CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 89: I’VE MISSED YOU.

He didn’t answer immediately.

"You’re not human," he said finally.

"And the more time I spend near you... the more obvious it becomes

The word different hit her harder than she expected. She felt it in her chest, in her stomach, even at the back of her throat.

"Okay," Athena said quietly, almost afraid of her own voice. "So tell me what I am."

Rhydric didn’t answer immediately.

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white.

"That’s the problem," he said finally almost frustrated. "I can’t prove it... not yet."

Athena scoffed like he had just insulted her entire generation.

"I can’t believe this. Rhydric, I have a dad and a mom. Actual humans. Not supernatural whatever-you-people-are."

He didn’t even blink.

"Think about it," Rhydric said, voice steady and frustratingly calm. "Do humans grow naturally white hair?"

Her stomach dropped right down to the floor. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Because damn it, she had no explanation for that.

She had told her Dad to help her dye it, even then, it stayed white. It didn’t even change color.

Rhydric continued, softer this time.

"You’re different, Athena... you just don’t know it yet or maybe you do and you’re just pretending."

She swallowed hard, her voice dropping into a whisper she didn’t even understand.

"Does my difference... affect you?"

The moment the words left her lips, she wanted to smack herself.

Why did she even ask that? Why did her voice sound like that?

Rhydric looked at her then really looked.

Their eyes locked, and something in his gaze flickered. Dark and intense.

If only she knew. That’s all he thought.

But he looked away first.

"We’re here," he said quietly.

Athena blinked, then looked out the window.

Her house.

They were truly home.

She exhaled, grabbed the car door, and stepped out, shutting it behind.

"Thanks... for the ride," she muttered.

Rhydric didn’t respond.

He just drove off fast like he couldn’t wait to get away from her.

Athena rolled her eyes at the speed.

"Rude," she muttered to herself.

She turned toward the house and barely got the chance to breathe before a body crashed into her, arms wrapped around her so tight she almost stumbled back.

"Athena!" Oliver’s voice cracked with relief as he buried his face into her shoulder.

"I thought...I thought you were go...God, Athena..."

Her heart twisted painfully as she held him back.

Oliver’s arms only tightened, almost painfully, like every fear he’d held in the last hours was pouring straight into that one hug.

He squeezed her so close she could barely breathe, but she didn’t complain.

She understood it.

He smelled like sweat and worry. His shirt was all wrinkled like he hadn’t even bothered to change.

His heartbeat was fast.

"Athena...God...Athena..." he stammered, his voice cracking again.

"Where were you? Do you know do you even know, I got so worried... I checked everywhere, I called the police...they couldn’t find you...I thought you were...". He choked on the last word.

Athena blinked, surprised. She’d never seen him like this.

Oliver always acted like he had everything under control. Like nothing could ever shake him. But right now, he was shaking.

Actually shaking.

She let out a soft chuckle. She wanted to tease him but he was hurting, she didn’t want to hurt him even more.

"Relax, Oliver... I’m fine," she murmured, patting his back lightly. "I’m okay. I’m right here, see?"

But he didn’t let go. Not even after she tried to pull back a little.

His arms only locked harder, almost desperate.

"Athena, don’t...don’t just say that," he muttered into her shoulder, voice muffled. "You scared me. You seriously scared me."

She frowned a little and pulled back enough to see his face. He was such a big baby.

That’s when she saw it his face. It was red, puffy. Her heart dropped.

"Oliver..." she whispered, softer than before. "Wait... did you cry?"

He went completely still, he didn’t bother to answer her.

His jaw clenched like he wanted to deny it, but he didn’t have the energy to lie.

Athena’s chest tightened painfully.

"Oh my God..." she whispered and cupped his cheek, thumb rubbing a faint line there. "You did cry."

Oliver didn’t even try to act tough this time.

His face crumpled just a little, but he forced it back down, swallowing hard.

"I thought something happened to you, Athena," he said quietly. "I thought you were gone. And I didn’t...I didn’t know what to do."

Her throat tightened.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him tighter, fuller, like she was the one afraid of losing him this time.

"I’m sorry," she murmured against his neck.

"I’m so, so sorry you felt that way. But I’m home now. I’m home, Oliver. I’m not leaving."

He let out a breath like he’d been holding it since yesterday and rested his forehead on her shoulder.

"Don’t disappear on me again," he whispered. "I don’t care where you go. Don’t just vanish."

Athena nodded slowly, rubbing his back in small circles.

She felt his heartbeat calming... little by little.

"I won’t," she promised.

"I swear, I won’t."

For a moment, they just stood there in front of the house.

Oliver finally pulled back a little, but his hands stayed on her arms, like he was afraid she’d vanish again if he blinked.

He stared at her for a long second...Her face, eyes.

The way she was actually standing there and not some dream his panic created.

Then suddenly, without warning his whole expression lit up.

A bright, relieved kind of joy that made him look younger.

Before Athena could guess what he was about to do...Oliver grabbed her by the waist and lifted her straight off the ground.

"Oliver...!" she gasped, hands flying to his shoulders. But it was too late.

He spun her around in a full circle, laughing breathlessly like someone who just found the entire world again.

"Now that you’re here.." he said, voice shaking with excitement, "I can finally breathe. I missed you God, Athena, I missed you!"

Athena burst into laughter loud, real, unexpected.

Her legs kicked the air as he twirled her again, her head falling back as the wind brushed her face.

"Oliver put me down!" she laughed, swatting his shoulder.

"You’re going to drop me, idiot!"

He didn’t listen. If anything, he held her tighter.

"You were gone for one day and it felt like a whole year," he said, still spinning lightly, not as fast now.

"I’m never letting you disappear like that again."

Athena couldn’t stop laughing.

Her stomach hurt, her cheeks burned, and maybe, just maybe she felt something warm bloom in her chest.

"Okay, okay! I’m here now!" she said between laughs. "You’re going to make me dizzy!"

Oliver finally slowed, then gently set her down, but his hands stayed on her waist like they belonged there.

He looked at her with a boyish smile she hadn’t seen in a long time.

"Good," he murmured.

"If you’re dizzy, at least it means you’re here... with me."

Athena rolled her eyes, still smiling as she swatted his arm lightly.

"You’re ridiculous."

"And you’re home," he said, softer this time.

And for a moment, just a moment she let herself enjoy that truth.

"Come on," he said quietly, voice still shaky with leftover fear.

"Let’s go inside."

Athena let him guide her.

He walked a little faster than normal, like he still didn’t trust the world not to snatch her away again. She didn’t complain. His hand was warm around hers.

Inside, he led her straight to the couch and gently pressed her down to sit.

Then he sat right beside her close that their thighs where brushing.

He turned to face her fully.

"What truly happened, Athena?" he asked softly.

Her heart dropped.

Like someone flicked it down a staircase.

She looked away quickly, her throat tightening. She didn’t know what to tell him.

She couldn’t tell him about Rhydric.

About what she saw.

About what she didn’t even understand herself.

Athena cleared her throat, forcing a small smile.

"Don’t worry about it," she said.

"I’m here now. That’s what matters."

Oliver held her gaze for a long moment.

Like he was trying to see through her. But he didn’t push.

He just nodded gently.

She exhaled in relief.

Then, without warning, Oliver leaned closer and placed his hand on her lap.

Warm and firm.

Athena froze.

He leaned in more, his breath brushing her collarbone, then his lips touched her neck.

He placed a soft slow kiss on it

"I’ve missed you," he murmured against her skin.

Athena’s entire body prickled.

Her skin heated like fire crawling up her neck.

Her heart hammered so loudly she felt it in her ears.

"Oliver..." she whispered, breath shaky.

He didn’t stop.

His mouth moved kissing, brushing then he licked slowly up the side of her neck to the back of her ear.

Her breath hitched, her fingers curling into the couch.

His hand slid along her thigh, moving slowly, gently dragging heat with it.

"Oliver... ahem.." she tried to speak, to steady herself, but she didn’t even make it halfway through the sentence.

Because he closed the distance and sealed his lips over hers.