ATHENA

"Mummy! What made you take so long?" Rayen jumps in my arms as I hold back a groan.

I swear periods were enemies sent to kill us but found us stronger, so they settled for torture instead.

Because what the hell am I feeling this kind of pain for?

"We had to check for something, buddy. Come here!" Alex saves me again.

Have you ever felt like asking the ground to open up and swallow you whole? That''s exactly how I''m feeling.

I''m so shy, I can''t face him. Which is crazy because I''m a doctor. These things shouldn''t bother me.

"My camping tent is huge and warm. I''m sharing it with my best friend! Wanna see?" Rayen asks, and I hold back augh.

This boy has more energy than I''ll ever have.

"Yes, sure. But I didn''t know you had a best friend, who is it?" Alex asks.

“Kai Sinir. He just came to our school and is super fun!" Rayen bounces as we walk to his tent.

The setup is really camp like except that the tents have been made inside the huge hotel with security so tight no one goes around without an ID.

I doubt Alex understands the word camping.

"When you said camping, I thought it''s the one everyone goes to. But I should have known nothing is the same with you, I mean, you created an artificial forest!"

I can''t help butugh at how crazy this is.

“I think it''s a win-win situation. The kids get to have fun, and we get to keep them safe." He shrugs.

I shake my head but say nothing. At this point, I''m tongue-tied.

We step into the giant ballroom-turned-forest-fantasy, where massive artificial

trees line the walls, and soft green carpeting pretends to be grass.

Fairy lights twinkle from the ceiling like stars, and a few fake animal sounds echo faintly from hidden speakers.

It''s extra but kind of adorable.

Rayen races ahead of us, nearly tripping over one of the tree roots made out of foam.

"Careful!" Alex and I speak at the same time.

"There! That''s mine!" Rayen says, pointing proudly at a tent with his name

scribbled in glittery letters above it. "And that''s Kai''s!" He gestures to the one right next to it.

"Rayen!" A little boy calls for him, making us both turn as they run towards each other.

Behind him is Rose.

I''m taken aback, shocked that her son goes here too.

"Rose?"

"Athena." She smiles as she pulls me into a hug. "It''s great to see you!"

"I didn''t know your son goes to the same school at Rayen."

Sheughs,

"He recently changed schools. It''s all Caleb''s fault."

"Caleb?"

"My oldest son. He wants to y ser and insists on changing schools. Apparently, being nine means not going to a school owned by your father." Sheughs, and I join in.

"I guess I better start that count down, ey!"

"The earlier, the better!" She responds before we both burst outughing.

"Rose." A deep voice speaks from behind me.

Rose looks up, her expression suddenly guarded, "Alex."

He nods at her before turning to face me, "Do you want to sit?" He asks.

"I''m fine." I brush him off.

He really needs to leave me the hell alone!

Before he is able to get any more words out, we hear pping of hands.

"Alright, campers!" one of the teachers calls out, dressed in an actual ranger outfit,plete with a wide-brimmed hat and a fake walkie-talkie clipped to her belt.

"Time for some ssic campsite fun!"

Rayen lights up like a Christmas tree.

Within minutes, the ce turns into level one chaos. One corner bes a pretend fishing station with maic rods and floating paper fish. Another area has a build your own trail mix table with ten different toppings and three kids already going into sugaras.

The teachers gather the kids into small groups and hand them scavenger hunt cards decorated with little forest animals.

Rayen grabs Kai''s hand and drags him toward the activity zone, both of them screaming something about finding a glow in the dark frog.

"Looks like they''re having fun," Rose says, crossing her arms.

"Too much," Iugh, watching Rayen pile leave into a bucket like it''s treasure. "He''s going to crash hard tonight."

"I bet they all will! I can''t believe they made the assistant principal dress up as a werewolf."

We both fall into fits ofughter as we look around.

Nearby, other parents are being

pulled into activities, some helping build stick tents using popsicle sticks and hot glue guns, and others reluctantly trying to light pretend campfires with stic logs and red tissue paper.  s

And then there''s Alex, standing like he owns the forest. He

somehow still manages to

intimidating while a tiny girl ties a friendship bracelet on his wrist.  s

He nces at me and mouths "Help me."

An evil smile stretches my face when I call for a group of girls standing by the

corner.

"Hi girls. Do you wanna paint someone''s face?" I ask with a full smile.

No child ever says no to painting.

"Yes!" They all jump up and down.

My smile grows, "See that man over

there with blond hair? He said he

wants his face painted so badly. But, he''s shy so when no, just he say cry and he will know you really want to paint him!"

s

"Really? That''s so fun!" One of the girls says happily and rushes to pick paint and brushes.

"You''re enjoying torturing him, aren''t you?" Rose says by my side.

I watch the horrific expression on Alex''s face when the girls all start crying at

once.

"Please don''t cry... I didn''t mean it like that...shit!" He looks around when his eyes find mine.

I hold his gaze as I respond to Rose,

"It''s exhrating!"

"Alright parents, your turn!" a teacher calls. "Let''s see who''s brave enough to sing

around the campfire!"

"Oh, no," I mutter.

Rose looks absolutely delighted.

"Come on, Athena. Don''t make me do this alone."

"I''d rather do surgery on myself."

She doesn''t give me a choice. Momentster, I''m sitting cross-legged on a fake

pic nket,

Rayen runs over and plops into myp, breathless and red-faced. "Mummy, I

found all the clues! And I got a star!"

He shows me a glittery sticker stuck to his forehead.

"You''re amazing," I say, kissing the top of his head.

Then he looks at me with that same sparkle he always has, like I''m his entire

world.

"Mummy," he whispers. "Do we get to sleep in the tents tonight?"

"Yes, love. Right next to Kai."

"And you''ll be close too?"

"I''ll be right here."

His smile stretches so wide I feel something tug deep in my chest.

"So, who is going to sing?" The teacher asks.

"Rayen''s mum will!" I hear three small voices shout in unison, "She has been

talking about singing the whole way!" They add.

No I didn''t!fn7e35 Chapters first released on find(?)ovel/fn7e35

But even if I did, how would they-wait.... is this Alex''s payback?

I bite inside my cheek as my eyes search until they finallynd on green ones.

I re at him, but all he does is give me a stupid wink with his horribly painted

face.

"Great! Dr. Dawson, please start the song for us!"

I force a smile as I clear my throat.

I''m going to kill him for this!