After one week, we got the result of our project and I can’t believe that we got the best project in our department also….

“We got in the exhibit!” I excitedly said when Miss Davies told us after class.

“Honestly, I don’t expect it because I thought it is just, you know, very common.” Thomas said while shaking his head and smiling. He couldn’t believe it either.

“Well, it’s better to not expect it to achieve more success.” I sigh. “The world will recognize our work and I couldn’t wait to make it come true.”

He looks at me. “Thank you for saving me this semester.” he said sincerely and happily.

I smile. “Don’t thank me dork. You also did it!” 

He smirks. “Dork? You still call me dork after our success?”

I smirked. “Why? Dorky dork?” I tease and he suddenly puts his arm around my shoulder and pinch my cheek with both of his hands.

“Hey! Let me go, you dork!” We were walking around campus while he was doing this! What if we trip?

“Not until you call me by my name.” I groan and try to unclasp his strong hands on my cheeks. 

“Athena!” We stop walking and Noah is in front of us.

He looks calm and stares at me. “Noah!” I smiled at him and Thomas let go of me. I walked towards him with excitement. “We got in the exhibit.” I said, giggling.

Noah smiled at me. “Really?”

“Yes!”

“That’s good news!”

“Um, Noah, this is Thomas. My best friend. He is also my partner in our project. And Thomas, this is Noah, my boyfriend.” I proudly said and Noah extended his hand to thomas.

Thomas shook his hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you.” He cleared his throat. “I finally met you. It is embarrassing to say but I used to be your fan.”

“Oh, that’s cool. By the way, thanks for punching that asshole.”

Thomas crunches his nose. “He deserves it.”

“Um, why don’t we celebrate your success?”

“That’s a great idea!” I am so full of excitement. Actually, this is the first time that I felt excited again.

“Adonis club tonight. You should come, since you are my girlfriend’s best friend and I owe it to you.”

I smiled because they are getting along.

Thomas nods. “Yeah, that's great.”

“Okay! We’ll see you tonight, mate!” Noah put his arm around my shoulder and I waved at Thomas.

I’m happy that Noah is not like Matt who is not easily jealous. He kissed me on my head and I looked up at him. I put my arms around his waist and we walked silently.

***

I was putting on my shoes when aunt Sandra called me downstairs.

“Noah’s here!”

“Coming!”

I stood up from my bed and looked at myself in the mirror. I took a deep breath and smiled. I grab my shoulder bag and step outside of my room.

I walked downstairs and Noah was talking to Jeremy. 

“Hey.”

“Noah, take care of my daughter.” Aunt Sandra said and Noah kissed me on my cheeks.

“I will Mrs. Baker.” 

“Enjoy your night.” She said then wink.

We got outside and walked towards his motorbike. I told aunt Sandra that our project got in the exhibit and we will celebrate it tonight. I thought she wouldn't allow me but she smiled and allowed me. She said, I’m an adult now and she trusts me. Which gave me confidence about myself.  

Noah put the helmet on my head. I smiled at him and he stared at me, holding both of my shoulders. 

I don’t know but, he seems calm and okay but now that I am getting to know him, he is actually great at hiding his feelings. He doesn’t want anyone to know until he is ready to open himself up. I do understand because we’re just the same. And I am a person who just shrugs off all of my thoughts when someone doesn’t want to talk about it because I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.

Maybe I’m just being paranoid or over-thinking about nonsense things.

Because it happened  and what I get is hurtful words.

I hug his waist from behind tightly. I don’t want to think about Matt anymore. I don’t want to doubt Noah and regret having this relationship again. Noah is different from Matt.

They’re different.

“Yo, mate!” 

“Athena!” Olivia hugged me and I sat beside her. “I didn’t know you had it in you!”

I smile at her and shrug. “Not only me.” When I saw Thomas entering the entrance, I excitedly waved at him. “Thomas!”

He smiled when he saw me and then walked towards us.

“Wait, did I hear it right? Thomas? Harrison?” Olivia asked me and she couldn't believe it.”

“Hey!” I thought when I thought Olivia knew Thomas is an asshole or playboy, well, I was wrong because when Thomas sat beside me and I introduced him to her, she was like surprised, amazed and I think she had a crush on him. Well, who didn’t?

“Oh my god! Thomas Harrison is in front of us? Is this real? Ouch! Bloody hell! Why did you do that?” Olivia said while rubbing her arm pinched by Nate.

“You seem fazed about him, Ol.” Nate said, leaning his arms on the head coach.

Olivia glared at him. “He’s our face card on our brand! And I like him.”

“Oh, are you Miss Olivia Peterson?” 

Her face suddenly changed into gentleness. She looked at Thomas and smiled. Flirtatious. “You do remember.”

Noah put the beers on the table and he sat beside Nate. They were in front of us at the round table.

Olivia got her beer and before she drank it, she asked me while looking at Thomas. I can really tell that she likes Thomas and I am so curious how these two didn’t end up with each other or likewise.

“So, how did the two of you meet?” Olivia asked and I'm in the middle of Thomas and Olivia.

“We were in the same course and class.” I said then get my beer.

“Oh, excellent.”

“I became her friend because she is like a wolf and no one dares to speak to her. But, I am.”

I laugh. “Am I? But it took you one month to speak to me.”

“Yeah because I told you, I was observing you and I thought to myself, this girl is a smart ass.” He said while laughing. “You are always cutting off the professor and asking the reverse question.” 

Olivia laughs. “Really? You’re mean.”

I rolled my eyes but I’m smiling. “Okay. Enough about me. What about the two of you? Are you friends?”

“Peterson is a famous brand of jewellery, bags and clothing. In short, she’s bloody wealthy.” Nate said while doing that okay sign.

I was awed by this information about her and I looked at her. 

“Mate, it's not me. It's my dad only. So, please exclude me from that.” She said then drink her beer.

I narrowed my eyes. “If you’re that wealthy, then, why are you working?” I tried my best to not sound offensive because I am just curious. She smiled, taking my question as a friend gesture. She knew that I didn’t know anything about her so I felt that she wanted to tell me everything and I appreciate that.

“At first I wanted to do what my parents wanted me to do. They told me to study business because someday I will manage one of our businesses. But, one day, I find my own skill which is—”

“Hacking!” Nate said.

“No! I find it intriguing, yes, but I find myself really good at computers.” I’m listening to her and she is good at making eye contact while talking to me. “I met Thomas at the photoshoot for our brand and at the show.”

“She’s the one who manages their models. May I ask why did you suddenly change your path?”

Olivia slightly laughs. “Honestly, it bores me. It bores me to death! I wanted to know things outside of my family course and that’s where I realize, I wanted some things of my own like I wanted to try things on my own.”

“Oh, you wanted to be independent and do your thing.” I said then drink my beer.

“Exactly! It feels like I have no life!”

“And freedom.” Nate said.

Olivia looks at him with a finger gun sign. “Now, I can manage on my own. And here’s my saviour who bailed me out.”

I look at Noah who is silently listening to us. He smiled and raised his glass. “If you didn’t hack on the police system, I wouldn’t know you.”

She laughs like a bell ring and I’m amazed by her courage. “I’m more surprised that you almost befriended the population here in London.”

I smiled. Yeah, I know that. He is gentle, kind and can see through you. Thomas and I we’re just the same age but these trio treat us like a long friend. Olivia is twenty-two, the same age as Nate. Noah told me that Olivia is taking a computer course and she is taking a part time job at Noah's cafe.

“All right! As you know that we are here celebrating Athena’s success with her friend.” Noah said and raised his glass.

Nate whistles and Olivia claps her hands. “Cheers to that!” She said then we clink our glasses.

I can’t help but smile because I’m with the amazing people. We continued chatting until I felt a familiar laugh on the counter. I thought I was hallucinating or dreaming because of the beer, but I remember what the facial features of our family is. I squinted my eyes and I am not hallucinating. 

I cleared my throat and excused myself. I walked towards the bar counter and there he was. My big brother.

“Athena!” He wasn’t surprised. More excited to see me. Well, I got the feeling that I may see him here because of the bar’s name.

My mouth was hanging open because the way he flirted with this bartender, I can say, they have a thing.

He laughed like a madman. “Come here little sister, I’ve missed you!” 

“Ugh.” I rolled my eyes and we couldn’t hug because of the middle counter. He just kissed me on my cheeks and smiled widely. 

“That explains why you are so familiar.” The bartender says.

“Have you met my little unicorn?”

I slap Adonis on his arm resting on the table. I sit in front of him and rest my arms.

“Don’t call me any of your nicknames, please. I’m an adult now!” I said in a whisper and frustrating voice. He just laughed at me.

“Yeah we met at their freshmen gathering party.”

“Oh, I see.” He looks at me and I know what he is going to ask me. “Did you have sex?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Enough about me. What about you? The two of you?”

“Oh, this is Lester. My boyfriend.”

“Nice to meet you, Athena.” He said smiling then extended his hand. I shook his hand and he felt so warm, kind and gentle.