Finally, with a breath held in, Athena pushed open the door and out into the world. there wasn't anyone out to watch her, not at first, and that gave the girl the courage to take her first few steps out into the open.
Fortunately, things weren't really as bad as Athena had expected. No cars stopped or talked to her as she went about her business, although she could just feel the pictures of her starting to circulate on the walk over. Foot traffic was scarce, but what few there were stared openly at her. A few even cautiously asked if she needed some kind of help, but Athena just waved them off easily. More than once she caught a stare from behind a window. Still, with nobody really talking to her, going about their own business, she wasn't feeling much shame over her long walk. Not at the moment, at least; she suspected she'd be waving off rumors for weeks after this, but that was later, not now. "One more reason to stay away from Miss Fine's playground for a while," she thought.
At long last, Athena did eventually make it to the Occult Store. Chad (Athena's boyfriend, early twenties, runs the store, dark and gothic like all the customers) looked up and did a double take. "Athena!? What the hell happened to you!?"
"I need to buy some new clothes, Chad," Athena begins, sounding as tired as she looks of just everything. "And some other trinkets too. My place has been robbed," she continues, still weary with an edge of anger and irritation.
"Yeah... yeah, I'll get you something," and with that, Chad hustled off to get something for Athena to wear. Dark and mysterious as he usually acted, it was nice to see that crack once in a while, show some genuine deep care towards his best customer. Likewise it was nice to see a place which didn't show any obvious interference from Miss Fine; Chad was too old for the school and didn't have any family there either. Athena even smiled for a bit at the respite.
