Chapter 4: “We Men are Wrenched Things” -Homer

Eros and Suiren walked into the classroom and found what Eros was already aware of, Achilles waiting for them leaning against his desk.

"You're back," Achilles acknowledged turning back to grab Eros' books.

Suiren stopped at the door her feet threatening to turn back. He had lied to her, Eros lied to her. She shot him a scowl but he purposely looked away. She was a small rabbit lured straight to the wolf's den... worse! The tigers den. Hijo de Judas! (Son of Judas), Suiren cursed Eros under her breath. She realized Achilles had to know how uneasy he made her and, if she remembered anything about the handsome jerk, she remembered how much he loved having the upper hand. Taking a deep breath, in that instant she decided she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

Suiren walked decidedly straight for Achilles as he handed Eros his books. He shifted his gaze onto her focused stare. Standing before him she faked a smile, a smile any seasoned retail employee would be proud of. "It's nice to personally meet you Professor Avenzzano, I've heard a lot about you from Eros," she gushed in a fake overly-friendly tone.

Eros snorted a laugh, he didn't expect her to do that.

Achilles' brows furrowed as he slightly tilted his head inquisitively. He shot Eros a questioning glance, Eros limited himself to shrugging and turning his back to them finding his phone screen much more interesting. It was their problem to sort out after all.

Achilles narrowed his eyes, "Pleasure is all mine." He answered playing along. Folding his arms over his chest he said nothing more and just looked at her. He was sure she couldn't have forgotten him and yet... he couldn't help but feel a sliver of panic race through him.

Suiren swallowed and looked away feeling his eyes on her. She felt them trailing from the top of her head down to her toes, even as she felt the color rise to her cheeks she shivered. Standing there fully clothed she felt naked under his gaze. There was always something so invasive in the way he looked at her. His eyes seemed to darken as she willed herself to look back into his unblinking focused stare. Three years later and she still saw the tiger he was named for reflected in his ash colored eyes. Under their piercing gaze she found it difficult to look him in the eye. She felt the pink lace adorning the bra she wore was ridiculous, embarrassment flooded as if he could see the missing lace on the stitching of her panties. She shifted her weight from one foot to another.

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Suiren watched as Achilles shot his eyes down at her hand. Closing her eyes she let out an exasperated sigh as she realized she had involuntarily began to crack her knuckles. Slowly raising his eyes to meet hers, keeping his chin tucked Achilles allowed himself a smirk. She felt her eyes slightly widen and her lips part. She couldn't believe she was seriously gawking at him?! One look and she was that naïve 18 year old again. He was reading her like a book and all she could do was just standing there! Suiren felt her stomach lurch, she needed to get away.

All at once his devilish grin gave his eyes a gleam much like a cat being challenged to a game of keep away. He was dangerous and captivating. Achilles took a step closer to her only for her to take two steps back away from him. Suiren brought her hand up to the base of her throat.

"Well I-," much to her dismay her voice came out with a squeak. She cleared her throat digging her fingers into her skin. "I have to go. I have archeology next and well the Professor won't forgive me if I'm late, you know she hates tardiness." With a small awkward bow of her head, which was her way, she turned on her heel to leave.

"Ah-Ah," Achilles called after her reaching out to grab her wrist.

From the corner of her eye she saw him move forward, she quickly jerked her wrist before he could get a grip on it. Still his warm fingers grazed her skin...and that was enough. He felt electric. Her heart pounded against her chest loud enough she swore he could hear it. Without acknowledging him she hurried out the room determined for that to be the last interaction they ever had to have.

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Achilles turned to looked back at Eros, "What was that?"

Eros shrugged, "Don't know."

"What is she trying to do?" Achilles thought out loud, "Defensive response maybe?"

Eros sighed shoving his phone in his pocket. "I don't know man, I knew better than to bring you up for the passed three years so this is something you're going to have to figure out."

Achilles laughed, "She still has no idea how cute she is."

"There's a lot you don't know either," Eros stated as a matter of fact. "Have you never wondered why she ended up living with us? Hmm, Achilles?" He questioned folding his arms over his chest.

"I figured mom likes her, knew about her stepdad, and the house is close to the university so it was better than the dorms," Achilles shrugged a shoulder.

Eros shook his head, his hand coming down on Achilles' shoulder. "Like I said there's a lot you don't know."

"Tell me then," Achilles snapped aggravation in his voice, "I asked you to look after her for me, que no (isn't that right)? You were suppose to report back to me about how she was getting along, que no?"

Eros frowned, "There are some thing only she can tell you, it isn't my place. Think about how she must be feeling- " Eros began making his way towards the door. Turning back to face Achilles he added, "I don't know all the details of your amorous affair that summer but she was hurt and it's obvious she isn't over it, she isn't over you."

Achilles sighed shaking his head. "I don't know what to do," he admitted.

"Quit being such a domineering asshole, that would be a good start," Eros chuckled. It wasn't every day the mighty Achilles seemed so defeated. "Like I said man she obviously isn't over you so who knows what may happen."

Achilles watched as Eros walked out before leaning against his desk. He tossed his head back and looked up at the ceiling. He didn't mean to be a domineering ass but it was cute to see her all flustered. He has missed her cute expressions...Aaahh how he had wanted so badly to reach out and hold her. Beg for her forgiveness, he'd screwed up and he knew it. From the beginning he'd screwed up with her. She had only been eighteen that summer and so vulnerable... he was a scoundrel, no scruples and when he tried to rectify things he only ended up hurting her. So many mistakes but he had loved her, did love her still. He needed to explain but realized it might be a challenge with her pretending not to know him. Achilles looked down at the book on his desk and let out a wryly chuckle.

"We men are wretched things, aren't we Bunny," he whispered to himself.

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Suiren had intended to hide in her archeology class but ended up running into the Professor as soon as she stepped out of Achilles' classroom.

"Oh dear," the Professor chuckled catching her by the shoulders.

"Ah forgive me Professor," Suiren replied keeping her eyes on her shoes.

The Professor leaned in to peer at her. "Ren you're red," she pointed out. "Are you feeling okay?"

Suiren nodded, "I was just headed to your class didn't want to be late." She forced a smile looking up.

The Professor looked at her narrowing her eyes. "I was going to say hello to Achilles why don't you come with me?"

Suiren took a step back shaking her head, "No thank you."

The Professor nodded understandingly. "You've spoken to him then," she said this as a fact instead of a question.

Suiren let out a breath furrowing her eyebrows.

"That bad huh," she smiled sympathetically. She gave a nod back in the direction she came. "Ven, platícame(talk to me)."

Dragging her feet Suiren walked along side her, "Professor he's your son, it's awkward isn't it?"

The Professor shook her head, "No," she replied simply shrugging her shoulder. "He's my son, yes but I know you shouldn't make it easy for him."

Suiren sighed, "It was just strange to see him again, he threw me for a loop and I know he could tell so in the end I just pretended not to know him." She confessed bring her palm up to her face. Saying it out loud now sounded a lot worse.

The Professor stopped walking. Suiren looked back at her to see her lips forming a mischievous grin.

"Oh what is it Professor? I know that look," Suiren stated thinking how much Eros resembled her.

"Well," she began continuing to walk, "I can see you're a little mortified; however knowing my son, you pretending not to know him isn't all that bad."

Suiren shook her head not understanding.

"Mira(look), Achilles likes to have control of everything and everyone around him, it will drive him crazy that you pretend not to know him," the professor explained with a laugh.

"Professor," Suiren complained. The Professors laugh was infectious so she couldn't help but at least break into a bit of smile. "I just want to stay away from him but I'm glad my trouble will serve for your entertainment."

"Just relax," she held on to Suiren's forearm and stopped outside her classroom door. "Listen you're bound to have run-ins, he's your literature professor and you know he'll be over at the house all the time. You can try to avoid him but sooner or later you'll have to speak your truth."

Suiren sighed, she knew the professor had a point. She avoided dealing with issues and preferred to ignore them but Achilles wasn't going to be something she could just brush under the rug.

"However in the meantime, you could at least have the pleasure of frustrating him," The Professor winked before walking into the classroom.

Suiren groaned, she knew she couldn't avoid run-ins with Achilles but she wasn't ready to deal with him. She felt hurt and angry wondering all over again why he'd left her behind. She clicked her tongue in exasperation. Now was her chance to ask... but why did he make her so anxious? It had been three years surely Achilles wasn't that charming, surely she'd be able to handle this with some of her pride intact. She let out a sigh, maybe the Professor was right; at least tormenting him would be of some strange comfort, if anything Achilles hated being ignored.