Athena had been pent up in her room for days. She had never felt this way before. All she wanted to do was sleep and never get out of bed. It felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, slowly crushing her into nothing.

She lay there on her bed, looking at the new cuts on her arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she remembered her promise to CC. She knew CC would be upset with her and that made her even more upset.

There was a knock on the door and she mumbles a barely audible "Come in."

"Are we going to school today?" Her dad asked, poking his head in.

Athena sighed. "No." She said, flatly.

She hadn't been to school for two days but she still felt she couldn't go. She couldn't stand to see Max again. She knew she would just crumble beneath his gaze.

"Honey, I don't know what to do." Her dad sat on the end of the bed. "I'm a grown man. I... I don't know what to say to make you feel better. You need to go to school, though."

"I can't."

"Come on, Athena. Have you talked to Jane at all about this? I'm sure she can help you out."

"I don't want to talk to anyone. I just want to be left alone." She buried her face in her pillow.

"Alright. Last day I let you stay home. Tomorrow, you are going to school."

"Tomorrow is Saturday."

"Monday, you are going to school." Her dad kissed the top of her head and left for work.

Athena sat up in bed, scrolling through the missed calls and messages from Lacey, Max and CC. All Max wanted was to try and explain but she knew it was all bullshit. Lacey was trying to figure out what happened and wanted to see if Athena was okay. CC was wondering where she was and if she was alright. He really cared about her and wanted to make sure she was safe.

Now, she regretted saying she wanted to be alone. She needed someone to be there with her. She didn't want to be alone anymore. But, CC was at the studio with the guys and Lacey was at school.

"Athena?"

She turned around at the sound of her name to see Eric standing in the doorway.

When I wished for someone to come, I didn't mean him... Athena thought.

"Are you okay?" Eric continued.

"What are you doing here, Eric?" She asked.

"I, uh, came to drop something off for Jane but I thought I heard noises and I wanted to make sure everything was okay. I didn't expect you to be home."

"Oh... Um, yeah..." She wiped the tears that tried to escape her eyes.

"Why are you crying?"

"Long story..." She looked down at her lap.

"I have time." Eric said, stepping a little further into the room.

Athena smiled a little. "Okay." She patted the spot on the bed next to her and Eric sat down beside her.

She told him the whole story about Max. About the pictures, and how she forgave him the first time, and then she caught him in the actual act, and how her whole life felt like it was just falling apart.

Eric sat there and listened to everything she had to say and when she had finished, he did something that surprised Athena. He reached over and hugged her. He held onto her and made her feel, ironically, safe.

"Eric?" Athena said into his shoulder.

He pulled away so he could look at her.

"Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?" She continued. "I mean, after what happened between us. I thought you hated me and you were just out to make my life miserable."

"It's a long story." Eric said.

"I have time." Athena copied his response from earlier.

Eric took a deep breath. "Okay." He began. "Well, I used to have a little sister. When she was four years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. Leukemia. My sister made me really happy. She was like my best friend. I was with her at the hospital whenever my parents and I were allowed to visit. After battling her disease for three years, the cancer won. She would have been the same age as you if she had survived. When I first met Jane and I saw she had a little sister that she was so close with, I guess I was a little jealous. Then, she and I got in a fight. You were the one person I knew she cared about the most and that's why that night happened. I won't tell you I wasn't somewhat attracted to you, because I was. You are a very pretty girl, Athena. But, when I saw the way that guy was touching you at the concert, I knew it was my job to protect you. It was as if, just for a moment, I had my little sister back and I couldn't let him hurt you. I was able to take over the role of an older brother again. I'm sorry if I ever hurt you. I know I was an asshole before but now you know my story. Jane doesn't even know."

By the time he had finished, he was in tears. "I never told anyone about my sister. She's always been like a secret. I felt that if I didn't tell anyone about her and no one knew about her, it would be as if she never really did exist and the pain of not having her around anymore would disappear."

"And did it?" Athena asked.

"For a while it did. But I don't think I want to go on pretending like she never existed anymore."

This time, Athena pulled Eric into a hug. "I think she would want you to remember her." Athena said.

Athena never would have guessed that Eric's past would have been like that. His life was perfect until his sister got cancer and then his whole world just crashed. Crashed the way Athena's life seemed to be. Now she knew his secret, but he still didn't know hers.