Athena's Pov

“What is it?” Hades asked.

“Math.” I groaned. “I can't even complete the homework on my own, how am I supposed to clear the exams?”

“Chill, math is tough for everyone. And it's not your best subject.” Ares commented.

“Is that supposed to be motivating?” Hades scowled. “She should have a basic understanding of every subject, not just the ones she is good at.”

“How do you know it's not her best subject?” Zephyr asked with a lifted brow.

“Long story.” Ares shrugged.

“I have time.”

“No you don't. You're busy. Remember the meeting this weekend? You're conducting it so you should get familiar with the conditions to negotiate.”

“I can spare a few minutes to hear your supposed log story.” Zephyr said, getting irritated. He's always interested in other people's business.

Before Ares could come up with another frustrating reply for Zephyr. Hades cuts off their banter by speaking over them, addressing me.

“Show me that.” He gestured to my notebook.

I've been around for twenty one days now and they've gotten so used to my presence that I don't really irk them as much anymore. So occasionally, they start behaving like normal human beings towards me.

This is one of those times when they forget that I'm nothing to them and they hate my existence. I contemplated if I really should take his help. It was so weird how easily he just offered me his time like I didn't bother his peace.

After a few seconds, I decided it wouldn't hurt to get my homework done faster so without thinking further, I got up from the floor and went to him. He placed his laptop on the table and took my notebook from me.

Since he was sitting on a single seater sofa, I stood next to him. He gestured me to sit on the armrest and for some reason I loved that he cared enough to notice my discomfort.

I quietly took the offered seat as he asked, “We’re doing algebra?”

“That's fucking difficult.” Ares interjected, not looking up on his phone.

He’s always texting but whenever I've stolen a glance at the name, it's always a different one. Ares said he's the one who makes social connections, from the amount of time he dedicates to each contact, I'm sure he's quite good at it.

“I know right? Like why do we have to add alphabets in math? It's illogical.” I agreed with him.

“It's really not. You two are just dumb.” Hades scoffed. “If you get your basics right and try to learn it rather than memorize, Algebra is quite fun. First of…” I listened patiently as he explained the whole equation. After nearly fifteen minutes of it he asked, “So the sum of this would be…?”

“Thirteen!” I exclaimed with utmost confidence.

He smacked the back of my head. “Are you blind to denominators?”

I looked at him and pouted while rubbing my head as a slight pain settled there. “I didn't see it, your finger was covering that.” I made up an excuse.

“Tell that to your teacher when they fail you.” He rolled his eyes. “Now next one-”

I cut him off as I hastily got up. “I’m not learning from you, you’re mean.”

“Sit back down, Athena.” He ordered.

“No. You hit me.”

“I didn't. That was just so you would focus.” He defended.

I was about to argue when he spoke again. “No more arguments, you have to submit it tomorrow so let's not waste any time.”

I could’ve taken the answers from Tristan like I usually do and sent my homework to our teacher by midnight. I didn't have to learn from Hades when I should be avoiding him all together. But I did the exact opposite of what was correct.

For some reason I didn't use my brain like I should’ve.

I just let it happen.

“I'm snitching to grandpa.” I muttered as I sat next to him on the uncomfortable armrest again.

—————

“Like this.” I adjusted grandpa’s hand again. “Make sure my thighs are in frame.”

He took another picture with my direction and called me over to look at it. “It's blurry.” I whined like a baby taking out my lower lip.

“Let's try again. You'll like the next one.”

He said immediately so I don't go into self doubt mode where I start blaming my features rather than the cameraman for the pictures turning out bad.

When I went to pose again, Zephyr entered the garage with a car key in his hand. It was so embarrassing to use someone else's luxurious cars as props for pictures. So I tried acting like I was just passing by but grandpa didn't know I’d prefer to hide this.

“What're you doing?” Zephyr asked, eyeing the camera in grandpa's hand.

“Athena wanted to take some pictures so I was helping her out.” Grandpa says without realizing how awkward I'm getting.

Zephyr forwards his hand to him. “Let me.”

Grandpa hands him the camera without a word. He pockets his keys first, goes through the general settings on the camera then brings it to his right eyes as if testing it.

“Take position.” He commands me like we're in the military.

“Are you taking my picture?” I asked the obvious.

He brings down the camera and straightens up again. Only to look at me in frustration and roll his eyes. This isn't new, he gets annoyed with everything I do.

“Why else would I stand in front of you with a camera that has its lense facing you?”

I fold my arms on my chest and scowl. “We're fine. Grandpa can take my pictures.”

“Why do you have to be so difficult all the time?” He gritted through his teeth. “I swear to you dad, she has some special hatred for me. She's even cool with Hades and Ares, they aren't any nicer than I am. Why can’t she ever talk to me like a normal person does? And then you start blaming me for being an ass when she clearly is the problem.”

“No, I'm not. You are the problem! All three of you. And fyi your brothers aren't any better but they're still not as bad as you are.” I said glaring at him.

“Give me a break,” Grandpa sighs. “I'm an old man who got shot just twenty five days ago. Can't I have one day of peace knowing all my kids are being civil to each other.”

“I am civil.” Zephyr and I said at the same time.

I turned to glare at him for copying my words as he did the same. From my peripheral view I saw grandpa rubbing his forehead and I started feeling guilty for bothering him.

Before I could accept defeat by dropping my glare for grandpa, Ares brought my attention to himself as he walked towards us alongside Hades.

“Let him do it, Athena. I've seen dad’s photography skills, trust me Zephyr is good at it. He used to be our personal photographer back in our crazy teenage days.”

I knew grandpa didn't want me to get into an argument right now. I hate how stressed I make him so whenever I can I try to be better. Hence I decided to back off since Zephyr won't admit his fault.

“Just because you said so.” I directed my words to Ares but they were meant for Zephyr.

I wanted him to think I really do give preference to his brothers over him. And somewhere in my mind maybe I do. Because no matter how harsh they were before, the two of them have been better lately.

As I went towards the car and leaned back on it, Zephyr had a clearly identifiable pissed off look on his face but I pretended like I didn't see it. He tried a few different angles to take a good picture but I could see that he wasn't satisfied with it.

“Where the fuck are you even looking?” He asked in his signature irritated voice after a few minutes.

“Be nice.” Grandpa scolds and Zephyr makes a face.

“It's intentional. It will look good if I don't look at the camera.” I explain.

“No. I’m gonna take one from the right, look directly at the lense and tilt your neck slightly to the side.” I did as told and he added. “Now place your right hand on the back and the left can stay in your lap.” When I finally get the pose right he appreciates it. “Perfect. You're doing good.”

All the anger I was holding in for him vanishes like it was never there. A smile threatens to come up to my lips just with a few simple words.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I’m not so love starved that I suddenly feel fulfilled with something that Zephyr said without a second thought. He has no idea of the impact his words had on me.

The reminder of what these men have done to me becomes so useless when they make me feel like they care. Like they don't completely hate my presence.

But I can't let them just get away with it after nearly ruining my life. I have to hold onto the grudge. I can't forgive them after treating me like dirt that can be discarded as they wish.

For the rest of the time I focus on getting the poses right. I try to not let his words of encouragement get to me. I hate him and I should remember that.

“Next car?”

It was embarrassing that I wanted to take pictures with each of these beauties set in the garage. But now that he knew it I decided to go through with the whole plan. Because there was clearly no doubt that Zephyr did know his way around a camera.

“I’ll just change this t-shirt.”

I told him and went to the pile of tops I've put on my backpack. I chose a crop top and turned the other way so my back faces the four men present.

I had a bra on so it wasn't a big deal to change in the middle of the garage. I take off my t-shirt and put on the crop top. I then put on a darker lipstick and put my hair up in a ponytail to change the look.

When I turned back I saw all four of them had their backs to me and were weirdly staring into the empty space. It was cute that they respected my privacy even if I don't give a fuck about it myself.

“I’m done.” I announced and they turned one after the other.

Zephyr and I started our photoshoot again as the rest just stood there and talked amongst themselves about one thing or the other. I understood grandpa was waiting for me but Ares and Hades could've left. Or maybe they were waiting for their brother.

When we were finally done after nearly forty-five minutes, grandpa asked, “Our mandatory selfie?”

It was our tradition to take a selfie every time when we wrapped up. I always took those with a polaroid because grandpa preferred to have a physical copy of the memory.

I took the polaroid out of my backpack and went close to grandpa. I pressed my face to his cheek as he leaned down to my height. But as I was about to take a photo, a hand was placed on my shoulder.

I stilled and turned around to Ares with a questioning look. “Group selfie?” He suggested.

I was about to tell him that it's our family pictures when grandpa called the other two to join. He really didn't think I would mind and I didn't want to ruin his mood so I stayed silent.

Hades went to grandpa’s side and also dragged Zephyr with him. Ares on the other hand was the most enthusiastic about the picture and even placed his chin on top of my head to pose.

I was about to end it there after the first picture when grandpa said, “Take another three.”

I finally dropped my fake smile when the pictures were done. Grandpa took those from me and handed one to each brother and kept the last for himself.

“Why are you giving them these?” I was not impressed by what he's done.

“Because we're in it.” Ares said in a duh tone.

“My face is in it too and I want it back.” I said firmly.

Zephyr dry chuckled and put the picture in his jacket’s pocket. “Our face is not for distribution either.”

I wanted to burst out in anger at him but I controlled myself. “You know what, just keep it. It might be the first picture where you actually looked good only because I took it.”

“So petty.” Ares muttered.

“Not more than you.” I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag to go back inside but turned to them again. “I know you're gonna burn these when I'm gone. Why keep it for the next five days? Just give it to grandpa and get rid of it. Unlike you he’ll cherish them.”

“We aren't gonna burn them.” Hades grumbled.

I looked at him with a thoughtful look. “Actually… a friendly advice, keep these safe. One day when I kill myself and put your name in my suicide note, show it to the police to prove I was all happy and smiling with you.”

It was meant to be sarcastic but after I said the words I realized I’d messed up. I didn't mean to tell them I ever thought of commiting suicide and putting their name on the note.

I would never give them such importance. They don't deserve to know that they held such power over me that I thought of ending my life because they abandoned me.

And those suicidal thoughts were just a silly little phase right after my twelfth birthday when I doubted my self worth. But I soon got over that.

I realized I couldn't give my grandpa such pain. He didn't deserve to lose me after he fought and abandoned all three of his sons for me.

“Relax, I'm not putting your name on my suicide note.” I tried acting like it was a joke. “I’m not even commiting suicide.”

Nobody laughed it off with me. It was like they were made of stone with the most neutral expressions on their face. After a few seconds I couldn't handle the awkward silence and just left without a word.

It is so difficult to always act right. And I sure have some behavioral disorder.

When I got near my room my gaze fell on Eric. The only adventure I had left in my life. He was looking as hot as ever with his fitted suit, trimmed beard and two guns strapped to his sides.

I passed him a smile which he returned with a nod. He was getting good at communicating and I loved that he spared me more attention now.

But I couldn't wait for him to open up more because I'd be gone in another five days. If I want to get something out of him, I have to take initiative. And I had to do it fast.

I couldn't go back without having a taste of him. I would leave knowing I accomplished something so filthy right under the nose of the men who were trying to control me against it.