23 - ARACHNE
“Athena hasn’t given up yet,” Blossom said through the door to my bedroom.
Who was she to assume I would be listening? I could be sleeping! It was horrid roommate behavior.
So, I ignored her. Focusing on the sketch in my lap instead. Inspiration was skirting me recently. If Spun was to remain at the top of the fashion food chain, I had to step it up. Innovate. Create. Kick ass. Slaughter the competition. Etc.
“Listen, I was initially pissed at her as well, but I think you should see this.”
Excuse me?
I wanted to scream but was forced to settle for tossing my sketchpad aside to shift and crawl into my comfortable webbed corner instead. It was always a relief to hand the reins to the beast when I didn’t wish to feel. This form was less complicated.
“Ara, please listen.”
My nature rolled all eight of our eyes. She didn’t battle with me for control like most other immortals’ did; we cohabitated peacefully. Our personalities were similar, too. She was mostly relaxed, but it didn’t mean the venom wouldn’t come out when necessary.
“ Ugh . You’re being ridiculous, you know? I’ve never seen you as smiley as you were coming back from that date. It wasn’t her fault she went no contact. I doubt she’d ever leave again if you asked her to stay.”
That was one of mine and Athena’s many glaring pitfalls.
I didn’t want her to do anything for me. A decision of that magnitude was the general’s to make entirely separately. I would never give up my career for her, and would hope she would never ask… And anyway, this was doomed from the start.
If only my friend would’ve listened.
If only I would’ve listened to myself.
“Fine. I’m leaving. But I’m as stubborn as you are, bitch! Remember that!”