ATHENA
"Mummy! What made you take so long?" Rayen jumps in my arms as | hold back a groan.
| swear periods were enemies sent to kill us but found us stronger, so they settled for torture instead.
Because what the hell am | feeling this kind of pain for?
"We had to check for something, buddy. Chere!" Alex savesagain.
Have you ever felt like asking the ground to open up and swallow you whole? That's exactly how I'm feeling.
I'm so shy, | can't face him. Which is crazy because I'm a doctor. These things shouldn't bother me.
"My camping tent is huge and warm. I'm sharing it with my best friend! Wanna see?" Rayen asks, and | hold back
a laugh.
This boy has more energy than I'll ever have.
"Yes, sure. But | didn't know you had a best friend, who is it?" Alex asks.
“Kai Sinclair. He just cto our school and is super fun!" Rayen bounces as we walk to his tent.
The setup is really camp like except that the tents have been made inside the huge hotel with security so tight
no one goes around without an ID.
| doubt Alex understands the word camping.
"When you said camping, | thought it's the one everyone goes to. But | should have known nothing is the same
with you, | mean, you created an artificial forest!"
| can't help but laugh at how crazy this is.
“I think it's a win-win situation. The kids get to have fun, and we get to keep them safe." He shrugs.
| shake my head but say nothing. At this point, I'm tongue-tied.
We step into the giant ballroom-turned-forest-fantasy, where massive artificial
trees line the walls, and soft green carpeting pretends to be grass.
Fairy lights twinkle from the ceiling like stars, and a few fake animal sounds echo faintly from hidden speakers.
It's extra but kind of adorable.
Rayen races ahead of us, nearly tripping over one of the tree roots made out of foam.
"Careful!" Alex and | speak at the stime.
"There! That's mine!" Rayen says, pointing proudly at a tent with his name
scribbled in glittery letters above it. "And that's Kai's!" He gestures to the one right next to it.
"Rayen!" A little boy calls for him, making us both turn as they run towards each other.
Behind him is Rose.
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I'm taken aback, shocked that her son goes here too.
"Rose?"
"Athena." She smiles as she pullsinto a hug. "It's great to see you!"
"| didn't know your son goes to the sschool at Rayen."
She laughs,
"He recently changed schools. It's all Caleb's fault."
"Caleb?"
"My oldest son. He wants to play soccer and insists on changing schools. Apparently, being nine means not going
to a school owned by your father." She laughs, and | join in.
"| guess | better start that count down, ey!"
"The earlier, the better!" She responds before we both burst out laughing.
"Rose." A deep voice speaks from behind me.
Rose looks up, her expression suddenly guarded, "Alex."
He nods at her before turning to face me, "Do you want to sit?" He asks.
"I'm fine." | brush him off.
He really needs to leavethe hell alone!
Before he is able to get any more words out, we hear clapping of hands.
"Alright, campers!" one of the teachers calls out, dressed in an actual ranger outfit, complete with a wide-
brimmed hat and a fake walkie-talkie clipped to her belt.
"Tfor sclassic campsite fun!"
Rayen lights up like a Christmas tree.
Within minutes, the place turns into level one chaos. One corner becomes a pretend fishing station with
magnetic rods and floating paper fish. Another area has a build your own trail mix table with ten different
toppings and three kids already going into sugar comas.
The teachers gather the kids into small groups and hand them scavenger hunt cards decorated with little forest
animals.
Rayen grabs Kai's hand and drags him toward the activity zone, both of them screaming something about finding
a glow in the dark frog.
"Looks like they're having fun," Rose says, crossing her arms.
"Too much," | laugh, watching Rayen pile leave into a bucket like it's treasure. "He's going to crash hard tonight."
"I bet they all will! | can't believe they made the assistant principal dress up as a werewolf."
We both fall into fits of laughter as we look around.
Nearby, other parents are being
pulled into activities, shelping build stick tents using popsicle sticks and hot glue guns, and others
reluctantly trying to light pretend campfires with plastic logs and red tissue paper. s
And then there's Alex, standing like he owns the forest. He
somehow still manages to net
intimidating while a tiny girl ties a friendship bracelet on his wrist. s
He glances atand mouths "Help me."
An evil smile stretches my face when | call for a group of girls standing by the
corner.
"Hi girls. Do you wanna paint someone's face?" | ask with a full smile.
No child ever says no to painting.
"Yes!" They all jump up and down.
My smile grows, "See that man over
there with blond hair? He said he
wants his face painted so badly. But, he's shy so when no, just he say cry and he will know you really want to
paint him!"
s
"Really? That's so fun!" One of the girls says happily and rushes to pick paint and brushes.
"You're enjoying torturing him, aren't you?" Rose says by my side.
| watch the horrific expression on Alex's face when the girls all start crying at
once.
"Please don't cry... | didn't mean it like that...shit!" He looks around when his eyes find mine.
| hold his gaze as | respond to Rose,
"It's exhilarating!"
"Alright parents, your turn!" a teacher calls. "Let's see who's brave enough to sing
around the campfire!"
"Oh, no," | mutter.
Rose looks absolutely delighted.
"Con, Athena. Don't makedo this alone."
"I'd rather do surgery on myself."
She doesn't givea choice. Moments later, I'm sitting cross-legged on a fake
picnic blanket,
Rayen runs over and plops into my lap, breathless and red-faced. "Mummy, |
found all the clues! And | got a star!"
He showsa glittery sticker stuck to his forehead.
"You're amazing," | say, kissing the top of his head.
Then he looks atwith that ssparkle he always has, like I'm his entire
world.
"Mummy," he whispers. "Do we get to sleep in the tents tonight?"
"Yes, love. Right next to Kai."
"And you'll be close too?"
"I'll be right here."
His smile stretches so wide | feel something tug deep in my chest.
"So, who is going to sing?" The teacher asks.
"Rayen's mum will!" | hear three small voices shout in unison, "She has been
talking about singing the whole way!" They add.
No | didn't!
But even if | did, how would they-wait.... is this Alex's payback?
| bite inside my cheek as my eyes search until they finally land on green ones.
| glare at him, but all he does is givea stupid wink with his horribly painted
face.
"Great! Dr. Dawson, please start the song for us!"
| force a smile as | clear my throat.
I'm going to kill him for this!