Serenity

"So this woman is your mom?" Tessa asked.

We were in a cafe gossiping and drinking coffee. I was glad I could hang out with them more now that I didn't have my dad keeping me inside the house all day. Before, I would sneak out and find excuses to hang out with the girls.

"I don't know. That's what she claims but I'm not sure" I said and sighed.

"What does Ares say about this?" Jane asked.

"Nothing, but he's worried"

Ares has been really tense since the incident with the woman happened. He comes home later and I see him running his fingers through his hair and sighing.

"You need to dig into this Ren" Jane said. "What if she knows something? What if she is your mom?"

"Or maybe she's a crazy stalker and she's planning on killing you!" Tessa added gasping.

"Tessa, whatever it is, I'll figure it out" I said giggling at her exaggeration.

When school ended I was a little scared about this woman showing up again, but fortunately she didn't. The only one there was Ares waiting to pick me up as always.

He opened the door for me and then got in too.

"How was school?" He asked.

"It was okay" I answered quietly. I was worried about him, he's been so upset lately. "How are you?"

"I'm great"

"Are you sure? You've been really tense lately"

Please don't get angry, please don't get angry

"I'm sorry baby, it's just work" He said running a hand through his soft hair.

When we arrived home I asked him if he was going to work. He usually doesn't but lately he's been spending most of his time at work.

I felt my expression fall thinking about what he could be doing. Was he with a woman? Did he have a girlfriend?

"I can stay if you want" He said.

"No, it's okay. You can go if you want" I said looking down at the floor. I didn't want him to see I was disappointed, but before I could walk away he held my wrist softly.

"I want to stay with you" He whispered.

"I'm sorry, asking you to stay was selfish but I just miss you" I said whispering the last part. Suddenly I was pulled into his warm chest and he was hugging me.

"I miss you too, sweetheart"

I blushed at the nickname and hugged him back.

He pulled away and looked at me with a boyish smile.

"Go into the living room and pick a movie, I'll make pop corn"

He went to the kitchen and I did as I was told. After a few minutes he walked into the living room with a huge bowl full of pop corn.

It smelled like butter and I couldn't wait to eat.

"Did you pick a movie?" He asked.

I wanted to pick a Disney movie, Tangled actually, but I was too shy since I was certain he wouldn't want to watch that.

"You can pick"

"No, I asked you to pick. I have some disney movies too, which one do you want?" He asked with a smile. He seemed a little uncomfortable and sad when mentioning the Disney movies and I wondered why.

Why would a twenty two year old man have disney movies? Were they for someone?

"Can we watch Tangled?" I pouted batting my lashes.

He paused for some reason and stared at me. I didn't know if it was because he hated the movie, but it didn't look like he was listening to me at all. He seemed like he was dazed.

"Ares?"

He hummed in reply but didn't look like he heard anything.

"Can we?"

"Can we what?" He said snapping out of his daze.

"Watch Tangled silly" I said giggling. He chuckled and nodded taking a seat next to me.

We spent the whole afternoon watching movies and we really had fun. Sometimes we didn't even pay attention to the movie, we just chatted, or commented.

Now we were watching another movie, but it was late and I was getting sleepy. My eyes were hard to keep open.

It was quiet and I could only hear the movie playing in the background when I felt his hand cup my face.

"Is my girl sleepy?" He asked gently.

I nodded and cuddled into his side. He was comfy and warm like a blanket.

"Come here" He said picking me up and settling me on his lap. Normally I would blush like crazy and wiggle around, but being so sleepy, I only felt some warmth on my cheeks and rested my forehead on his chest.

He stoked my hair and patted my back making me even more sleepy. I didn't want to sleep, I wanted to spend more time with him.

I sat straight and faced him trying to keep myself awake.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"I don't want to sleep. I want to stay with you" I pouted.

He kissed my forehead and then my nose

And then my cheeks.

And the sides of my lips.

"Go to sleep and I'll stay right here with you" He whispered resting his forehead on mine.

I nodded and cuddled into him again letting sleep take me.

_______

The next morning I woke up to a knocking sound. I tried to wiggle around but something had me still.

I opened my eyes adjusting to the light and realized I was on the couch and Ares was sleeping next to me with his arms around me and our legs were tangled. It was almost impossible to move.

"Ares" I called out hoping he'd hear me. He only hummed in reply. "Wake up someone's at the door"

"Ignore it" He groaned with his husky sexy morning voi-

Okay let's stop that.

"Open up Riri, I know you're in there come on" I heard a familiar voice as the knocking continued.

I giggled at the nickname and Ares seemed to be awake now, but I still wasn't facing him.

"Oh my God" Ares groaned.

"I've got Leo here with me, don't make me use him"

"Shut up" A deeper voice was heard.

Wait Leo? That does sound like the Leo I know.

Ares picked me up and sat me down on the couch before walking to the door and opening it.

"What the fuck do you want?" He growled lowly. Even I was a little scared, but I knew he would never hurt me.

"Language! You don't want your girl to learn those words now do you?"

"Just tell me what you want" He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, a habit of his.

"Leo and I have some new information to share" He said quietly but I heard him.

"Fine. Come in" He said opening the door wider.

When they came in I knew that I was right. Leo was here, Tessie's boyfriend.

I gulped and thought about a way to hide myself, but I would just look stupid.

"Oh hi Serenity!" Nate greeted with a big smile on his face.

"Wait, you're Serenity?" Leo asked, "You're Tessa's friend"

"Who's Tessa?" Nate and Ares asked at the same time.

"You have a girlfriend and you didn't even tell us?!" Nate yelled.

"What an asshole" Ares scoffed.

"Like you're the one to talk!" Nate yelled at him now crossing his arms.

"Shut up" Leo said once again.

"These are the only words you know?!" Ares yelled turning to him, "Who's Tessa?"

"None of your fucking business" He groaned.

I was getting confused here, there were too many things happening.

"Don't disrespect me boy and don't swear under my roof"

Nate left them and took a seat beside me.

"Man I wish we had pop corn right now, I think they're about to throw some punches" He said excitedly, rubbing his hands together.

"What?!" I gasped.

"You never told me Serenity is your girl"

His girl?

"Shut up, I'm just taking care of her until she turns eighteen in a few months" He said through gritted teeth.

Well, ouch.

"How do you even know her?" Ares asked.

"Yeah Leo who's Tessie" Nate asked with a smirk.

"She's my girlfriend okay?!"

"My boy all grown up" Ares smiled patting his back.

"Wait guys, how do you know Leo?"