NOT ALLOWED

CHAPTER EIGHT: RESTRICTING BOUNDARIES

STANDING up, Athena took note that her blonde friend- Amber- was still sleeping soundly on the floor. She wondered how anyone could sleep so effortlessly while under the same roof as her father, that just didn't make sense to her.

Even she had trouble sometimes, and he was her father. She was meant to know things about him that no one else did.

And yet here her friend was, sleeping better than she had most nights.

For some reason thinking about it left her irritable, which wasn't something that happened often.

But a thought occurred to her, one that hadn't before.

If her father was to be gone for the remainder of the day, that meant they had the entire day to themselves, they could do whatever they wanted.

Quickly reaching her foot out, Athena prodded at her friend until she let out a groan and cracked her eyes open to peer up at her.

"What?" she grumbled reaching her hands up to rub at her eyes, the girl hovering above her frowned, "come on, we've got the day to ourselves, and I don't plan to waste a moment of it."

Squinting her eyes, Amber slowly slipped out from under her blanket and stood up before silently following after Athena, she hadn't a clue what the girl planned to do but her stomach had begun to grumble, so she knew what she was going to do.

Grace, on the other hand, was exiting the bathroom as her friends stepped out of the bedroom and made their way across the living room to the kitchen that Apollo had almost killed them with by dusting.

None of the three spoke as they simultaneously entered the kitchen, the two girls finding seats at the dining room table- Grace letting her head drop to the surface of the table- while Athena searched through the kitchen for toaster strudels or something worth eating.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Amber questioned letting a yawn escape her lips a few moments later, she was just as tired as the rest of them, if not less since she'd woken up later.

"Not sure, maybe a ride in the jeep, get something to eat since it seems you guys grabbed everything but breakfast stuff at the store yesterday." Grace lazily raised her hand- her head still stuck to the table- "I take the blame for that one."

"Alright, get dressed rug rats, one of you go get Aidan please."

Grace's head immediately shot up from the table and she shoved out of her chair towards the hallway, "AIDAN!" she screamed her volume causing Amber to cover her ears.

Seconds later, a sluggish teen, a pissed teen, and two adults in need of coffee emerged from the hallway scowls and yawns in every direction the girls looked, the scowls being from Mitch and Apollo while the yawns escaped Pietro and Aidan's lips.

"Get up! If you're nice I might get you guys something from McDonald's!" Athena spoke slapping her hands together as she entered the living room, Apollo- obviously pissed- sent her a glare before rubbing his eyes, "except for you, of course."

"Now, Aidan, you have five minutes to get ready, I expect you to not disappoint."

The boy sleepily nodded his head pulling his blanket the slightest bit tighter around him as he turned around and began to make his way back to his bedroom, Apollo, seemingly unbothered by his sister's words, quietly entered the kitchen to make himself buttered toast, even the mention of the food made Athena sick to her stomach.

How could he eat something so bland and flavorless? She really wondered if they had ever shared the same mother with the way his taste buds worked.

But instead of making a stupid remark, she retreated to her bedroom with her three friends and silently looked through her closet in hopes of finding something big enough to fit her, there was nothing.

It seemed they have no other choice but to drop by the house on their way out. At least she could grab some books, nothing like sitting inside a house you despised with a good book.

She scowled.

What was she even thinking, no, she'd probably grab her paint kit instead, at least that gave her something physical to do, something worth her time.

Once they'd established that none of them had anything clean to wear, they flooded out into the hallway, Aidan already sitting on the couch ready to go, "I couldn't find anything that fit." he mumbled gesturing to the clothes he was currently wearing, they were the same ones as yesterday.

Pietro was the first to turn and watch as they assembled at the door, "where are you guys going?" he questioned his face neutral as he watched them turn to look at him, "to get something to eat, drop by my place and get everyone some clothes."

The man glanced back at Mitch who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, "would you consider getting me a coffee? If not it's alright." Athena couldn't help but let a small smile dance across her lips, "sure, hot or iced?"

Pietro smiled at the question, "iced, please, and thank you." Athena nodded her head in acknowledgment before twisting the knob and pushing the door open, "Mitch, you coming?" Grace questioned her eyes flicking from him to Athena, her friend frowned before shaking her head.

"Sadly..." he sighed removing himself from his spot on the wall, it only took him a few strides to be standing beside them, but when he was, it seemed he almost towered over them, which was odd seeing as he wasn't too much taller than them.

Grace cast a look back towards the kitchen before reaching her hand up to scratch her neck, "I think I'll stay here, I've got a headache coming on."

Somewhat confused by Grace's sudden problem, it didn't take long for either of her friends to figure out why it was that she wanted to stay behind, to talk to Apollo.

Athena fought back the urge to throw up, sure, she could see Grace being happy with Aidan, but Apollo? Out of the question, she was basically setting herself up to date a younger version of Athena's father.

But instead of saying anything, Athena hopped out onto the porch- the others gleefully following behind her- Mitch trailing behind the three children with the same scowl on his face, she wondered what stick it was that he had up his ass.

Was it an oak branch?

A willow branch?

Perhaps a cedar branch?

Who knew?

Obviously not her, and she wasn't planning on asking the question, she'd leave that to Apollo, he was always good at pissing people off using only his words. After all, he had Stan as a father, which entailed a lot more bullshit than most people thought.

But as they climbed into Athena's jeep it seemed that didn't matter, because they were all quiet and somewhat content, except for Mitch of course.

Aidan settled himself into the front passenger seat while Mitch and Amber made themselves comfortable in the back, the two separated by the middle seat. Athena wondered why Mitch hadn't protested them going out, maybe it was because he knew he wouldn't win the argument.

She fought back a laugh, if that was the case, she was worried for her father's judgment, why would she choose someone that couldn't even win an argument?

Didn't seem very top spy tier to her.

"Music or no music?" she questioned as she started the car, no one answered, leaving her to assume they didn't want to play anything, which she was alright with, it was a bit too early to be starting the day off with Fergie, maybe on the way back though.

None of them spoke as Athena drove, and suddenly it seemed to bother her that no one wanted to converse, she felt like a strict soccer mom that everyone was worried about angering.

That would not do.

"If you guys don't start talking in the next twenty seconds I'm going to drive us into the lake off the four-way."

Aidan's eyes widened and he turned in his seat to glance at Amber, "how'd you sleep?"

She pursed her lips a small smile poking at the edges, "I slept alright, what about you?"

Meanwhile, Mitch had his hands in his lap and was silently looking out the window at the passing scenery, glancing into the rearview mirror, Athena could've sworn she saw his pupil move to glance at her, but it was so quick she couldn't tell if she'd imagined it or not. And instead of asking about it, she simply kept driving.

While she drove, she tried her best to think of what exactly Grace was doing with Apollo, alone. Well, except for Pietro, that was a relief, knowing that Pietro was there to watch them, at least they wouldn't be able to kill each other... or make out.

Ew, gross, absolutely disgusting. She didn't even want to think of that, one of her best friends with one of her brothers, that was fucking disgusting.

Thankfully, she pulled into the McDonalds drive-through a few moments later. It wasn't until they were a car away from the speaker box that she looked over her shoulder and began to ask what they wanted.

Which was a fairly small list, a medium fry, two hashbrowns, Pietro's iced coffee, and Athena's coffee.

"Mitch, last chance, anything you want?" the man softly grumbled before casting her a side-eyed glance, "a black coffee."

Athena mustered up the most disgusting face she could in response to his statement, "hell no, you can make that shit at home with Apollo, that is not going in or near my car, or my nose."

The man didn't even bother to respond, instead, he leaned his head towards the ceiling and closed his eyes as if he was trying not to lose his shit, he almost reminded her of Apollo as a child, closing his eyes and heavily breathing to try and calm himself down when he was upset.

Something their father hadn't discouraged, sadly.

Turning back in her seat to face the narrow drive in front of them, Athena pulled up next to the speak box- casting a final glance into the backseat- before she went through the ordeal of placing their order.

"Can I get another hashbrown?" Athena questioned, she knew that Mitch had only wanted a black coffee, but she figured this was a good enough consolation for denying his request. Aidan was the only one that bothered to offer her a mixed expression of confusion and excitement, he wanted to eat, that much was obvious.

But he also wanted to know who the hashbrown was for.

A few moments of silence passed before the line began to move and Athena pulled up the first window with her debit card ready to be handed off to the worker, god, could things be moving any slower?

She just wanted to skip this part and head straight to their house to grab some clothes and change, maybe she'd have enough time to shower there, she'd have to drive a little bit faster than usual but she was almost positive she could do it within a reasonable amount of time.

Aidan on the other hand... would probably take over an hour, and then he'd take an additional hour to gather his school things and his walkman and tape collection.

But, that gave Athena an excuse to take a bit longer grabbing her things, which was perfect since she had to go into the basement and locate the canvas' her father had put away earlier in the month.

Plus, she needed to grab the stash of pot she'd hidden beneath her bed, it would be just her luck that her father decided to stop and take a quick visit to her room in a terribly planned attempt to be a nosy father, which he was already decent at. But still, the last thing she wanted was to get in trouble over something so harmless.

She'd have to hide it from Mitch though, at least until she safely made it to her room, she had no doubt in her mind that the man would snitch on her faster than Apollo himself.

NOT ALLOWED

CHAPTER EIGHT: RESTRICTING BOUNDARIES