chapter nineteen
I HAVE A SISTER TO CONSOLE

Watching John B walk up to the Chateau's front porch with Sarah Cameron was definitely a huge surprise for everyone there. After their discovery earlier that day, the group decided to meet back at the Chateau later that day to discuss the next part of their plan. Athena had gone to the beach with Pope and JJ, the three just laying around talking about whatever stupid thoughts came to their mind before Athena and JJ had a race back to the Chateau.

JJ won – obviously. He had an unfair advantage of having a dirt bike, you know one with an engine whereas Athena only had her normal bike. JJ had tried to let her win, going as slowly as he could – he couldn't go too fast as it was because he had Pope on the bike with him – but if Athena has beaten him she would've known it's because he let her, and he had watched her punch someone and did not be on the receiving end of one of those.

Which brought them to now, Athena sat on the couch in between Pope and JJ, Kie leaning against one of the pillars.

"Sarah?" Athena asked dumbfounded to see her twin sister.

"No effing way!" Kie exclaimed. Athena sighed knowing things were about to get very complicated. "You brought her here? So what? She's in on this now?"

Kie glared daggers at the couple, who had now sat down. Sarah sat on the couch opposite Kie while John B sat on the arm of the sofa. The boy ignored her glare and looked at his three friends for help yet none of them knew what to do considering they knew Kie was already pissed off.

"I dunno." Pope mumbled softly under his breath.

"Look," JJ started. "All I care about is her cut comes out of your share."

"Not the time, J." Athena mumbled under her breath, making the blond shrug.

"You know," Kie began, seething in anger. "I don't remember taking a vote. This is our thing. A pogue thing!"

"Athena's not a pogue!" John B exclaimed. Athena made a face as she began playing with her rigs in discomfort. John B wasn't wrong. She was sat there with her expensive jewellery and clothes that probably cost more than John B's house but they were all material things that her family gave to her. However, she was a pogue at heart, she may not have realised it then but she was more pogue than anyone gave her credit for. Athena had a pogue mindset without knowing, and it was only JJ who could see it – not that she knew this yet.

"We all like Athena! Not her." Kie told John B angrily.

"I gotta say, I'm a tad uncomfortable with all of this." Pope piped up sheepishly, voicing his opinion.

"Thank you!" Kie exclaimed.

"When are you not?" John B retorted.

"I dunno." Pope fired back. "I rode here on the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably."

"It's true." JJ replied, looking up from where he was playing with Athena's hair. "Most relaxed I've ever seen him."

"That's cute, guys." John B spoke sarcastically, sighing in frustration.

"It was adorable." Athena muttered. "Bromance."

"You know we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her." Kiara cried, shooting daggers at John B.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Sarah exclaimed growing angrier by the second.

"Then leave." Kiara shot back.

Sarah scoffed, turning towards John B. "I told you." She muttered.

"Told him what, exactly?" Kiara questioned making Sarah turn to face her. "That you're a liar?"

"No, that you're a shit-talking bitch." She spat venomously making Athena gasp in surprise.

"Guys seriously stop." Athena insisted as Pope and JJ exclaimed in shock.

"Oh shit!"

When have I lied?" Sarah asked, her voice defensive as Athena watched the scene unfold.

"My money's on Kie." She suddenly heard JJ mumble, digging money out of his pocket as Pope did the same.

"Seriously?" Athena whisper-yelled, grabbing their money and setting it on the table in front of her. "Both of you, cut it out."

Pope looked around from the girl like a wounded puppy while JJ pouted.

"You get someone close to you—" Kiara yelled at the same time Sarah tried to defend herself.

"I didn't lie about shit—" Athena winced, looking between her sister and her best friend, not knowing who to defend. While Kie was being a bit petty for still hating Sarah after all this time over a silly thing but Sarah was in the wrong for what she did to begin with.

"Everybody shut up!" John B yelled, tried of hearing everyone complain. "Kie, you are my best friend, right?" Kie nodded reluctantly. He then turned to Sarah, who was already staring at him. "And Sarah, you're— you're my—"

"Say it." Sarah coaxed, smiling at him. Athena's eyes widened as his stuttering stopped.

"You're my girlfriend." He admitted making everyone's jaw drop.

"I knew it. Twin tuition." Athena stated smugly. "Called it at the beginning of summer."

"Ohh... that's new." Pope mumbled earning himself an elbow from Athena, which made JJ laugh.

"She's your girlfriend now?" Kiara questioned, her voiced laced with betrayal. "What was all that talk about you were just using her for information? Get a map, cut her loose."

Athena's heart clenched upon seeing the hurt expression on Sarah's face. "You said you were using me?" She asked quietly, turning to face John B, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"No." He replied quickly.

"Don't lie to her." Athena called out.

"Look, love just walked in, okay?" John B defended.

"Oh, vomit." Kiara muttered, cringing as she turned away from the couple.

"That was cringey even for you JB." Athena commented.

"Athena I don't need the commentary right now, can you please be quiet for like give minutes." John B snapped before turning to the girls again. Athena stared at him before sighing, leaning her head against JJ's shoulder. "I didn't expect it. It just kind of happened. And I'm not gonna deny it, right?"

Athena knew Kiara had hit a nerve, noticing how Sarah refused to meet John B's pleading gaze, her arms crossed over her chest. Kie looked back at John B, fury still in her eyes.

"Look, cut the bullshit, John B. If she's in, I'm out." Kiara stated firmly.

"Kie, I'm not doing this. I can't!" John B sighed looking straight at her.

"You are gonna decide." Kiara insisted, her gaze hard as stone as she met his eyes. "I'm very interested, actually. Me or her?"

Athena let out a sigh, knowing John B wouldn't be able to pick between the two.

"Both." John B replied instantly.

"Ooh." Pope hummed.

"Went for the Hail Mary." JJ muttered at the same with a whistle as Athena bit her lips anxiously. With one last look Kiara walked out of the front porch door, slamming behind her. The group watched her, a tense atmosphere now settling in the air.

"I'm gonna leave." Sarah said abruptly, standing up.

"Sarah, don't—" John B begged.

"Gonna let y'all chat. Let me know." She stated.

As Sarah left, Athena got up, ready to leave.

"Hey, you leaving too?" John B asked her. Athena kept walking, ignoring the boy. It was out of pettiness but she couldn't help herself. When she didn't respond, John B grabbed her arm. "Athena? What's wrong?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you wanted me to be quiet?" Athena asked sarcastically, watching the flash of guilt pass through the boy's eyes as he remembered what he had said.

"Look Thens, I was—"

"Don't Thens me okay, John B." Athena snapped, interrupting him. "You were rude and dumb and angry and I'm not mad at you for what you said. What I am mad about is, one, you keep brining up me being a kook as an argument point when there is no need. Okay, we all get it, I'm a kook, I live on figure eight but I have spent so much time bribing and blackmailing and lying to people to raise money for people on the cut."

She tilted her head to the side. "How many times have I brought you money and food over after your dad went missing? Just because I knew you wouldn't want to go into foster care because you would want to stay here and pretend someone is living with you. And to have that all thrown in my face all the time by you, the so called leader of this group, making me feel like an outcast when I was finally feeling like I had found my people hurts."

"And two, I told you not to hurt my sister and you said you wouldn't but guess what here we are with her hurt because of guess who, oh yeah you." Athena scoffed quietly. "And I'm the one who has to comfort her because you're an idiot. But not only that you said you were using her, a business meeting, use her and drop her loose. How would that make you feel? So stay here and think over your actions but I have a sister to console."

Athena then spun on her heels, walking out of the chateau, leaving the three boys alone. They each shared looks of different expressions. John B in shock of what just happened, Pope slightly impressed but mainly distressed at the situation at hand and JJ let a proud smile grow on his face, knowing how much the girl hating arguments and confrontation and yet she had down that no problem. Athena carried on walking in the direction Sarah had gone when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Attie!" Athena turned to face the voice, JJ standing in front of her. "You okay?"

"I'm alright, JJ, don't worry about me." Athena told him with a soft smile.

"You sure? It got a bit heated back there." He stated, concern in his features.

"JJ I'm fine. I promise." She smiled weakly.

"I'm just checking." The two stared at each other for a few moments in silence before Athena stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his waist.

JJ froze for a second before relaxing into his embrace. Athena's strawberry perfume overtook his senses. It was comforting and warm, the two in their own world.

"I should go find Sarah." Athena stated stepping back.

"Yeah, I'll see you later." JJ smiled as Athena leant up on her toes. She pressed her lips to his cheek before turning around and walking off, leaving a lovestruck JJ with a dreamy smile on his face.

Athena walked down the street, eventually finding Sarah. She caught up to her, giving her sister a quick hug before they linked arms. Sarah leant her head on Athena's shoulder as they walked down the street. Athena testing her own on top.

"I love you A." Sarah admitted suddenly.

"I love you too S." Athena replied.

"You'll always choose me right?" Sarah asked her. "You won't leave?"

"I would always choose you. Sarah and Athena against the world, for all eternity." Athena reassured her twin.

Sarah smiled, holding her pinky up. "For all eternity."

Athena laughed, remembering how many times this had happened since they created the saying when they were younger. Athena linked her pinky with Sarah's with a small smile.

"For all eternity."