Athena really wants to be liked. As soon as Emma leaves the table, she stops going off about arts and says, "I make fun of people like you... but you have to understand. I was dumb and cruel, and I really, really, need your help."
Jedrek comes downstairs whistling cheerfully and walks in on all of us staring at each other. "What'd I miss?" He sits down next to Conner to hide Athena. We all remain silent while Jedrek looks to Conner to ask for an explanation. Conner shakes his head silently, mouthing the words not now.
"Fine," I say, my throat hoarse. I grab Athena and lock arms with her, signaling with my head for the guys to walk around us.
Upstairs, Athena is still speechless. After sitting on Bree's bottom bunk and staring at the floor for about ten minutes, she stands up and hugs me, her tears making the fabric covering my shoulders damp. I don't hug her back, but I don't push her away either. After what feels like a full minute, she pushes a spare tear off the corner of her left eye, her wavy, dirty blonde-chestnut hair covering her face. Looking back up at me, she whispers, "Thank you."
Instead of a proper reply, however, all I do is nod. "Go talk to Hugo. He'll need to make a plan. He's safe, you can tell him everything you know," I order, and she walks out of the room, her head hung low.
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