THINKING ABOUT HIM turned into a daily thing since he came by a couple of days ago, and Athena couldn't figure out why her thoughts often went back to him.

Perhaps, for one, he was charming, almost to Prince Charming level even. She knew however that she couldn't be interested in someone just by their appearance. But that didn't stop her heart from fluttering at the image of him in her mind.

Perhaps it was also his kindness that really reeled her in. Athena's only been working at her mother's bakery-cafe for about two weeks and a half now, but no one's been as nice as he was.

It's a sad thought, yes, but she always took any acts of kindness towards her to heart.

Either way, Athena's mind had slowly been consumed by him, and god could she not help it all at this rate.

It was an early afternoon that Lucas came back.

Athena was spending it helping her mom carry out things out to the front to restock the fridges, toppings, all the sorts. By now, a line of sweat had formed on her head and was starting to form in the back of her neck, and Athena could feel her chest tighten in exhaustion.

She didn't have the greatest strength, nor stamina to do stuff like this, but she made the effort to be a decent employee for her mother's establishment. It was the least she could do.

As the two were done, Athena and her mom used the moments afterward to rest from their doings. She was leaning against her mother's office door in the back when they suddenly heard the bell from the front go off, meaning someone was there wanting to order.

The mother stood from her chair, though still out of breath. "Ay, let me get them for you."

But Athena protested. "No, no, I'll get it, I'm already going." And before the mother could do anything, she was already out of her sight.

Hastily, Athena fast-walked her way to the register, only for her breathing to stop once she makes her way there, realizing the person who rung the bell was Lucas.

At the sight of her, he already finds a smile on his face. "Hey."

It doesn't take more than beat for Athena to reciprocate the gesture. "Hi again...stranger," she spoke, trying to keep her breath steady, but merely failing along the way.

Lucas immediately notices her panting and slightly frowned. "You okay?"

Athena took in a couple more breaths. "Yeah, my mom and I just got done organizing and restocking the store. The other person that was supposed to be working today along with me called out sick so it's just her and I."

He nodded and questioned then, "How long have you been working here?"

Thinking about her answer, Athena's eyes trail up to the ceiling. "Since the beginning of June. I just moved here from Colorado and my mom thought it'd be a good idea to work here while it's summer break, and so I can get work experience."

"Do you like working here?"

She nodded. "Of course, yeah. I do like it. It's just—stuff like that makes working here all the more exhausting."

He gives her a nod back, assuring, "I get it."

"Yeah, my fifteen-year-old self can only handle so much," she shrugged, leaning her hands on the sides of the counter.

Hearing her age, Lucas raised a brow. "You're fifteen?"

"Mhm," she nodded. "But I'm not a sophomore yet. My dad did the "start kindergarten at six years old" for me because he was that hesitant in me starting school."

She still didn't know why he was so paranoid on letting her start school at five, to this day. Perhaps it was because he wanted to keep her away from the world for a while longer, but that was one of the many thoughts in the back of Athena's mind.

"I'm also fifteen too, don't worry," Lucas assured.

"Started at six too?"

He shook his head. "No, it's just—I got pushed back a year."

"Oh..." she trailed off, not expecting that answer. "Uh, why did that ha-"

"Can you two stop small talking?!" An older man's voice thundered through the room, causing them to turn and notice that he was the next person in line. "I want some damn coffee too!" he added, more intensely.

As they exchanged a grin, the two teens held back a laugh as the moment proceeded on.

"Well, you heard the man, just order please," Athena urged.

Lucas coughs out a chuckle before taking a glance at the menu. "I'll just get a strawberry iced tea, and your cookie, please."

Athena smiles as she places the order in the touchscreen register. "Alright—that and my cookie, got it." She grabs one of the cups beside her and writes his order down before tailing up his total. "That'll be $5.50...Lucas."

He grabbed the money from his pocket, handing over whatever was there. "You can keep the change."

Athena's smile widens. "Oh? Uhm, thanks," she replied as she puts the change into her tip jar, which was dollar and fifty cents.

Afterward, Lucas finds himself sitting in his seat again from last time while Athena takes the order from the guy behind him. And whilst she does the grumpy man's order, he can't help but watch her, captivated by her every move like before.

He's so absorbed in observing her that he quickly realizes that she made the man's drink first, then his.

So when she finally hands him his order, he can't resist pointing it out."Hey, why did you make his first?"

Athena sighs, exasperated. "So, he could leave and be an asshole somewhere else."

Her blunt response catches Lucas off guard, and he snorts out a laugh. Athena still looks annoyed from the encounter. "I get at least five of them every day. It's annoying."

Lucas pursed his lips. "Well, how do you deal with them?"

"Annoying people? I just try my best to keep myself calm and collected. I don't try to argue with customers, even when I know full well that they're wrong half the time."

"Really?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I mean, you know what they say? The customer is always right, right?"

"Sure, but, I think in some situations, you should be able to argue back."

"Oh, totally, but I'm a person who likes to keep the peace," she replies honestly. "You must know someone like that too, right?"

And when Lucas truly thinks about it, he feels a weight in his chest as he realizes he's that person in his own life, the one who always tries to keep the peace, even in his complicated love triangle.

"Yeah... yeah, I do," he admits.

Athena sighs, her expression softening. "Look, I appreciate you wanting me to stand up for myself, but I do it when I feel it's necessary. Not need to worry," she assured.

He nodded. "Noted..." Lucas trails off as he stands to leave, grabbing his food and drink for the walk back home. "It was nice seeing you again, Athena."

She smiles warmly. "Yeah, it was nice seeing you too—stranger."

His face falters slightly as he notices she still calls him a stranger. In a way, he knows he still is, but he realizes he doesn't want to be a stranger to her anymore.

But as he walks toward the door, he suddenly hears, "And by the way, Lucas..."

In a beat, his steps come to a halt as he turned around to her.

She gives him another soft smile. "I'd rather you just call me, Thena, next time you come here."

His face lights up with a brighter smile. "Will do...Thena."

And as he left, he felt a weight of the world going off his shoulders.

And for Athena, she felt a light weight of affection adding to her heart.

She watches the door a little longingly before turning back to the register. Noticing the lone dollar bill in the tip jar, she decides to make some origami.

At first, she wondered what to make of with the currency in hand, but when she suddenly spotted a small, scribbled heart almost in the middle of the bill, Athena smiled, feeling as if the universe had given her a nudge of inspiration.

And with that, Athena folded away, smiling the entire time, knowing Lucas was the reason for her joy. For now, at least.

lani's talking!

about time I actually started this story lol

anyways, this act is only six chapters long but we still have another act until we actually hit season three, and as you can imagine, next act will be a little intense...

so enjoy happy athena and lucas for now :)

anyways, as I always say in my books, thank you for love and support you all have already given this book! y'all already got this book to 1k viewers and 100+ votes ahhhh.

again, thank you all sm and I really hope you enjoy this story, and I will see you all later!

byeeeee <3