19th Period: Athena's Friendship Restored

Alyson, who's a friend of mine from my Universe History class, noticed that Athena wouldn't even look in my direction. Since Athena and Aylson had been good friends for the last few years already. She used her charm to convince Athena to try working things out with me. It didn't take long before the distance between Athena and me began closing. She engaged Athena in strategic conversations, subtly highlighting the importance of open communication in any conflict resolution. 

Over the next month, Alyson worked tirelessly to mend the broken lines of communication between Athena and me. She masterfully interwoven herself into our daily routines, ensuring she was present during our shared classes and meal times, subtly fostering a neutral ground where Athena and I were inadvertently drawn into shared conversations and activities. Each day, she'd deftly steer our exchanges towards topics of shared interest, expertly sparking a remembrance of mutual understanding and camaraderie that once existed between us. 

Alyson's efforts were not without struggle, but her unwavering commitment ensured that Athena and I gradually began to lower our defenses, inching towards a place of reconciliation. Her tireless efforts became the cornerstone of this unexpected truce, paving the way for Athena and me to rekindle our fractured friendship. 

Sure enough a month later after starting college I met up with Athena, and the two of us headed to my mother's new house. When we got there, my mother greeted us both warmly. 

As we stepped inside the home, the familiar scent of mom's delicious homemade food wafted through the air, instantly filling the space with warmth and comfort. 

"You're just in time," she smiled, leading us towards the kitchen where the pie was cooling on the counter. 

As we settled into the cozy kitchen, conversation started to flow more naturally. We reminisced about old memories, shared laughter, and even dared to broach the subject of our separation. The tension that had once hung heavily between us started to dissipate, replaced by an emerging understanding and the budding of a renewed friendship. In the meantime, we enjoyed the delicious meal my mother had prepared. Athena and I were finally reconnecting, not as estranged friends, but as two individuals ready to let go of past grievances and look forward to a harmonious future. Alyson had accomplished her mission by bringing the two of us back together. 

"I'm so glad you came to visit us. I have to go to work early today and I was about to ask the neighbor to pick up Erica but since the two of you are here can you pick her up from high school?" asked Michelle of the Eliwood House. 

"Great! I have to pick up my baby sister," I said sarcastically. 

I just know that she is going to find a way to embarrass me while Athena's here. 

"Will that be a problem?" asked my mother with that serious look on her face. 

"It's not a problem, Mother. The two of us will get her at 3:30 pm," I said with a fake smile on my face. 

While waiting for my little sister to finish school, Athena and I decided to make the most of our time. We drove around town, absorbing the everyday hustle and bustle that makes up the lifeblood of our town. We eventually found ourselves at a small local corner store, a familiar site that provided a comforting sense of nostalgia. 

As we strolled the aisles of the corner store, picking up a few snacks and drinks, Athena turned to me, her face a study of curiosity. 

"Hey, Henry, do you remember the time I first kissed you in front of your apartment?" she asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. 

I choked on my drink, taken aback by the sudden mention about the kiss. 

"Athena! Bringing up the last thing I expected," I stammered, trying to regain my composure. 

"That night we spent together was amazing, just the two of us. Do you remember the time we spent during the Solstice of Solara?" I asked. 

Her face lit up at the mention of the Solstice of Solara, the time we spent together would forever be engraved into the depth of our hearts for eternity. 

"How could I forget? That was the best Solstice of Solara I had ever experienced," she said, the memory bringing a soft smile to her face. 

Our conversation flowed freely, the past and present melding together as we reconnected over the memories of our shared past, filled with laughter, mischief, and shared secrets. It was the first step toward healing our friendship, a journey back in time that reminded us of the bond we once shared. As we sat in the vehicle, munching away on our finds at the small corner store. The afternoon went by a little bit faster than we imagined. 

Finally, as 3:30 rolled around, we made our way to Oliver West Middle School to pick up Erica. As soon as she hopped into the car, it was clear that the day was going to be filled with stories of her and her friends. The drive home was full of laughter, conversations, and just a hint of excitement - after all, we had the entire evening to savor these memories together! As I looked back on our day, I felt a renewed sense of appreciation as these strange feelings began reawakening between the two of us. 

It seemed the connection we once had with each other was restored and the Aeonian Talents that we had discovered long ago began returning to us. Athena began sharing a particular story from her past. She reminisced about the last eight years we were apart, a time when she felt a profound sense of solitude. 

"Those eight years without you were some of the loneliest times in my life," Athena said. 

"I went about my days, but it was as though a piece of me was missing. There were so many moments, big and small, that I wished I could have shared with you. We were always so in sync, you and I. The void that your absence left was beyond imagination," she said her words were heavy with emotion, underlining the depth of our bond and the significance of our reunion. 

Her vulnerability in sharing this piece of her past added a layer of emotional depth to our friendship, highlighting the Mithrean capacity for connection and resilience. While we're having a heart to heart conversation my sister jumps into the conversation. 

"I just can't believe that you're the same girl who broke my big brother's heart! Tell me again why you couldn't remain friends with my brother from a long distance? Even after you confessed your feelings of love for him?" asked Erica. 

"At the time, I wasn't allowed to be with him after the attacks on your family by those Aeonian Hunters. At last, I was left with no other choice but to break off the friendship for good. The heads of the Rosewood House from Roseville District were very strict," Athena said as she continued explaining. 

This conversation continued on the whole drive home. When we finally arrived and got out of the vehicle I told the two of them to drop it. 

"Don't you have homework that you need to work on?" I asked. 

"Fine! I'll get started on it right away," Erica said with a sour look on her face. 

After we dropped off my little sister, we chatted about old times while we drove around. Athena began to recall The Solstice of Solara that she spent with me during middle school. 

"Those starlit nights, camping in the heart of nature were some of the most enchanting moments of my life," Athena admitted, a wistful smile gracing her features, "I was glad that the two of us were able to escape the walls of Rosewood House and find solace under the open, endless sky. Our only companions were the twinkling stars and the gentle whispers of the woodland." 

"We'd lay on our backs, hands barely touching, and gaze up at the glittering cosmos. The stars seemed to dance just for us," she reminisced, her eyes shimmering with the remnants of those past memories, "We were just children, but those moments held a romance that transcended our age. Henry you traced out constellations and shared stories of the adventures we could have aboard the Black Reaper Starship as we talked about the possible sights that would unfold before us were magical." 

"Those summers, under the stars, with you… they were a sanctuary from the world. And in those moments, I honestly felt that love could be as endless as the night sky," The words hung in the air, a testament to a time of innocent love and the profound bond that had developed under the watchful gaze of the twin stars. 

Afterwards, I took Athena back to the university so she could pick up her vehicle, and then headed back to the dorm room, but not before grabbing dinner at the house with my sister Erica, and our new father. One week later while I was eating lunch with Athena. Our friend Alyson begins flirting with me out of the blue. I didn't think much of it at the time. 

"I have to get to class, I'll catch you girls later," I said as I headed to my science class. 

Afterwards I ran into Alyson. Who was waiting for me outside my class. The two of us made our way to the cafeteria, and we enjoyed lunch together. When we finished eating Alyson walked alongside me as I made my way to my next class. 

"Hey when are the two of you finally going on that date?" asked Alyson of the Stanfield House as she leaned in towards me waiting for my answer. 

I stopped her midway with my hand. I didn't know how to ask Athena about the date. 

"We should chat some more when I get out of class, and I'll think about asking Athena about that date," I said. 

"Alright I'll be waiting for you at the usual spot after class," Alyson said as she waved goodbye to me. 

Alyson and I discovered this hidden room behind the Sports Center Building on campus a few weeks back and have been visiting this secret place ever since.