(Athena's pov)
I knew I was in trouble. I could see the anger on my father's face, but I think the thing that scared me the most was his silence. My dad isn't the type of person to get angry often, in fact, the only time I ever saw him get angry was that one time when Eli saw his scars. He's sensitive of his scars, but so am I, so I can understand. My dad is usually the patient and loving father. To be totally honest I never really seen my father upset with me, after all, I'm his little girl, his angel, his princess. The idea of him being mad at me is just plain upsetting for me. "Dad, please say something." I beg. The group has finally settled down and after a long argument with Shane, my dad hasn't even looked at me. We're currently sitting at our campsite, which we made sure was as far from the group as possible without being too far away that they can't help if the camp was ever to be under attack.
Dean and Eli were quick to scamper off to go check the traps, while Merle had gone down to the creek to clean and dress his kills leaving me with my very silent and angry father. "Daddy." I whisper, my eyes filling with tears as I got no response from him. "Please, yell at me, scowl me, hell even say you hate me, but please talk to me." I beg, finally I hear a sigh escape him.
"I don't hate you, princess, you know I never will." I swallow the lump in my throat as I look at my father, who has his back to me, working on cooking us our lunch for the day.
"How mad are you?" I ask, fear creeping into my voice. My father glances at me, his icy blue eyes meeting the matched pair of mine. I used to love his eyes. They were very light blue in the center and grows darker the further out, the outer rin is nearly black and the center of his eyes is nearly white. I love his eyes and every time I look at them I see love and affection, but right now all I see is worry.
"I'm not mad, Athena, but you shouldn't make enemies."
"I can handle myself, Dad."
"I don't care. You still my little girl and Shane is dangerous." Shane is the cocksucker. He used to be a sheriff deputy before this world went to shit. He's an idiot in survival skills. I don't get why my dad is so worried about him. I can handle him. The guy probably never been in a real fight. As if reading my thoughts my father continues. "I know you're tough, Athena, you're a Dixon, you were born a fighter, but I don't like the look in his eyes. He's dangerous, Athena and I don't want you pissing him off."
"Look, dad, that bitch hit Dean. She hit him!"
"I know, but you and I both know Dean has the ability to piss of any woman. Just like his dad." I can't help, but smile as my dad says that. He moves and sits beside me. "Dean is always going to get himself into trouble, but I don't want you following him in it, Athie, one day you're going to get hurt. There's no more law, no more order, no more people to keep the insane from killing. We're on our own here."
"Dixons have always been on our own. We're unlucky, dad, we always get the short end of the stick and can only depend on ourselves."
"Just stay out of trouble, Athena, please." I sigh and nod.
"I promise I'll try and stay out of trouble, but I get bored on my own here. Eli and Dean are always joking and roughhousing together." She rolls her eyes and huff. "It sucks being the only girl sometimes." My dad frowns before looking away.
"There's other girls here, Athie." I frown and follow his eyes to see him staring at the mouse. That's what Dean and I call her. She's small like me, but she's extremely quiet, like a church mouse. She's meek, keeps to herself, and barely strays far from her mother. She's my age, but she couldn't be anymore different.
"You're kidding, right? Mouse? You want me to try and be friends with Mouse?"
"Looks like she could use a friend, kid, plus you said you are tired of being the only girl. The only girls around here are her, who's your age, or the Mexican girl, who's half your age." I roll my eyes as I look over at the Mexican girl, who is like seven years old at the most. "Give her a chance."
"Why?"
"For one the girl knows how to stay out of trouble. Maybe she could rub off some of that on you." I shoot him a glare.
"I don't see you telling the boys to spend time with suck up or Mr. Swagger." My dad raises an eyebrow.
"The Mexican boy and olive oil's son."
"You and Dean sure like nicknaming these people."
"Oh, you should hear the nickname we have for Shane." My dad shakes his head, a smile on his lips.
"Let's make a deal." I smile. I love making deals with my dad they always get me something good.
"Okay. What kind of deal?"
"You try with the girl-"
"Mouse." My dad rolls his eyes.
"You try with Mouse and I promise I'll low you more freedom." My eyebrows shot up in shock. Since joining this stupid group my father has never allowed me to go off on my own. I've been starting to feel like a prisoner with how he's been acting.
"As in?" I ask.
"I'll stop having a guard on you at all times." I smile at the thought of not having to deal with Uncle Merle, my dad, or the boys following me 24-7.
"I'm going to need more than that." I tell him.
"Of course you do." My dad sighs. "Fine, I'll let you go hunting on your own if you want if you promise to not be gone longer than that day. You can go hunt in the morning, but come back before nightfall." The boys got to go hunting for days on end whenever they wanted without either father questioning it, but the second I do all hell breaks loose. I'd love to go hunting for days on end, but this would at least allow me to go hunting on my own.
I make a motion for him to continue, causing him to roll his eyes before continuing. "I'll let you use your own tent." Another thing that I've hated since we came here is that I had been forced to share a tent with the boys. We had three tents, one my dad and Uncle use together, one the boys use, and my own, but my father refuses to let me out of the sight of any of them even to sleep, which is very embarrassing when I have to change or if god forbid I'm on my period.
"So, let me see if I get this straight. If I promise to try and make friends with Mouse I get my own tent, get to go hunting on my own, and get to move around camp freely without a shadow?"
"Yup." I frown as I thought about it. This would be the most freedom I had since this all started, but I can't help, but feel like there was a catch.
"Does this deal come with an expiration date?"
"No, if you promise to try with Mouse then you get your freedom for good unless something happens and I feel your life is in need of protection."
"Throw in chocolate and we have a deal." My father rolls his eyes as I say this. I have a chocolate addiction and I know it probably isn't easy to find chocolate with what is going on, but I've been having withdrawls.
"When the chinaman goes into the city I'll have him look for some." I grin and hold my hand out.
"Deal."
"Good now go make friends." He says as he shakes my hand. "And I'll get started on getting your tent up and moving your crap." I groan, but do as he says and get up.
"Fine I'll go talk to Mouse."
"Try not to call her that, Athena, not everyone... appreciates your nicknames." I only grin in response before heading over to the girl.
(3rd pov)
Sophia sits by her tent, lost in thought as she stares at the barely there fire. Her father was passed out drunk, so she didn't have to worry about him, while her mom was off doing laundry. She should be helping, but she just hasn't been feeling good. Between this heat and her period, she has been feeling like she got kicked by a horse. In other words, she feels like crap. "Mind if I join you?" Sophia looks up to see the youngest Dixon standing in front of her.
Athena Dixon was a sight to take in. Her wild red hair piled up on her head in a messy bun, her icy blue eyes holding a mischief in them that made Sophia worry about just what this girl had up her sleeve. But what really got Sophia is what she was wearing. If she had worn what Athena was wearing then she'd have her ass beaten. The girl was in jean shorts, which looked like had been originally long jeans that she cut herself. They were short and had a lot of holes in them and she had a Lincoln Park muscle shirt that if she didn't have a sports bra underneath then you'd see her boobs from the sides. She has a pair of boots on that look like they've been through a lot and could knock a couple of teeth out. She also had tattoos on her. An awesome henna tattoo sleeve down her left arm, while the other had blackbirds running up right wrist and a dog print on her right shoulder. The girl definitely pulled off the tough girl look. She was everything Sophia's father hated. Sophia could only imagine what he'd say if she got a tattoo or wore shorts that short. He'd beat her for sure.
"Are you mute or something?" Sophia snaps out of her thoughts and looks up at the redhead.
"N-No." Sophia stutters out nervously. Since getting to camp she has kept a distance from people. It was strange for someone like Athena Dixon to be talking to her. "I'm sorry, but why are you talking to me?" Athena rolls her eyes and flops down in the seat beside Sophia.
"Let's get some things straight. First, I had when people apologize for no reason, so don't. Secondly, if you got something to say then say it. I hate people who don't speak their minds. Thirdly, stop looking at me like I'm going to hit you. If I wanted to hit you then I would have already."
"So-" Sophia catches herself. "Right." Athena gives her a look. "What?"
"Second rule, remember." Sophia isn't used to this. Someone who spoke without thought or filter, someone so direct and forward, it's a bit intimidating.
"Why are you talking to me?"
"Want the truth?" Sophia nods. "I told my dad I was sick of being stuck with a bunch of idiotic boys, so he sent me over here. Said that it looks like we both could use a friend, which I find weird because you and I couldn't be more different." Sophia was partially glad that this girl noticed the difference too, but also a little offended because it wasn't her fault she was so meek and cautious about everything she did or say. It was her father's fault.
"Is this how you make friends?" Sophia says before she can stop herself. Athena laughs and glances at Sophia.
"I don't know. I never tried. Why bother making friends with idiots." Sophia frowns and glances at the redhead.
"Am I an idiot?" Athena gives her a sideways glance.
"Still deciding." Sophia nods, accepting theat reason.
"Okay, well did you want something?" Sophia glances over at her.
"Nope." Athena grins. "So what do you do for fun?"
"What is there to during the end of the world other than to survive." Athena grins.
"Maybe I will like hanging out with you." Sophia didn't like that grin. It just spelled trouble. "I'm going to have so much fun corrupting you." Oh yeah, Sophia is in for a long ride of trouble.
Looks Sophia is going to have some trouble with Athena, but maybe her good girl attitude will rub off on Athena and she'll stop getting herself into trouble or drag Sophia down with her. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Once again reviews are always welcomed and I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the changes I've made.
