CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: LEO

When I got to the pond, I saw Sam staring at the water with a smirk on his face, so I ran over to him and grabbed him by the collar, "You're so fucking dead" I yelled as I was about to punch him in the face when I saw Athena fighting to stay afloat she can't fucking swim and he still threw her in anyway.

I jumped in after her as fast as I could, but she had gone under when I reached her. I dived in after her, pulled her to the surface, and started CPR, but she  wasn't breathing. I did CPR again, and she wasn't breathing.

When I tried again, she started coughing up water in an attempt to catch her breath. I ran my hands through her hair to calm her down; everyone had gathered around us, watching and whispering, it was so sick that no one tried to help her; they just stood there watching her funking drown.

"That's what you get for messing with me, freak; maybe now you'll learn to stay in your place because Leo won't be there to save you the next time." Diana smirked, and I didn't care that she was a girl; I was about to slap, walk up to her, and slap her when Athena stopped me.

She placed her hand on mine, she was shivering so I took off my hood, putting it on her.

She got up from where she was taking baby steps towards Diana. I wanted to help her, but she turned to me and smiled. "It okay, Leo, I need to do this."

When Athena got to Diana and didn't expect what she did next, she slapped Diana across the face and she fell on the ground holding her face, Athena climbed on top of her and continued slapping her. Sam tried to stop her, but I arrived in time and punched him in the face.

"What the fuck man," he yelled as he collapsed to the ground.

"That's for pushing her in," I said, watching him clutch his injured face on the ground. When Athena was finished with Diana she got off her and the senior class had formed a circle around us.

"You think messing with me is funny, right. Oh! beat up the quiet girl, no one will care," Athena said,

"But-" Someone was about to say something, but Athena interrupted them

"Shut up, I'm not done talking," Athena yelled and everyone fell silent.

"You guys stood there and watched this bitch and her friends beat, humiliate, and make my life a living hell, but no one said anything, I've been called names I don't even deserve to be called" Athena said anger evident in her tone, "You guys should be fucking ashamed of yourselves. If someone you knew was treated like this, would you stand by and watch? Answer me?"

She kept yelling, and everyone stared at her with humiliation, annoyance, and anger showing in their  eyes, as if they had the right to be upset.

"They almost killed me and you guys stood there and watched me drown, if Leo wasn't here I would have died, even if I did you guys wouldn't care, I'm the daughter of a whore whose life isn't worth anything. Right? Athena said and when no one said anything she turned to walk towards the car.

"Does messing with defenseless girls make you feel like a man, huh?" I asked

"Mind you business" he said as he got to his feet and tried to walk away but I grabbed him the  neck.

"Come on, why don't you pick on someone your own size?" I said as I continued punching him, he cried as he tried to avoid my strikes.

"I'm sorry man, please stop, she made me do it,"

"You're taking orders from Diana, are you her bitch now?" I asked, throwing punch after punch, but as I was about to deliver another, I felt someone wrap their hands around my arm, and I turned to see Athena looking at me with sad eyes.

"Come on, it's okay, he's already passed out, I'm fine, I just want to go home, so please take me home," Athena pleaded as she pulled me away from Sam.

"Okay, Princessa, let's get you home," I murmured as I picked her up in my arms. She wrapped her hands around my neck as I carried her to the truck, ignoring the stars we were receiving because I needed to get my baby home.

When we got to the car, I put her in the back seat, pulled the seat belt over her, kissed her on the cheek, and then proceeded to my side of the car to get in. I drove away from the forest, still simmering with rage; I should have killed that bastard.

"Leo, I don't want Sophia or Shane to see me like this. "Please take me to your house," Athena asked as I watched her from the rearview mirror. She was still shivering,  I needed to get her warm fast. I nodded and headed for my apartment complex.

When I arrived at our apartment, I got out of the car and went to carry Athena so we could go upstairs. I slammed the door with my leg to make sure it was closed before taking her up to the apartment.

When we got inside, I went straight to my room, placed her on a chair and went to my wardrobe to grab her a change of clothing.

I walked back to her to take off her wet clothes. My heart ached when she opened her eyes and stared at me with tears in her eyes.

"I-I don't feel too good," she said, her voice breaking.

"I know, Princessa," I explained, kissing her on the temple, "But need to change you first so afterwards you can rest,"

"Okay," she whispered as I reached for her garments,

"Can I take them off?" I asked, and she nodded, raising her hands so I could remove the dress over her head, then I took off her bra and panties, keeping my attention on her face, because though her being naked in front of me did this to me, now wasn't the time for that.

When all of her wet garments were gone, I helped her put on the dry clothes before guiding her to the bed to sit.

I then take my towel and dry her damp hair; she closes and opens her eyes tiredly as I work on her hair; after I'm finished, I put the towel away and return to her; she fully opens her eyes when I sit down beside her on the bed.

"Stay with me," she says quietly, and I take off my shoe and shirt before laying down on the bed, pulling her closer.

She buried her face in my chest and wrapped her hands around me pulling me close.

"Thank you for saving me," she sobbed into my chest. I kissed her head as she sobbed, stroking my hands down her back to comfort her, "I'm sorry for making your life so difficult, Leo."

"Don't ever say that, Princessa; you don't make my life difficult. You make it better, so don't ever think otherwise," I tell her, caressing her cheek as her sobs subsided.

She smiles at me and shuts her eyes again as I continue to play with her hair tenderly, feeling her breath become faint as she falls asleep.

I waited an hour to make sure she was asleep before getting out of bed, then texted Austin to let him know what had happened. I also texted Sophia Athena to let her know she'd be staying with me tonight.

When I was going to plug in my phone and go back to sleep, I received a text from an unknown number.

Smith,

I hope this communication reaches you. Look, I'm a man of few words. I've concluded that our time apart has been far too long, and I'm sure you're aware that I don't take rejection well. You were one of my cherished belongings, and losing you was heartbreaking. Now that I'm free, I hope we can reach an agreement. If not, your newfound family will suffer the repercussions.

You have such a gorgeous girlfriend; what if she found out about your past and the people you have killed? Will she still stay with a murderer like you? Don't worry, your handsome little head; I will soon reveal myself, and I hope we can reach an agreement that is good for both of us when we finally meet again.

And if you don't agree to my terms, I won't hesitate to kill the girl and everyone you care about; you know what I want and I won't stop until I get it; I'll give you till the end of the month to make your decision.

You will be hearing from me soon.

-Mr A.

Someone from my past texted this, I'm certain of it, but who? No one who knew about that period of my life was alive, so who sent this SMS?

My mind raced with probable suspects as I plugged in my phone, I fell asleep while holding Athena in my arms, thinking about the text and who might have sent it.