𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 - 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐡𝐲

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 - 𝐄𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄

ATHENA GRAY and Haley Dunphy would rather be anywhere else in the world — especially Greece, seeing as the two had just finished watching Mamma Mia the night before — than at Manny's fencing competition. Athena was still tired from the girls' sleepover last night and was laying her head on Haley's shoulder watching with tired eyes as the brunette girls texted while everyone around them cheered on Manny.

"Did you know that fencing goes back to the 12th century?" Alex told Haley and Athena.

"You know what's even nerdier than fencing? Knowing when it began," Haley told her sister, earning a tired giggle from Athena.

"I don't think you're a nerd, Alex," Luke told her.

"Shut up, dork."

"Do you think if I asked, one of these kids would stab me with sword?" Athena asked her best friend.

"But if you die who will move in with me when we're older?" Haley asked.

"Whichever rich person you're taking that week," Athena shrugged. Haley made a slight agreeing noise. "I would die. You wouldn't know what to do with yourself if i died."

"No. No, no, no, no! My phone died," Haley exclaimed.

"No biggie. Your battery probably just statically defracticated," Alex told her.

"What?" Athena and Haley asked at the same time.

"It means you can recharge it with me static electricity. Just rub it on your hair."

Athena sighed as Haley took her sisters advice.

"Haley," Athena whispered lowering the girls arm so she couldn't rub her phone on her anymore. "it won't work."

"But she said —"

"Just because she's smart doesn't mean she can't mess with you."

☺︎
"How about a nice round of applause for our winner, Manny Delgado," The announcer guy said. (Athena wasn't paying attention, how would she know who he is?) "Manny now moves on to the championship, where he'll be competing against Caroline Markum. We'll see you all back here at 4:30."

"I wanna thank you guys for coming by and supporting the kid. You guys are the best!" Jay said, clapping Phil on the back a little too hard.

☺︎

"There must be something wrong with this phone," Haley said as she sat at the kitchen counter. "I rubbed it on my head for like an hour."

"I thought I told you it wouldn't work," Athena spoke up from the couch.

"What?" Claire said. "Alex."

"Oh, you're such a geek," Haley sighed angrily.

"At least I didn't give myself a bald spot."

"Oh, my god! Mom!" Haley whined as she ran off, clutching her head. Athena sighed before running after her.

☺︎

Athena found Haley in the bathroom checking her hair for bald spots.

"Thea! Do I still have hair back there?" Haley asked, panicky.

"Yeah, don't worry. You still have hair on your head," Athena laughed. "It's all there and it still has long and beautiful as before."

"Thanks," Haley laughed lightly as Athena put her chin on her shoulder, looking at both of them in the mirror.

"Damn, we look good today," Athena observed. Haley laughed before responding.

"We do, don't we?" Haley smiled. Her eyes lingered on Athena and little too long in the mirror but she couldn't help it. Athena was ridiculously beautiful and Athena could say the exact same thing for Haley.

☺︎

"Hey, guys!" Claire greeted Cam and Mitch as the Dunphy family (plus Athena) walked up to them in the parking lot while heading to Manny's competition. "I brought orange slices."

"Okay, you know what? I can't bear this," Cam said. "Claire, Mitchell still resents you for quitting the figure skating team when you were kids. Ladies, come inside with me, please. Work it out. Come on." The girls followed Cam, leaving Mitch and Claire alone.

☺︎

"Okay, go get 'em. Goodluck," A brunette haired woman said and she led a girl to where she would be competing before taking a seat next to Jay and Gloria. "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

"No. Sit," Gloria told the woman.

"Oh, thank you. Is Manny yours?"

"Yes."

"Oh, he's quite good. I saw him earlier."

"Thank you," Gloria smiled. "Is she your little girl?"

"Caroline? No. No. Sadly, her parents passed away. I'm her nurse down at the children's hospital. But all of my patients are like family to me."

"Oh, god," Athena whispered. "Does Manny have to stab a sick girl?"

☺︎

"She's our little miracle," The woman, who Athena had discovered to be named Denise, said. "Oh, I only wish her father had made it back from Afghanistan to see this. Oh, there's our cheering section. Over here you guys."

"Oh, my god. We have to stop him," Gloria quietly told Jay. The two tried mouthing at Manny to get him to stop but he took this as words of encouragement. Athena and Haley couldn't help but laugh as they watched the parents fail.

"It's not funny," Athena said through her giggles. Haley hid her head in Athena's neck as she laughed and Thea couldn't help but let a bright blush take over her face as Haley's breath fanned over her neck.

☺︎

"I can't decide if I'm feeling more proud or mortified," Jay said as they left the competition with Manny as the winner.

"How about now?" Gloria asked as the watched Claire and Mitchell do their old figure skating routine in the parking lot.

𝐉𝐀𝐘

"We tell our kids it doesn't matter if you win or lose, but let's be honest. Winning feels pretty great. There's nothing like that golden moment in the sun. I think every parent probably wants that for their child. And maybe a little bit for ourselves too. Sometimes we push too hard. And that leads to a lot of resentment and guilt. So, how much is too much? Here's where I come out. Guilt fades. Hardware is forever."

new chapter literally the day i get home from vacation. anyways, i finally have a laptop so hopefully writing wont be as bad.