took the seat facing an irritated Mr Hunter.

"What? I swear I asked nicely before he gave me the seat, I didn't do anything wrong."

"That's it, the three of you are getting detention." Mr Hunter yelled, and Austin turned to face Athena, who looked irritated.

"Aww, we got you in trouble on your first day back," Austin said, earning him a punch from Athena, seems the school year wasn't going to be boring as I thought not with this two around.