Chapter 4 My One-Night Stranger

Athena's pov

The buzzing of my phone was the first thing that forced me back to reality. It took minutes for me to stretch and let my body feel the bed I was laying on. I reached for the other side and I got emptiness.

I snapped my eyes open to find myself alone in a bed that wasn't mine. I sat up straight and scanned the room. It was a hotel room and when I raised the sheets that laid over me, I almost didn't like what I saw.

Small figments of memory flashed through my head, causing a smile to reach my lips. The one night that I didn't regret anything and the sexy stranger was gone too.

For some reason, I went through my phone, hoping to see texts from Dylan but there was nothing. Just as I was about to turn off my phone, a message came into my class group.

I opened it to see a video. Not just any video, a video of me screaming and yelling at Dylan's engagement party and people were saying shit about it. The back of my neck was beginning to hurt and seeing the lies that were brewing from this made it all worse.

Who did this? It made me look like a control freak. I could barely make any words out due to shock and someone had to do this? If Dad sees this, he'll lose his shit over me.

Before I could get out of bed, my phone buzzed again. It was a group call from Ariel and Mira. I hadn't reached out since I ditched them last night so I cautiously swiped across the answer button.

“Athena!” Their voices went off together. “Where have you been?!” I sure as hell wasn't ready to give them an answer just yet, not with the chaos that's building up tension to ruin my life.

“Guys, I can explain when I get to school today. For now, have you two seen the video of me at Dylan's party? Who did that? I barely made out any proper words.”

“Yeah, I was saying the same thing too” Ariel commented, “It could be those jerks who really wanted to rub it all in your face and make Dylan look like the victim.”

Well, they succeeded because now everyone was saying shit about it. The last thing I wanted was Dad seeing this and tearing me apart for it.

“Guys, I'll be in school soon. Wait for me at the gates.” I hung up immediately and grabbed my clothes from the wardrobe where they hung and wore them. I took one long look at myself in the mirror.

It was pretty obvious that I looked awful. I made a call to my driver and had him come to my location while I grabbed my bag and ran out of the room and into the elevator.

Inside the elevator, I had a few seconds to think about everything. About last night and seeing Dylan on the floor with a ten million dollar ring in his hand as he asked my best friend to be his wife.

My heart raced for a minute. Why did I still believe that it was a prank when it was already obvious that he had used me? I exhaled sharply, dragging my hand across my face in frustration as I stepped out of the elevator and into the ground floor.

I glanced at the reception and I was tempted to ask about the individual that had brought me in but I told myself that everything that happened last night stays hidden and I'll definitely take it with me to my grave.

I turned towards the exit and stepped out to see Cosmos already packed and waiting outside.

“Good morning Cosmos.” I greeted and slid into the car as he shut the door for me. I waited for him to get him so I could question him.

“Ms. Athena.” He started after he got in. Hands already on the wheel, ready to drive. “The look on your face shows that you've questions. Alright, spill.”

“Did he ask about my whereabouts last night?” I kept my eyes on the rearview mirror so I'd be able to catch his reaction. He wasn't smiling, he never does.

“He didn't but he called your phone a few times and you didn't answer so he might ask. Are we heading over to your place or the main mansion?” He glared at me from the rearview mirror where I was probably calculating how many losses I was about to get if Dad ever gets wind of what happened.

“My place please.” I mumbled, sinking into the backseat like a middle school kid that got detention. I was about to have the oddest days of my life.

✯⁠✯

An hour later, Cosmos drove me to school and I met Mira and Ariel standing by the gates. Christie wasn't with them, obviously.

“Hey guys.” I melted in their arms, reminiscing on the disaster and disappointment we all shared.

Ariel cupped my cheeks, examining my face. “Did you sleep at all? Are you okay? You just walked out last night like you knew where you were going to.”

I did know where I was going, I just didn't think I'd end up elsewhere.

I feigned a smile. “It was for the best. Now, I have that bastard out of my system and my mind too.” I lied. While we spoke, my eyes danced around in search of Dylan.

Maybe last night was not enough reason for me to believe that he could actually do something like that to me. Maybe he was just playing around and trying to put up with a trick that Christie had set up.

“You know what?” Ariel said out loud, shaking me out of my thoughts. “Club party tonight, all bills on me. We need to get you refurbished and back to your old self. I don't like this sulking version of you.” She pointed out and pulled me into a long hug.

“Ugh, Ariel. You really don't have to do that.” I whined but Mira had to agree with her.

“She has to actually.” Mira added. “You will start looking like a hot mess if we don't do something about it now so all in favor of the club party? No objections.” She chuckled and pulled me by the hand past the gates and inside the school.

My phone beeped a few times but I chose to ignore it. I didn't want to go back to juggling memories of Dylan in my head. Ariel and Mira had succeeded in getting them out of me. We walked inside, hoping to make it to class because we were already late from all that talking and outside.

We were almost close to the academic building when a biker swerved past us, almost hitting me. Goosebumps covered my skin instantly. I checked my arm to be sure that I had no injuries on and luckily, I didn't.

I watched as he stopped his bike right in front of us. No apologies, no effort to see if anyone was even hurt. Who was this guy? He didn't even bother to look back, he just stopped like he was waiting to see what would happen.

I dumped my bag in Mira's arms. “Wait here so I can give this jerk a piece of my mind.” I stormed to the biker and tapped his shoulders roughly.

“Hey! Didn't you read the sign? You almost crushed me with your stupid cycle. Hey, I'm talking to you, you piece of—”

My jaw dropped the moment he took off his helmet. What in the world? It was him.

“Hey sexy stranger.” He murmured as he held his helmet in his hand. It really was him, the sexy stranger from last night. I took a few steps back, my thoughts were beginning to wrestle against each other.

What was my one night stand doing here? I had forced myself to forget about everything, only for him to show up here like he was a superstar.

“What are you doing here? How did you find my school? Were you stalking me?” I threw questions at him, not giving him the chance to speak up.

He chuckled. “Easy there angry bird. This is my school too, besides, I was never stalking you. I came here to see my—”

“Elijah?” Dylan's voice came up behind me. I turned to see him, he looked more shocked than relaxed to see sexy stranger. Horror was visible in his eyes.

That was when I noticed the resemblance. Could they have been—?