Carrots

If one should be troubled by the orthodoxy of Valentine’s Day, it was certainly not a good day if one should also happen to be single and made aware of the patterns of this pervasive Muggle occasion. Those who bothered, and who so fortunately fell safely in line to the privileging of this day, found themselves defying the unromantic weather as they chose to head out of Hogwarts to make their day of love with temporarily significant others. Certainly, the one who looked truly upset and left out of the romance was really the weather. It asserted itself with such a wet gloom, and yet, no one paid any mind to it. The clouds were undoubtedly offended by such human nonchalance, and as the two Slytherins made their way back into the castle, they should have been relieved for the safety away from the perpetually darkening clouds.

With Athena not saying much, Kendall filled the void with inconsequential talk. Soon, though, he allowed the void to take over. Oddly enough, even without attempting too hard to sustain conversation, he was not bothered by a sense of vacancy that he anticipated. In an ironically comfortable silence, then, he walked just slightly ahead of Athena, only stopping when they’ve arrived at the portrait to the kitchens. The number of people in the castle was sparse. There were those who had headed out, and those who chose to remain invisible. Whatever it was, the castle felt like home, especially since Kendall had spent at least six years in the place.

A tickle at the pear, and soon enough, the duo were allowed entry into the kitchens. The prospect of the pie that Athena promised played in Kendall’s mind again as the massive place invited him with the bustle of activity and smell. The boy grinned to himself before he turned, with anticipation obviously being conveyed on his face. Quickly enough, Kendall let the expression on his face fall as he found Athena’s eyes. “Hardly a candle-lit dinner for two, sweetheart.” He licked his lips just as his eyes regained their gleam again. “This better be as good as you said it would. Ah, the Goyle hospitality.” And he began to look wildly around the kitchens, as if he could spot Athena’s House-Elves simply like that.

There was something oddly unsettling about the castle at night. Though it wasn’t exactly late enough to be considered night, the castle’s lack of inhabitants had caused many of the lamps in the hallways to dim and more than a few of the portraits had taken to falling asleep against their frames. Some were still chit-chatting amongst themselves, a couple every hundred portraits or so arguing and some consoling each other about recent developments in the castle. Walking down the halls, her shoes clapping uncomfortably against the stone, the echoing sound ricocheting off of the walls, Athena couldn’t shake off the sickness that had engulfed her in the street. Once again as they climbed the staircases she found herself feeling light headed and overheated. She’d removed her coat upon their entrance to the castle and she could only assume the weight of it was the cause of her discomfort. She reconciled with herself the fact that soon they’d be in the kitchens and she could once again take the weight off of her feet but that neither relieved her nor alleviated any of the symptoms she was currently experiencing.

In the lamplight, dim as it was, she almost seemed to have a green hue about her, a colour that a fair few of the dead in the portraits had spotted. She paid little mind to them recoiling in their frames as she passed, putting it down to the fact that she was a Slytherin and had made no attempt to hide her political leanings during her time at Hogwarts. Athena brushed her hair out of her eyes as they made it to the pear and found that her hands did not feel nearly as clammy as they had before. She felt once again the sickness dissipate but the looks, even glares, she was receiving from the portraits around the entrance to the kitchens could not allow her to feel that bit better she would’ve done without their input. Two portraits, a man and a woman from what looked to be the early thirteen century were talking quietly to each other in broken English mixed with Latin and a few other base languages that Athena couldn’t make out. They would steal a glance at her every few seconds and Athena found she couldn’t tear her eyes from them either until Kendall spoke.

Athena looked up, finally registering his nonsensical chatter. She pursed her lips and following him through the portrait hole, her ears pricking up at the words one of the portraits uttered. But then, once the portrait swung shut, she seemed to question herself. Shaking her head, Athena hung up her coat and took her wand from the pocket. She turned it on herself and waved it a few times, muttering a spell that transfigured the dress into a set of clothes much more comfortable for the occasion: just a simple, thick grey jumper and a pair of comfortable leggings. She wasn’t usually one to dress down as much as this but she preferred it better that way and the House Elves would certainly be put off if she started directing them while dressed like she had been. They preferred the Athena they knew and did not respond well to what Apolline tried to turn her into. They associated that with the formality Athena conducted herself with and so now, she’d even gone out of her way to transfigure her shoes into fluffy socks.

“Of course not,” Athena snorted, tucking her wand behind her ear. “Such grandeur is unnecessary considering it’s only Hogwarts.” Athena wandered into the cooking area and skirted around the House Elves before going in search of her own that were sure to be in the pantry; and that was exactly where she found them.

Collie and Brew jumped to attention at the sight of their witch, the latter dropping a sack of potatoes in the process. Athena smiled gently to them and gestured for them to follow her, which they did without question, excitedly telling her about the choice of meals she could have. Of course naturally they paid little attention to Kendall. In their little minds, there was nothing more important than their Mistress and they would do anything to make her happy. Brew had diverted on their trip, hurrying off to fix Athena some tea and start chopping vegetables despite the fact that the witch hadn’t picked what they wanted to eat, leaving Collie to continue relaying the menu to her. Athena took a seat at one of the tables and Collie jumped onto the tabletop, informing her excitedly that they’d come up with a new dessert for her to try. Something Muggle, the elf had said, but perfect for any occasion.

“Collie,” Athena patted the little elf on the shoulder. “Perhaps you should ask Mr. Rookwood what he would like. You will, after all, be catering for two.”

At this point, the wide green eyes of the House Elf peered over the top of Athena’s head and fixed themselves on Kendall. They narrowed for a moment or two before widening again. In a burst of excitement, Collie bounced off of the table and threw herself down at Kendall’s feet. She landed with grace despite her age and shuffled her feet a little to make sure she was firmly planted on the floor before looking up at him.

“Mistress Athena has told Collie to ask you what you would like for dinner, Mr. Rookwood!” Collie exclaimed, causing Athena to laugh a little from where she was sat observing the scene. “So, uh...Collie would like to know what Mr. Rookwood would like for dinner, sir.”

Kendall had to do everything in his might to resist the temptation from reaching out to poke at one of the House-Elves near where he was positioned in the pantry. It was minding its business, and like the rest of the House-Elves, didn’t venture even a curious look at his entrance. The lack of attention prompted him to seek for it, even when there was obviously no need for it. What else can one expect from a boy who thrived on the reactions of other people? Kendall eyed the one near him with great amusement, bending slightly in an effort to creep up gradually behind it. The lucky Elf in question had a book propped up against the drawers in front of him. The determination set on his face seemed less to do with the difficulty of what he was reading than that of his fierce efforts to stop the massive book from sliding down. It did look as if it could knock the elf cold if it fell on him. Kendall couldn’t decide if he should aid the process of it, which certainly looked like an eventual possibility. The prospect of it undoubtedly amused him. Still, he was hardly dim-witted. He could act on an impulse that would probably set the entire kitchen of House-Elves against him. Or, he could resist doing so and get that pie that Athena talked about, and perhaps even find himself getting more than he bargained for from the company of the girl. On that decision, he licked his lips before leaning down closer.

“Deceptively Delicious? Crafty little sod, you are.” The Elf jumped with what should have sounded like a squeak, before it snapped its tiny fingers in an ironically delayed reflex. Unfortunately, the hefty cookbook began to teeter dangerously. Meanwhile, the petite creature had turned to Kendall, its face beginning to scrunch up in what could have been an effort to frown at the intruder to its private thoughts. What the expression on the creature’s face was then and there, the boy did not find out. The book had swayed, and now, with a sufficient thud, landed squarely on the House-Elf, who managed yet another squeak that was instantly stifled by the impact of the collision. Delighted at the reward of his miniscule attempt to elicit a response, Kendall smirked as he held back a chuckle, a good decision on his part seeing that the Elf, who was groaning in pain now, turned to glare at him before deciding that it was perhaps now much of the boy’s fault anyway. Things had simply gone the boy Kendall wanted them to, ideally. Not interested in staying to watch the little creature, now that the deed had been fulfilled, Kendall looked away and took a few steps towards where Athena had begun talking to her own House-Elves.

The boy watched with amusement that was probably a spill-over from his earlier encounter. The warmth in the kitchen was getting to him. Kendall removed his coat and left it on the seat near him, before walking to where Athena had sat herself at, only to be greeted abruptly by Collie. Kendall looked up with curiosity at the girl before returning his gaze to Collie. “Duck Confit would be perfect. Drenched in Dom Perignon. Mmmmm.” He licked his lips and closed his eyes in a show of mock connoisseurship. “Except … I was told there were pies waiting, and I don’t want to disappoint that craving. Surprise me with those pies then, unless we begin with dessert first.” Kendall grinned and winked suggestively at Athena, obviously not forgetting his primary delight in being a major source of vexation to the girl.

From where she was sat, Athena watched the House Elves frantically making preparations for the banquet ahead in the Great Hall when suppertime reached them. The provisions were plentiful with Elves of all ages and sizes chopping up vegetables and spicing up the meats that were due to go on the tables. Other elves were cooking the food that would fill the golden dishes and plates for the greedy Gryffindors to stuff their faces with. Athena’s face contorted with disgust at the thought and focused her gaze willingly upon Brew who had presented her with a glass of scarlet liquid that, upon a quick taste of it, Athena realised was one of the wines her father drank in excess - vintage, usually, though the vineyards had been making more of it in recent years. This one was more recent, a few years old perhaps. Athena was quick to check the bottle when Brew sat it down after filling another glass. She let out a triumphant “Ha-Ha!” upon discovering she was correct and drank a hearty amount before rising to her feet, feeling the warmth of it spread through her body and leave her cheeks flushed.

“Collie, you don’t have any chocolate do you?” Athena asked, not waiting for direction by her elf before heading into the pantry where she stepped over the elf Kendall had scared half to death and began to peruse the shelves in search of what she’d wanted. It didn’t take a moment for her to put her hands on it. Her tongue flicked out and wetted her lips at the sight of a bar of freshly sealed Honeydukes’ extra dark chocolate. She smiled and tore the large bar from the shelf before hurrying back out into the kitchen where she patted a waiting, pouting Collie on the head and sat herself down at the table where she broke the seal of the chocolate with one of her long nails. She snapped some of the squares off and turned a little, catching Kendall’s eye and smiling slightly before holding it up. “Want some of this?” She inquired gently.

Athena kicked out the seat opposite her and placed the square down on a napkin that Brew had put down, seemingly aware of the choices she’d make upon entering the kitchen. Collie had given Kendall a few put-out looks at his food request, her mind no doubt whirling in an attempt to figure out what exactly it was he’d ordered. Collie and Brew had never really been kitchen elves and even now they catered more so to Athena than they did the kitchens. They knew not of the foods that they were expected to make. They were more comfortable with the things their mistress was prone to ordering - like the pies for example that they knew she would enjoy this year. It was a Friday after all: pie day. So they got to work, deciding against shooting the bizarre coupling of Slytherins odd looks and instead focusing on their work at hand.

“Did I mention my father cut me off?” Athena mentioned off-handly, her hands still busy with the chocolate. Her eyes were lowered towards it, allowing her to say the words without looking at Kendall’s face and absorbing his features. She figured she might as well mention it. If it was going to be to anyone then it had to be him. She didn’t know who else to explain her predicament to and it was about time she got it off of her chest. She didn’t think she could stand it much longer if she had to keep it bottled up.

The activity around him had risen rapidly, shifting from a hushed sort of lazy serenity to a quickly contrasting hustle and bustle. It was as if the seemingly spontaneous attendance of Kendall and Athena had compelled them to begin performing what they were placed in this part of Hogwarts for. The boy, however, paid little attention to them. His hunger spoke, loudly. His eyes followed Athena unabashedly, even as he almost believed that the imaginary taste of pie in his mouth was real. Finally, Kendall could not resist the persistence of a habit. He brought his hand up to run it through his hair, even as the hair was more stubborn than usual from the styling gel that the hairdresser had insisted to indulge his hair in earlier. With that run, he disturbed the supposed stronghold of the gel, as bits of his hair relaxed while some decided to fall from their slightly more upright positions to its natural state of fluff again. Obviously, then, the gel was hardly what one would deem strong.

When Athena lifted the wine glass to have a taste of it, Kendall watched the motion of it before his eyes fell to the length of her neck, involuntarily eliciting a response from his tongue as it reached out to touch his upper lip. Kendall's perturbing voyeur-like looking at Athena was only broken when he found her pair of subliminal grey-blue eyes looking back at him. He smirked in delight before realising that a question had been thrown at him. He blinked and snapped out of his dream-like state of mind. Of course, he had failed to register the question. Thankfully, he did not remain standing where he was. Kendall took his hands out of his pockets as he walked to take his seat opposite Athena. Before he could make a cheeky remark, however, he stopped in a moment of disbelief to the new information that the girl had abruptly hurled at him. It had been said in an almost nonchalant fashion, but the twinkling of doubt was quickly won over by his better judgement. He knew she was serious. There was no other way to explain that point. He just knew.

And he was stumped. Kendall Rookwood - befuddled - attempting to find the words to say. He shut the jaw that had fallen slightly in reaction to Athena's words and blinked. "Well, it's his loss, isn't it?" A chuckle of a split-second ensued before the boy realised that it should not have been let out, even as a reflex of nervous uncertainty. What could he say? It was infinitely easier to go about with cheeky comebacks and teasing starts, but what was one to say when privy to something as crucial and meaningful as this? Staring hard at the surface of the table in front of him, Kendall brought his hands in a cusp as he rested them on it. He decided on the only possibly decent reply, then. "Why?"

Her statement had cut through the air with a ferocity that had made even the House Elves stall in their ministrations. The saucer eyed beings exchanged looks before begrudgingly returning to the tasks, shooed by a strained Collie who wished to protect the privacy her Mistress deserved. It had been a difficult thing for Collie and Brew to stomach. They’d been privy to the conversations that had ensued over Christmas, listening in with their ears pressed up against the door as, between Goyle’s hacking coughs, the father and daughter fought, each one biting away at the relationship that despite being strained over those past months had once been so strong. Goyle had been adamant though. He’d not spared his daughter’s feelings and many a night the House Elves were forced to consol their Mistress, trying to ply her out of her silence with cups of tea or chocolate. For, Athena would not cry. She refused to shed a tear as a result of ‘that man’. No, she merely dealt with it. She stood on the balcony, inhaled shuddering breaths to calm herself and once she was sure he and Apolline were asleep, swept around the house taking valuables of barely comprehendible value and replacing them with worthless replicas from the end of her wand. They’d help her while bit by bit packing away the most expensive clothing articles she’d need both in the event her money ran out or just merely for keeping up appearances - like the ermine-trimmed coat for example.

Athena looked up from the pieces of broken chocolate when Kendall spoke. She pursed her lips a little, wobbling a bit of chocolate stood up on edge with the tip of her finger. Athena shrugged her shoulders gentle and brushed her hair off of one, letting it fall down her back in a similar fashion to the flow of the water in the waterfall on the grounds. She picked the piece of chocolate up and put it down on the table in front of the table. She considered it for a moment before lifting her gaze again. She grimaced, her eyes closing a little before reopening them, her resolve hardened once more as she looked for a suitable explanation. She wanted to defend her father but more than a little part of her wanted to paint him entirely in the wrong. Make no mistake, he was most definitely in the wrong, but he was still her father and she couldn’t help but feel the need to defend him. However, that need was soon washed away as she took a sip of wine and was reminded of Apolline’s biting parting words. Athena scoffed a little and shook her head, setting the glass down as she did so.

“He’s looking after his estate.” She replied, taking her words slow and carefully. “He can’t give all his money to a daughter...and a bastard one at that.” She added the last part quietly as she looked mournfully at the wine glass on the table. “I am not engaged as he asked me to be. He was...helpful. I suppose they wanted the best but things got nasty over the holidays. He wouldn’t dare threaten to disown me as it would look far worse on him but that didn’t stop him from cutting me off. Figured it would spur me into a frenzy that would make me drop to the feet of the first Pureblood I came across. It didn’t, obviously.” Athena smiled a little despite herself and shrugged her shoulders again. “I wonder sometimes what’s so bad about me being head of his estate when he dies, why I need a husband. It isn’t as if I’m some dinny broodmare that can’t look after herself. What do you think, Kendall?”

Kendall wondered how appropriate it was to wonder and stare at Athena. He had to decide between a strange curiosity to watch the very skin of her response and to look as if he was giving her space as she was telling him what she wanted to. What struck him was how he was less interested in what had occurred to her, than in the fact that he was actually concerned about it. It was typical for him to make the misery of others his entertainment. Here, now, he could not decide if her news was amusement or a cause of worry. He could not decide on either. Perhaps it was both, then. Kendall raised his eyes from where they were at earlier as spectators to Athena's hands, only to continue to raise - this time- his eyebrows at the load that Athena had shot at him.

"I ... " Kendall ran his hand through his hair again as he looked at her thoughtfully. "I leave you for a short period of time and the whole world t- " He thought it wise to leave it that way. "I mean, of course not." Kendall bit his lower lip, allowed the pressure to drain the blood from the point, before releasing it. "Usually, that would make sense. Well, we're Pureblood families, aren't we?" A pause as he checked for Athena's expression. "I just didn't expect it to be so soon. No, look, I don't mean you'll still end up like ... the others. I never really expected, never really saw it in my mind that you were going to face it too, like the others." Kendall shrugged. "It's too early. I should think you deserve some time." He stopped at asking what the rush was for. Was there trouble in Goyle paradise? But it was not a question fit for the moment.

"Well ..." The smirk returned to the boy's face as he leaned closer towards the table, and had his cusped hands tap at the space near her. "And you didn't think to ask me?" Kendall couldn't help with a chuckle despite a better judgement available. He was not serious. Not really. He considered, and the answer he had hoped for did not jump out at him with clarity, not that which he had hoped for. It was the same blur of choices offered to him when he thought about Athena. He liked her better than all of the others, but it didn't have to mean anything more than the fact that she was the best at being a sort of involuntary muse to his idle mind.

There wasn’t much left for Athena to pick up from now. Her purpose had been always to find herself a husband, bear his children and then settle down for a relatively comfortable Pureblood existence where the only concern of hers would be whether the Parkinson bitch’s little bastard was more important in rank than her own son - which of course, he would not be. But that had never been a life Athena had wanted for herself. She was herself the bastard in the family, her father having failed to produce anything in terms of an heir with Apolline. Athena had been the small child in the basket on his doorstep. She’d been the creature whose birth certificate named him the father and her mother a woman he never thought he’d see again. She’d been his pride, his joy...only to disappoint him. It was no small wonder Goyle had reacted as he had done. Really, he was looking after his daughter though to her it was probably neither realised nor appreciated. Goyle knew that his hands were tied and his time was running out. He was unsure as to whether he could secure his estate in Athena’s name. It was not that he did not want to. He had pushed to find her a husband because he felt that was the safest way, for his money to go with her as a dowry. She had not found anyone, though, and so he had been forced, much to his dismay, to take drastic measures. He’d regretted it of course but the support he’d had from Apolline was enough to convince the weak-minded man that he was doing the right thing. He was sorely wrong, though.

Athena looked up from her wine glass, finding its study no longer so important to her. She met Kendall’s gaze, hesitance marring her gaze. She wetted her lips and brought her hand around the glass, finding the curve of it somewhat reassuring in her grasp. Her eyes narrowed as he seemed to flounder for words. She wasn’t sure what she wanted from him but reassurance would’ve helped; a watery guarantee that would appeal to her desperation - that perhaps her father would soon forgive her and help her instead of leaving her. She knew her course now and there was no going back. She was on a rollercoaster that only went down, towards the depths of hell. She wouldn’t have had it any other way but still, she couldn’t help but wonder whether there was any coming off of that track. She knew where she’d end up. The Death Eaters first, she figured. That was the only sure thing currently. Everything else seemed cloudy and far from set in concrete. Money was also seemingly an issue, or becoming one at least. She wasn’t prepared, but she’d deal with it. She had no other choice.

“So soon?” Athena repeated incredulously. “What do you mean so soon? These matters are supposed to be settled at birth! I don’t have any more time, Kendall. My time is up, wasted and done. I have to make my own way in this world. I have no choice in that.” Athena brought her fingers to her temples and rolled them back and forth as she tried to make sense of things in her mind. It was the following sentence that made Athena look up. “What?” Her expression betrayed her shock, her countenance far from something she had a good hold on at this point in time. “You...you’d...and that would be okay? Would that really be something you’d agree to, Kendall?” Athena swallowed anxiously. “Well, do it then. I dare you.”

Kendall had obviously never paid much attention to the times when his father would talk for hours on end about the Rookwood line. The Rookwood’s history, like the families still being counted to qualify as Pureblood Elites, could afford Augustus, could afford him those hours of story-telling. That is, if he even knew all of it. But no, Kendall had been oddly far more interested in listening to the stories at Azkaban, of his father’s adventures and exploits. Or, perhaps, it was all deliberate selectiveness. After all, there were the few strange occasions when Cordelia had approached her son to tell him of guests, all of which were Augustus’ acquaintances from foreign lands. Kendall had wondered why his father favoured that many foreign guests having their daughters tag along and why he was always needed to told to look appropriate. Well, really, he knew. He merely pretended. He didn’t want to look like he knew. Augustus had watched his responses during those dinners like a hawk, and Kendall enjoyed toying with his father. He was always getting distracted by trivial surroundings that were far more exciting than the pattern of quiet and dainty girls that Augustus liked to pick.

It was clear, at least to Kendall. He had met, or even exceeded, the expectations of his father’s in more areas than one. He took after him in potential for talent, and certainly did better than Augustus in school He also shared his father’s interests, exceeding his lust for pain. But no, he was not going to let the old man pick his partner. For as long as it was going to be possible, Kendall had made up his mind. Of course, this was hardly shared with Augustus, who merely continued searching patiently for a girl that Kendall might show some interest in before he could rush to propose the prospect of marriage. Good old Augustus. He loved Kendall enough to consider his reactions to the girls. He loved him, more than enough, in fact. Still, he was confident that the time would arrive. He, after all, would not accept any girl for Kendall that did not meet his lists of must-haves for a respectable Pureblood family. Kendall, on the other hand, had plans. He didn’t intend to marry. Well, at least for as long as he could hold it off. He knew his duty, being the only heir of Augustus Rookwood. His uncles had sons to boast off. Augustus had shown increasing impatience in Cordelia. He needed another, at the very least. Of course, Kendall was his pride and joy. Another one would do well to be a back-up. With his experience, Augustus understood the unpredictability of life. Ironically, he insisted on having life exactly the way he had planned in his mind. He would do anything. And Cordelia had already survived three miscarriages.

With his eyes wide opened at Athena’s reaction, Kendall relaxed them as he slid into an easy smirk. “Easy, Goyle.” He fiddled with the end of his shirt collar. “I just … never thought about you facing the prospect of that, I guess. I mean, there’re other things to busy myself with.” With that, Kendall slipped his eyes pass the girl’s neck to eye her chest blatantly. “So why would I?” He looked away casually and ran his fingers through his hair. It was a smooth run. His hair had become soft quickly. That is, until he heard Athena’s challenge. In a snap, he had his attention back to the girl. With a few silent blinks, Kendall slid into a chuckle that he had intended to sound unperturbed, but of which came out as rather nervous ones. He searched her face for any tell-tale signs of jest, only to realise that her dare was a serious one. Too bad for him, he never backed down from a challenge. Was he going to make this the first one? What was he? Only seventeen?! Kendall only had regrets in his mind for having spouted that suggestion. But then he had meant it as a joke. Not that he would have minded Athena … twenty years later. This was a little too early. He blinked again before an involuntary inhale that was deeper than usual.

“Alright, I will! But, you know …” He bit his lower lip. “I don’t think you’re up for being a Rookwood. I mean, we want heirs the size of a Quidditch team. As much as the babies that I will give you would be incredibly charming, not to mention, prodigies … I don’t think you’re up for it, Goyle.” Another instance of nervous chuckle.

Athena didn’t know whether Kendall had been too busy with his wet-nurse’s breasts when he was younger to take notice of the politics of Purebloods or whether the fluffy-haired Slytherin was just stupid - Athena was leaning more towards the idea that he was indeed stupid. She shook her head at his facial response and brought the glass of wine to her lips again, taking a large mouthful that was far from what etiquette prescribed. Athena swallowed the wine down and reached forward for the bread that the House Elves had put down on the table to soak up the gravy once the pies were eaten. She pulled the crust away and tore off some of the soft middle before bringing it up to her mouth. She chewed it carefully, savouring its sweet taste, before swallowing it with another mouthful of wine. Athena raised an eyebrow at Kendall and shook her head again before pushing the bread away, no longer feeling hungry - instead feeling quite sick. She dropped her eyes to her hands and shrugged a little before bringing her gaze back up to Kendall, completely unsure as to where she was supposed to look; now wondering whether it had been a good idea to dare him.

The girl unconsciously mirrored Kendall’s action, running her hand through the front of her hair and bringing her hand down to tug on the curls that hung by her shoulders. She frowned a little and licked her lips anxiously, glancing up at him in the hope that maybe he’d relieve her of her horror and sudden awkwardness with an abrupt no that would allow her to hurry out and never speak to him again. The embarrassment had leaked in far faster than she would have first thought. Athena bowed her head and returned her gaze to her hands, her mind spinning as part of it - no, most of it - berated her for her stupidity, while the other bit quickly tried to establish a link between itself and her mouth, knowing that she never would have dared him had she thought before she’d spoken. Athena desperately wanted to take back what she’d said, feeling more and more like she was drowning.

When Kendall spoke next, Athena’s head shot up and she looked at him with thinly veiled disbelief, a small smile threatening to pull her lips upwards. She rose from where she was sat and brought her hands together, lacing her fingers together. She licked her lips and raised a hesitant eyebrow at Kendall, her smile replaced by a smirk at his words. She laughed a little and moved to stand before him. “Don’t underestimate, Kendall Rookwood. You’ll only come off worse for it.” Athena reached up and patted him on the cheek. “I can be a Rookwood. It’s whether or not you can deal with the fact that I will be. Hmm?” Athena smirked. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. You’ll only get wrinkles.”