Chapter 49: Chapter Forty Eight

Eros

I sat in a corner of the cafeteria, positioned perfectly for a bird’s-eye view of the main entrance. Not that I was actively looking out for Athena, but my eyes kept scanning the room for her anyway. Ten minutes had passed since the lunch bell rang, and she was nowhere in sight.

A nagging thought crept into my mind—was Scarlett and her minions holding her up? A surge of anger rushed through me at the possibility, and my jaw clenched involuntarily. When I arrived at school this morning and saw Scarlett grinning like she owned the place, I’d wanted to confront her on the spot. But I held back—for Athena’s sake. She’d asked me not to.

It wasn’t time yet. But when that time came, Scarlett would feel my wrath.

Just as I was about to get up and search for Athena, she walked into the cafeteria. I exhaled a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. My gaze followed her as she joined the lunch queue, biting her bottom lip as her eyes flicked around the room.

Was she looking for me? The thought brought a smirk to my lips. I was about to call out to her when Scarlett suddenly appeared in front of me, blocking my view.

At least she wasn’t wearing that nauseating perfume today—but whatever this one was, it wasn’t much better.

“Hello, Eros.” She greeted me with a small smile. “Mind if I join you?”

“I do mind.” My voice was flat. “I’m waiting for someone. Move.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Who?”

Ignoring her, I got to my feet and spotted Athena, glancing around for a table.

“Hey, Chaparro!” I called, waving her over.

The entire cafeteria went silent. Conversations halted, heads turned—hell, even the cooks and servers stopped what they were doing to stare.

“I saved you a seat.” I told her.

Athena scowled at me. “I’m five-foot-eight, torre!”

“I saved you a seat, shorty!” I sang teasingly. “Come on, don’t keep me waiting.”

She flipped me the bird but still made her way toward me, her glare unwavering. Two feet away, she stopped abruptly when she spotted Scarlett.

“Um…” She hesitated, shifting slightly and gesturing behind her. “I’ll just—”

“Scarlett was just leaving,” I cut in, fixing my gaze on her. “Well? What are you waiting for?”

“I want to have lunch with you,” Scarlett said, crossing her arms.

I raised a brow. “Since when?”

“Since… now.” She set her tray down and turned to Athena. “Are you deaf?”

I exhaled sharply, my patience gone. I was on the verge of confronting Scarlett, so close to exposing her involvement in Athena's disappearance in front of everyone. 

But without solid proof—aside from Athena's word—I held back. I had never liked Scarlett, but now, I despise her. I can’t stand the sight of her.

“You have two seconds to get out of my sight, Scarlett,” I said, my voice sharp and ice-cold.

“Eros—”

“Get lost,” I bellowed.

Scarlett flinched, her face crumbling as tears welled in her eyes—but I didn’t care. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the cafeteria. I glanced down at her untouched tray, then swiped it off the table with a sharp motion, sending food scattering across the floor. Gasps rippled through the students around me.

Athena set her tray down and stepped forward, reaching to pick up Scarlett’s lunch. Before she could, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back with enough force that she stumbled.

“Hey!” she cried out, glaring at me.

“Don’t touch it,” I bit out, my voice firm.

“That wasn’t nice.” She scowled.

I stepped closer, still holding onto her wrist. “You’re defending her? After what she did to you?” My voice was low, sharp with disbelief.

“No, but you shouldn’t have thrown her food on the ground,” she snapped, yanking her hand free. “There are people out there who don’t have anything to eat.”

I scoffed. “It was just salad.”

“It was still food,” she shot back before dropping into her seat.

“Someone will clean it up,” I dismissed. “You need to eat.”

“I’m not hungry anymore.” She crossed her arms, pouting.

I leveled a firm gaze at her. “I wasn’t asking, Athena. It’s an order.” I pointed at her tray. “Eat.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re not my father. Or my mother.”

“No, but I’m the only one you have now.” My words were sharp, unyielding. I arched a brow, daring her to deny it. “You don’t see Beatrix worrying about you, do you?”

Athena stared at me, silent, her expression unreadable. Then, without another word, she lowered her gaze, picked up her fork, and began eating. I hadn’t meant to sound so cruel, but it was the truth—and she knew it. That’s why she didn’t argue.

But my victory was short-lived.

The first sniffle was soft, almost imperceptible. Then another. She wiped at her tears with the back of her hand, still eating. I groaned inwardly, hating myself for making her cry. She’d already shed enough tears Friday night, and I had no doubt she’d cried herself to sleep.

Sighing, I pushed back my chair, moved around the table, and crouched beside her. I knew everyone was watching, but I didn’t care. Let them stare. Reaching out, I cupped her face, gently tilting it toward me before wiping away her tears.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry,” I murmured, wincing. I sighed. “I’m an asshole, aren’t I?”

She sniffled, humming in agreement. “Hmm, but a correct one.”

I chuckled softly. “Don’t cry. It doesn’t suit you.” I smirked. “Makes you look ugly.”

A watery laugh escaped her as she shoved me playfully. “Stronzo,” she muttered.

I grinned. “You want ice cream?” I asked, straightening to my full height.

“I’m not a baby.” She scowled up at me.

“Only babies cry, you know.” I teased. “And you have to pacify them with milk or playthings.”

Her scowl deepened, but the corners of her lips twitched. My work here was done.

"If you keep making fun of me, Eros Belmonte, I swear I'll punch you in the throat," she warned, shooting me a deadly glare.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "There she is—my feisty, crazy girl." I playfully tapped her nose before settling back in my seat. "Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention—we have a pop quiz in trig right after lunch."

"What?!" Athena's eyes widened in horror. "You're joking."

"I'm not. Mr. Marek announced it on Thursday," I said casually. "It just slipped my mind until now."

"It slipped your mind," she repeated, her tone unnervingly calm.

"Yep." I nodded, biting my lip to keep from laughing.

Without another word, Athena rose from her seat, threw me a pointed look over her shoulder, and started walking away, leaving her food untouched.

"Shorty, I'm kidding!" I called after her, bursting into laughter. "It was a joke!"

She paused mid-step, hesitating before turning to face me. "A joke?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah," I admitted, grinning. "I just thought it’d be fun to mess with you. And looks like it worked."

"That’s it!" She let out a sound somewhere between a battle cry and a growl before charging at me.

Realizing I might have taken the joke too far but unable to stop laughing, I shot up from my chair just in time to dodge Scarlett's abandoned tray, which she’d hurled at me.

"Stay right there, Eros Belmonte!" Athena shouted, fire in her voice. Her expression was set on vengeance.

"Catch me if you can, shorty!" I taunted, sprinting out of the cafeteria with Athena hot on my heels—leaving the entire student body staring at us in stunned silence.